Dernières nouvelles pour Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) Stock

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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).

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La progression constante de BlackRock

Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) has demonstrated significant strength, with its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/microsoft" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">stock surging over</a> 31% in the last three months, a performance that notably outpaces both the S&amp;P 500 Index&#8217;s approximately 11% gain and the NASDAQ Composite Index&#8217;s roughly 16% gain.
This momentum is primarily attributed to Microsoft&#8217;s commanding presence in cloud computing, particularly through its Azure platform, and its leading position in the rapidly evolving field of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The company&#8217;s strategic integration of AI across its product offerings and its robust financial performance have been key drivers of this growth.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46149318/microsofts-next-gen-ai-chip-still-lags-nvidias-blackwell-postpones-launch" rel="noreferrer noopener">Microsoft&#8217;s Next-Gen AI Chip Still Lags Nvidia&#8217;s Blackwell, Postpones Launch</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Robust Financial Performance Fuels Market Surge</h2>
As of recent trading, MSFT is positioned close to its 52-week high of $501, having reached $500.76 on June 30, 2025, which underscores strong investor confidence. Year to date, Microsoft has gained 12.44% in 2025.
In April, Microsoft reported <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/45117886/microsoft-q3-earnings-highlights-revenue-beat-eps-beat-cloud-revenue-up-20" rel="noreferrer noopener">third-quarter revenue</a> of $70.07 billion, up 13% year-over-year. The revenue total beat a Street consensus estimate of $68.43 billion. Total Microsoft Cloud revenue was $42.4 billion in the quarter, up 20% Y/Y.
Furthermore, revenue specifically from Azure and other cloud services saw a substantial 33% year-over-year increase, highlighting robust demand for its cloud offerings.
The company also surpassed earnings expectations, reporting quarterly earnings per share of $3.46, which beat the Street&#8217;s consensus estimate of $3.22.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Analysts Project Continued AI-Driven Growth</h2>
Analysts are <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/25/05/45149535/microsoft-stock-rallies-on-q3-strength-of-azure-analyst-says-company-is-sole-ai-leader-in-both-apps-and-infrastructure" rel="noreferrer noopener">overwhelmingly optimistic</a> about Microsoft&#8217;s future trajectory. Derrick Wood of TD Cowen notes that Microsoft is well-positioned in crucial secular growth markets, while Brad Sills of Bank of America hails it as the singular AI leader in both applications and infrastructure.
The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/MSFT/analyst-ratings" rel="noreferrer noopener">consensus price forecast</a> from 29 analysts stands at $523.73, with Citigroup issuing a high forecast of $605 on June 11, 2025. An average price forecast of $571.67 from Morgan Stanley, Wedbush, and Wells Fargo suggests a potential 14.94% upside for Microsoft based on these recent analyst ratings.
Goldman Sachs analyst Kash Rangan, who referred to Microsoft as the &#8220;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/05/45634446/microsoft-pulls-ahead-in-ai-race-with-key-partnerships-across-openai-nvidia-and-elon-musks-xai" rel="noreferrer noopener">AI ringleader</a>,&#8221; projects that Microsoft Cloud revenue will exceed $300 billion by fiscal 2029, a significant leap from its current figure of under $140 billion.
Rangan believes that Microsoft&#8217;s tiered AI pricing strategy, exemplified by products like Copilot and Dynamics AI, will be instrumental in boosting both growth and profit margins.
Dan Ives of Wedbush anticipates Microsoft achieving a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46188671/nvidia-microsoft-on-track-to-achieve-4-trillion-market-cap-says-analyst-dan-ives-tech-bull-market-is-still-early" rel="noreferrer noopener">$4 trillion market capitalization</a> this summer, driven by its profound investments in AI infrastructure and innovation.
He views Microsoft as a foundational player in the AI revolution, alongside Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), contributing to the broader tech bull market, and projects a potential $5 trillion valuation within the next 18 months due to accelerating AI demand.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Evolving Relationship With OpenAI Presents New Dynamics</h2>
The relationship between Microsoft and OpenAI, while initially highly beneficial, is currently undergoing renegotiation. While Microsoft has significantly benefited from OpenAI&#8217;s AI advancements, particularly in areas like Azure and Copilot, OpenAI is now seeking greater independence.
Internal projections suggest that OpenAI plans to reduce Microsoft&#8217;s <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46109371/openai-and-microsoft-reportedly-at-odds-over-access-to-artificial-general-intelligence-talks-are-ongoing-and-we-are-optimistic" rel="noreferrer noopener">revenue share</a> from 20% to 10% by 2030. This development comes as OpenAI recently announced that its annualized revenue run rate has doubled to $10 billion, excluding Microsoft licensing and one-time deals.
Price Action: MSFT stock is trading higher by 0.03% to $497.56 at last check Tuesday.&nbsp;
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46172107/taiwan-semiconductors-affiliate-fast-tracks-singapore-plant-spurred-by-geopolitics" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Taiwan Semiconductor&#8217;s Affiliate Fast-Tracks Singapore Plant Spurred By Geopolitics</a></li>
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Microsoft's AI And Cloud Scale Drives Market-Beating Returns

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders will search for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges heavily from its normal worth. High amounts of trading activity could push option prices to exaggerated or underestimated levels. 
Here's the list of options activity happening in today's session: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>NVDA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/03/25</td>
<td>$155.00</td>
<td>$140.1K</td>
<td>63.1K</td>
<td>190.6K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AAPL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/03/25</td>
<td>$207.50</td>
<td>$44.8K</td>
<td>22.8K</td>
<td>104.9K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>PLTR</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/03/25</td>
<td>$130.00</td>
<td>$25.7K</td>
<td>2.7K</td>
<td>14.7K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MSTR</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/03/25</td>
<td>$410.00</td>
<td>$98.7K</td>
<td>12.8K</td>
<td>12.4K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>QCOM</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/11/25</td>
<td>$162.50</td>
<td>$195.0K</td>
<td>455</td>
<td>4.3K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BBAI</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$8.00</td>
<td>$120.2K</td>
<td>3.9K</td>
<td>2.7K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>INTC</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>12/19/25</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
<td>$275.2K</td>
<td>20.1K</td>
<td>2.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MSFT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$400.00</td>
<td>$86.2K</td>
<td>3.3K</td>
<td>1.7K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CSCO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$70.00</td>
<td>$476.0K</td>
<td>1.4K</td>
<td>562</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>SOUN</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/03/25</td>
<td>$9.50</td>
<td>$33.2K</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
<td>470</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These bullet-by-bullet explanations have been constructed using the accompanying table. 
• For NVDA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 2 day(s) on July 3, 2025. This event was a transfer of 1000 contract(s) at a $155.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 7 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $140.1K, with a price of $140.0 per contract. There were 63157 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 190687 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For AAPL (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 2 day(s) on July 3, 2025. This event was a transfer of 200 contract(s) at a $207.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 6 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $44.8K, with a price of $224.0 per contract. There were 22865 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 104991 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding PLTR (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 2 day(s) on July 3, 2025. Parties traded 100 contract(s) at a $130.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 8 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $25.7K, with a price of $257.0 per contract. There were 2792 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 14750 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding MSTR (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 2 day(s) on July 3, 2025. Parties traded 2759 contract(s) at a $410.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 125 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $98.7K, with a price of $36.0 per contract. There were 12819 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 12441 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For QCOM (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QCOM#NASDAQ">QCOM</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 10 day(s) on July 11, 2025. This event was a transfer of 1000 contract(s) at a $162.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $195.0K, with a price of $195.0 per contract. There were 455 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 4330 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For BBAI (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BBAI#NYSE">BBAI</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 199 day(s) on January 16, 2026. This event was a transfer of 650 contract(s) at a $8.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $120.2K, with a price of $185.0 per contract. There were 3934 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2763 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For INTC (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 171 day(s) on December 19, 2025. This event was a transfer of 2500 contract(s) at a $30.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 31 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $275.2K, with a price of $110.0 per contract. There were 20126 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 2536 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding MSFT (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 199 day(s) on January 16, 2026. Parties traded 8 contract(s) at a $400.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 5 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $86.2K, with a price of $10786.0 per contract. There were 3382 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1716 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding CSCO (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 563 day(s) on January 15, 2027. Parties traded 560 contract(s) at a $70.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 19 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $476.0K, with a price of $850.0 per contract. There were 1464 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 562 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For SOUN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SOUN#NASDAQ">SOUN</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 2 day(s) on July 3, 2025. This event was a transfer of 400 contract(s) at a $9.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $33.2K, with a price of $83.0 per contract. There were 1150 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 470 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more news on unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Options

AAPL

BBAI

CSCO

INTC

MSTR

PLTR

QCOM

SOUN

10 Information Technology Stocks Whale Activity In Today's Session

The first half of 2025 has come to a close and 21 of the 30 stocks that make up the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/dow-jones-industrial-average">Dow Jones Industrial Average Index</a> are positive year-to-date.
Despite the impressive number of stocks with a positive performance in the first six months, the index was up around 4% with several of the components posting large declines.
2025 Performance: Through the first six months of the year, two <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/magnificent-seven">Magnificent Seven stocks </a>are among the 10 best in the Dow Jones Industrial Average and two are among the 10 worst in the index based on performance.
Here's a look at the 10 best Dow Jones Industrial Average stocks in the first half:
<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>International Business Machines (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBM#NYSE">IBM</a>): +34.1%</li>
<li>Goldman Sachs (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GS#NYSE">GS</a>): +23.6%</li>
<li>JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>): +20.9%</li>
<li>Boeing Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BA#NYSE">BA</a>): +18.4%</li>
<li>Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>): +18.0%</li>
<li>3M Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MMM#NYSE">MMM</a>): +17.9%</li>
<li>NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>): +17.6%</li>
<li>Cisco Systems (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CSCO#NASDAQ">CSCO</a>): +17.2%</li>
<li>Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/KO#NYSE">KO</a>): +13.6%</li>
<li>Visa Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/V#NYSE">V</a>): +12.3%</li>
</ol>
Here are the 10 worst performing Dow Jones Industrial Average stocks in the first half:
<ol class="wp-block-list">
<li>UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>): -38.3%</li>
<li>Merck &amp; Company (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>): -20.4%</li>
<li>Salesforce.com Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CRM#NYSE">CRM</a>): -18.4</li>
<li>Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>): -18.1%</li>
<li>Nike Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NKE#NYSE">NKE</a>): -6.1%</li>
<li>Home Depot Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HD#NYSE">HD</a>): -5.7%</li>
<li>Procter &amp; Gamble Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PG#NYSE">PG</a>): -5.0%</li>
<li>Chevron Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CVX#NYSE">CVX</a>): -1.1%</li>
<li>Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>): Flat</li>
<li>McDonald's Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NASDAQ">MCD</a>): +0.8%</li>
</ol>
Overall the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DIA#NYSE">DIA</a>), which tracks the index, was up around 4% in the first half of 2025. This was a lower gain than the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), which tracks the S&amp;P 500, which had a 5.7% gain in the first half.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/06/45932660/exclusive-sp-500-new-all-time-highs-again-2025">EXCLUSIVE: S&amp;P 500 To Hit New All-Time Highs Again In 2025? Majority Say Yes, 27% Predict This Range</a>
Why It's Important: Nvidia was one of the new Dow Jones components <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/broad-u-s-equity-etfs/24/12/42726598/dow-jones-2024-scoreboard-top-5-winners-losers-and-how-amazon-nvidia-could-reshape-2025">added in 2024</a> and the stock is one of the top performers in the first half of 2025. The stock replaced Intel, which was a top decliner in recent years.
The index also got rid of Walgreens, which was another poor performer in recent years. Its replacement Amazon was flat for the first half of 2025.
The new index makeup is showing strong signs of positive returns.
With 21 of the components positive year-to-date and one flat, this could mark one of the best years by the number of gainers in recent history.
In 2024, 18 of the 30 stocks were up for the full year. In 2023, 19 of the stocks in the index were up.
Perhaps most surprising is that two of the Magnificent Seven stocks rank among the worst performers in the first half of 2025, despite being part of the four Mag 7 members included in the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
Apple was the fourth-worst performer in the index for the first half, falling 18.1%. That marks a sharp reversal from its standout status as the only Dow Jones stock to rank among the top gainers in both 2023 and 2024.
Amazon ranked ninth with a flat return, as only eight of the components were down. 
The Dow Jones Industrial Average remains one of the most closely watched stock market indexes, serving as a gauge of overall market health. With only 30 stocks and a weighting based on stock price, rather than market capitalization, the index is less frequently used by some analysts and market experts than the broader S&amp;P 500 Index.
Read Next: 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/07/46198021/nvidia-vs-microsoft-vs-apple-which-stock-reaches-4-trillion-first">Nvidia Vs. Microsoft Vs. Apple: Which Stock Reaches $4 Trillion First?</a></li>
</ul>
Image created using artificial intelligence via Midjourney.

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SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust

Dow Jones 2025 First Half Scoreboard: Top 10 Winners, Losers — Where Do Nvidia, Apple Stock Rank?

The month of June saw a fresh wave of layoffs across the technology sector, with companies both large and small making significant workforce reductions as they adapt to shifting market demands and the growing influence<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/07/46197734/metas-superintelligence-lab-wants-to-outthink-the-world-and-scale-ai-dna-is-all-over-it"> of artificial intelligence.</a>
Rivian: Last month, electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RIVN#NASDAQ">RIVN</a>) reduced its headcount by approximately 140 employees, about 1% of its workforce.&nbsp;
The layoffs primarily impacted the manufacturing team as the company seeks to streamline operations ahead of<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45642153/rivian-ceo-rj-scaringe-touts-45000-rivian-r2s-updated-rear-suspension-cant-wait-for-folks"> its upcoming</a> R2 SUV launch.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46182769/what-happened-with-apple-stock-today?utm_source=articleShare">What Happened With Apple Stock Today?</a>
Bumble: Online dating platform Bumble, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BMBL#NASDAQ">BMBL</a>) announced in June that it would cut around 240 jobs, about 30% of its workforce.
According to an SEC filing, the move is intended to boost operational efficiency so that the company can use the savings toward the development of new products and technologies.
Google: Alphabet, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) Google also made significant cuts in June, downsizing its smart TV division by 25% which affected up to 75 employees. The company said it is shifting focus and investment toward AI projects as it trims funding for its Google TV and Android TV initiatives by 10%.
Intel: Intel Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INTC#NASDAQ">INTC</a>) announced plans to lay off between 15% and 20% of its Intel Foundry division as part of a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/content/45835075/intels-dual-gamble-ai-innovation-now-foundry-fortunes-later">broader effort</a> to become leaner and more efficient. The company is also winding down its automotive business.
Other notable layoffs include 90 employees at Playtika, 25 employees at Airtime, and another round of cuts at Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>), which followed May's reduction of over 6,500 jobs.
Microsoft's layoffs <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46076895/microsofts-layoffs-news-july-2025-ai-investment-80-billion">affected roles across</a> engineering, product management, marketing and legal.
The wave of tech layoffs in June reflects the industry&#8217;s ongoing transformation as companies prioritize AI and automation while seeking efficiency and innovation in an uncertain economy.&nbsp;
Read Next:&nbsp;
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/space/25/06/46185205/rocket-lab-breaks-records-and-stock-up-640-in-past-year-ast-spacemobile-impresses-defense-kuiper-grows">Shooting Stars: Rocket Lab Breaks Records (And Stock Up 640% In Past Year), AST SpaceMobile Impresses Defense, Kuiper Grows</a></li>
</ul>
Image: Shutterstock&nbsp;

BMBL

GOOG

GOOGL

RIVN

Microsoft, Rivian, Intel Slash Jobs In June Tech Layoff Spree

In today's rapidly changing and fiercely competitive business landscape, it is vital for investors and industry enthusiasts to carefully evaluate companies. In this article, we will perform a comprehensive industry comparison, evaluating Microsoft (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) against its key competitors in the Software industry. By analyzing important financial metrics, market position, and growth prospects, we aim to provide valuable insights for 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>38.44</td>
<td>11.49</td>
<td>13.76</td>
<td>8.27%</td>
<td>$40.71</td>
<td>$48.15</td>
<td>13.27%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Oracle Corp</td>
<td>50.38</td>
<td>30.03</td>
<td>10.92</td>
<td>18.43%</td>
<td>$6.83</td>
<td>$11.16</td>
<td>11.31%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ServiceNow Inc</td>
<td>139.50</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>18.72</td>
<td>4.66%</td>
<td>$0.72</td>
<td>$2.44</td>
<td>18.63%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Palo Alto Networks Inc</td>
<td>117.61</td>
<td>18.87</td>
<td>16.34</td>
<td>3.85%</td>
<td>$0.4</td>
<td>$1.67</td>
<td>15.33%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Fortinet Inc</td>
<td>43.51</td>
<td>41.22</td>
<td>13.31</td>
<td>25.08%</td>
<td>$0.56</td>
<td>$1.25</td>
<td>13.77%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Gen Digital Inc</td>
<td>28.53</td>
<td>8.03</td>
<td>4.66</td>
<td>6.43%</td>
<td>$0.53</td>
<td>$0.81</td>
<td>4.77%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Monday.Com Ltd</td>
<td>314.17</td>
<td>14.67</td>
<td>15.95</td>
<td>2.57%</td>
<td>$0.01</td>
<td>$0.25</td>
<td>30.12%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CommVault Systems Inc</td>
<td>103.68</td>
<td>23.86</td>
<td>7.91</td>
<td>10.11%</td>
<td>$0.03</td>
<td>$0.23</td>
<td>23.17%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dolby Laboratories Inc</td>
<td>28.13</td>
<td>2.77</td>
<td>5.48</td>
<td>3.61%</td>
<td>$0.14</td>
<td>$0.33</td>
<td>1.38%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Qualys Inc</td>
<td>29.21</td>
<td>10.42</td>
<td>8.53</td>
<td>9.75%</td>
<td>$0.06</td>
<td>$0.13</td>
<td>9.67%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Progress Software Corp</td>
<td>49.16</td>
<td>6.07</td>
<td>3.27</td>
<td>2.51%</td>
<td>$0.07</td>
<td>$0.19</td>
<td>28.88%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Teradata Corp</td>
<td>15.82</td>
<td>13.50</td>
<td>1.28</td>
<td>30.24%</td>
<td>$0.09</td>
<td>$0.25</td>
<td>-10.11%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>N-able Inc</td>
<td>101.25</td>
<td>1.98</td>
<td>3.25</td>
<td>-0.93%</td>
<td>$0.01</td>
<td>$0.09</td>
<td>3.91%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Rapid7 Inc</td>
<td>56.39</td>
<td>28.17</td>
<td>1.72</td>
<td>5.98%</td>
<td>$0.02</td>
<td>$0.15</td>
<td>2.51%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Average</td>
<td>82.87</td>
<td>16.97</td>
<td>8.56</td>
<td>9.41%</td>
<td>$0.73</td>
<td>$1.46</td>
<td>11.8%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<style>
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 border-collapse: collapse;
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 font-size: 14px;
 }

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 text-align: left;
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 background-color: #f2f4f8;
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 .dividend-frequency {
 font-size: 12px;
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 </style>When conducting a detailed analysis of Microsoft, the following trends become clear: 
<ul>
<li>
The Price to Earnings ratio of 38.44 is 0.46x lower than the industry average, indicating potential undervaluation for the stock.
</li>
<li>
With a Price to Book ratio of 11.49, significantly falling below the industry average by 0.68x, it suggests undervaluation and the possibility of untapped growth prospects.
</li>
<li>
With a relatively high Price to Sales ratio of 13.76, which is 1.61x the industry average, the stock might be considered overvalued based on sales performance.
</li>
<li>
The company has a lower Return on Equity (ROE) of 8.27%, which is 1.14% below the industry average. This indicates potential inefficiency in utilizing equity to generate profits, which could be attributed to various factors.
</li>
<li>
Compared to its industry, the company has higher Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) of $40.71 Billion, which is 55.77x above the industry average, indicating stronger profitability and robust cash flow generation.
</li>
<li>
The gross profit of $48.15 Billion is 32.98x above that of its industry, highlighting stronger profitability and higher earnings from its core operations.
</li>
<li>
The company's revenue growth of 13.27% is notably higher compared to the industry average of 11.8%, showcasing exceptional sales performance and strong demand for its products or services.
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Debt To Equity Ratio</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1751382021_0.png" alt="debt to equity" />
The debt-to-equity (D/E) ratio is a key indicator of a company's financial health and its reliance on debt financing.
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 evaluating Microsoft against its top 4 peers in terms of the Debt-to-Equity ratio, the following observations arise:
<ul>
<li>
When considering the debt-to-equity ratio, Microsoft exhibits a stronger financial position compared to its top 4 peers.
</li>
<li>
This indicates that the company has a favorable balance between debt and equity, with a lower debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, which can be perceived as a positive aspect by 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, Microsoft's performance is lower than industry peers, while its high EBITDA and gross profit margins indicate strong operational efficiency. The high revenue growth rate suggests Microsoft is expanding rapidly compared to competitors in the sector.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

Markets

Competitor Analysis: Evaluating Microsoft And Competitors In Software Industry

Apple Inc (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) became the first public company to pass the $1 trillion and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/22/01/24868424/apple-becomes-first-company-to-top-3-trillion-market-cap-analyst-says-rally-has-fur">$3 trillion market capitalization </a>milestones. 
The company is now one of three that are nearing the lucrative $4 trillion mark. A new poll predicts whether Apple will be the first to pass this new milestone.
What Happened: While Apple has been the first American company to pass many of the market capitalization milestones, NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>)<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/23/05/32630114/nvidia-becomes-ninth-company-to-hit-1-trillion-market-cap-who-could-be-next-to-join-elusive-club"> has gained significant value </a>in recent years and is currently the most valuable public company.
At the end of June, there were three publicly traded companies with market capitalizations of $3 trillion or more that would be the most likely to hit the $4 trillion milestone. Here are the companies and their market caps at the end of June:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Nvidia Corporation: $3.852 trillion</li>
<li>Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>): $3.697 trillion</li>
<li>Apple: $3.064 trillion</li>
</ul>
Benzinga recently polled social media followers to see which company they believe will hit the $4 trillion market capitalization first.
"Which company do YOU think will be the first to reach a $4 trillion market cap?" Benzinga asked.
The results on Instagram were:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Nvidia: 79%</li>
<li>Microsoft: 14%</li>
<li>Apple: 7%</li>
</ul>
Benzinga ran the same poll on Threads, with readers having the following results:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Nvidia: 79%</li>
<li>Microsoft: 17%</li>
<li>Apple: 4%</li>
</ul>
Overall, Nvidia significantly won the polls with nearly 80% of the vote, ranking well ahead of the other two companies. This result comes with Nvidia currently in the market capitalization lead, but often trading places with Microsoft in recent months.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/06/45932660/exclusive-sp-500-new-all-time-highs-again-2025">EXCLUSIVE: S&amp;P 500 To Hit New All-Time Highs Again In 2025? Majority Say Yes, 27% Predict This Range</a>
Why It's Important: Nvidia also wins the poll with the most significant return over the last one year and five years. Here are the current year-to-date, one-year, and five-year returns of the three companies based on June 30 prices.
<figure class="wp-block-table"> 
<table class="has-fixed-layout">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Company</td>
<td>Year-to-Date</td>
<td>One-Year</td>
<td>Five-Year</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Nvidia</td>
<td>+14.2% </td>
<td>+27.1% </td>
<td>+1,544.0% </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Microsoft</td>
<td>+18.8% </td>
<td>+8.9% </td>
<td>+141.2% </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Apple</td>
<td>-15.9% </td>
<td>-5.3% </td>
<td>+125.4% </td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Compare those returns to the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SPY#NYSE">SPY</a>), which tracks the S&amp;P 500. The ETF is up 5.7% year-to-date and has returned 13.3% over the last year and 97.9% over the last five years.
Nvidia has rapidly risen in value and just became a $1 trillion company in May 2023. In less than two years after hitting that milestone, the company was the most valuable in the world.
Another <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/06/45973429/trump-wants-babies-to-get-1000-to-invest-at-birth-this-maginicent-7-stock-tops-poll-for-18-year-growth">recent Benzinga poll </a>asked readers to pick which magnificent seven stock they would invest $1,000 in for the next 18 years, based on President Donald Trump's proposal for $1,000 investing accounts for newborns.
Nvidia won that poll with 21% of the vote. Apple ranked second with 17% and Microsoft tied for fifth place with 12% of the vote.
Nvidia continues to be a favorite stock among retail investors, with AI continuing to be a large theme and companies looking to the semiconductor company for new chips and products to help them grow in the sector.
Read Next: 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/education/25/06/46121981/if-you-invested-1000-in-nvidia-stock-at-ipo-heres-how-much-youd-have-now-2">If You Invested $1,000 In Nvidia Stock At IPO, Here&#8217;s How Much You&#8217;d Have Now</a></li>
</ul>
The study was conducted by Benzinga from June 27, 2025, through June 28, 2025. It included the responses of a diverse population of social media followers. Opting into the survey was completely voluntary, with no incentives offered to potential respondents. The study reflects results from 4,160 people on Instagram and 47 people on Threads.
Image: Shutterstock

Exclusives

Nvidia Vs. Microsoft Vs. Apple: Which Stock Reaches $4 Trillion First?

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) has had a bruising start to 2025, with its stock down about 18% year-to-date and underperforming the broader stock market by 22%—its worst <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/education/25/05/45675595/apple-eyes-worst-month-vs-sp-500-since-2018-but-history-says-buy-the-dip-now">half-year stretch since 2013.</a> 
But as July kicks off, investors may find a surprisingly bullish signal in an unexpected place: the calendar.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Why Has Apple Struggled So Much In 2025?</h3>
The first half of the year was defined by a perfect storm for Apple—trade tensions, delays in product innovation and a growing AI gap all chipped away at investor confidence.
One of the biggest headwinds came from President Donald Trump&#8216;s renewed tariff agenda. In 2024, Apple generated 64% of its total revenue from overseas, with Greater China and Europe being among its most profitable regions. But in early 2025, trade-related uncertainty soured consumer sentiment abroad, especially in China.
The numbers confirm it: in the first quarter of 2025, Apple's revenue from Greater China dropped 13% year-over-year to $16.37 billion, down from $18.25 billion during the same quarter of 2024. Local rivals, such as Huawei and Xiaomi, gained market share, while demand for iPhones softened.
Then came Apple's AI problem. While Microsoft Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NYSE">MSFT</a>), Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>), and Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) captured market buzz with new AI-driven features and products, Apple offered few details.
With no firm AI roadmap and delays around the iPhone 17 and the Vision Pro international rollout, many investors began rotating out of Apple into higher-growth tech names like Nvidia, Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NASDAQ">PLTR</a>) Meta Platforms Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) and Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>)
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Can Apple Turn Things Around In July?</h3>
On the surface, Apple seems out of favor. But dig into the seasonality, and July could offer the kind of bullish argument that flips the narrative.
Apple's seasonal gains in July are unmatched. Over the past 20 years, the stock has ended July higher 17 times, with an average return of 7.6%. 
Even more impressive, Apple is riding a 9-year winning streak in July. The best performances came in 2022 (+18.9%) and 2006 (+18.6%). 
Expand the scope to 30 years, and the signal remains intact: Apple averaged a 7.3% gain in July, with a 77% win rate (23 positive closes out of 30).
The biggest drawdowns occurred in 2001 (-19.2%), 2002 (-13.9%), and 2008 (-5.1%)—but those were years defined by broader market crises. 
More recently, pullbacks have been minor, like -3.3% in 2015 or -0.6% in 2004.
Apple's relative performance versus the S&amp;P 500 in July has been positive in 77% of the past 30 years, with an average outperformance of 5.8%.
No other S&amp;P 500 stock has matched that consistency or magnitude over the same period.
In short, Apple hasn't just risen in July—it's crushed the market in July, time and time again. And with sentiment scraping cycle lows in 2025, history suggests July has often been Apple's golden window for a rebound.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table class="has-fixed-layout">
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Year</th>
<th>Apple July Return (%)</th>
<th>AAPL vs. S&amp;P 500 (%)</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>1994</td>
<td>27.12</td>
<td>+23.24</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1995</td>
<td>-3.10</td>
<td>-6.08</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1996</td>
<td>4.76</td>
<td>+9.78</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1997</td>
<td>22.81</td>
<td>+13.91</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1998</td>
<td>20.70</td>
<td>+22.12</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>1999</td>
<td>20.24</td>
<td>+24.22</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2000</td>
<td>-2.98</td>
<td>-1.37</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2001</td>
<td>-19.18</td>
<td>-18.13</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2002</td>
<td>-13.88</td>
<td>-6.53</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2003</td>
<td>10.60</td>
<td>+8.83</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2004</td>
<td>-0.61</td>
<td>+2.91</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2005</td>
<td>15.87</td>
<td>+11.84</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2006</td>
<td>18.67</td>
<td>+18.07</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2007</td>
<td>7.96</td>
<td>+11.53</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2008</td>
<td>-5.07</td>
<td>-4.13</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2009</td>
<td>14.72</td>
<td>+6.80</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2010</td>
<td>2.27</td>
<td>+8.85</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2011</td>
<td>16.33</td>
<td>+18.88</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2012</td>
<td>4.58</td>
<td>+3.28</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2013</td>
<td>14.12</td>
<td>+8.74</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2014</td>
<td>2.87</td>
<td>+4.45</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2015</td>
<td>-3.29</td>
<td>-5.16</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2016</td>
<td>9.01</td>
<td>+3.75</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2017</td>
<td>3.27</td>
<td>+1.96</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2018</td>
<td>2.80</td>
<td>+3.58</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2019</td>
<td>7.64</td>
<td>+1.40</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2020</td>
<td>16.51</td>
<td>+6.08</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2021</td>
<td>6.50</td>
<td>+2.37</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2022</td>
<td>18.86</td>
<td>+9.92</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2023</td>
<td>1.28</td>
<td>+3.06</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2024</td>
<td>5.44</td>
<td>+1.18</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
<tfoot>
<tr>
<td>Average gain</td>
<td>7.3%</td>
<td>5.8%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Win ratio</td>
<td>77%</td>
<td>71%</td>
</tr>
</tfoot>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Source: Author&#8217;s own elaboration based on TradingView data</figcaption></figure>
Read Next:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46180484/nvidia-palantir-tech-stocks-to-buy-q3-2025-sectors">Nvidia, Palantir Fuel Historic Tech Rally — And It&#8217;s Far From Done</a></li>
</ul>
Photo: Shutterstock

Equities

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General

Premier League And Microsoft Anbounce Five-Year Strategic Partnership To Use AI To Personalize Fan Experience

Robinhood Markets Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HOOD#NASDAQ">HOOD</a>) has launched Stock Tokens, a groundbreaking offering that blends traditional stock market investing with blockchain technology, now available to European Union customers.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What Are Stock Tokens?</h2>
These tokens, derivatives tracked on the blockchain, mirror the prices of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/25/06/46174854/robinhood-just-made-crypto-simpler-and-way-more-powerful">over 200 U.S. stocks and ETFs</a>, including giants like Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), 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>), providing exposure to the U.S. market without owning the actual stocks.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How And When Can EU Users Trade Stock Tokens?</h2>
To trade, users must sign up, provide a tax identification number, complete a knowledge check, and agree to the terms.
Stock Tokens are accessible via the Explore tab on Robinhood's app, where users can search by ticker or name, place buy or sell orders in quantities or EUR values, and review orders on the Stock Token Detail Page.
Funds from sales are available for trading instantly but require a one-business-day hold for withdrawals.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What Are The Charges To Trade Stock Tokens?</h2>
Stock Tokens are traded in USD but automatically converted from euros with a minimal 0.10% FX fee, ensuring no hidden costs or commissions. Investors can start with just €1, trade 24/5 from Monday 2 a.m. CET/CEST to Saturday 2 a.m. CET/CEST, and even earn dividends when eligible.
The tokens, issued via Arbitrum and soon Robinhood's own Layer 2 blockchain, are held securely by a U.S.-licensed institution under MiFID II regulations.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">How Do Corporate Actions Affect Stock Tokens?</h2>
Corporate actions like stock splits, mergers, or dividends affect tokens, with Robinhood handling adjustments automatically. Trading may pause during such events, with notifications via banners or pop-ups.
While offering flexibility and low costs, Stock Tokens carry risks, including potential capital loss, requiring users to assess their risk tolerance during onboarding.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Can Investors Trade Private Companies Via Stock Tokens?</h2>
Robinhood's initiative, including tokenized private company shares like OpenAI and SpaceX, aims to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/06/46186180/raoul-pal-says-robinhood-letting-users-trade-openai-spacex-through-blockchain-is-democratization-of-finance-end-of-public-vs-private-markets-has-begun">democratize finance</a>, leveraging blockchain for transparency and accessibility. With plans to expand to thousands of tokens by year-end, Robinhood is poised to reshape global investing 
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/25/06/46174854/robinhood-just-made-crypto-simpler-and-way-more-powerful">Robinhood Just Made Crypto Simpler — And Way More Powerful</a>
Price Action: HOOD shares were up 3.12% in after-hours on Monday after ending 12.77% higher at $93.63 apiece. It has risen by 137.40% on a year-to-date basis and 310.84% over the past year.
Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings shows that HOOD had a stronger price trend over the short, medium, and long term. Its momentum ranking was solid; however, its value ranking was poor at the 10.90th percentile. The details of other metrics are <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-4/#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">available here</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-4/#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="160" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/01032901/HOOD-EDGE-NEW-1024x160.png" alt="" class="wp-image-968025" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/01032901/HOOD-EDGE-NEW-1024x160.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/01032901/HOOD-EDGE-NEW-300x47.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/01032901/HOOD-EDGE-NEW-768x120.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/01032901/HOOD-EDGE-NEW.png 1162w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>
The 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 ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which track the S&amp;P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, ended higher on Monday. The SPY was up 0.48% at $617.85, while the QQQ advanced 0.65% to $551.64, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
After hitting fresh records on Friday and Monday, the futures of the S&amp;P 500, Nasdaq 100, and Dow Jones indices were trading lower on Tuesday.
Read Next:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/06/46186180/raoul-pal-says-robinhood-letting-users-trade-openai-spacex-through-blockchain-is-democratization-of-finance-end-of-public-vs-private-markets-has-begun">Raoul Pal Says Robinhood Letting Users Trade OpenAI, SpaceX Through Blockchain Is &#8216;Democratization Of Finance&#8217; — End Of Public Vs Private Markets Has Begun</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: dennizn / Shutterstock.com

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

Cryptocurrency

HOOD

What Are Stock Tokens And How To Trade Them? Robinhood's New Offering Merges Owning Stocks With Blockchain Tech: Here's How It Works

Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) and Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) are poised to become the first companies to reach a $4 trillion market cap, driven by the burgeoning demand for artificial intelligence (AI), predicts Dan Ives, the global head of technology research at Wedbush Securities.
What Happened: Ives credits the impressive comeback of these two tech giants to ongoing innovation in AI and their significant investments in AI infrastructure. He predicts that Nvidia and Microsoft will reach a $4 trillion market cap this summer, with attention soon turning toward the $5 trillion mark within the next 18 months, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/30/analyst-dan-ives-says-it-will-be-the-summer-of-4-trillion-market-caps-for-surging-tech-giants.html">reported</a> CNBC.
Despite a rocky start to the year due to concerns over China export controls and global tariff issues, both companies have seen a significant rebound in their stock performance. This is largely due to the ongoing AI innovation and substantial investments in AI infrastructure. Ives mentioned that Nvidia and Microsoft are &#8220;foundational pieces&#8221; in the ongoing AI revolution.
Both companies are projected to reach the $4 trillion market cap milestone this summer, with the focus then shifting to the $5 trillion mark over the next 18 months. Ives believes that the tech bull market is still &#8220;in its early stages,&#8221; driven by the AI revolution.
The analyst is particularly optimistic about Nvidia&#8217;s impact on the AI ecosystem, estimating an $8 to $10 multiplier effect for every dollar spent on Nvidia across the tech ecosystem.
SEE ALSO: <a href="https://benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/06/46180055/bitcoin-steady-ethereum-xrp-dogecoin-turn-green-as-traders-bemoan-the-slowest-cycle-yet" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bitcoin Steady, Ethereum, XRP, Dogecoin Turn Green As Traders Bemoan &#8216;The Slowest Cycle Yet&#8217; &#8211; Benzinga</a>
Why It Matters: In late June, Nvidia&#8217;s stock price hit a new all-time high, with the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/content/46149573/nvidias-stock-price-hits-new-highs-this-is-whats-next">technical outlook </a>remaining robust. This surge was attributed to a combination of factors, including FOMO, results, analyst trends, institutional activity, and short-covering.
CEO Jensen Huang also identified robotics as Nvidia&#8217;s next <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46109838/nvidias-next-multitrillion-dollar-opportunity-jensen-huang-sees-great-potential-here-stopped-thinking-of-ourselves-as-a-chip-company-long-ago">major growth</a> opportunity, following AI, at the company&#8217;s annual shareholders meeting.
Microsoft, on the other hand, has been solidifying its position as a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/06/46163176/microsoft-stock-could-soar-44-on-ai-boom-analyst-says-but-theres-a-catch">frontrunner </a>in monetizing AI, driving substantial gains for investors, according to a recent note from the Arora Report. Microsoft&#8217;s stock, on the other hand, could soar by 44% on the back of the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/06/46163176/microsoft-stock-could-soar-44-on-ai-boom-analyst-says-but-theres-a-catch">AI boom</a>.
In the second quarter of 2025, Wall Street&#8217;s tech darlings, including Nvidia and Microsoft, pushed sector benchmarks to one of their strongest quarterly gains on record, reigniting optimism for a continued <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46180484/nvidia-palantir-tech-stocks-to-buy-q3-2025-sectors">summer rally</a>.
Nvidia shares have been on a tear, hitting a new all-time high in late June and are expected to continue rising. On a year-to-date basis, the Microsoft stock surged 18.83%. 
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<li>READ MORE: <a href="https://benzinga.com/pressreleases/24/10/ab41310379/claritycheck-launches-innovative-reverse-lookup-tool-to-empower-users-against-digital-scams" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ClarityCheck Launches Innovative Reverse Lookup Tool to Empower Users Against Digital Scams &#8211; Benzinga</a> </li>
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Image via Shutterstock
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Nvidia, Microsoft On Track To Achieve $4 Trillion Market Cap, Says Analyst Dan Ives: 'Tech Bull Market Is Still Early'

On Monday, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) CEO Satya Nadella unveiled an AI system that outperforms human doctors in diagnosing complex medical cases, signaling a major leap toward &#8220;medical superintelligence.&#8221;
What Happened: Microsoft detailed two major advances: SDBench and MAI-DxO in a blog post titled, "The Path to Medical Superintelligence."
SDBench: This tool uses 304 case studies from the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) and turns them into interactive diagnostic simulations. The AI must think critically, ask questions, order tests and weigh the costs—much like a real-life doctor.
MAI-DxO: This is a model-agnostic orchestrator that simulates a panel of virtual physicians. It achieved 85.5% diagnostic accuracy, which is four times higher than experienced human doctors, while also reducing diagnostic costs.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46136541/elon-musk-backs-satya-nadellas-view-that-ai-must-produce-socially-useful-results-the-real-question-in-the-next-five-years-is">Elon Musk Backs Satya Nadella&#8217;s View That AI Must Produce &#8216;Socially Useful&#8217; Results: &#8216;The Real Question In The Next Five Years Is&#8230;&#8217;</a>
"Excited to share two advances that bring us closer to real-world impact in healthcare AI," Nadella posted on X, formerly Twitter. "Together, these advances offer a blueprint for how AI can help deliver precision and efficiency in healthcare."
<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">Excited to share two advances that bring us closer to real-world impact in healthcare AI: SDBench introduces a new benchmark that transforms 304 NEJM cases into interactive diagnostic simulations. AI must ask questions, order tests, and weigh costs, mirroring the complexity of… <a href="https://t.co/lASC4hK730">pic.twitter.com/lASC4hK730</a>
&mdash; Satya Nadella (@satyanadella) <a href="https://twitter.com/satyanadella/status/1939736687539802155?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Microsoft admitted that this technology isn't ready to be used in real medical settings yet. The "orchestrator" still needs more testing, especially to see how well it handles everyday symptoms and routine cases, the company said.
Mustafa Suleyman, head of Microsoft AI, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jun/30/microsoft-ai-system-better-doctors-diagnosing-health-conditions-research">told</a> The Guardian: "It's pretty clear that we are on a path to these systems getting almost error-free in the next 5-10 years. It will be a massive weight off the shoulders of all health systems around the world."
Why It's Important: In the third week of June 2025, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/06/46140911/healthcare-ai-draws-major-funding-bucking-market-uncertainty">investors poured significant capital</a> into AI startups and acquisitions, signaling strong confidence in artificial intelligence despite wider market uncertainty.
Major funding rounds included NYC's Tennr, which raised $101 million to advance AI-driven clinical intelligence and RevelAi Health, which secured $3.1 million for predictive medical tools aimed at better patient outcomes and lower costs.
Data analytics also saw big wins: PreciseDx landed $11 million to expand its AI-powered diagnostic imaging, while Typedef attracted $5.5 million to make complex analytics more accessible for businesses.
Price Action: Microsoft (MSFT) shares edged up 0.30% during Monday's regular trading session but slipped slightly by 0.012% in after-hours trading, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro data</a>. The stock has climbed 18.83% so far this year and is up 8.81% over the past 12 months.
Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings show that MSFT maintains a solid upward price trend in the short, medium, and long term. However, while its momentum remains strong, its value ranking is comparatively weaker. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-4/#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">More detailed performance metrics are available here</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-4/#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/01025950/Screenshot-2025-07-01-at-12.08.12%E2%80%AFPM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-967965" /></a></figure>
Photo Courtesy: katuSka on Shutterstock.com
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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.

Health Care

Satya Nadella Says Microsoft's AI 'Orchestrator' Beats Human Doctors On Tough Diagnoses —  What This Means For The Future of Healthcare

The Gates Foundation Trust, founded by the billionaire Bill Gates, has a portfolio valued at $41.806 billion, which is concentrated in these three stocks as of the end of the first quarter of 2025.
What Happened: The foundation has received donations from Gates and the Oracle of Omaha, Warren Buffett, since the year 2000 and 2006, respectively. Additionally, it reflects the approaches of both Gates and Buffett.
According to its 13F filings, the three major stock holdings in the foundation&#8217;s portfolio made up at least two-thirds or 66% of the fund&#8217;s holdings as of the first quarter of the ongoing calendar year.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table class="has-fixed-layout">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Company</td>
<td>Value (as of March 31)</td>
<td>% Of Holdings (as of March 31)</td>
<td>Number Of Shares</td>
<td>Change From Dec. 31, 2024 (in %)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>)</td>
<td>$10.682 billion</td>
<td>26%</td>
<td>28457247</td>
<td>0%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>)</td>
<td>$9.145 billion</td>
<td>22%</td>
<td>17172435</td>
<td>-13%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Waste Management Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WM#NYSE">WM</a>)</td>
<td>$7.462 billion</td>
<td>18%</td>
<td>32234344</td>
<td>0%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Microsoft Corp.</h3>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Microsoft stock has driven the Gates Foundation&#8217;s holdings to nearly $11 billion.</li>
<li>This surge is largely due to Microsoft&#8217;s dominant position in artificial intelligence, particularly through its Azure cloud platform and OpenAI investment.</li>
<li>Gates has steadily contributed Microsoft stock to the foundation since its inception in 2000.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Berkshire Hathaway Inc.</h3>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Buffett has also donated the Class B shares to the Gates Foundation since 2006, maintaining voting control by converting his Class A shares.</li>
<li>Despite a requirement for annual grant payouts, the foundation still holds 17.17 million Berkshire shares, valued at about $9.145 billion.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Waste Management Inc.</h3>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>The Gates Foundation Trust has held a stake in Waste Management since 2002, exemplifying Buffett&#8217;s value investing principles.</li>
<li>WM is a waste management, comprehensive waste, and environmental services company having a landfill portfolio at an operational scale.</li>
</ul>
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/06/46108861/microsoft-is-playing-chess-and-others-are-playing-checkers-dan-ives-says-msft-could-be-a-5-trillion-company-in-18-months">Microsoft Is &#8216;Playing Chess, And Others Are Playing Checkers:&#8217; Dan Ives Says MSFT Could Be A $5 Trillion Company In 18 Months</a>
Why It Matters: Microsoft has been under the analyst radar, as it has been receiving recent price target bumps and upgrades.
Microsoft's strategic initiatives, including the integration of Copilot into Office, Dynamics, and Teams, are significantly deepening subscription revenues, explained Nigam Arora <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/06/46163176/microsoft-stock-could-soar-44-on-ai-boom-analyst-says-but-theres-a-catch">in his recent report</a>. 
He added that Microsoft's cloud computing arm, Aruzre, remained a compelling growth driver, exhibiting double-digit growth that is currently outstripping competitors and maintaining healthy margins.
Meanwhile, Wedbush analyst Dan Ives has said that the &#8220;massive adoption wave&#8221; of AI-driven Azure services could propel Microsoft to become a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/06/46108861/microsoft-is-playing-chess-and-others-are-playing-checkers-dan-ives-says-msft-could-be-a-5-trillion-company-in-18-months">$5 trillion company</a> over the next 18 months. &#8211;
Price Action: MSFT shares were down 0.012% in after-hours on Monday after ending 0.30% higher at $497.41 apiece. It has risen by 18.83% on a year-to-date basis and 8.91% over the past year.
Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings shows that MSFT had a stronger price trend over the short, medium, and long term. Its momentum ranking was solid; however, its value ranking was poor at the 13.14th percentile. The details of other metrics are <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-4/#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">available here</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="145" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/01024005/MSFT-Edge-New-Latest-new-1024x145.png" alt="" class="wp-image-967921" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/01024005/MSFT-Edge-New-Latest-new-1024x145.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/01024005/MSFT-Edge-New-Latest-new-300x43.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/01024005/MSFT-Edge-New-Latest-new-768x109.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/01024005/MSFT-Edge-New-Latest-new.png 1162w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
The 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 ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>), which track the S&amp;P 500 index and Nasdaq 100 index, respectively, ended higher on Monday. The SPY was up 0.48% at $617.85, while the QQQ advanced 0.65% to $551.64, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a> data.
After hitting fresh records on Friday and Monday, the futures of the S&amp;P 500, Nasdaq 100, and Dow Jones indices were trading lower on Tuesday.
Read Next:
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</ul>
Photo courtesy: Alexandros Michailidis / Shutterstock.com

Bill Gates Is Betting Two-Thirds Of His Foundation's Portfolio In These 3 Stocks

Elon Musk&#8216;s xAI has successfully secured a massive $10 billion in fresh debt and equity. This move is a bid to expand AI infrastructure through data centers, amidst intensifying industry competition.
What Happened: Musk&#8217;s xAI has completed a $5 billion debt raise alongside a separate $5 billion strategic equity investment, reported Reuters. 
Morgan Stanley (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MS#NYSE">MS</a>) said, in a post on X, that the debt raise includes financing of secured notes and term loans. The bank said the deal was oversubscribed and attracted prominent global debt investors. The equity investment is aimed at supporting xAI&#8217;s continued development of AI solutions, a data center, and its flagship Grok platform, the bank stated.
<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">Morgan Stanley is pleased to announce the successful completion of a $5 billion financing of Secured Notes and Term Loans for <a href="https://twitter.com/xai?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@xAI</a>, a leading innovator in artificial intelligence technology. This transaction, which was oversubscribed and included prominent global debt investors,… <a href="https://t.co/0QM5jruviN">pic.twitter.com/0QM5jruviN</a>
&mdash; Morgan Stanley (@MorganStanley) <a href="https://twitter.com/MorganStanley/status/1939768047780172184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
See Also: <a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/06/46163141/trump-says-hell-skip-trade-deals-set-global-tariffs-with-a-letter-pay-a-25-tariff-o">Trump Says He&#8217;ll Skip Trade Deals, Set Global Tariffs With A Letter: &#8216;Pay A 25% Tariff, Or 20%, Or 40 Or 50%&#8217;</a>
The company is also in talks to raise about $20 billion in equity, which would value the company at more than $120 billion, with some investors placing valuations as high as $200 billion.
Why It Matters: This recent development comes just weeks after reports emerged that xAI was <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/bonds/25/06/45853241/elon-musks-xai-seeks-5-billion-via-morgan-stanley-amid-trump-rift-and-2022-twitter-debt-hangover-report">rapidly exhausting its financial reserves</a>, with estimates suggesting a staggering monthly expenditure of approximately $1 billion. This underscores the extraordinary capital demands of developing sophisticated <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/opinion/25/06/46036767/musks-xai-reportedly-burns-1-billion-monthly-why-that-matters-to-ai-investors">AI systems</a> in today&#8217;s fiercely competitive landscape, raising crucial questions for investors regarding the long-term viability of AI startups operating outside the umbrella of tech giants with deep pockets.
According to an earlier report, xAI had also been in talks to raise $4.3 billion through an equity investment on top of its $5 billion debt funding plans. This move, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45413741/elon-musk-wants-a-proper-value-for-xai-after-6-billion-raise-100000-gpus-and-a-quiet-100-million-deal-most-missed">coupled with</a> the recent debt and equity raise, signifies xAI&#8217;s aggressive pursuit of capital to stay ahead in the AI arms race.
Meanwhile, the AI industry has been witnessing significant shifts, with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45943342/google-microsoft-elon-musks-xai-reportedly-cut-ties-with-scale-ai-after-mark-zuckerbergs-meta-buys-stake">major players like</a> Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>) (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>) and Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) making strategic moves to advance their AI capabilities. This latest development from xAI is expected to further intensify the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/02/43761023/elon-musks-xai-to-unveil-grok-3-on-monday-as-ai-race-with-chatgpt-parent-openai-and-chinas-deepseek-heats-up">competition</a> in the industry. 
Photo Courtesy: JRdes on Shuttertsock.com
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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Elon Musk's xAI Secures $10 Billion In Debt And Equity Amid Soaring Burn Rate As AI Arms Race Intensifies

French President Emmanuel Macron sharply criticized powerful nations using tariffs as &#8220;blackmail&#8221; instruments on Monday, delivering his strongest rebuke as the European Union scrambles to reach a deal with the United States before a looming July 9 deadline.
What Happened: Speaking at the International Conference on Financing for Development in Seville, Spain, Macron called trade wars an &#8220;aberration&#8221; without directly naming Trump or the United States. His comments came as EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned that &#8220;all options remain on the table&#8221; in ongoing negotiations with Washington.
According to Reuters, Macron said, &#8220;we need to restore freedom and equity to international trade, much more than barriers and tariffs, which are devised by the strongest, and which are often used as instruments of blackmail, not at all as instruments of rebalancing&#8221;
Trump unveiled sweeping global tariffs in April, threatening duties ranging from 10% to 50% on imports before partially reversing course with 90-day extensions. The current EU tariff structure includes 10% on most goods, 25% on automobiles, and 50% on steel and aluminum. Without a deal by July 9, all EU products could face 50% tariffs.
SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/broad-u-s-equity-etfs/25/06/46180782/trumps-tariff-clock-ticks-but-taco-traders-arent-losing-their-cool">Trump&#8217;s Tariff Clock Ticks, But &#8216;TACO&#8217; Traders Aren&#8217;t Losing Their Cool</a>
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt rejected Macron&#8217;s characterization, calling tariffs &#8220;an effective tool to rebuild U.S. manufacturing.&#8221; She said Trump &#8220;is going to do what&#8217;s right for our people and our country,&#8221; according to the report.
Why It Matters: The tariff dispute has already roiled European markets. In May, when <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/economics/macro-economic-events/25/05/45585283/trump-tariff-threat-hits-europe-stocks-sink-as-50-duties-loom">Trump threatened</a> 50% EU duties, the Euro STOXX 50 dropped 3%, with major exporters taking heavy losses. Deutsche Bank AG (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DB#NYSE">DB</a>) fell 6.1%, while luxury brands like LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LVMUY#OTC">LVMUY</a>), which derives 25% of revenue from the U.S., faced significant pressure.
Technology ETFs with European exposure, including the iShares Europe ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IEV#NYSE">IEV</a>) and Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VGK#NYSE">VGK</a>), remain vulnerable to escalating trade tensions. German software giant SAP SE (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SAP#NYSE">SAP</a>) generates 40% of revenue from North America, while Dutch chipmaker ASML Holding NV (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ASML#NASDAQ">ASML</a>) earns 20-25% from U.S. sales.
The UN trade agency warned Trump&#8217;s tariffs could devastate developing nations, with countries like Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar facing some of the highest levies. Macron specifically criticized imposing tariffs on nations &#8220;just beginning their economic takeoff.&#8221;
Internal EU divisions complicate negotiations. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/06/46134994/eu-ready-for-a-deal-with-us-but-all-options-remain-on-the-table-says-von-der-leyen">German Chancellor</a> Friedrich Merz favors a swift, simple deal, while Macron argues that accepting imbalanced terms would undermine Europe&#8217;s long-term competitiveness. The French president previously urged European companies to suspend U.S. investments until clarity emerges.
EU officials have prepared a $108 billion <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/broad-u-s-equity-etfs/25/05/45591555/trump-targets-eu-apple-with-tariff-threats-etfs-could-feel-the-heat">retaliatory package</a> targeting U.S. digital services and financial systems, echoing 2018 countermeasures that hit swing-state exports including bourbon and motorcycles. Major U.S. tech companies like Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>), Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOGL#NASDAQ">GOOGL</a>), and Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) faces regulatory scrutiny that could intensify amid trade tensions.
With eight days remaining before the deadline, both sides signal readiness to negotiate while maintaining hardline positions, setting up a high-stakes diplomatic and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/46163327/trump-starmer-trade-deal-kicks-in-uk-luxury-cars-get-10-tariff-rolls-royce-engines-fly-duty-free-into-us">economic showdown</a>.
READ MORE: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/06/46107720/trump-family-backed-world-liberty-financial-plans-to-launch-a-new-app-that-will-make-it-easy-for-lay-investors-to-use-crypto">Trump Family-Backed World Liberty Financial Plans To Launch A New App That Will Make It Easy For Lay Investors To Use Crypto</a>
Photo Courtesy: Frederic Legrand &#8211; COMEO on Shutterstock.com
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Politics

ASML

LVMUY

Emmanuel Macron Calls Tariffs 'Blackmail,'  White House Shoots Back Saying Trump Is 'Doing What's Right For Our People'

Apple Inc.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46182769/what-happened-with-apple-stock-today">stock bump on Monday</a> shows just how eagerly investors are waiting for signs that the company is serious about artificial intelligence, according to Deepwater Asset Management's Gene Munster.
What Happened: Shares of Apple rose 2.03% on Monday — outperforming the broader Nasdaq — after a report emerged that the tech giant is exploring using large language models from OpenAI or Anthropic to power a revamped version of Siri by spring 2026.
Following this, Munster took to X, formerly Twitter, and said the "move is testimony to how low the investor AI bar is for AAPL."
See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/45830549/pierre-ferragu-takes-apple-to-task-for-dismissing-the-ai-revolution-has-its-head-in-the-sand" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pierre Ferragu Takes Apple To Task For Dismissing The AI Revolution: ‘Has Its Head In The Sand&#8217;</a>
Munster also said that &#8220;the iPhone bar is low.&#8221; Apple's biggest moneymaker is still the iPhone, but Wall Street analysts aren't expecting big growth: just 1% growth in iPhone sales in the financial year 25 and 4% the year after.
&#8220;The next few quarters should benefit from upgrades following that monster 39% iPhone growth in FY21,&#8221; he said.
<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"><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24AAPL&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$AAPL</a> is well positioned for the back half of the year, driven by AI chatter and anticipated iPhone growth. &#x27a1;&#xFE0F;The stock finished up 2% today (Nasdaq up 0.5%) on Mark Gurman&#39;s report that Apple is doing everything they can to meet the spring 2026 Siri launch. Specifically,…
&mdash; Gene Munster (@munster_gene) <a href="https://twitter.com/munster_gene/status/1939787594143080630?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 30, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Why It's Important: Wall Street has <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/media/25/05/45486193/why-is-apple-still-behind-on-ai-expert-dissects-reasons-behind-iphone-maker-lagging-likes-of-microsoft-and-amazon-despite-poaching-googles-ai-chief">been skeptical about Apple's AI strategy</a>, especially as competitors like 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>) Google, Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) and Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>), aggressively push new AI features.
Reports have also surfaced suggesting <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46041473/apple-eyes-perplexity-ai-acquisition-while-facing-shareholder-lawsuit-over-exaggerated-ai-progress-report">Apple was considering</a> a deal to acquire Perplexity AI. However, the startup says it has no information about any such discussions taking place.
Apple currently has a consensus price target of $231.44, based on the ratings from 32 analysts. The latest analyst ratings, from JP Morgan, Morgan Stanley and Wedbush, have an average price target of $245, indicating a potential upside of 19.26%.
Price Action: According to <a href="http://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro data</a>, Apple's stock is down 15.86% so far this year and has slipped 5.34% over the last 12 months.
Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings indicate that Apple's shares continue to trend lower across short, medium and long-term periods. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound">Additional performance details can be found here</a>.
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-2#:~:text=Turn%20Market%20Chaos,when%20markets%20rebound"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/30234055/Screenshot-2025-07-01-at-9.09.56%E2%80%AFAM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-967740" /></a></figure>
Photo courtesy: jamesteohart / Shutterstock.com
Read Next:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45489038/us-stocks-likely-to-open-lower-after-moodys-downgrade-bear-market-isnt-fully-recovered-yet-but-it-is-close-says-expert" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">US Stocks Likely To Open Lower After Moody&#8217;s Downgrade: ‘Bear Market Isn&#8217;t Fully Recovered Yet, But It Is Close,&#8217; Says Expert</a></li>
</ul>
Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Apple Investors Have Shockingly Low AI Expectations, Says Gene Munster — Siri Upgrade Rumors Alone Fueled A 2% Stock Jump

Whales with a lot of money to spend have taken a noticeably bullish 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 173 trades.
If we consider the specifics of each trade, it is accurate to state that 44% of the investors opened trades with bullish expectations and 43% with bearish.
From the overall spotted trades, 52 are puts, for a total amount of $3,753,662 and 121, calls, for a total amount of $89,012,502.
<h3>Projected Price Targets</h3>
After evaluating the trading volumes and Open Interest, it's evident that the major market movers are focusing on a price band between $180.0 and $700.0 for Microsoft, spanning the last three months.
<h3>Volume &amp; Open Interest Trends</h3>
In today's trading context, the average open interest for options of Microsoft stands at 2669.71, with a total volume reaching 130,786.00. The accompanying chart delineates the progression of both call and put option volume and open interest for high-value trades in Microsoft, situated within the strike price corridor from $180.0 to $700.0, throughout the last 30 days.
<h3>Microsoft Option Activity Analysis: Last 30 Days</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1751313670_0.png" alt="Options Call Chart" />
<h3>Significant Options Trades Detected:</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>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/18/25</td>
<td>$135.35</td>
<td>$133.45</td>
<td>$135.25</td>
<td>$365.00</td>
<td>$3.1M</td>
<td>739</td>
<td>240</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MSFT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>03/20/26</td>
<td>$134.75</td>
<td>$133.3</td>
<td>$134.75</td>
<td>$380.00</td>
<td>$3.0M</td>
<td>636</td>
<td>2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MSFT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$16.8</td>
<td>$16.75</td>
<td>$16.8</td>
<td>$510.00</td>
<td>$840.0K</td>
<td>6.1K</td>
<td>611</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MSFT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/18/25</td>
<td>$7.3</td>
<td>$7.2</td>
<td>$7.3</td>
<td>$500.00</td>
<td>$434.3K</td>
<td>12.4K</td>
<td>2.1K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MSFT</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$149.05</td>
<td>$147.6</td>
<td>$149.05</td>
<td>$360.00</td>
<td>$417.3K</td>
<td>5.3K</td>
<td>33</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).
<h3>Present Market Standing of Microsoft</h3>
<ul>
<li>Trading volume stands at 13,370,590, with MSFT's price up by 0.5%, positioned at $498.44.</li>
<li>RSI indicators show the stock to be may be overbought.</li>
<li>Earnings announcement expected in 29 days.</li>
</ul>
<h3>What The Experts Say 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 $577.0.
Unusual Options Activity Detected: Smart Money on the Move
Benzinga Edge's Unusual Options board spots potential market movers before they happen. See what positions big money is taking on your favorite stocks. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premium/ideas/benzinga-edge-checkout/?t=Be8be9arja3be22bz20&amp;adType=benzinga-insights&amp;ad=options-activity&amp;campaign=wallstreetadvantage">Click here for access</a>. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Wedbush has decided to maintain their Outperform rating on Microsoft, which currently sits at a price target of $600. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Wells Fargo keeps a Overweight rating on Microsoft with a target price of $585. 
&#x2A; Consistent in their evaluation, an analyst from Citigroup keeps a Buy rating on Microsoft with a target price of $605. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Morgan Stanley has decided to maintain their Overweight rating on Microsoft, which currently sits at a price target of $530. 
&#x2A; An analyst from Wells Fargo persists with their Overweight rating on Microsoft, maintaining a target price of $565. 
Options are a riskier asset compared to just trading the stock, but they have higher profit potential. Serious options traders manage this risk by educating themselves daily, scaling in and out of trades, following more than one indicator, and following the markets closely.
If you want to stay updated on the latest options trades for Microsoft, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">Benzinga Pro</a> gives you real-time options trades alerts.

Smart Money Is Betting Big In MSFT Options

In a quarter that began with fears of a tech wreck following President Donald Trump&#8216;s sweeping tariff announcements, Wall Street&#8217;s tech darlings pushed sector benchmarks to one of their strongest quarterly gains on record, reigniting optimism for <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech">a continued summer rally</a>.
The Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/XLK#NYSE">XLK</a>), which tracks the broader tech sector, soared 22% during the second quarter of 2025. 
That marked its best quarterly performance since the second quarter of 2020, when central banks pumped liquidity into the system to combat the COVID-19 crisis, and its second-best quarter since the aftermath of the dot-com collapse in 2002.
From the April lows—hit just after Trump&#8217;s tariff policies were unveiled—the XLK has rocketed 45%, registering its strongest 13-week rally since June 2020 and second-best since the ETF was launched in 1998.
<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Chart: Tech Stocks Log Historic Quarter </h3>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="528" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/30145340/image-448-1024x528.png" alt="" class="wp-image-967444" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/30145340/image-448-1024x528.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/30145340/image-448-300x155.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/30145340/image-448-768x396.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/30145340/image-448-1536x792.png 1536w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/30145340/image-448-2048x1056.png 2048w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">5 Stocks Drove Over Half Of XLK&#8217;s Historic Rally</h2>
Five stocks were responsible for about two thirds of the tech sector&#8217;s total return during the quarter.
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) was the single most important contributor. Shares of the AI darling jumped 43.2%, contributing 537 basis points, or 5.37%, to XLK&#8217;s quarterly performance thanks to its 14.6% weight. </li>
<li>Microsoft Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NYSE">MSFT</a>) followed closely. With a 14.24% weighting, it added 420 basis points to the index through a 31.8% price gain.</li>
<li>Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AVGO#NASDAQ">AVGO</a>) climbed 62.2%, contributing 229 basis points to the sector performance. </li>
<li>Oracle Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ORCL#NASDAQ">ORCL</a>) delivered a 56.5% return in the quarter, driving 154 basis points of performance for XLK.</li>
<li>Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PLTR#NYSE">PLTR</a>) rocketed 59.7%, responsible for 141 basis points of the sector&#8217;s rise. The rally coincides with the software company&#8217;s expansive role within the Trump administration (Palantir <a href="https://sam.gov/opp/f71acee6010c423db4902446a59a690c/view" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">received</a> a <a href="https://www.fpds.gov/ezsearch/fpdsportal?q=PIID:%2270CTD022FR0000170%22&amp;s=FPDS.GOV&amp;templateName=1.5.3&amp;indexName=awardfull&amp;x=0&amp;y=0&amp;sortBy=SIGNED_DATE&amp;desc=Y" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">$30 million</a> contract to develop a tracking platform to aid Immigration and Customs Enforcement).</li>
</ul>
Together, these five stocks delivered 14.81 percentage points, accounting for nearly 67% of the XLK's total quarterly return.
Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46081553/nvidia-stock-forecast-trump-china-golden-cross-ai">Nvidia&#8217;s Big Moment Is Back—Stock Exploded 500% The Last Time This Happened </a>
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table class="has-fixed-layout">
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Company</th>
<th>Q2 Price Return</th>
<th>XLK Weight</th>
<th>Contribution to XLK&#8216;s quarterly performance</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Nvidia Corp. </td>
<td>+43.2%</td>
<td>14.56%</td>
<td>+537 basis points (5.37%)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Microsoft Corp.</td>
<td>+31.8%</td>
<td>14.24%</td>
<td>+420 basis points (4.20%)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Broadcom Inc.</td>
<td>+62.2%</td>
<td>4.89%</td>
<td>+229 basis points (2.29%)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Oracle Corp.</td>
<td>+56.5%</td>
<td>3.48%</td>
<td>+154 basis points (1.54%)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Palantir Technologies Inc. </td>
<td>+59.7%</td>
<td>3.08%</td>
<td>+141 basis points (1.41%)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Total (Top 5 Contributors)</td>
<td>—</td>
<td>40.25%</td>
<td>+1,481 basis points (14.81%)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Source: Author&#8217;s own elaboration based on Koyfin data</figcaption></figure>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What To Expect For Tech Stocks In Q3? History Says: Watch July</h2>
While the third quarter is generally positive for tech, the gains tend to show up early. 
According to Seasonax data, looking at last 20 years the XLK has averaged a 2.7% gain from July 1 to October 1, with gains in 14 of those years.
However, recent third quarters haven't been kind. In 2022, the ETF fell 3.9%. In 2023, it dropped 4.5%. In 2024, it slid another 3.7%.
July, on the other hand, tells a different story. 
It's historically the strongest month for tech. XLK has averaged a 2.86% return in July over the past two decades, with gains in 76% of those years.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Golden Cross Signal May Support The Trend</h2>
On June 30, the XLK triggered a golden cross, a bullish technical setup where the 50-day moving average crosses above the 200-day average. It often signals the start of a longer-term uptrend.
A backtest of this strategy—buying on the golden cross and selling on the next death cross—shows solid historical performance since 2009. 
Only one of the nine trades posted a loss. Most produced double-digit returns, particularly during strong bull markets. The latest signal adds another reason to believe this rally could extend through the summer—at least for now.
<figure class="wp-block-table is-style-stripes"> 
<table class="has-fixed-layout">
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Buy Date</th>
<th>Sell Date</th>
<th>Buy Price</th>
<th>Sell Price</th>
<th>Total Return</th>
<th>Annualized Return</th>
<th>Days Held</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>2009-06-02</td>
<td>2010-07-07</td>
<td>18.03</td>
<td>20.52</td>
<td>+13.8%</td>
<td>+12.2%</td>
<td>400</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2010-10-19</td>
<td>2011-08-05</td>
<td>23.79</td>
<td>24.65</td>
<td>+3.6%</td>
<td>+4.6%</td>
<td>290</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2011-12-12</td>
<td>2012-12-10</td>
<td>25.81</td>
<td>28.70</td>
<td>+11.2%</td>
<td>+10.3%</td>
<td>364</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2013-02-14</td>
<td>2015-08-27</td>
<td>29.71</td>
<td>40.14</td>
<td>+35.1%</td>
<td>+12.6%</td>
<td>925</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2015-11-27</td>
<td>2016-02-05</td>
<td>43.86</td>
<td>40.48</td>
<td>-7.7%</td>
<td>-34.0%</td>
<td>70</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2016-04-11</td>
<td>2018-12-03</td>
<td>44.08</td>
<td>69.64</td>
<td>+58.0%</td>
<td>+17.5%</td>
<td>967</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2019-04-02</td>
<td>2020-04-28</td>
<td>75.07</td>
<td>90.50</td>
<td>+20.6%</td>
<td>+18.5%</td>
<td>392</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2020-05-29</td>
<td>2022-03-16</td>
<td>97.04</td>
<td>147.99</td>
<td>+52.5%</td>
<td>+25.0%</td>
<td>656</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2023-02-24</td>
<td>2025-03-31</td>
<td>136.10</td>
<td>202.78</td>
<td>+49.0%</td>
<td>+22.4%</td>
<td>767</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
<tfoot>
<tr>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
<td>Average</td>
<td>+26.5%</td>
<td>+9.6%</td>
<td>537</td>
</tr>
</tfoot>
</table>
<figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Source: Author&#8217;s own elaboration based on TradingView data</figcaption></figure>
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In the fast-paced and cutthroat world of business, conducting thorough company analysis is essential for investors and industry experts. In this article, we will undertake a comprehensive industry comparison, evaluating Microsoft (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) in comparison to its major competitors within the Software industry. By analyzing crucial financial metrics, market position, and growth potential, our objective is to provide valuable insights for investors and offer a deeper understanding of company's performance in 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>38.33</td>
<td>11.45</td>
<td>13.72</td>
<td>8.27%</td>
<td>$40.71</td>
<td>$48.15</td>
<td>13.27%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Oracle Corp</td>
<td>48.44</td>
<td>28.88</td>
<td>10.50</td>
<td>18.43%</td>
<td>$6.83</td>
<td>$11.16</td>
<td>11.31%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ServiceNow Inc</td>
<td>138.73</td>
<td>20.89</td>
<td>18.62</td>
<td>4.66%</td>
<td>$0.72</td>
<td>$2.44</td>
<td>18.63%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Palo Alto Networks Inc</td>
<td>115.27</td>
<td>18.50</td>
<td>16.01</td>
<td>3.85%</td>
<td>$0.4</td>
<td>$1.67</td>
<td>15.33%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Fortinet Inc</td>
<td>42.43</td>
<td>40.21</td>
<td>12.98</td>
<td>25.08%</td>
<td>$0.56</td>
<td>$1.25</td>
<td>13.77%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Gen Digital Inc</td>
<td>28.43</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>4.64</td>
<td>6.43%</td>
<td>$0.53</td>
<td>$0.81</td>
<td>4.77%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Monday.Com Ltd</td>
<td>308.09</td>
<td>14.38</td>
<td>15.65</td>
<td>2.57%</td>
<td>$0.01</td>
<td>$0.25</td>
<td>30.12%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>CommVault Systems Inc</td>
<td>103.74</td>
<td>23.87</td>
<td>7.91</td>
<td>10.11%</td>
<td>$0.03</td>
<td>$0.23</td>
<td>23.17%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dolby Laboratories Inc</td>
<td>28.05</td>
<td>2.76</td>
<td>5.46</td>
<td>3.61%</td>
<td>$0.14</td>
<td>$0.33</td>
<td>1.38%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Qualys Inc</td>
<td>28.84</td>
<td>10.29</td>
<td>8.42</td>
<td>9.75%</td>
<td>$0.06</td>
<td>$0.13</td>
<td>9.67%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Progress Software Corp</td>
<td>50.20</td>
<td>6.35</td>
<td>3.51</td>
<td>2.51%</td>
<td>$0.07</td>
<td>$0.19</td>
<td>28.88%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Teradata Corp</td>
<td>15.55</td>
<td>13.26</td>
<td>1.26</td>
<td>30.24%</td>
<td>$0.09</td>
<td>$0.25</td>
<td>-10.11%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>N-able Inc</td>
<td>101.50</td>
<td>1.98</td>
<td>3.26</td>
<td>-0.93%</td>
<td>$0.01</td>
<td>$0.09</td>
<td>3.91%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Rapid7 Inc</td>
<td>55.37</td>
<td>27.66</td>
<td>1.69</td>
<td>5.98%</td>
<td>$0.02</td>
<td>$0.15</td>
<td>2.51%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Average</td>
<td>81.9</td>
<td>16.69</td>
<td>8.45</td>
<td>9.41%</td>
<td>$0.73</td>
<td>$1.46</td>
<td>11.8%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<style>
 table {
 width: 100%;
 border-collapse: collapse;
 font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
 font-size: 14px;
 }

 th, td {
 padding: 8px;
 text-align: left;
 }

 th {
 background-color: #293a5a;
 color: #fff;
 text-align: left;
 }

 tr:nth-child(even) {
 background-color: #f2f4f8;
 }

 tr:hover {
 background-color: #e1e4ea;
 }

 td:nth-child(3), td:nth-child(5) {
 text-align: left;
 }

 .dividend-amount {
 font-weight: bold;
 color: #0d6efd;
 }

 .dividend-frequency {
 font-size: 12px;
 color: #6c757d;
 }
 </style>By conducting a comprehensive analysis of Microsoft, the following trends become evident: 
<ul>
<li>
At 38.33, the stock's Price to Earnings ratio is 0.47x less than the industry average, suggesting favorable growth potential.
</li>
<li>
Considering a Price to Book ratio of 11.45, which is well below the industry average by 0.69x, the stock may be undervalued based on its book value compared to its peers.
</li>
<li>
The Price to Sales ratio of 13.72, which is 1.62x the industry average, suggests the stock could potentially be overvalued in relation to its sales performance compared to its peers.
</li>
<li>
The Return on Equity (ROE) of 8.27% is 1.14% below the industry average, suggesting potential inefficiency in utilizing equity to generate profits.
</li>
<li>
Compared to its industry, the company has higher Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) of $40.71 Billion, which is 55.77x above the industry average, indicating stronger profitability and robust cash flow generation.
</li>
<li>
The company has higher gross profit of $48.15 Billion, which indicates 32.98x above the industry average, indicating stronger profitability and higher earnings from its core operations.
</li>
<li>
The company is experiencing remarkable revenue growth, with a rate of 13.27%, outperforming the industry average of 11.8%.
</li>
</ul>
<h3>Debt To Equity Ratio</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1751295623_0.png" alt="debt to equity" />
The debt-to-equity (D/E) ratio is a measure that indicates the level of debt a company has taken on relative to the value of its assets net of liabilities.
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.
In terms of the Debt-to-Equity ratio, Microsoft stands in comparison with its top 4 peers, leading to the following comparisons:
<ul>
<li>
Microsoft demonstrates a stronger financial position compared to its top 4 peers in the sector.
</li>
<li>
With a lower debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, the company relies less on debt financing and maintains a healthier balance between debt and equity, which can be viewed positively by 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 and growth potential, outperforming industry peers.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

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