Wedbush’s Ives says Microsoft stock sentiment likely to improve from here

Published 20/03/2025, 12:42
© Reuters.

Investing.com -- The negative investor sentiment around Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) stock is “way overdone” and 2025 is expected to be an inflection point of growth for the tech giant, according to Wedbush analysts led by Daniel Ives.

Like the bulk of the tech market, Microsoft shares have come under pressure recently as investors remain skeptical about AI-driven growth and competition. However, Wedbush said its recent checks with customers and partners indicate an acceleration in deal flow this quarter, reinforcing confidence in Azure’s growth outlook.

“AI revenue run rate (ARR) continues to track ahead of expectations and we believe MSFT’s sell-off is a stark contrast to what we are seeing take place in the field despite market jitters,” Ives and his team wrote.

They believe Microsoft stock is “a table pounder name to own at current valuations and one of the best ways to play the AI Revolution theme over the coming years.”

The technology and AI behemoth has been increasingly focused on creating an “agentic world,” which enables organizations to deploy AI agents with enterprise-grade security, enhancing business outcomes with improved quality and faster responses.

Wedbush anticipates that over the next three years, more than 75% of Microsoft’s installed base will adopt AI functionality for enterprise and commercial use. The investment bank expects this to redefine the company’s trajectory, with 2025 anticipated to be “the true inflection year of AI growth with pricing, beta customers, and use cases all rolled out.”

Wedbush projects AI revenues to exceed an annual run rate of $15 billion in the coming quarter, marking a transformative period in technology that has yet to be fully reflected in Microsoft’s stock price.

The research firm also mentioned Microsoft’s aggressive approach to expanding its AI software stack, which could potentially involve an accelerated mergers and acquisitions (M&A) strategy.

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