Microsoft share price

Microsoft Corp.'s steady outperformance once again won near-universal praise from analysts after the technology giant's latest earnings report, helping send ...

“However, whenever the macro clouds part we believe Microsoft is going to be a name that investors will gravitate back to as it is well positioned to deliver steady double-digit top- and bottom-line growth over the next few years given its growing annuity businesses in the enterprise (Azure/O365).” Materne likes Microsoft’s “durable business model,” something he said the company doesn’t get enough credit for from Wall Street. William Blair’s Jason Ader also saw Azure as a high point, pinpointing that its 49% constant-currency growth during the latest period was its best rate in seven quarters. Microsoft stock had declined nearly 20% so far this year before Wednesday’s gains, which put shares more in line with broader performance. “There was no hedging around macro headwinds, pipeline activity, close rates or any other issue with the biggest positive surprise coming from 4Q guidance for Azure [constant currency] growth of 47%,” he wrote. Shares of Microsoft MSFT, +4.81%were up 6.6% in Wednesday afternoon trading, after the company beat earnings expectations for the latest quarter and delivered an upbeat forecast Tuesday afternoon.