#microsoft

#microsoft

Analysts use discounted cash flow models to value companies. These models rely heavily on future cash flows and a "terminal value" which is how much the business is worth beyond the forecast period. For big tech companies investing big money into AI, that terminal number can look great, because they stand to benefit from their investments in the technology longer term.

As Wall Street obsessed over Microsoft's Azure growth rates and OpenAI accounting, LinkedIn quietly crossed $5 billion in quarterly revenue for the first time in the Redmond company's December quarter, up 11%. That puts the business social network on an annual run rate of more than $20 billion. LinkedIn is known for its recruiting tools and job postings, but given overall weakness in the job market, the latest growth is being fueled by LinkedIn Marketing Solutions, its advertising business.

In 2020, Microsoft President Brad Smith announced that the company would reduce its water consumption and even become "water positive" by 2030. This means that Microsoft would replenish more water than it consumes. At the time, this goal seemed achievable, but the rapid rise of generative AI has completely changed the playing field. The construction of new data centers has accelerated, and with it the need for water for cooling.

There have been rumors about Microsoft working on a free, ad-supported tier for its Xbox Cloud Gaming service, and now we have solid proof coming straight from Microsoft. Some users report that they've spotted a new message saying "1 hour of ad-supported playtime per session," although there's no such tier just yet. It's a clear sign that the company is preparing a free tier, confirming earlier rumors.

Expect this year to be filled with flux and uncertainty, thanks to lightning-fast changes wrought by AI, and by a Trump Administration that rules by whim and fiat rather than facts and law. So, I know it's something of a fool's game to make predictions about what the year ahead might bring for Microsoft. That said, I've never worried about being called a fool. So here are my five predictions for what Microsoft can expect in 2026.

Microsoft is removing its Lens scanner app from iOS and Android in the coming months. Microsoft Lens, or Office Lens as it's known to most, will no longer be supported on February 9th and the app won't be functional after March 9th. The portable scanner features of Lens are available in OneDrive instead, making a dedicated app redundant for Microsoft.

When large companies require employees to end remote work and return to the office (RTO), the effects typically ripple through local economies and nearby small businesses. There can be more foot traffic and spending at restaurants, cafés, and coffee shops as office workers take lunch breaks or visit shopping districts before or after their shifts. Convenience stores, dry cleaners, food trucks, and gyms can also see an uptick, leading to improved weekday sales and a steadier cash flow.

Hyperscalers added $121 billion in new debt in 2025, more than four times the average annual issuance over the prior five years. Doubts even began to surface that Microsoft was having trouble selling AI products , with a report claiming lowered sales growth targets for certain tools, though Microsoft denied that was true. Analysts, though, are still apparently quite bullish on Microsoft, and it may be difficult for anyone to catch them.

Customers have shared that this limit creates significant operational challenges, especially given the limited capabilities of bulk sending offerings available today. Your feedback matters, and we're committed to solutions that balance security and usability without causing unnecessary disruption.

"digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence."

However, unlike a normal Microsoft software release, the spawn of Wolfetone arrived ahead of schedule and, despite our reader professing delight at wearing "the second worst thing" in their wardrobe, the new arrival appears less than amused. "He seems to start crying when I attempt to hold him while wearing the jumper," Wolfetone told us. "Make of that what you will."

The wall-to-wall organizing effort at id Software was much needed; it's incredibly important that developers across the industry unite to push back on all the unilateral workplace changes that are being handed down from industry executives,

US tech giant Microsoft announced on Tuesday that it will invest $17.5 billion (15 billion) in India over the next four years as it looks to strengthen the country's cloud and artificial intelligence infrastructure. CEO Satya Nadella shared the news of Microsoft's largest-ever investment in Asia in a post on X after meeting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. Nadella said the multi-billion-dollar commitment is aimed at helping India develop the "infrastructure, skills, and sovereign capabilities" essential for an AI-driven future. Nadella is currently on a three-day visit to India, meeting policymakers and participating in AI-related events in Bengaluru the nation's technology center and Mumbai, its financial capital.

I think Alphabet and Microsoft can top that figure by the end of 2026. Here's what my prediction would mean for shareholders: Alphabet is currently worth $3.8 trillion. The stock must increase 29% for the company to achieve a market value of $4.9 trillion. Microsoft is currently worth $3.6 trillion. The stock must increase 36% for the company to achieve a market value of $4.9 trillion.

Microsoft provides "major services" to other Israeli ground, air, and naval forces despite widespread agreement among experts that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, according to the legal aid groups. The letter lists multiple examples, including Mamram, the Israeli military's central computing system and "weapons platform" that assisted the assault on Gaza with AI support and cloud services. Microsoft provided "rapid support" to Mamram during the initial months of the genocide to keep systems from crashing, according to the letter.

Billionaire Peter Thiel runs the hedge fund Thiel Macro and is known for playing a significant role in identifying growth stocks. Based on the recent 13F filing, Thiel sold his entire stake in artificial intelligence (AI) giant NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:NVDA) and reinvested the proceeds in Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL). While not everyone will agree with the move to abandon NVIDIA Corp. the other AI giants, Microsoft and Apple, are well positioned to benefit from the AI revolution and have made significant gains in the past few years.