As the financial market anticipates the close of Thursday’s trading session, all eyes are on blue chip stalwarts Microsoft and Alphabet, which are poised to release their quarterly earnings. Microsoft is expected to unveil its fiscal third-quarter results, with analysts predicting earnings of $2.82 per share and revenue of $60.8 billion, reflecting increases of 15.1% and 14.9% year-over-year, respectively. Alphabet is also scheduled to report, with first-quarter earnings estimates set at $1.51 per share on revenues of $78.59 billion.
At 18:33 GMT, Microsoft is trading $397.19, down $11.87 or -2.90% and Alphabet is at $155.71, down $3.42 or -2.15%.
Market expectations for Microsoft are high, bolstered by stable cloud infrastructure spending and rising investments in artificial intelligence (AI). Analyst consensus suggests a potential revenue outperformance, driven by solid enterprise engagement and strategic expansions in AI capabilities. This suggests that Microsoft could not only meet but possibly exceed the robust growth metrics anticipated by the market.
The overall analyst sentiment towards Microsoft is significantly bullish, with a majority endorsing a strong buy position, reflecting confidence in the company’s current strategy and market execution. This strong analyst backing highlights the anticipated positive impact of consistent cloud and AI sector growth on Microsoft’s overall financial performance.
Simultaneously, Alphabet gears up to unveil its earnings amidst a strategic pivot towards AI, aiming to maintain its competitive edge against key players like Microsoft and emerging technologies. This shift is part of a broader realignment within the company, focusing on innovation and market adaptability in response to dynamic consumer behaviors and technological advancements in AI.
The upcoming earnings reports from Microsoft and Alphabet are expected to reflect significant developments in cloud computing and AI investments. The market forecasts for Microsoft are particularly optimistic, suggesting a potential outperformance. Alphabet, while also expected to show strong results, faces additional scrutiny due to its strategic shifts and operational restructuring, which could influence its short-term financial outcomes.
This earnings season is crucial for both companies as they navigate through the complexities of technological evolution and market competition, with their reports likely to set a tone for their respective stock performances in the coming quarters.
James is a Florida-based technical analyst, market researcher, educator and trader with 35+ years of experience. He is an expert in the area of patterns, price and time analysis as it applies to futures, Forex, and stocks.