Microsoft Stock
MSFT Stock to Keep Flying Higher on Cloud Adoption
We have been bullish on Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) stock for a while. In 2017, we wrote that its cloud business would continue to be the star performer in the coming years. After gaining more than 35% last year, Microsoft stock in 2018 is expected to consistently build on its gains.
Microsoft is way ahead of many technology companies in terms of innovation and financial stability, which makes it one of the most dependable players in the field. The company has been posting phenomenal results over the years as well.
For the quarter ended December 31, 2017, revenue increased by 12% and touched almost $30.0 billion. Revenue in Intelligent Cloud was $7.8 billion and increased by 15%. One of the key business highlights was that revenue from server products and cloud services grew 18%, driven by “Azure” revenue growth of 98%. “Office” commercial products and cloud services went up by 10%, driven by “Office 365” commercial revenue growth of 41%.
Moreover, the new tax policy for cash repatriation was the icing on the cake. It meant a few more acquisitions that could further strengthen the company’s position as a technology giant. MSFT stock touched new highs in 2017 and sales have been going up mainly driven by the impressive performance of its Azure cloud platform and Office 365.
Despite the competition, Microsoft’s cloud business has been growing by leaps and bounds. Microsoft’s investments in the Internet of Things (IoT), data, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) services across the cloud will continue to strengthen the leadership position of the company as well as Microsoft stock in 2018.
Given the transition to public and hybrid clouds by enterprises, our MSFT stock forecast for 2018 remains optimistic. Microsoft Azure, Office 365, and AI expertise should keep pushing Microsoft stock higher in the coming years.
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From: Michael Lombardi, MBA