Microsoft CorpMSFTTOP PICKOct 21, 2024Stock price when the opinion was issued
As of Nov 06, 2026. Market Open.
It's one of the five biggest spenders in capex on data centres. If was the only to say it would trim spending. It had the best report of the three megacaps that reported this week, beating revenues and earnings while Google and Amazon missed both. Azure grew 48% and cash flow was positive. Capex spending for the quarter was much lower than expectations. Their spending will accelerate in the second half of fiscal 2027.
He can't believe the market pushed this down to $400. The story then was that MSFT had too much tied to OpenAI, and that AI would disrupt their software business, Narratives change. MSFT is growing top and bottom line at a huge rate. He's own this since 2012. They will continue to see big earnings growth and deliver enormous free cash flow. Once the data centres are built, the hyperscalers will be the big winners.
He wouldn't but today, but neither would he sell. So much of investing is buying at the right price, and then letting things work. Valuation's a bit rich. Look to add on a pullback. Well positioned on AI. Well diversified. Great balance sheet, lots of cashflow. Important that some of these companies can do massive capex, but not be FCF-negative.
At the bottom of the Mag 7 on price appreciation, up only 11% this year. Stock's done nothing since last reporting in July. Growth of cloud computing was at low end of expectations, and guidance was also slightly lower. No one likes a company that trades at 30x PE to miss consensus expectations. Company sees growth picking up in back half of next year. Capital spending increased 25% this year as they build out data centres for AI; slated to increase again next year. Being put in penalty box until they can show profitable growth.
(Analysts’ price target is $500.24)A core tech name. Recurring revenue. If growth doesn't materialize, the market will demand that it cut back. It just means they'll have more cashflow from its high operating margins. Strong balance sheet. Good entry point. Yield is 0.8%.