Brett Iversen, Microsoft’s VP for Investor Relations, noted a surge in quarterly sales, fueled by growing interest in AI services. Microsoft exceeded Wall Street’s Q1 expectations across all segments, with significant growth in cloud computing and PC businesses, driven by customer anticipation of AI integration. This remarkable performance reflects strong corporate enthusiasm for AI-driven capabilities like email summarization and rapid code completion. Q1 revenue reached $56.5 billion, surpassing analysts’ consensus estimate of $54.52 billion.
Jesse Cohen, a senior analyst at Investing.com, highlighted the positive impact of AI products on Microsoft’s sales and overall growth. Microsoft shares rose by 4.2% in after-hours trading. The Intelligent Cloud unit, which houses Azure, where much AI work takes place, achieved $24.3 billion in revenue, exceeding the $23.49 billion estimate. Azure revenue increased by 29%, outperforming a 26.2% growth estimate. Brett Iversen attributed much of this growth to customers re-engaging with Microsoft’s cloud services, driven by AI anticipation.
In comparison, Alphabet’s cloud division missed Q3 revenue estimates. Bob O’Donnell, Chief Analyst at TECHnalysis Research, suggests that Microsoft’s strong messaging on AI technology positions Azure as a competitive player. Microsoft’s Q1 profit of $2.99 per share also exceeded analyst estimates of $2.65 per share.
Microsoft’s strategic integration of AI extends to its products, such as the AI-powered “Copilot” for Microsoft 365. Microsoft is also increasing capital expenditures, with Q1 spending reaching $11.2 billion, emphasizing its commitment to AI and data centers. Sales of Windows and other products grew to $13.7 billion, and the segment including LinkedIn and office productivity software reached $18.6 billion, outperforming analyst estimates.
