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Google said on Thursday that it will defend users of generative artificial-intelligence systems in its Google Cloud and Workspace platforms if they are accused of intellectual property violations, joining Microsoft, Adobe and other companies that have made similar pledges.

Investors in Microsoft Corporation (Symbol: MSFT) saw new options begin trading today, for the December 1st expiration. At Stock Options Channel, our YieldBoost formula has looked up and down the MSFT options chain for the new December 1st contracts and identified one put and

To bolster generative AI capabilities, Adobe ADBE unveiled the next generation of Firefly models at the creativity conference, Adobe MAX.The company added Adobe Firefly Image 2 Model, Adobe Firefly Vector Model and Adobe Firefly D

Microsoft MSFT is facing a demand for $28.9 billion in back taxes from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which marks a significant escalation in one of the largest corporate tax disputes in recent times.Per a recent 8-K fil

In today's video, I discuss recent updates affecting Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ: AMD), Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), and other semiconductor companies. Check out the short video to learn more, consider subscribing, and click the special offer link below.

Below is Validea's guru fundamental report for MICROSOFT CORP (MSFT). Of the 22 guru strategies we follow, MSFT rates highest using our Twin Momentum Investor model based on the published strategy of Dashan Huang. This momentum model looks for a combination of fundamental moment

U.S. stocks closed higher on Wednesday as investors assessed minutes from the Fed’s September FOMC meeting and producer-price index reading that came in slightly higher than expectations. Also, treasury yields continued to retreat

When considering a dividend stock, it's well worth looking at how long it's been providing its payouts. While the past doesn't predict the future, a company that has a strong track record -- and whose prospects still look promising -- can make for a better investment than a busin

In today's video, I discuss recent updates impacting Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT). Check out the short video to learn more, consider subscribing, and click the special offer link below.

Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) has had an epic run so far in 2023, driven higher by the general recovery of the technology sector amid a broader market rally. Shares of the cloud computing and software specialist have gained 38% year to date (as of this writing), nearly triple the 13%

Nvidia's (NASDAQ: NVDA) stock closed at its all-time high of $493.51 on Aug. 31, 2023, which represented a stunning 227% gain over its previous 12 months. The company's stock soared as the growth of the artificial intelligence (AI) market sparked brisk sales of its high-end data

Despite the ongoing antitrust trial and macro uncertainty, shares of Google parent Alphabet ( NASDAQ:GOOGL , GOOG ) have risen more than 59% so far this year. Several analysts have recently expressed optimism about the company’s continued growth, supported by generative artificial intelligence (AI)-induced opportunities, continued innovation, and Google’s leadership in the Search space. Analysts Optimistic About GOOGL’s Growth Potential Google is facing an antitrust trial, with the Department of Justice (DOJ) accusing the internet giant of entering into deals with Apple ( NASDAQ:AAPL ) and several other companies to maintain its dominance as the leading internet search engine and thwart competition. While Monness analyst Brian White acknowledges the presence of regulatory headwinds and a dynamic competitive landscape, he reiterated a Buy rating on GOOGL stock with a price target of $160 on October 5 following the company’s “Made by Google” event. White noted that the company infused its new Pixel offerings with AI-powered experiences. At the event, the company unveiled the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro smartphones, which are powered by the new Google Tensor G3 chip and have more AI capabilities. Alphabet also launched Google Watch 2 with advanced health tracking features supported by AI. “Given Google’s storied history developing AI innovations, we believe the company has an opportunity to differentiate itself in mobile devices,” said White. Like White, Goldman Sachs analyst Eric Sheridan also reacted positively to the “Made by Google” event. He continues to view Alphabet as one of the “best-positioned” companies to seamlessly integrate AI features into its consumer-facing and enterprise-facing offerings. Sheridan reiterated a Buy rating on Alphabet stock with a price target of $154. Another GOOGL bull, Bank of America analyst Justin Post, reaffirmed a Buy rating on GOOGL stock on October 4 and increased the price target to $146 from $142. Post said that Statcounter's data revealed that Google's search market share declined slightly (27 basis points month-over-month and 84 basis points year-over-year) to 91.6% in September, but continues to be relatively stable since OpenAI’s ChatGPT was launched in late 2022. He added that the market share of Microsoft’s ( NASDAQ:MSFT ) Bing Search engine fell 2 basis points month-over-month and 44 basis points year-over-year to 3% in September. Post thinks that AI will be incrementally positive to Google's ad revenue in the second half of the year, fueled by the growing advertiser adoption of the Performance Max suite and the ramp of AI-driven offerings like dynamic keyword campaigns. With search growth accelerating, the analyst anticipates Google’s search business to enjoy solid margin leverage in the second half of 2023. Moreover, he expects cost efficiencies to drive upside to analysts’ estimates in 2024.    What is the Target Price of GOOGL Stock? With 31 Buys and four Holds, Google stock scores Wall Street’s Strong Buy consensus rating. The average price target of $150.85 implies 7.3% upside. Conclusion Several analysts recently reaffirmed their bullish stance on GOOGL stock due to AI-led prospects. In fact, in a research note on Tuesday, Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives said that his firm's proprietary generative AI survey identified Microsoft and Google as the early leaders in the AI race. Overall, Wall Street remains optimistic about GOOGL stock, backed by continued innovation, search engine dominance, growth potential in the cloud, and robust AI opportunities. Disclosure

(RTTNews) - Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) will appeal a decision by the US Internal Revenue Service or IRS that the software maker owes at least US$28.9 billion in taxes from 2004 to 2013.

Nvidia ( NASDAQ:NVDA ) is a leader in the semiconductor industry. Its high-end graphics processing units (GPUs) are wildly popular, fueling its revenue to staggering levels. The company has since then expanded into high-growth markets such as automotive, data centers, AI, and more. Its stock has seen remarkable gains of 227% year-to-date, overtaking the S&P 500’s ( SPX ) 13% gain. The strong demand for its GPU chips and its ability to evolve in this complex niche is why I am bullish on NVDA stock now. Analysts are bullish as well. Nvidia’s graphic processors are used in a variety of applications, ranging from computers to video game consoles. Their robust computing capabilities are essential for AI-focused tasks, playing a pivotal role in the success of OpenAI's ChatGPT and similar AI applications. Nvidia Shattered Q2 Estimates. The Future Looks Bright Nvidia reported an astounding 101% increase in revenue year-over-year to $13.5 billion for the second quarter ended July 30, 2023. Adjusted earnings per diluted share increased by a whopping 429% to $2.70, smashing the consensus estimate of $2.08 per share, and Data Center sales grew by 171% due to increased demand from cloud service providers. Meanwhile, its Gaming segment revenue grew by 22% in the quarter. Also, the personal computer (PC) market is showing signs of recovery, according to market research firm  Canalys, meaning more gaming revenue for Nvidia in the coming quarters. Owing to the heavy demand for H100 GPUs, Nvidia is working to boost the supply of these GPUs over the next few quarters. Hence, management expects revenue of $16 billion in Q3, driven by this strong demand. If the target is met, that would reflect an impressive 170% increase over the corresponding quarter a year ago. Each chip currently costs between $25,000 and $40,000. If demand stays strong, it could mean solid, consistent revenue for the company. Meanwhile, analysts predict Q3 revenue in the range of $12.2 billion to $19.1 billion, with the consensus coming in at $16 billion. Earnings per share could range from $2.38 to $3.69, according to analysts, with the consensus EPS estimate coming in at $3.32. The company has beat expectations for the past three consecutive quarters, and its next earnings release will be on November 21. Additionally, Nvidia closed Q2 with a sizeable cash balance of $16.0 billion and $8.46 billion in long-term debt. Its rapid growth in earnings should allow it to pay off the debt quickly. Free  cash flow in the quarter stood at $6.3 billion, a drastic jump from $837 million in the prior quarter. This surplus cash can be used to fund future projects. Risks and Rewards Nvidia continues to forge partnerships and collaborations to bolster its market presence and revenue growth potential. For instance, recently, it collaborated with Indian conglomerates Reliance Industries Limited and Tata Group to create AI supercomputers using NVDA's GH200 Grace Hopper Superchip and DGXTM Cloud technology. This collaboration might ensue AI-led transformations in the manufacturing, consumer, industrial, and telecommunications sectors. While the rewards seem enticing, there are also risks. According to  Reuters, OpenAI might look into creating its own AI chips to combat the scarcity of expensive AI chips. It may also intend to diversify its supplier base beyond Nvidia. Furthermore, Microsoft ( NASDAQ: MSFT ) is planning to launch its first AI chip, "Athena," next month during its annual developer conference for the same reasons, according to The Information. With rising competition in the AI niche, only time will tell how this tech titan will capitalize on this massive growth while maintaining its dominant position in the  chip market. For now, Citi analyst  Atif Malik is optimistic that Nvidia will be able to sustain its market share of 90% in the AI GPU market for the next two to three years. The analyst rates the stock a Buy, with a target price of $630. Also, analysts predict that Nvidia's revenue will increase by 99.4% in Fiscal 2024 and by 47.5% in Fiscal 2025. This month, Goldman Sachs ( NYSE:GS ) included the stock on its Americas Conviction List. Because of its  competitive moat and complex AI models, the bank believes Nvidia will be able to retain its market dominance. Nvidia trades at 29 times forward earnings. Its third-quarter results and analyst forecasts for future quarters will determine whether this valuation is justified. Is NVDA Stock a Buy, According to Analysts? Turning to Wall Street, TipRanks rates NVDA as a Strong Buy, with 38 Buys, one Hold, and no Sell ratings assigned in the past three months. The  average NVDA stock price target of $649.82 implies 38.8% upside potential. The highest price target for the stock stands at $1,100, while the lowest target price is $560. The Takeaway Nvidia's revenue has increased from $4.3 billion in Fiscal 2013 to an outstanding $27.0 billion in Fiscal 2023, reflecting the magnitude of its growth. AI, according to experts, is only getting started. Between 2023 and 2030, the global AI market could grow at a compound annual growth rate of 36.8%, reaching $1.345 trillion. Nvidia's robust market position, diverse product portfolio, and ongoing innovation in AI technologies may help the company maintain or even increase revenue in the coming years. Therefore, I'm not surprised as to why Wall Street is so bullish on the stock. Disclosure

Microsoft said on Wednesday the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in September notified the company that it is seeking an additional tax payment of $28.9 billion, plus penalties and interest for tax years from 2004 to 2013.

Customer relationship management giant Salesforce ( NASDAQ:CRM ) has experienced an impressive year-to-date rally of ~53%. However, the stock is still much lower than its all-time high of $300+ seen two years ago. On August 30, Salesforce reported an impressive earnings beat. Despite this, the stock has since declined by a few percentage points, raising the following question: is this a favorable time to invest in the stock? I'm bullish and believe it is indeed a good time to buy the stock as a long-term investment. The stock has both bullish and bearish perspectives, and we'll examine them to form an investment thesis. Upbeat Q2 Results and Raised 2023 Guidance On August 30, CRM’s adjusted earnings of $2.12 per share handily beat the consensus estimate of $1.90 per share. Also, the figure marked a substantial increase (+78.15%) from the Q2-2023 figure of $1.19 per share. It's worth noting that CRM has consistently exceeded analysts' consensus expectations for the past eight consecutive quarters. Additionally, revenue grew by 11% year-over-year to reach $8.6 billion, and the company achieved a remarkable operating income margin of 31.6%, attributed to its cost-cutting measures. Notably, the company achieved its 30% margin target three quarters ahead of schedule. On top of that, CRM raised its annual guidance, driven by recent price hikes as well as robust demand for its cloud and software offerings. The company now expects Fiscal 2024 revenue to range between $34.7 – $34.8 billion, higher than the prior forecast of $34.5-$34.7 billion as well as analysts’ expectations. Moreover, its adjusted operating margin is projected to be 30% versus the 28% forecasted earlier. Notably, this is much higher than the 22% achieved in 2023 and the 18% reached in 2022. Also, adjusted EPS is expected to range between $8.04 and $8.06 versus the $7.41-$7.43 expected earlier. For Q3, total revenue is expected to land between $8.70 billion and $8.72 billion, according to management, slightly higher than analysts’ expectations, while GAAP EPS is projected to fall between $1.02 and $1.03. Notably, the company also approved an increase in its share repurchase plan from $10 billion to $20 billion. Upside Catalysts: AI Technology Monetization to Boost Revenues, Profits AI has taken the world by storm, and leading tech companies are quickly adopting it to stay ahead of the AI curve. Like its peers, CRM is aggressively scaling up its AI investments and is set to integrate AI features into its products and services. It has entered into alliances with other tech companies like Google ( NASDAQ:GOOGL ) and made acquisitions like Airkit.ai, a generative AI-based customer service platform. Over the past seven years, CRM has allocated $20 billion towards research and development to level up its product offerings and integrate the latest technologies like generative AI. It has already integrated AI features into its offerings. In March, it also launched a generative AI offering named Einstein GPT, its first-ever generative AI technology, designed to assist sales personnel, customer support services, and more. Einstein GPT is expected to add to revenues and profitability in the coming years. To boost its AI capabilities, the company is looking to hire more than 3,000 people. This contrasts sharply with the large layoffs at the start of 2023 aimed at cost-cutting. Positively, it is indicative of robust demand and the need for additional workforce to meet it. Earlier in August, CRM hiked prices across the majority of its core product offerings by an average of 9%, marking its first price hike in seven years. It is commendable that despite the price hike, its revenues remained unimpacted, reflecting the strong demand for its products. Downside Catalysts: Decelerating Revenue Growth Rate & Insider Selling Now, looking at some downside catalysts, one concern about CRM is its stagnant or decelerating revenue growth over the past few quarters, perhaps due to increased competition. 2024 revenue growth is expected to come in at 11%, much lower than the 18.4% and 24.7% recorded in 2023 and 2022, respectively. On top of that, the departures of top management executives at CRM over the past year and insider sell transactions give a mixed picture of the stock. To my surprise, there has not been much insider buying for Salesforce stock over the past year despite the stock price dips. On the contrary, several executives have sold shares over the past few months. Notably, CEO Marc Benioff has engaged in multiple sell transactions throughout the past few weeks, some of which are shown below. Other senior management executives that have sold the stock include President and COO Brian Millham, and co-founder and CTO Parker Harris. Is CRM Stock a Buy, According to Analysts? As per TipRanks, analysts overall are cautiously optimistic about Salesforce stock, giving it a Moderate Buy consensus rating based on 24 Buys, 11 Holds, and one Sell. CRM’s average price forecast of $252.88 implies 22.3% upside potential. CRM’s Valuation is Reasonable In terms of its valuation, Salesforce looks fairly valued. Currently, it’s trading at a forward P/E ratio of 25.8x, similar to the multiples of its peer group. Oracle ( NYSE:ORCL ) is trading at a forward P/E of 19.8x, while Microsoft ( NASDAQ:MSFT ) is trading at 49.6x. However, its current valuation reflects a huge discount from its five-year average of 50x. I believe this attractive discount presents a great buying opportunity, given the strong growth potential for the company that lies ahead. The Takeaway Salesforce delivered an impressive Q2 beat in August. Admittedly, its growth has seen some moderation, hovering around 10% to 11%. However, this is likely due to cautious spending by IT clients and a weak macroeconomic outlook. Nevertheless, the company's core fundamentals remain solid, and its valuation is reasonable. It's essential to recognize that the AI industry is still in its early stages. Therefore, I believe that CRM can be viewed as a long-term investment, poised to flourish once its AI-integrated platform fully translates into substantial revenue growth. Disclosure

OpenAI plans to introduce major updates for developers next month to make it cheaper and faster to build software applications based on its artificial intelligence models, as the ChatGPT maker tries to court more companies to use its technology, sources briefed on the plans told Reuters.

Here are three relative strength leaders from the small-cap space that have been crushing the broader market since the start of August.

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At Holdings Channel, we have reviewed the latest batch of the 23 most recent 13F filings for the 09/30/2023 reporting period, and noticed that Microsoft Corporation (Symbol: MSFT) was held by 19 of these funds. When hedge fund managers appear to be thinking alike, we find it is