UBS cuts Microsoft stock price target to $480 from $510

Published 14/04/2025, 15:54
UBS cuts Microsoft stock price target to $480 from $510

On Monday, UBS analyst Karl Kierstead revised the price target for Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) shares, reducing it to $480 from the previous $510. Despite the adjustment, the analyst continues to recommend a Buy rating on the stock. According to InvestingPro data, Microsoft shares have shown resilience with an 8.55% return over the past week, though the stock currently trades below analyst consensus targets ranging from $415 to $650. Kierstead’s commentary shed light on recent developments, noting Microsoft’s announcement last week of a slowdown or pause in certain early-stage projects, specifically those related to data centers.

The timing of the price target change coincides with the lead-up to Microsoft’s third-quarter earnings report due on April 30, 2025. With InvestingPro data showing robust financials, including a 69.4% gross profit margin and strong cash flows, investors are closely monitoring the company’s strategic decisions. The analyst aimed to assess the reasons behind Microsoft’s decision to modify its data center capacity plans and the potential implications for the company’s future capital expenditure guidance.

Kierstead believes that the changes to Microsoft’s data center projects are unlikely to be driven by artificial intelligence (AI) demand. Instead, he anticipates that the company will maintain its capital expenditure guidance for fiscal year 2026, projecting growth but at a rate lower than that of fiscal year 2025.

The UBS analyst also suggested that any adjustments in capacity related to OpenAI, a prominent AI research lab, could be managed by other companies, including Oracle (NYSE:ORCL). This indicates a broader industry capability to absorb changes in demand for data center capacity.

Microsoft has yet to comment on the specifics of its capacity adjustments or the forthcoming fiscal year 2026 capital expenditure guidance. The company’s financial performance and strategic decisions are closely watched by investors, with the upcoming earnings call expected to provide further details on its operational and financial strategies. With revenue growth of 15% and analysts forecasting continued profitability, Microsoft maintains its position as a prominent player in the software industry. Discover more comprehensive insights and 12 additional ProTips about Microsoft’s valuation and growth prospects through InvestingPro’s detailed research reports, available for over 1,400 top US stocks.

In other recent news, OpenAI is preparing to launch new artificial intelligence models, o3 and o4-mini, which aim to generate innovative ideas across various fields. These models have been tested by a select group and are expected to suggest novel experiments for industries such as nuclear fusion and pathogen detection. OpenAI has also enhanced the memory feature of its ChatGPT for Plus and Pro users, allowing the AI to reference past chats for more personalized responses. Additionally, OpenAI introduced BrowseComp, an open-source benchmark to test AI’s internet browsing capabilities for locating hard-to-find information. The benchmark consists of 1,266 challenging problems and aims to drive research on more reliable AI browsing agents.

In other news, Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) experienced a significant boost as the Trump administration exempted certain electronics from tariffs, leading KeyBanc to upgrade the company’s stock to sector weight from underweight. This development led to a rally among other Magnificent Seven stocks, despite China’s decision to increase tariffs on U.S. goods. The tariff hike is part of an ongoing trade dispute, affecting the profitability of U.S. companies in China. The Magnificent Seven index, which includes major tech companies like Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA), Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN), and Microsoft, has seen a decrease this year following a previous rise. These recent developments highlight ongoing challenges and advancements within major tech companies and the AI industry.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

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