Overview
- Benchmark, which initiated coverage Tuesday, set a $450 Buy target and said heavy data‑center spending looks supported by long‑term cloud contracts and the value of Microsoft’s OpenAI stake.
- Microsoft shares have dropped roughly 23%–28% from October 2025 highs and have begun to steady, as 39% Azure growth and $625 billion in contracted future revenue point to firm demand.
- Microsoft confirmed a $5.5 billion plan for cloud and AI infrastructure in Singapore by 2029, and Bloomberg reported talks on a $7 billion Texas power plant to feed data centers.
- CISA told companies to harden Microsoft Intune and other endpoint management settings after a March 11 attack on Stryker’s Microsoft environment disrupted ordering and shipping but spared patient services.
- Analyst sentiment remains broadly positive with over 90% Buy ratings, even after UBS cut its target to $510 and kept Buy following investor meetings that flagged near‑term concerns about Copilot.