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Bank of America Reinstates Microsoft With $500 Target on AI and Cloud

The call leans on Azure-led AI demand outpacing current capacity.

Overview

  • Bank of America, which reinstated coverage Tuesday, set a Buy rating and a $500 price target that implies about 31% upside based on an AI-and-cloud growth thesis.
  • BofA projects 15% to 17% annual revenue growth over the next three years and says heavy data center spending will squeeze margins before easing later in the cycle.
  • January results showed Azure up 39% year over year and a $625 billion commercial backlog, even as Microsoft said shifting servers to internal AI work has capped what it can sell to customers.
  • Copilot counted 15 million paying seats, and Melius Research labeled a recent Copilot reorganization a red flag for near-term revenue conversion.
  • Shares sit more than 20% below last fall’s peak, yet most analysts still rate the stock a Buy with an average target near $592.