Nasdaq MSFT MicroSoft

For Immediate ReleaseChicago, IL – January 29, 2024 – Zacks.com releases the list of companies likely to issue earnings surprises. This week’s list includes Nvidia NVDA, Microsoft MSFT, Alphabet GOOGL, Meta Platforms META and Amaz

2023 kicked off an arms race in artificial intelligence (AI). Big tech companies spent heavily on software development and specific chips from companies like Nvidia to train their AI models. As a result, investors saw a few select chipmakers emerge as big winners as demand from d

U.S. main index futures were muted on Monday, ahead of major events this week including the Federal Reserve's rate decision and big-ticket tech earnings that could set the tone for Wall Street that has been on a record-breaking rally.

Billionaire David Tepper runs Appaloosa Management, the hedge fund he founded in 1993, and has long been one of the brightest stars on Wall Street. He has been called "arguably the greatest hedge fund manager of his generation," by Forbes. Tepper has "consistently outperformed hi

March S&P 500 E-Mini futures (ESH24) are up +0.04%, and March Nasdaq 100 E-Mini futures (NQH24) are up +0.22% this morning as market participants braced for the Federal Reserve’s first monetary policy committee meeting of the year, a flurry of earnings reports from some of the biggest tech heavyweights, and the latest U.S. jobs report due later this week.

The "Magnificent Seven" refers to a group of the world's largest technology stocks, which have a combined market capitalization of $12.7 trillion. Given that sheer size, they represent 28.7% of the total value of the S&P 500 index, which means they have a huge influence over

U.S. main index futures were subdued at the start of a week packed with major events including the Federal Reserve's rate decision and big-ticket tech earnings that could set the tone for Wall Street after a recent record-breaking rally.

The iShares Core S&P U.S. Value ETF (IUSV) made its debut on 07/24/2000, and is a smart beta exchange traded fund that provides broad exposure to the Style Box - All Cap Value category of the market.

The Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF (FNDX) was launched on 08/13/2013, and is a passively managed exchange traded fund designed to offer broad exposure to the Large Cap Value segment of the US equity market.

The Vanguard S&P 500 Value ETF (VOOV) was launched on 09/09/2010, and is a passively managed exchange traded fund designed to offer broad exposure to the Large Cap Value segment of the US equity market.

Ten years ago, Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL) -- then known as Google -- was worth $377 billion. Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), which was widely seen as an aging tech giant that missed the mobile revolution, was worth only $306 billion. But as of this writing, Microsoft is wo

Microsoft is expected to report a 15.8% jump in quarterly revenue, its best growth in nearly two years, as rising adoption of its products infused with generative AI fuels demand for its cloud services.

The big winners of the past aren't always the big winners of the future. However, that doesn't mean that it won't be the case.

European telecommunications lobbying group ETNO on Monday again urged Big Tech to help pay for the rollout of 5G and broadband as it released data showing Europe trails the United States and Asia in 5G networks, cloud computing, investments and revenues.

Given that three out of four stocks move in the same direction as the broad market on any given day, a bull market bodes well for almost any stock pick. Not all gains are the same, though.

The White House artificial intelligence council is meeting Monday, three months after President Joe Biden signed an executive order that aims to reduce the risks AI poses.

Microsoft's early lead in artificial intelligence has the software heavyweight's stock market value poised to pull decisively ahead of Apple's over the next five years, 13 institutional investors unanimously agreed ahead of the tech titans' quarterly results this week.

Tech titans Microsoft ( NASDAQ:MSFT ) and Alphabet ( NASDAQ:GOOGL ) will release their quarterly earnings after the market closes on Tuesday, January 30.  Artificial Intelligence (AI) tailwinds, strength in the cloud business, and cost-cutting measures are likely to drive the top and bottom lines of these companies.  As both MSFT and GOOGL are poised to deliver solid growth, let’s look at the Street’s consensus estimate for their upcoming earnings. MSFT – Q2 Expectations  Wall Street expects Visa to post revenue of $61.14 billion, up from $52.75 billion in the prior-year quarter. Increasing contributions from AI and ongoing strength in Office 365 will likely support its top-line growth.  Meanwhile, higher revenues will cushion its bottom line. Analysts forecast that MSFT’s earnings will show year-over-year growth in Q2. Wall Street expects Microsoft to report  earnings of $2.77 per share, up from adjusted EPS of $2.32 in the prior-year quarter. Is Microsoft a Buy, Sell, or Hold? Microsoft stock has gained nearly 68% in one year. Moreover, analysts are bullish about its prospects ahead of the Q2 print. MSFT stock has 31 unanimous Buy recommendations, translating into a Strong Buy consensus rating.  Analysts’ average price target of $442.70 implies upside potential of 9.6% from current levels. As analysts are bullish about MSFT stock,  options traders are pricing in a +/- 4.70% move on earnings, higher than the previous quarter’s earnings-related move of 3.07%. The expected move is determined by computing the at-the-money straddle of the options closest to the expiration after the earnings announcement.  Learn more about TipRanks’ Options tool here. GOOGL – Q4 Expectations Analysts expect GOOGL to post revenue of $85.27 billion in the fourth quarter, up from $75.33 billion in the prior-year quarter. The expected year-on-year revenue growth in search and YouTube advertising and the potential benefit from AI solutions will likely drive its financials in Q4.  The leverage from higher sales and the focus on reducing its cost structure will drive GOOGL’s bottom line in Q4. Wall Street expects Alphabet to report  earnings of $1.59 per share, up from adjusted EPS of $1.05 in the prior-year quarter. What is the Prediction for Alphabet Stock? With 15 Buys and five Holds, Alphabet stock has a Strong Buy consensus rating. Further,  analysts’ average GOOGL price target of $159.83 implies 5.02% upside potential from current levels.  While analysts are bullish about GOOGL stock,  options traders are pricing in a +/- 5.42% move on earnings, smaller than the previous quarter’s earnings-related move of -9.51%.  Analysts' Opinions TD Cowen analyst Derrick Wood expects stronger new booking trends and growing AI tailwinds to drive Microsoft's Q2 Fiscal 2024 financials. The analyst added that continued AI workload growth will drive its Cloud business. Wood reiterated a Buy on Microsoft stock on January 19. As for Alpahbet, Jefferies analyst Brent Thill expects solid Q4 results and a strong year-end finish from GOOGL. The analyst believes GOOGL stock may continue to trend higher even after rising significantly over the past year. Alphabet stock appreciated by about 57% in one year. The analyst reiterated a Buy on GOOGL stock ahead of Q4 earnings on January 24. Bottom Line  Tech giants MSFT and GOOGL are poised to benefit from AI tailwinds, growing cloud business, a reduction in cost structure, and easier year-over-year comparisons. However, MSFT and GOOGL stocks have gained significantly over the past year, so analysts’ average price target shows limited upside potential over the next 12 months. Disclosure

The Federal Reserve and the Bank of England, grabbing the baton from the ECB and the Bank of Japan, hold their first meetings of the year while U.S. tech giants and Europe banks report results and China's woes persist.

Neither Wall Street's wobble nor the liquidation of China Evergrande, the poster child of the property meltdown, stopped Asian markets from rallying to start the new week, with Hong Kong taking the lead.