Dernières nouvelles pour Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) Stock

Microsoft

Microsoft develops and licenses consumer and enterprise software. It is known for its Windows operating systems and Office productivity suite. The company is organized into three equally sized broad segments: productivity and business processes (legacy Microsoft Office, cloud-based Office 365, Exchange, SharePoint, Skype, LinkedIn, Dynamics), intelligence cloud (infrastructure- and platform-as-a-service offerings Azure, Windows Server OS, SQL Server), and more personal computing (Windows Client, Xbox, Bing search, display advertising, and Surface laptops, tablets, and desktops).

Microsoft Corp

Renowned investor Ray Dalio has provided a detailed analysis of the potential economic and geopolitical landscape under President-elect Donald Trump, offering investors critical <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/11/41973572/ray-dalios-bridgewater-cuts-stake-in-microsoft-stock-by-20-is-big-tech-losing-its-shine">insights into emerging market dynamics</a>.
What Happened: In a detailed LinkedIn <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/whats-coming-changing-domestic-world-orders-under-trump-ray-dalio-v4yge/?trackingId=lSJ9y4QWTUS7PDArKxmcuQ%3D%3D">post</a>, Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, outlined a scenario of potential radical government restructuring and international relations realignment, focusing on efficiency, deregulation, and an aggressive &#8220;America First&#8221; foreign policy.
Dalio emphasized the critical role of strategic technologies, particularly highlighting Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSM#NYSE">TSM</a>). 
&#8220;We should recognize that in advanced semiconductors, the best companies in the United States are not good enough to give the United States what is needed,&#8221; he wrote, pointing to the importance of key relationships with aligned foreign producers like TSMC.
Dalio presented a bold vision of potential economic restructuring, describing Trump&#8217;s approach as akin to &#8220;a corporate raider engaging in a hostile takeover of an inefficient company.&#8221;
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/11/42105079/googles-unlawful-behavior-stifles-market-entry-for-rivals-doj-says-alphabet-must-sell-chrome-to-end-search-monopoly">Google&#8217;s &#8216;Unlawful Behavior&#8217; Stifles Market Entry For Rivals: DOJ Says Alphabet Must Sell Chrome To End Search Monopoly</a>
The &#8220;policies will be great for pro-Trump tech companies because they will be allowed to grow and operate in largely unrestrained ways,&#8221; Dalio noted, highlighting the potential for massive deregulation.
The investor warned of significant shifts in government approach: &#8220;We should expect more government influence on private markets to achieve the government&#8217;s objectives,&#8221; emphasizing a potential departure from traditional free-market principles.
Dalio specifically addressed technological independence, predicting that &#8220;20% of the most advanced chips will have to be produced in the U.S. by 2030&#8221; – a clear indication of the potential government&#8217;s focus on domestic technological capabilities.
Bridgewater Associates&#8217; <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/11/41973572/ray-dalios-bridgewater-cuts-stake-in-microsoft-stock-by-20-is-big-tech-losing-its-shine">third-quarter strategic repositioning</a> includes:
<ul>
<li>Reduced Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) stake by 20%</li>
<li>Increased holdings in:
<ul>
<li>iShares Core S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IVV#NYSE">IVV</a>)</li>
<li>Constellation Energy Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CEG#NASDAQ">CEG</a>)</li>
<li>Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>)</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42102366/bitcoin-taps-95k-ethereum-dogecoin-flat-as-trumps-crypto-policy-takes-shape-top-analyst-describes-btcs-path-to-135k">Bitcoin Hits $95K For The First Time Ever, Ethereum, Dogecoin Flat As Trump&#8217;s Crypto Policy Takes Shape: Top Analyst Describes BTC&#8217;s Path To $135K</a></li>
</ul>
Image via Wikimedia Commons
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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MSFT

Ray Dalio Says Pro-Trump Tech Companies Stand To Gain As Focus Shifts To Deregulation: Here's How Investors Should Brace For Impact

Archegos Capital Management founder Bill Hwang was sentenced on Wednesday to 18 years in prison for fraud and market manipulation tied to the fund's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/38718096/bill-hwangs-trial-begins-over-archegos-fund-collapse-what-to-expect">dramatic collapse in 2021.&nbsp;</a>
The Details: Hwang was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein in New York to slightly less time than the 21 years prosecutors had sought in the case. 
Hwang's lawyers had asked that he be given no prison time at all and Hwang asked the judge on Wednesday to impose a sentence that would allow him to continue to serve society. He also said that he felt "deep pain" about what happened at Archegos, according to a Bloomberg <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-11-20/archegos-founder-bill-hwang-sentenced-to-18-years-in-prison?sref=TBDibEcD">report.</a>
Read More: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/24/11/42044642/trump-appears-frustrated-as-elon-musk-chimes-in-on-treasury-secretary-adds-more-names-to-a-list-of-potential-picks">Trump Appears &#8216;Frustrated&#8217; As Elon Musk Chimes In On Treasury Secretary, Adds More Names To Short List&nbsp;</a>
Hellerstein said Hwang's request for no jail time was "utterly ridiculous" considering the amount of money involved. 
"The amount of losses that were caused by your conduct are larger than any amount of losses I've deal with as a judge," Hellerstein said.
The judge also compared Hwang to FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, who received a 25-year sentence for fraud.
"What was worse? Mr. Bankman-Fried's fraud or Mr. Hwang's fraud?" Hellerstein asked.
The jury found that Hwang directed Archegos staff to relay that the firm had large positions in companies such as Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) and Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>). Archegos actually invested heavily in a small group of stocks that could be more easily manipulated. 
The collapse at Archegos contributed <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/22/11/29835374/troubled-lender-credit-suisse-flags-massive-loss-for-q4-as-it-speeds-up-turnaround-plans">to the demise </a>of Credit Suisse Group AG and rippled through Wall Street causing significant losses at Morgan Stanley (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MS#NYSE">MS</a>), UBS Group AG (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UBS#NYSE">UBS</a>), Nomura Holdings (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NMR#NYSE">NMR</a>) and other banks.
Former Archegos CFO Patrick Halligan was convicted alongside Hwang earlier in 2024 and will be sentenced separately in January.
Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/24/11/41949068/bitcoin-could-reach-1-million-by-2037-economist-says-buy-of-a-lifetime-opportunity">Bitcoin Could Reach $1 Million By 2037, Economist Says: &#8216;Buy Of A Lifetime&#8217; Opportunity</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

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General

AAPL

Hedge Funder Linked To Credit Suisse Collapse Gets 18 Year Prison Sentence For Fraud, Market Manipulation

Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) remains a top pick for Goldman Sachs, which sees significant upside <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MSFT/news">in the company's stock.</a>
In a client note released Wednesday, equity analyst Kash Rangan described Microsoft as "one of the most compelling investment opportunities" in the tech space, citing its robust position across the cloud stack and growing momentum in artificial intelligence (AI).
The investment bank maintained its Buy rating on the stock, setting a 12-month price target of $500. This projection suggests a 20% upside from Microsoft&#8217;s current price levels, driven by anticipated growth across its cloud and AI offerings.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Microsoft Positioned For Long-Term Secular Trends</h1>
Rangan emphasized Microsoft&#8217;s dominant presence across the entire cloud stack, from applications to infrastructure. 
&#8220;With a strong presence across all layers of the cloud stack, Microsoft is well-positioned, in our view, to capitalize on a number of long-term secular trends, such as Gen-AI, public cloud consumption, SaaS adoption, and digital transformation,&#8221; Rangan stated.
He highlighted these trends could drive sustainable growth, supported by Microsoft's ability to integrate its services seamlessly across its ecosystem.
Microsoft already built a competitive edge in the generative AI market through its Azure cloud platform.
According to Rangan, AI workloads are growing more complex, with 93% of use cases relying on three or more model providers. Microsoft's efforts to mitigate these challenges, including the development of custom chips and advanced hardware, position it as a leader in the AI infrastructure space.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Azure Innovations and Adoption Drive Growth</h1>
Goldman Sachs sees Azure's custom silicon as a game changer in tackling the increasing demand for AI processing power. "Azure's custom chips extend GPU architecture and alleviate capacity constraints," Rangan stated. 
Key innovations such as Azure Cobalt — delivering a 50% improvement in price performance — and Azure Boost DPU — cutting server power usage by threefold while quadrupling performance — offer a strong value proposition.
Azure AI services are also gaining traction, with offerings like the AI Foundry (currently in preview), AI Agent Service (coming soon), and Copilot Studio (already used by over 100,000 organizations). 
Usage of Azure OpenAI Services has doubled in just six months, which, according to Rangan, demonstrates customers' growing ability to deploy real-world AI applications.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Stock Struggles While Azure Deceleration</h1>
Despite Microsoft's strong innovation pipeline, its stock has underperformed the Nasdaq by eight percentage points since reporting fiscal fourth-quarter 2024 results. Slowing Azure growth has weighed on investor sentiment. 
Yet, Rangan expects Azure's reacceleration in fiscal third-quarter 2025 to serve as the next major catalyst for the stock rebound.
Microsoft's commercial Office offerings also provide a significant growth lever. The analyst indicated that the platform boasts over 400 million commercial users, representing less than 50% of the global knowledge workforce, suggesting further expansion potential.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Expansive TAM and Secular Tailwinds</h1>
According to the investment bank, Microsoft stands out due to its expansive total addressable market (TAM) and the company's ability to capitalize on secular tailwinds like cloud adoption and digital transformation. 
&#8220;While MSFT competes with a number of best-of-breed and platform providers across various layers of the tech stack, we believe the company's breadth of offerings and large installed base position the company to expand its share of wallet within customers' IT budgets,&#8221; Rangan wrote.
Read Now:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/11/42093025/will-nvidia-deliver-a-blowout-beat-in-q3-poll-says-maybe-not-but-over-half-see-stock-clearing-150">Will Nvidia Deliver A &#8216;Blowout Beat&#8217; In Q3? Poll Says Maybe Not, But Over Half See Stock Clearing $150</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

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Price Target

Trading Ideas

Microsoft 'One Of The Most Compelling Investment Opportunities,' Says Goldman Sachs

Bethesda's Starfield has reached 15 million players since its release in<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming"> September 2023. </a>
The game launched with six million players on its first day, making it Bethesda Game Studios' most successful launch, surpassing The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Fallout 4. Its availability on Xbox Game Pass from day one played a significant role in its rapid growth.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/top-stories/24/11/42072274/xbox-game-pass-brings-big-titles-in-late-november-including-stalker-microsoft-flight-simulator-2024">Xbox Game Pass Brings Big Titles In Late November, Including Stalker, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024</a>
&#8220;We&#8217;re thrilled that so many of you have embarked on this journey with us, and we appreciate your feedback,&#8221; Microsoft Corp.&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) Bethesda<a href="https://bethesda.net/en/game/starfield/article/mqjRpu4DgOPKOdHE20SC1/starfields-november-update-is-now-live"> said</a> in a statement on its website.
To mark the milestone, Bethesda released Update 1.14.74, which includes gameplay adjustments, bug fixes, and new content. The update introduces the Deimog, a land vehicle described as "built for speed and endurance," with features like a fully enclosed cabin and a rocket launcher for defense.
A new quest, The Perfect Recipe, was also added. The story takes players to Akila City, where they assist Harbhajan, a mechanic with a hidden passion for cooking, by returning a lost recipe book that could help him pursue his dream of becoming a renowned chef.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">New Features For Gamers</h3>
Update 1.14.74 also brought significant quality-of-life improvements and changes:
<ul>
<li>Uncapped Frame Rate: Xbox Series X players can now enable this option for smoother gameplay.</li>
<li>Achievement Compatibility: Creations by Verified Creators are now achievement-friendly, though achievements won't retroactively unlock on prior saves.</li>
<li>Enhanced Creation Kit: Lipsync animation data generation is now available, making modding easier for creators.</li>
</ul>
Bethesda has also addressed several gameplay and quest bugs, ensuring smoother experiences for players navigating its vast universe.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Mixed Reception For Shattered Space</h3>
While the updates are widely welcomed, Bethesda's first Starfield expansion, Shattered Space, has faced criticism. 
Despite being billed as a return to form, the expansion currently holds a &#8220;mostly negative&#8221; rating on Steam, with some players expressing disappointment in its execution. 
According to Xbox head Phil Spencer, Bethesda's Todd Howard had even questioned whether to delay the expansion for a more impactful launch.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/11/42013601/phil-spencer-responds-to-this-is-an-xbox-criticism-were-in-the-middle-of-a-transition">Phil Spencer Responds To &#8216;This Is An Xbox&#8217; Criticism: &#8216;We&#8217;re In The Middle Of A Transition&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Image credits: Shutterstock.

Gaming

Starfield Reaches 15 Million Players With Updates, New Content

Salesforce Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRM#NYSE">CRM</a>) unveiled a groundbreaking tool for managing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/11/b42086392/salesforce-introduces-agentforce-testing-center-first-of-its-kind-ai-agent-lifecycle-management-to" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">artificial intelligence (AI) agent lifecycle processes</a>. 
The system, dubbed Agentforce Testing Center, introduces a new paradigm for businesses adopting autonomous agent technology.
The launch comes on the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/social-media/24/11/42082700/meta-taps-former-salesforce-ai-chief-to-lead-enterprise-ai-push-amid-expanding-open-source-strategy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">heels of Salesforce&#8217;s losing</a> its AI lead, Clara Shih, to Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>).
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/11/42086154/apple-to-argue-for-dismissal-of-doj-antitrust-case-over-alleged-us-smartphone-market-domination">Apple To Argue For Dismissal Of DOJ Antitrust Case Over Alleged US Smartphone Market Domination</a>
Salesforce aims to address critical challenges in AI deployment, including ensuring reliable performance and reducing operational risks. With Agentforce, the company is leveraging synthetic interactions and secure environments to streamline testing and improve customer experiences.
Agentforce Testing Center incorporates features that automate testing scenarios and generate synthetic interactions to simulate real-world use cases.
Teams can now assess AI agent performance, refine interactions, and ensure accurate outcomes before live deployment. With natural language processing capabilities, the tool allows parallel testing of hundreds of potential interactions, boosting efficiency and accuracy.
Salesforce introduced sandbox environments that replicate production data and configurations. This feature enables teams to prototype Agentforce applications safely without disrupting live operations. By integrating tools like DevOps Center and Salesforce CLI, developers can easily migrate tested solutions into production, ensuring seamless transitions.
New monitoring tools, such as Agentforce Analytics and Utterance Analysis, provide granular insights into AI performance. These tools, built on Salesforce&#8217;s Data Cloud, offer continuous improvement by analyzing user feedback and interaction patterns. Additionally, Digital Wallet integration ensures businesses can monitor their AI usage and manage credits effectively.
Agentforce Testing Center will be generally available in December, while sandbox support for Data Cloud and Agentforce is accessible today.
Northland Capital Partners highlighted <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/management/24/11/41978942/salesforce-ceo-marc-benioff-bets-big-on-billion-bots" rel="noreferrer noopener">Salesforce&#8217;s Agentforce platform</a> as &#8220;on par&#8221; with Microsoft Corp&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) AI offerings, underscoring its competitive edge.
CNBC&#8217;s Jim Cramer praised Agentforce as &#8220;revolutionary,&#8221; citing it as one of the most impactful AI use cases, driving Salesforce&#8217;s stock rally.
Salesforce&nbsp;stock gained over 26% year-to-date. Investors can gain exposure to the stock through First Trust DJ Internet Index Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FDN#NYSE">FDN</a>) and REX FANG &amp; Innovation Equity Premium Income ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/FEPI#NASDAQ">FEPI</a>).
Price Action: Salesforce stock is up 1.10% at $327 premarket at the last check on Wednesday.
Now Read:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42088290/microsoft-defies-the-ai-plateau-pushing-boundaries-with-new-scaling-laws">Microsoft Defies AI Plateau, Pushes Boundaries With New Scaling Laws</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund

FEPI

Salesforce Tool Aims To Simplify AI Agent Testing, Deployment

Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bearish stance on Microsoft.
Looking at options history for Microsoft (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) we detected 10 trades.
If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 30% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 50% with bearish.
From the overall spotted trades, 5 are puts, for a total amount of $468,781 and 5, calls, for a total amount of $513,015.
<h3>Projected Price Targets</h3>
Analyzing the Volume and Open Interest in these contracts, it seems that the big players have been eyeing a price window from $200.0 to $480.0 for Microsoft during the past quarter. 
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Development</h3>
Assessing the volume and open interest is a strategic step in options trading. These metrics shed light on the liquidity and investor interest in Microsoft's options at specified strike prices. The forthcoming data visualizes the fluctuation in volume and open interest for both calls and puts, linked to Microsoft's substantial trades, within a strike price spectrum from $200.0 to $480.0 over the preceding 30 days.
<h3>Microsoft 30-Day Option Volume &amp; Interest Snapshot</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1732115900_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Noteworthy Options Activity:</h3>

<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Ask</th>
<th>Bid</th>
<th>Price</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>MSFT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$224.55</td>
<td>$222.65</td>
<td>$224.55</td>
<td>$200.00</td>
<td>$314.2K</td>
<td>173</td>
<td>4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MSFT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$82.95</td>
<td>$78.45</td>
<td>$81.17</td>
<td>$480.00</td>
<td>$121.7K</td>
<td>18</td>
<td>15</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MSFT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/20/24</td>
<td>$7.75</td>
<td>$7.75</td>
<td>$7.75</td>
<td>$410.00</td>
<td>$109.2K</td>
<td>7.5K</td>
<td>16</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MSFT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>11/22/24</td>
<td>$4.95</td>
<td>$4.8</td>
<td>$4.93</td>
<td>$415.00</td>
<td>$98.7K</td>
<td>3.1K</td>
<td>1.0K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MSFT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$16.95</td>
<td>$16.75</td>
<td>$16.95</td>
<td>$365.00</td>
<td>$81.3K</td>
<td>999</td>
<td>0</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h3>About Microsoft</h3>
Microsoft develops and licenses consumer and enterprise software. It is known for its Windows operating systems and Office productivity suite. The company is organized into three equally sized broad segments: productivity and business processes (legacy Microsoft Office, cloud-based Office 365, Exchange, SharePoint, Skype, LinkedIn, Dynamics), intelligence cloud (infrastructure- and platform-as-a-service offerings Azure, Windows Server OS, SQL Server), and more personal computing (Windows Client, Xbox, Bing search, display advertising, and Surface laptops, tablets, and desktops).
Having examined the options trading patterns of Microsoft, our attention now turns directly to the company. This shift allows us to delve into its present market position and performance
<h3>Present Market Standing of Microsoft</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 2,124,214, with MSFT's price down by -1.1%, positioned at $413.2.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be is currently neutral between overbought and oversold.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 69 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Expert Opinions on Microsoft</h3>
A total of 5 professional analysts have given their take on this stock in the last 30 days, setting an average price target of $508.0.
Turn $1000 into $1270 in just 20 days?
20-year pro options trader reveals his one-line chart technique that shows when to buy and sell. Copy his trades, which have had averaged a 27% profit every 20 days. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/options-moneyline-2/?t=Moop1arja3be22op14&amp;utm_source=benzinga-insights">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Truist Securities keeps a Buy rating on Microsoft with a target price of $600. 
&#x2A; An analyst from JP Morgan has decided to maintain their Overweight rating on Microsoft, which currently sits at a price target of $465. 
&#x2A; Maintaining their stance, an analyst from Bernstein continues to hold a Outperform rating for Microsoft, targeting a price of $500. 
&#x2A; An analyst from TD Cowen has decided to maintain their Buy rating on Microsoft, which currently sits at a price target of $475. 
&#x2A; An analyst from UBS has decided to maintain their Buy rating on Microsoft, which currently sits at a price target of $500. 
Trading options involves greater risks but also offers the potential for higher profits. Savvy traders mitigate these risks through ongoing education, strategic trade adjustments, utilizing various indicators, and staying attuned to market dynamics. Keep up with the latest options trades for Microsoft with <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro</a> for real-time alerts.

Options

Decoding Microsoft's Options Activity: What's the Big Picture?

In today's rapidly evolving and fiercely competitive business landscape, it is crucial for investors and industry analysts to conduct comprehensive company evaluations. In this article, we will undertake an in-depth industry comparison, assessing Microsoft (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) alongside its primary competitors in the Software industry. By meticulously examining crucial financial indicators, market positioning, and growth potential, we aim to provide valuable insights to investors and shed light on company's performance within the industry.
<h3>Microsoft Background</h3>
Microsoft develops and licenses consumer and enterprise software. It is known for its Windows operating systems and Office productivity suite. The company is organized into three equally sized broad segments: productivity and business processes (legacy Microsoft Office, cloud-based Office 365, Exchange, SharePoint, Skype, LinkedIn, Dynamics), intelligence cloud (infrastructure- and platform-as-a-service offerings Azure, Windows Server OS, SQL Server), and more personal computing (Windows Client, Xbox, Bing search, display advertising, and Surface laptops, tablets, and desktops).
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Company</th>
<th>P/E</th>
<th>P/B</th>
<th>P/S</th>
<th>ROE</th>
<th>EBITDA (in billions)</th>
<th>Gross Profit (in billions)</th>
<th>Revenue Growth</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Microsoft Corp</td>
<td>34.50</td>
<td>10.80</td>
<td>12.28</td>
<td>8.87%</td>
<td>$38.23</td>
<td>$45.49</td>
<td>16.04%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Oracle Corp</td>
<td>48.69</td>
<td>48.40</td>
<td>9.93</td>
<td>30.01%</td>
<td>$5.44</td>
<td>$9.4</td>
<td>6.86%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ServiceNow Inc</td>
<td>159.21</td>
<td>22.70</td>
<td>20.29</td>
<td>4.81%</td>
<td>$0.67</td>
<td>$2.21</td>
<td>22.25%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Palo Alto Networks Inc</td>
<td>53.30</td>
<td>24.56</td>
<td>17.11</td>
<td>7.42%</td>
<td>$0.39</td>
<td>$1.62</td>
<td>12.09%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CrowdStrike Holdings Inc</td>
<td>512.01</td>
<td>30.36</td>
<td>24.95</td>
<td>1.75%</td>
<td>$0.12</td>
<td>$0.73</td>
<td>31.74%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Fortinet Inc</td>
<td>45.62</td>
<td>76.63</td>
<td>12.26</td>
<td>90.26%</td>
<td>$0.66</td>
<td>$1.24</td>
<td>13.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Gen Digital Inc</td>
<td>29.54</td>
<td>8.59</td>
<td>4.78</td>
<td>7.92%</td>
<td>$0.51</td>
<td>$0.78</td>
<td>3.07%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Monday.Com Ltd</td>
<td>597.72</td>
<td>13.20</td>
<td>14.57</td>
<td>-1.28%</td>
<td>$-0.02</td>
<td>$0.23</td>
<td>32.67%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CommVault Systems Inc</td>
<td>42.80</td>
<td>26.55</td>
<td>8.48</td>
<td>5.56%</td>
<td>$0.02</td>
<td>$0.19</td>
<td>16.06%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dolby Laboratories Inc</td>
<td>26.36</td>
<td>2.73</td>
<td>5.42</td>
<td>1.58%</td>
<td>$0.06</td>
<td>$0.25</td>
<td>-3.2%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>QXO Inc</td>
<td>27.89</td>
<td>1.43</td>
<td>25.42</td>
<td>-0.21%</td>
<td>$-0.03</td>
<td>$0.01</td>
<td>-2.0%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Qualys Inc</td>
<td>31.23</td>
<td>11.51</td>
<td>8.96</td>
<td>10.53%</td>
<td>$0.05</td>
<td>$0.13</td>
<td>8.36%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Teradata Corp</td>
<td>34.71</td>
<td>22.59</td>
<td>1.62</td>
<td>32.0%</td>
<td>$0.08</td>
<td>$0.27</td>
<td>0.46%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Progress Software Corp</td>
<td>35.37</td>
<td>6.63</td>
<td>4.08</td>
<td>6.88%</td>
<td>$0.06</td>
<td>$0.15</td>
<td>2.11%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SolarWinds Corp</td>
<td>59.27</td>
<td>1.63</td>
<td>2.85</td>
<td>0.94%</td>
<td>$0.07</td>
<td>$0.18</td>
<td>5.5%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Average</td>
<td>121.69</td>
<td>21.25</td>
<td>11.48</td>
<td>14.15%</td>
<td>$0.58</td>
<td>$1.24</td>
<td>10.64%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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 </style>By thoroughly analyzing Microsoft, we can discern the following trends: 
<ul>
<li>
At 34.5, the stock's Price to Earnings ratio is 0.28x less than the industry average, suggesting favorable growth potential.
</li>
<li>
The current Price to Book ratio of 10.8, which is 0.51x the industry average, is substantially lower than the industry average, indicating potential undervaluation.
</li>
<li>
With a relatively high Price to Sales ratio of 12.28, which is 1.07x the industry average, the stock might be considered overvalued based on sales performance.
</li>
<li>
The Return on Equity (ROE) of 8.87% is 5.28% below the industry average, suggesting potential inefficiency in utilizing equity to generate profits.
</li>
<li>
With higher Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) of $38.23 Billion, which is 65.91x above the industry average, the company demonstrates stronger profitability and robust cash flow generation.
</li>
<li>
With higher gross profit of $45.49 Billion, which indicates 36.69x above the industry average, the company demonstrates stronger profitability and higher earnings from its core operations.
</li>
<li>
The company's revenue growth of 16.04% exceeds the industry average of 10.64%, indicating strong sales performance and market outperformance.
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Debt To Equity Ratio</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2024/1732114817_0.png" alt="debt to equity" />
The debt-to-equity (D/E) ratio gauges the extent to which a company has financed its operations through debt relative to equity.
Considering the debt-to-equity ratio in industry comparisons allows for a concise evaluation of a company's financial health and risk profile, aiding in informed decision-making.
By considering the Debt-to-Equity ratio, Microsoft can be compared to its top 4 peers, leading to the following observations:
<ul>
<li>
Microsoft exhibits a stronger financial position compared to its top 4 peers in the sector, as indicated by its lower debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21.
</li>
<li>
This suggests that the company has a more favorable balance between debt and equity, which can be seen as a positive aspect for investors.
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Key Takeaways</h3>
For Microsoft in the Software industry, the PE and PB ratios suggest the stock is undervalued compared to peers, indicating potential for growth. However, the high PS ratio implies the stock may be overvalued based on revenue. In terms of ROE, EBITDA, gross profit, and revenue growth, Microsoft shows strong performance, outperforming industry peers and demonstrating solid financial health.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Evaluating Microsoft Against Peers In Software Industry

At its recent Ignite conference, Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) laid out a compelling vision for the future <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/artificial-intelligence">of artificial intelligence</a> (AI), directly countering the idea that AI scaling laws are hitting a ceiling.
According to JPMorgan analyst Mark Murphy, the company's commanding leadership in generative AI remains unparalleled, as highlighted by over 80 product enhancements unveiled at the event. 
"We believe Microsoft is uniquely positioned in the market as it infuses GenAI across both the application and infrastructure stack," Murphy noted, underscoring the company's role as a structural leader in AI innovation.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42079585/meta-google-and-microsoft-bet-big-on-ai-with-skyrocketing-capex-budgets-but-jensen-huangs-nvidia-poised-to-be-the-biggest-winner-says-analyst-only-game-in-town-with-1-trillion-of-ai-capex">Dan Ives Expects &#8216;Drop The Mic Performance&#8217; Tomorrow From Nvidia: Here&#8217;s Why</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Breaking Through The Scaling Ceiling</h2>
While some argue that AI progress is slowing due to computational and cost limitations, Microsoft presented a bold alternative. 
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella likened AI's trajectory to Moore's Law but on an accelerated timeline, stating, "With AI, we're starting to see that doubling every six months or so." 
Murphy reinforced this optimism, highlighting that Microsoft sees the "emergence of a new scaling law" driven by advancements in inference-time compute, which powers AI models during active use.
These advancements, according to Murphy, are already delivering exponential improvements in three areas:
<ol>
<li>Universal Interfaces: Seamlessly integrating multimodal data like text and images.</li>
<li>Complex Reasoning: Equipping models to solve intricate problems.</li>
<li>Rich Contextual Memory: Enabling tools to retain and apply long-term knowledge.</li>
</ol>
Microsoft&#8217;s advancements, such as the Copilot &#8220;think deeper&#8221; feature and OpenAI&#8217;s o1 model, exemplify these breakthroughs, suggesting a future of AI that continues to scale and deliver.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42069943/microsofts-ai-agents-are-here-to-work-hard-but-can-they-lift-msft-stock">Microsoft&#8217;s AI Agents Are Here To Work Hard — But Can They Lift MSFT Stock?</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">AI At Scale: A New Frontier</h2>
Murphy observed that Microsoft's ability to demonstrate ROI is key to its leadership in AI. Over 85% of the Fortune 500 use Microsoft AI tools, with 70% leveraging M365 Copilot. "The sheer breadth of Copilot updates and its integration across the Microsoft stack is unprecedented," Murphy noted, pointing to features like Copilot Actions and Copilot Analytics that enhance productivity while demonstrating measurable business value.
With over 300 updates since Copilot's launch, including a 2x speed and 3x quality improvement, Microsoft is solidifying its position as a driver of enterprise efficiency. Murphy emphasized that the company's approach—embedding AI across workflows while maintaining scalability—creates significant monetization opportunities.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Reinventing AI Infrastructure</h2>
Beyond applications, Microsoft's infrastructure innovations are equally groundbreaking. Murphy highlighted the &#8220;processor trifecta&#8221; combining CPUs, GPUs, and in-house DPUs, a move that strengthens Azure's AI capabilities. From NVIDIA Blackwell-powered VMs to Azure AI Foundry tools, Microsoft is building a foundation to support the next wave of AI advancements.
Moreover, the company's vision for a "tapestry of AI agents" marks a shift toward an agent-driven ecosystem. With tools like Copilot Studio and Dynamics 365 autonomous agents, Microsoft is redefining how businesses interact with technology, making workflows more intelligent and efficient.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Big Picture</h2>
Microsoft's strategy, as Murphy put it, is planting seeds for long-term success in AI innovation. By challenging the narrative of stagnation and introducing new scaling laws, the company is not just keeping pace but accelerating the future of AI.
For investors, this leadership translates into optimism. With a price target of $465 by December 2025, Murphy believes Microsoft's innovations will continue to solidify its standing as a structural share gainer in the tech industry.
Read Next: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/24/11/42069891/sp-500-to-reach-6500-by-end-of-2025-analysts-predict-could-it-spark-ma-revival">S&amp;P 500 To Reach 6,500 By End Of 2025, Analysts Predict: Could It Spark M&amp;A Revival?</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Microsoft

Long Ideas

Analyst Ratings

Microsoft Defies AI Plateau, Pushes Boundaries With New Scaling Laws

MicroStrategy Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>) co-founder Michael Saylor said that Warren Buffett&#8217;s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) was destroying billions of dollars in capital by not utilizing the huge hordes of cash at their disposal to invest in Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>).
What Happened: During a podcast with Patrick Bet-David, Saylor drew attention to the company&#8217;s massive <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/41944639/warren-buffett-breaks-6-year-streak-of-berkshire-hathaway-stock-buybacks-say-its-too-expensive">$325 billion cash stockpile</a>.
&#8220;That $320 billion.. that is destroying $32 billion a year. They are destroying $3 billion a month in capital because they&#8217;re generating a 3% after-tax yield at best, and the cost of capital is 15%. So take 12% negative real yield,&#8221; Saylor said.
Having said that, Saylor expressed confidence in getting Warren Buffett to invest in Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>).
&#8220;I&#8217;d want to bet you that if I had an hour alone with Buffett in a calm environment, I&#8217;d walk out and he would say this Bitcoin thing is a pretty good idea.&#8221;
Saylor was optimistic that Buffett would have wanted to buy Bitcoin after the interaction and would come out saying that the late Charlie Munger would have liked the idea.
On being asked why he hasn&#8217;t reached out to the Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) CEO yet, Saylor emphasized that people need to feel the necessity to understand Bitcoin and be open to a paradigm shift.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">&quot;Burning $3 Billion A Month!&quot; &#8211; Michael Saylor WARNS Warren Buffett About Bitcoin's Potential<a href="https://twitter.com/patrickbetdavid?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@patrickbetdavid</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/saylor?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@saylor</a> <a href="https://t.co/KQErEnS0c2">pic.twitter.com/KQErEnS0c2</a>
&mdash; PBD Podcast (@PBDsPodcast) <a href="https://twitter.com/PBDsPodcast/status/1858895510385684563?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 19, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
&#8220;It&#8217;s like people with a strong corporate view and a strong conviction of their company don&#8217;t have an open mind to a profound paradigm shift. They don&#8217;t want to embrace that idea,&#8221; the Bitcoin bull said.
Saylor also expressed his willingness to meet anyone with billions of cash that&#8217;s losing value to convince them to switch to the Bitcoin standard.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/11/42082077/if-you-bought-bitcoin-at-387-a-decade-ago-you-would-now-have-more-than-2x-the-average-us-retirement-savings">If You Bought Bitcoin At $387 A Decade Ago, You Would Now Have More Than 2X The Average US Retirement Savings</a>
Why It Matters: While Saylor was optimistic, 94-year-old Buffett&#8217;s unhinged views on Bitcoin inspire little hope.
In a 2018 interview with Yahoo! Finance, Buffett <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/03/38005453/despite-warren-buffetts-warnings-calling-bitcoin-rat-poison-berkshire-hathaway-continues-p">famously said</a>, &#8220;If you buy something like Bitcoin or some cryptocurrency, you don't really have anything that has produced anything. You're just hoping the next guy pays more.&#8221;&nbsp;
He went a step ahead and deemed the apex cryptocurrency<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/10/41319774/if-you-invested-1-000-in-bitcoin-when-warren-buffett-called-it-rat-poison-squared-heres-ho"> &#8220;rat poison squared&#8221;</a> during a CNBC interview some months down the line.
Meanwhile, Saylor continues to promote the virtues of Bitcoin to investors and corporations. He recently revealed that he would give a three-minute presentation to Microsoft&#8217;s board of directors to make a case for Bitcoin investment.
Price Action: At the time of writing, Bitcoin was trading at $93,354.74, up 1.70% in the last 24 hours, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?_gl=1&#x2A;380nj0&#x2A;_ga&#x2A;MTEyOTAyOTcxMy4xNzEzMzY0NTYy&#x2A;_ga_V7ZK73W7N0&#x2A;MTcxNDk4MzIzMi42LjEuMTcxNDk4OTE0Ni4wLjAuMA.." target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">data from Benzinga Pro</a>. Shares of MicroStrategy were up 3.13% in pre-market trading.
Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/11/42080839/cynthia-lummis-says-strategic-bitcoin-reserve-could-take-shape-soon-after-trump-raises-his-hand-and-is-sworn-in">Cynthia Lummis Says Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Could Take Shape Soon After Trump &#8216;Raises His Hand And Is Sworn In&#8217;</a></li>
</ul>
Photos courtesy: MicroStrategy and Shutterstock

Coverage of Bitcoin, Etherum, Ripple and all the latest digital currencies.

Cryptocurrency

$BTC

MSTR

Warren Buffett 'Destroying $3B A Month' Of Berkshire Capital By Not Investing In Bitcoin, Says MicroStrategy's Michael Saylor

Alphabet Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) lucrative agreement to pay Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) over <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/05/38573998/how-much-is-google-really-paying-apple-to-be-default-search-engine-on-iphones-unsealed-court-pap">$20 billion a year</a> to make its search engine the default on iPhones is now under threat.
What Happened: In May earlier this year, an antitrust lawsuit against Google&#8217;s parent company revealed that Apple received a massive $20 billion in 2022 to make Google the default search engine on Apple's Safari browser on iPhones.
The documents also underscore the importance of these payments to Apple's financial performance, with Google's contributions in 2020 accounting for 17.5% of the company&#8217;s operating income.
Following this, in August, a U.S. federal judge ruled that Alphabet's Google holds an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/08/40169996/alphabet-loses-antitrust-suit-over-google-search-dominance-report">illegal monopoly</a> in the search engine market.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) now plans to propose measures to prevent these types of payments, arguing that they reinforce Google&#8217;s dominant position in the market, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/us-news/law/antitrust-enforcers-prepare-final-blitz-against-big-tech-39afe085?mod=lead_feature_below_a_pos3">according</a> to the Wall Street Journal. 
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/global/24/11/42053801/alphabets-life-sciences-firm-verily-to-become-a-standalone-entity-disconnect-from-google">Alphabet&#8217;s Life Sciences Firm Verily To Become A Standalone Entity, Disconnect From Google</a>
If the judge grants the DOJ&#8217;s request, this long-standing arrangement between the two tech giants could end.
If Google is barred from making these payments, Apple might need to find new partners to fill the gap. Microsoft Corporation's (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) Bing or other search providers could step in, but whether they will offer similar terms remains uncertain.
While <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/09/34990297/microsoft-considered-selling-bing-to-apple-as-google-rival-but-iphone-maker-remained-skeptical">Bing was the default</a> search engine for Siri and Spotlight from 2013 to 2017, Apple later switched back to Google.
Microsoft launched Bing in 2009 to directly compete with Google. However, despite its efforts, Google <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/04/31823704/is-bing-the-new-google-samsung-devices-could-ditch-google-search-for-microsoft-bing">remains the dominant player</a>.
A previous Bloomberg report has also suggested that the DOJ&#8217;s plan highlighted the proposal to force <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/legal/24/11/42053249/google-could-lose-chrome-browser-in-dojs-latest-antitrust-move">Google to divest its</a> Chrome browser.
Why It Matters: Though the ruling could be a setback for Google, it's far from final.&nbsp;
Google has already indicated that it will appeal the decision, and the outcome could change depending on future legal developments.
Earlier, Google&#8217;s vice president of regulatory affairs, Lee-Anne Mulholland told <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga</a>, "The government putting its thumb on the scale in these ways would harm consumers, developers, and American technological leadership at precisely the moment it is most needed."
Previously, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai also stated during the company&#8217;s third-quarter earnings call that the DOJ&#8217;s proposals could result in &#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41616230/sundar-pichai-admits-doj-proposals-could-have-unintended-consequences-google-mapping-out-plan-b-in-c">unintended consequences</a>.&#8221;
As the DOJ&#8217;s final proposed remedies draw nearer on Nov. 20, JPMorgan analyst Doug Anmuth anticipates potential headline risk but believes it could provide much-needed clarity.
He continues to have an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/11/42036010/alphabet-on-trial-doj-remedies-loom-but-analyst-sees-20-upside-as-discount-to-meta-narrows">Overweight rating on GOOGL</a> stock, with a price target of $212, indicating a 20% upside from its current price.
Price Action: On Tuesday, Alphabet&#8217;s Class A shares rose by 1.61%, closing at $178.12, while Class C shares increased by 1.57%, finishing at $179.58. In Wednesday&#8217;s pre-market session, Class A shares gained 0.06% to $178.22, and Class C shares edged up by 0.03% to $179.63, as of the latest update, according to <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/lxquj26b2sag">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.
Apple shares rose by 0.11% on Tuesday, ending the day at $228.28. However, in Wednesday&#8217;s pre-market session, the stock declined by 0.21%, reaching $227.79 at the time of writing.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42025223/legendary-investor-rob-arnott-says-stock-market-looks-and-feels-like-the-year-2000-as-wall-street-rallies-after-trumps-win-likely-to-see-a-bear-market?itm_source=parsely-api">Legendary Investor Rob Arnott Says Stock Market ‘Looks And Feels Like The Year 2000' As Wall Street Rallies After Trump's Win: ‘…Likely To See A Bear Market'</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock

GOOG

GOOGL

Apple Stares At Multi-Billion Dollar Hit Amid Google's Antitrust Ruling: Here's What Investors Should Know

Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) has appointed Clara Shih, former Salesforce Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRM#NYSE">CRM</a>) artificial intelligence chief, to head its newly formed Business AI division, marking a significant expansion of the social media giant&#8217;s AI strategy for enterprise customers.
What Happened: Shih, who announced her move <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/clarashih_the-past-four-years-at-salesforce-have-activity-7264709174326886401-rZVL/">via</a> LinkedIn on Tuesday, will spearhead Meta&#8217;s efforts to develop AI tools for businesses using Meta&#8217;s social platforms. &#8220;Our vision is to make cutting-edge AI accessible to every business, empowering all to find success and own their future in the AI era,&#8221; Shih stated.
The appointment comes as Meta accelerates its unique open-source AI approach, differentiating itself from competitors like Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>)-backed OpenAI and Alphabet Inc.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) Google.
Rather than monetizing AI through direct subscriptions, Meta aims to enhance its existing advertising and social media platforms using its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/07/39915337/mark-zuckerberg-takes-aim-at-elon-musk-sam-altman-with-big-ai-aspirations-through-metas-latest-llama">Llama language models</a>.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42079585/meta-google-and-microsoft-bet-big-on-ai-with-skyrocketing-capex-budgets-but-jensen-huangs-nvidia-poised-to-be-the-biggest-winner-says-analyst-only-game-in-town-with-1-trillion-of-ai-capex">Dan Ives Expects &#8216;Drop The Mic Performance&#8217; Tomorrow From Nvidia: Here&#8217;s Why</a>
Why It Matters: Meta&#8217;s AI push has gained momentum under CEO Mark Zuckerberg&#8216;s leadership. During the company&#8217;s third-quarter earnings call, Zuckerberg revealed plans for Llama 4, announcing an unprecedented computing infrastructure utilizing over 100,000 Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) H100 GPUs. The next-generation model is scheduled for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/10/41643021/mark-zuckerberg-says-metas-open-source-gambit-is-paying-off-as-nvidia-and-amd-optimize-for-llama">release in early 2025</a>.
The company has already begun integrating AI-generated content into its platforms, including AI-created photo carousels on Facebook and AI chatbots on Instagram. 
Bank of America Securities <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/10/41658862/meta-is-an-ai-story-fueled-by-llama-and-meta-ai-says-bullish-analyst">recently labeled Meta</a> an &#8220;AI Story,&#8221; citing the growing adoption of Llama and Meta AI. The firm projects AI-driven advertising improvements to materialize by 2025.
The move follows Meta&#8217;s strong third-quarter performance, where the company exceeded analyst expectations while signaling increased capital investment in AI infrastructure. Zuckerberg has touted the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/40088285/mark-zuckerberg-says-metas-405b-model-llama-3-1-has-better-cost-performance-than-openais-chatgpt-thi">company&#8217;s $405 billion Llama 3.1 model</a> as having superior cost performance compared to competing closed models.
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Image via Pixabay
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Social Media

NVDA

Meta Taps Former Salesforce AI Chief To Lead Enterprise AI Push

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is reportedly leading a $150 million funding round for Rain AI, a semiconductor startup aiming to rival Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) in the AI chip market.&nbsp;
What Happened: The funding, which would value Rain AI at around $600 million, follows Altman's participation in the company's $25 million seed round in 2022, <a href="https://nypost.com/2024/11/19/business/sam-altman-seeks-backers-for-ai-chipmaker-to-challenge-nvidia-source/?utm_campaign=nypost&amp;utm_medium=referral">reported</a> the New York Post, citing sources with direct knowledge.
The next funding round is slated to kick off next month. &#8220;He has introduced the company to all his investors for this series B round,&#8221; the sources stated, referring to Altman.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/07/39766199/sam-altman-backed-startup-aims-to-store-carbon-dioxide-in-rocks-shrinking-decades-long-timeline-to-s">Sam Altman-Backed Startup Aims To Store Carbon Dioxide In Rocks, Shrinking Decades-Long Timeline To &#8216;Single-Digit Months&#8217;</a>
In June 2024, Rain AI bolstered its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/06/39543601/apple-chip-veteran-joins-sam-altman-backed-ai-startup-to-lead-hardware-engineering">leadership by hiring former</a> Apple Inc. chip executive Jean-Didier Allegrucci as head of hardware engineering.
Wedbush analyst Dan Ives has described Rain AI as &#8220;one of the legitimate players at the table when it comes to the future of AI and chips.&#8221;
&#8220;There&#8217;s a lot of buzz around everything Rain AI is doing and it's the early days of the AI revolution,&#8221; he said, adding, &#8220;There&#8217;s going to be many players, not just the &#8216;Godfather of AI&#8217; Jensen Huang and Nvidia.&#8221;
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">"Rain AI is one of the legitimate players at the table when it comes to the future of AI and chips," Wedbush Analyst Dan Ives told The Post.<a href="https://t.co/H7N9VkadUO">https://t.co/H7N9VkadUO</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/nypost?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nypost</a> &#x1f525;&#x1f3c6;&#x1f402;&#x1f37f;&#x1f447;
&mdash; Dan Ives (@DivesTech) <a href="https://twitter.com/DivesTech/status/1858942566848172214?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 19, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
OpenAI and Rain AI did not immediately respond to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga&#8217;s</a> request for comments.
Why It Matters: Jensen Huang-led Nvidia is currently the world&#8217;s most valuable company, with a market capitalization of $3.606 trillion.
Analysts anticipate a &#8220;beat-n-raise&#8221; performance in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/11/42068962/nvidia-q3-earnings-preview-analysts-expect-beat-n-raise-on-continued-data-center-strength">Nvidia&#8217;s third-quarter earnings</a>, projecting revenue of $33.12 billion—up sharply from $18.12 billion in the same period last year.
The AI chip giant is set to announce its earnings on Wednesday, Nov. 20.
Although Nvidia&#8217;s new Blackwell AI chips are <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42028342/blackwell-backfires-nvidias-ai-chips-struggle-with-server-overheating-impacting-meta-microsoft-and-musks-xai-data-centers">facing overheating concerns</a>, the company&#8217;s valuation is still anticipated to climb, fueled by the promise of its next-generation AI chip. I/O Fund analyst Beth Kindig predicted Nvidia could reach a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40670634/nvidia-set-to-reach-10-trillion-valuation-as-blackwell-expected-to-propel-chip-maker-with-firewo">$10 trillion valuation</a> in September.
Meanwhile, last month, Altman&#8217;s OpenAI raised over $6.5 billion in new funding, boosting its valuation to $157 billion.
The funding round was led by Thrive Capital and included major tech players such as Nvidia and Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>). Since 2019, Microsoft has invested about<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/24/10/41556636/microsoft-and-openai-clash-over-14-billion-as-the-ai-leader-converts-to-a-for-profit-business-disrup"> $14 billion in OpenAI</a>.
Price Action: Nvidia shares climbed 4.89% on Tuesday, closing at $147.01, and gained an additional 0.46% in after-hours trading, reaching $147.69 as of this writing, according to data<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent103024&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> from Benzinga Pro.</a>
Image via Shutterstock
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Media

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Reportedly Leading $150M Funding For Rain AI: Startup Called 'One Of The Legitimate Players At The Table' To Challenge Nvidia

Microsoft Corporation&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) CEO Satya Nadella highlighted Bing's strong growth countering concerns about its minimal impact on Alphabet Inc.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) Google's global <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/09/34990297/microsoft-considered-selling-bing-to-apple-as-google-rival-but-iphone-maker-remained-skeptical">search dominance</a>.
What Happened: On Tuesday, during a conversation with a CNBC Overtime anchor Jon Fortt, Nadella was asked when AI was integrated into Bing, the hope was to gain more share from Google.
However, one year down the line, Google still has roughly 90% of the global search share. In response, the Microsoft CEO said that Bing search is one of the fastest-growing businesses, showing strong double-digit growth.
When asked about search share, Nadella responded that it&#8217;s a game of 100 basis points, and any progress is good.
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/24/11/42056367/how-to-safeguard-your-data-before-apples-deadline-step-by-step-guide-for-backing-up-ios-8-and-earlier-devices?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">How To Safeguard Your Data Before Apple&#8217;s Deadline: Step-By-Step Guide For Backing Up iOS 8 And Earlier Devices</a>
He then expressed excitement about the success of OpenAI&#8217;s ChatGPT and its partnership with&nbsp;Apple Inc.&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), which he said is beneficial for Microsoft as it runs on Azure.
&#8220;That's all incremental for even us,&#8221; Nadella stated, adding, &#8220;We are giving them the Bing index and powering ChatGPT search using our APIs.&#8221;
Regarding the relationship with OpenAI, Nadella expressed satisfaction with the partnership&#8217;s progress.
&#8220;We are thrilled to be an investor. We're thrilled to be a partner around I.P. They're one of our biggest customers now. We also compete in some areas. And so the partnership has all of those dimensions to it,&#8221; he said.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">I spoke with <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24MSFT&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$MSFT</a> CEO <a href="https://twitter.com/satyanadella?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@satyanadella</a> today about how the company's relationship with <a href="https://twitter.com/OpenAI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OpenAI</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/sama?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@sama</a> is developing: <a href="https://twitter.com/CNBCOvertime?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CNBCOvertime</a> <a href="https://t.co/JOjwvmA0lU">pic.twitter.com/JOjwvmA0lU</a>
&mdash; Jon Fortt (@jonfortt) <a href="https://twitter.com/jonfortt/status/1859022001006146013?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 19, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
Why It Matters: Microsoft launched Bing in 2009 to compete directly with Google. However, despite its efforts, Google <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/04/31823704/is-bing-the-new-google-samsung-devices-could-ditch-google-search-for-microsoft-bing">remains the dominant player</a>, with Bing capturing less than 10% of search queries.
Meanwhile, the partnership between Microsoft and OpenAI has been a topic of interest in the tech world, especially since reports started surfacing about OpenAI&#8217;s shift from a nonprofit to a for-profit model.
Microsoft has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/24/10/41556636/microsoft-and-openai-clash-over-14-billion-as-the-ai-leader-converts-to-a-for-profit-business-disrup">invested nearly $14 billion</a> in OpenAI since 2019, leading to a high-stakes financial and governance tug-of-war. OpenAI&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41149788/openai-valuation-soars-to-157b-in-latest-funding-round">valuation soared to $157 billion</a> in its latest funding round.
Earlier in May it was reported that OpenAI&#8217;s potential agreement with Apple had <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/05/39109729/openais-apple-deal-sparks-concerns-in-microsoft-could-shift-ai-market-dynamics">sparked concerns within Microsoft</a>.
Last month, Microsoft&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/10/41636770/microsoft-q1-earnings-highlights-ai-driven-transformation-is-changing-work-company-beats-revenue-ep">first-quarter earnings</a> reported a 16% year-over-year increase in revenue.
Price Action: Microsoft shares rose 0.49% on Tuesday, closing at $417.79, with a slight additional gain of 0.05% in after-hours trading, reaching $418 at the time of writing, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Satya Nadella Defends Bing's Rise Against Google's Search Dominance — Says OpenAI's Partnership With Apple Is 'Incremental' For Microsoft

In a big development, MicroStrategy (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>) Chairman Michael Saylor will present a case for Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) investment to the board of directors at Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>).
What Happened: During an X space hosted by asset manager VanEck, Saylor said he was contacted by the activist who put up the shareholder proposal to present to the board. 
&#8220;I agreed to provide a three-minute presentation. That's all you're allowed. I'm going to actually post that online and I'm going to present it to the board.&#8221;
Saylor said he even proposed meeting with CEO Satya Nadella to discuss the strategy, but the offer was not accepted.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://t.co/FFUrLNEHwh">https://t.co/FFUrLNEHwh</a>
&mdash; VanEck (@vaneck_us) <a href="https://twitter.com/vaneck_us/status/1854915410371457236?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 8, 2024</a></blockquote>
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&#8220;I think it&#8217;s not a bad idea to put it on the agenda of every company. It ought to be put on the agenda of Berkshire Hathaway, Apple, and Google because they all have huge hordes of cash and they&#8217;re all burning shareholder value,&#8221; Saylor argued. 
The MicroStrategy chief said that Microsoft stock would be &#8220;much less risky&#8221; if half of its enterprise value—which was currently just around 1.5%— is based on tangible assets like Bitcoin.
Meanwhile, Saylor also offered to discuss the implications of adding Bitcoin to the Treasury with Rumble Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RUM#NASDAQ">RUM</a>) CEO Chris Pavloski.
<a href="https://x.com/saylor/status/1858945523258159169" title="https://x.com/saylor/status/1858945523258159169">https://x.com/saylor/status/1858945523258159169</a> 
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/11/42072777/this-cat-coin-is-only-3-of-dogecoin-but-has-a-54-chance-of-being-listed-on-binance-or-coinbase-polymarket-traders-speculate">This Cat Coin Is &#8216;Only 3% Of Dogecoin&#8217; But Has A 54% Chance Of Being Listed On Binance Or Coinbase, Polymarket Traders Speculate</a>
Why It Matters: Microsoft was set to vote on an assessment of investing in Bitcoin during next month&#8217;s shareholders meeting. The shareholders&nbsp;requested&nbsp;the board conduct the assessment, citing Bitcoin&#8217;s healthy gains over the last five years.
The proposal explicitly mentioned MicroStrategy, a pioneer in corporate Bitcoin adoption whose shares have outperformed Microsoft in 2024.
Price Action: At the time of writing, Bitcoin was trading at $92,054.06, up 0.86% in the last 24 hours, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?_gl=1&#x2A;380nj0&#x2A;_ga&#x2A;MTEyOTAyOTcxMy4xNzEzMzY0NTYy&#x2A;_ga_V7ZK73W7N0&#x2A;MTcxNDk4MzIzMi42LjEuMTcxNDk4OTE0Ni4wLjAuMA..">data from Benzinga Pro</a>. Shares of MicroStrategy surged nearly 12% during Tuesday&#8217;s regular session, while Microsoft closed 0.49% higher.
Photo: DCStockPhotography/Shutterstock
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</ul>

Microstrategy's Michael Saylor To Advocate For Bitcoin At Microsoft Board Meeting, Offers To Educate Rumble CEO As Well

Jensen Huang-led Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) is poised to dominate as major tech players Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), Alphabet Inc.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) Google, and Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) ramp up their capital expenditures on artificial intelligence.
What Happened: On Tuesday, Wedbush analyst Dan Ives took to X, formerly Twitter, and predicted a strong performance from Nvidia, calling it the &#8220;only game in town with $1 trillion of AI Cap-Ex on the way.&#8221;
&#8220;We believe $2 billion beat/$2 billion guide higher,&#8221; Ives concluded.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">We expect a drop the mic performance from Nvidia tomorrow night as Godfather of AI Jensen &amp; Co. are the only game in town with $1 trillion of AI Cap-Ex on the way with Nvidia&#39;s GPUs the new oil and gold in this world. We believe $2 billion beat/$2 billion guide higher&#x1f525;&#x1f3c6;&#x1f402;&#x1f37f;
&mdash; Dan Ives (@DivesTech) <a href="https://twitter.com/DivesTech/status/1858854901801009208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 19, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/24/11/42028954/peter-thiel-says-trumps-60-china-tariff-would-be-very-very-bad-for-beijing-heres-whats-at-stake?itm_source=parsely-api" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Peter Thiel Says Trump&#8217;s 60% China Tariff Would Be &#8216;Very, Very Bad&#8217; For Beijing, Here&#8217;s What&#8217;s At Stake</a>
Mark Zuckerberg&#8217;s Meta, which reported its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/10/41637326/meta-platforms-q3-earnings-revenue-beat-eps-beat-daily-actives-up-5-strong-momentum-in-ai">third-quarter financial results</a> last month, exceeded its capex spending forecasts, driven largely by AI investments.&nbsp;The company raised the lower end of its 2024 capex guidance by $1 billion to $38 billion, with a significant increase anticipated in 2025.
Google&#8217;s parent company is also <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/10/41611263/alphabet-q3-earnings-highlights-revenue-beat-eps-beat-google-cloud-up-35-momentum-across-the-compan">set to match its capex spending</a> in the fourth quarter, bringing its total 2024 capex to $51.4 billion, a 59% increase year-over-year. The company also anticipates a rise in apex in 2025, albeit at a slower rate.
Similarly, Microsoft reported a capex of $20 billion <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/10/41636770/microsoft-q1-earnings-highlights-ai-driven-transformation-is-changing-work-company-beats-revenue-ep">for the first quarter</a>, nearly double the $11.2 billion from the same period last year. The company&#8217;s CFO Amy Hood expects a sequential increase in capital expenditure due to the projected demand&nbsp;for cloud and AI services.
Why It Matters: Analysts have predicted a &#8220;beat-n-raise&#8221; performance in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/24/11/42068962/nvidia-q3-earnings-preview-analysts-expect-beat-n-raise-on-continued-data-center-strength">Nvidia&#8217;s third-quarter earnings</a>, with an expected revenue of $33.12 billion, a significant increase from last year&#8217;s $18.12 billion. The tech giant will report earnings on Wednesday, Nov. 20.
Despite recent <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42028342/blackwell-backfires-nvidias-ai-chips-struggle-with-server-overheating-impacting-meta-microsoft-and-musks-xai-data-centers">overheating issues with</a> Nvidia&#8217;s new Blackwell AI chips, the company&#8217;s value is expected to surge, driven by the potential of the next-generation AI chip. Earlier in September, Analyst Beth Kindig of I/O Fund projected a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/24/09/40670634/nvidia-set-to-reach-10-trillion-valuation-as-blackwell-expected-to-propel-chip-maker-with-firewo">$10 trillion valuation for Nvidia</a>.
Price Action: Nvidia shares rose 4.89% on Tuesday, closing at $147.01, with an additional 0.46% gain in after-hours trading, reaching $147.69 at the time of writing, according to data<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/?utm_source=BZprocontent103024&amp;t=be2bearmibe3na1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> from Benzinga Pro.</a>
Image via Unsplash
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Dan Ives Expects 'Drop The Mic Performance' Tomorrow From Nvidia: Here's Why

Events

Exclusives

$ETH

Real Vision's Raoul Pal Says AI Open-Source Models Are So Big And Important That They Could Use Blockchain To Secure Their Code From Government Interference, Other AI

To gain an edge, this is what you need to know today.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" src="https://thearorareport.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/2024-11-19_07h56_39.png" alt="" style="width:624px" /></figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">New Russian Nuclear Doctrine</h3>
Please <a href="https://thearorareport.com/chart-analysis-stock-russian-nuclear-doctrine-walmart-breakout-wmt-mc-11192024">click here</a> for an enlarged chart of Walmart Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>).
Note the following:
<ul>
<li>This article is about the big picture, not an individual stock.&nbsp; The chart of WMT is being used to illustrate the point.</li>
<li>The U.S. economy is 70% consumer based.&nbsp; Walmart is the largest retailer in the U.S.&nbsp; For this reason, prudent investors pay attention to Walmart's earnings.</li>
<li>The chart shows WMT stock gapped up after earnings.</li>
<li>The chart shows that WMT stock also gapped up on earnings in the prior two quarters.</li>
<li>Walmart reported earnings better than the whisper numbers.&nbsp; Stocks move based on the difference between reported numbers and whisper numbers.&nbsp; Whisper numbers are the number analysts privately share with their best clients.&nbsp; Whisper numbers are different from the numbers the same analysts publish for public consumption.</li>
<li>In The Arora Report analysis, the following are the most important points from Walmart earnings:
<ul>
<li>Higher end consumers continue to shift to Walmart.</li>
<li>E-commerce at Walmart, especially quick delivery, is growing rapidly.</li>
<li>Margins are expanding.</li>
<li>Walmart is gaining market share.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In The Arora Report analysis, as good as Walmart is doing, investors need to be mindful of the very high valuation for a retailer.&nbsp; Walmart is trading at a trailing PE of 43.&nbsp; However, as Walmart's earnings are growing, forward PE is 30, which is still expensive for a retailer.</li>
<li>As full disclosure, Walmart is in The Arora Report&#8217;s ZYX Buy Core Model Portfolio from an average price of $19.25.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Prudent investors also watch earnings from home improvement retailer Lowe&#8217;s Companies Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LOW#NYSE">LOW</a>).&nbsp; Lowe's earnings are a reflection of the consumer, especially remodeling of existing homes.&nbsp; Lowe's earnings are slightly below whisper numbers. &nbsp; As full disclosure, LOW is also in The Arora Report&#8217;s ZYX Buy Core Model Portfolio and is long from an average of $81.85.</li>
<li>In the early trade, markets are responding to the new Russian doctrine.
<ul>
<li>Stocks are being sold.</li>
<li>Gold and silver are being bought.</li>
<li>Oil is being bought.</li>
<li>The dollar is being bought.</li>
<li>The yen is being bought.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>The new Russian doctrine brings the world closer to World War III.&nbsp; The new doctrine is in response to the U.S. allowing Ukraine to fire U.S. manufactured long range missiles on targets inside Russia.</li>
<li>Prudent investors should note the following three elements of the new Russian doctrine.
<ul>
<li>An attack on Russia by any country supported by a nuclear power will be considered a joint attack on Russia.</li>
<li>A massive aerial attack could trigger a nuclear response from Russia.&nbsp;</li>
<li>In reference to NATO, an aggression by a member of the coalition will be viewed as aggression by the entire bloc.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>In The Arora Report analysis, the new Russian doctrine is squarely directed at the U.S.&nbsp; The purpose appears to be to persuade Trump to stop supporting Ukraine and force Ukraine to cede territory in Eastern Ukraine to Russia.&nbsp; Further, in The Arora Report analysis, the ultimate solution is likely going to be the U.S. forcing Ukraine to give Eastern Ukraine to Russia as per Russian wishes.&nbsp; This has been a long standing Arora call.</li>
<li>For the first time ever, Ukraine has attacked a warehouse inside Russia using long range missiles manufactured by the U.S. &nbsp; The missile attack was conducted with Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS).&nbsp; The missiles are manufactured by Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LMT#NYSE">LMT</a>), a major U.S. defense contractor.&nbsp; The targeted warehouse housed ammunition and missiles from North Korea.&nbsp; North Korea is promising 100K troops to fight for Russia in Ukraine.</li>
<li>There is no change in the protection band at this time, but we are keeping a close eye on the situation.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Housing</h3>
New housing is beginning to weaken.&nbsp; Here is the just released data:
<ul>
<li>Housing starts came at 1.311M vs. 1.34M consensus.</li>
<li>Building permits came at 1.416M vs. 1.441M consensus.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Magnificent Seven Money Flows</h3>
In the early trade, money flows are positive in NVIDIA Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>).
In the early trade, money flows are negative in Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), Alphabet Inc Class C (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>), Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), and Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>).
In the early trade, money flows are negative in SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust Series 1 (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>).
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Momo Crowd And Smart Money In Stocks</h3>
Investors can gain an edge by knowing money flows in SPY and QQQ.  Investors can get a bigger edge by knowing when smart money is buying stocks, gold, and oil.  The most popular ETF for gold is SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GLD#NYSE">GLD</a>).  The most popular ETF for silver is iShares Silver Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SLV#NYSE">SLV</a>).  The most popular ETF for oil is United States Oil ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/USO#NYSE">USO</a>).
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Bitcoin</h3>
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) is range bound.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Protection Band And What To Do Now</h3>
It is important for investors to look ahead and not in the rearview mirror.&nbsp; The proprietary protection band from The Arora Report is very popular.&nbsp; The protection band puts all of the data, all of the indicators, all of the news, all of the crosscurrents, all of the models, and all of the analysis in an analytical framework that is easily actionable by investors.
Consider continuing to hold good, very long term, existing positions. Based on individual risk preference, consider a protection band consisting of cash or Treasury bills or short-term tactical trades as well as short to medium term hedges and short term hedges. This is a good way to protect yourself and participate in the upside at the same time.
You can determine your protection bands by adding cash to hedges.&nbsp; The high band of the protection is appropriate for those who are older or conservative. The low band of the protection is appropriate for those who are younger or aggressive.&nbsp; If you do not hedge, the total cash level should be more than stated above but significantly less than cash plus hedges.
A protection band of 0% would be very bullish and would indicate full investment with 0% in cash.&nbsp; A protection band of 100% would be very bearish and would indicate a need for aggressive protection with cash and hedges or aggressive short selling.
It is worth reminding that you cannot take advantage of new upcoming opportunities if you are not holding enough cash.&nbsp; When adjusting hedge levels, consider adjusting partial stop quantities for stock positions (non ETF); consider using wider stops on remaining quantities and also allowing more room for high beta stocks.&nbsp; High beta stocks are the ones that move more than the market.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Traditional 60/40 Portfolio</h3>
Probability based risk reward adjusted for inflation does not favor long duration strategic bond allocation at this time.
Those who want to stick to traditional 60% allocation to stocks and 40% to bonds may consider focusing on only high quality bonds and bonds of five year duration or less.&nbsp; Those willing to bring sophistication to their investing may consider using bond ETFs as tactical positions and not strategic positions at this time.
The Arora Report is known for its accurate calls. The Arora Report correctly called the big artificial intelligence rally before anyone else, the new bull market of 2023, the bear market of 2022, new stock market highs right after the virus low in 2020, the virus drop in 2020, the DJIA rally to 30,000 when it was trading at 16,000, the start of a mega bull market in 2009, and the financial crash of 2008. Please click here to sign up for a free forever <a href="https://thearorareport.com/generate-wealth-newsletter-benzinga">Generate Wealth Newsletter</a>.

Market Summary

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Not World War III But New Russian Nuclear Doctrine Brings Selling In Stocks, Walmart Breaks Out

Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) has unveiled its upcoming additions to Xbox Game Pass for the second half of November, featuring high-profile launches and exciting<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming"> indie gems. </a>
Subscribers can look forward to a mix of blockbuster games, indie adventures, and in-game rewards, though a handful of titles will soon leave the service.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">New Additions To Xbox Game Pass:</h3>
Here's a breakdown of the new titles arriving on Xbox Game Pass in late November, as <a href="https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2024/11/19/xbox-game-pass-november-2024-wave-2/">detailed</a> in an Xbox blog post:
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/11/42013601/phil-spencer-responds-to-this-is-an-xbox-criticism-were-in-the-middle-of-a-transition">Phil Spencer Responds To &#8216;This Is An Xbox&#8217; Criticism: &#8216;We&#8217;re In The Middle Of A Transition&#8217;</a>
<ul>
<li>Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X&#x7C;S) – Nov. 19: The latest iteration of this iconic series pushes realism and immersive gameplay to new heights. Available with Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.</li>
<li>Stalker 2: Heart of Chornobyl (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X&#x7C;S) – Nov. 20: The long-anticipated survival-horror shooter from GSC Game World finally launches. Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can dive into this atmospheric journey.</li>
<li>Little Kitty, Big City (Console) – Nov. 20: A whimsical adventure now available to standard Game Pass subscribers.</li>
<li>PlateUp! (Console) – Nov. 20: A chaotic cooking simulator arrives for standard Game Pass users, blending fun and strategy.</li>
<li>Nine Sols (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X&#x7C;S) – Nov. 26: An artistic action-platformer with Sekiro-inspired combat. Exclusive to Ultimate and PC Game Pass.</li>
<li>Aliens: Dark Descent (Cloud, PC, and Xbox Series X&#x7C;S) – Nov. 27: Last year's well-received tactical title, based on the Aliens universe, comes to Ultimate and PC Game Pass.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Exclusive Rewards For Genshin Impact Players</h3>
With Genshin Impact launching on Xbox on Nov. 20, Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will receive an exclusive bundle of in-game rewards to kickstart their journey in the Hoyoverse RPG. Rewards include Intertwined Fates, Mora, and other resources.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Departures From Game Pass</h3>
On Nov. 30, several titles will leave the Xbox Game Pass catalog, including fan favorites like Conan Exiles and Remnant: From the Ashes.<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/11/42044705/this-six-games-are-leaving-xbox-game-pass-by-months-end"> Here's</a> the full list of departing games.
Read Next:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/gaming/24/11/41985800/gta-5-joins-novembers-playstation-plus-lineup-with-other-fan-favorites">GTA 5 Joins November&#8217;s PlayStation Plus Lineup With Other Fan-Favorites</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock

Xbox Game Pass Brings Big Titles In Late November, Including Stalker, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

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