(Bloomberg) — Wall Street analysts are now almost universally bullish on Microsoft Corp., with Guggenheim upgrading the software company to buy from hold ahead of its quarterly results.
The upgrade means nearly 99% of analysts tracked by Bloomberg currently recommend buying the stock. Of the 73 who follow Microsoft, the only holdout is Hedgeye Risk Management, which has a neutral rating on the company. None recommend selling.
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Guggenheim’s upgrade reflects the optimism about Microsoft’s strong position to capitalize on artificial intelligence breakthroughs. Analyst John DiFucci wrote that “in a time when investors struggle to separate AI beneficiaries from AI casualties, it’s clear to us that Microsoft, along with the other hyperscalers, is a beneficiary.”
In addition to AI tailwinds for its Azure cloud computing business, “Microsoft has a near monopoly in the Productivity Suite market with its Office offering and therefore has been, and will be able to continue to directly monetize AI offerings (namely Copilot) tied to that product suite.”
Microsoft’s shares rose 1.3% in premarket trading. The stock has risen 24% this year, above the roughly 21% gain of the Nasdaq 100 Index.
Guggenheim issued a price target $586, which implies upside of about 12% from Microsoft’s last close.
The upgrade comes ahead of the Oct. 29 release of Microsoft’s first-quarter results, where investors will be watching for AI-related growth trends and for insight into the company’s spending plans.
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©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
(Bloomberg) — Wall Street analysts are now almost universally bullish on Microsoft Corp., with Guggenheim upgrading the software company to buy from hold ahead of its quarterly results.
The upgrade means nearly 99% of analysts tracked by Bloomberg currently recommend buying the stock. Of the 73 who follow Microsoft, the only holdout is Hedgeye Risk Management, which has a neutral rating on the company. None recommend selling.
Most Read from Bloomberg
Related: ‘This Is Not My First Bubble’: Nvidia’s Bear Stands His Ground
Guggenheim’s upgrade reflects the optimism about Microsoft’s strong position to capitalize on artificial intelligence breakthroughs. Analyst John DiFucci wrote that “in a time when investors struggle to separate AI beneficiaries from AI casualties, it’s clear to us that Microsoft, along with the other hyperscalers, is a beneficiary.”
In addition to AI tailwinds for its Azure cloud computing business, “Microsoft has a near monopoly in the Productivity Suite market with its Office offering and therefore has been, and will be able to continue to directly monetize AI offerings (namely Copilot) tied to that product suite.”
Microsoft’s shares rose 1.3% in premarket trading. The stock has risen 24% this year, above the roughly 21% gain of the Nasdaq 100 Index.
Guggenheim issued a price target $586, which implies upside of about 12% from Microsoft’s last close.
The upgrade comes ahead of the Oct. 29 release of Microsoft’s first-quarter results, where investors will be watching for AI-related growth trends and for insight into the company’s spending plans.
Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek
©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
