#3 - Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT)
While not one of the FAANG stocks, Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) has been doing a lot of the heavy lifting for the tech sector. And it’s not just because of its ubiquitous Windows platform. The company has introduced its Microsoft Azure platform which is helping to fulfill the vision of CEO Satya Nadella.
Azure is Microsoft’s cloud platform that allows customers to add AI capabilities to their apps even without machine learning expertise. Beyond Azure, Microsoft also uses AI to power its Microsoft 365 productivity suite, as well as its Bing search engine and the company’s voice assistant, Cortana.
Microsoft has also invested billions of dollars into Elon Musk’s AI venture, OpenAI. And in May, the companies announced a collaborative effort that has created one of the five publicly disclosed supercomputers in the world.
MSFT stock is up nearly 30% in 2020 and unlike Alphabet or Amazon, investors can actually collect a dividend for holding shares of the company. Although the stock currently exceeds its 12-month price target, the company is nearly a unanimous buy among the 36 analysts that cover the stock.
About Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation develops and supports software, services, devices and solutions worldwide. The Productivity and Business Processes segment offers office, exchange, SharePoint, Microsoft Teams, office 365 Security and Compliance, Microsoft viva, and Microsoft 365 copilot; and office consumer services, such as Microsoft 365 consumer subscriptions, Office licensed on-premises, and other office services.
Read More - Current Price
- $435.25
- Consensus Rating
- Moderate Buy
- Ratings Breakdown
- 27 Buy Ratings, 2 Hold Ratings, 0 Sell Ratings.
- Consensus Price Target
- $509.90 (17.2% Upside)
