Wall Street sets Microsoft stock price for next 12 months

Core Viewpoint - Wall Street analysts remain overwhelmingly bullish on Microsoft, with a strong buy consensus and a 12-month price target of $477.75, representing a 20.87$395.26 [1][11]. Analyst Ratings - Among 29 experts, there are no sell ratings; 26 analysts rate Microsoft as a buy, and 3 as a hold [2]. - The highest forecast predicts a 50.53% increase to $595, while the lowest forecast suggests an 8.79$430 [2]. Earnings Performance - Microsoft's quarterly revenue reached $70.07 billion, exceeding expectations by nearly$2 billion, with earnings per share (EPS) at $3.46, surpassing the forecast of$3.22 [7]. - Year-over-year revenue growth was 16%, with Azure's growth at an impressive 33%, outperforming predictions of 29% to 30% [7]. Market Reaction - Following the strong earnings report, Microsoft stock rose 8.44% in extended trading, reaching $428.61 in pre-market on May 1 [10][11]. - If the stock maintains its rally, it will open in the green on the year-to-date chart for the first time since January [13]. Future Outlook - Microsoft plans to continue investing tens of billions in artificial intelligence infrastructure, countering concerns about a potential data center bubble [9].