Amazon AMZN
MSFT NASDAQ Mega cap
How to buy Microsoft stock.
$495.42 -0.29% MSFT price as of August 15, 2026
Microsoft is OpenAI's largest backer and primary infrastructure partner through Azure, making it Anthropic's main competitive rival on the model layer. At the same time, Microsoft hosts Claude on Azure, so it benefits when Anthropic wins enterprise deals. MSFT is a broad AI infrastructure and software play with the most direct exposure to OpenAI's commercial success.
- Market cap
- $3.69T
- P/E ratio
- 27.4
- Revenue (TTM)
- $331.84B
- Revenue growth (YoY)
- +17.7%
- 52-week range
- $349.20 – $553.72
- Day range
- $493.92 – $500.01
- Volume
- 16.21M
- Analyst target
- $567.20
What Microsoft does.
Microsoft monetizes AI across the widest surface of any company: Azure cloud, the Microsoft 365 and GitHub Copilot products, and a deep partnership with OpenAI, whose commercial products run on Azure and in which Microsoft holds a large economic stake. That makes MSFT the most direct listed proxy for OpenAI's success.
Azure is the second-largest cloud and a primary AI training/inference platform; Copilot embeds AI into Office, Teams, Windows, and developer tooling, adding per-seat AI revenue on top of existing franchises. Microsoft also hosts Claude and other models on Azure, so it benefits even when customers pick non-OpenAI models. Capital intensity of AI data centers is the main watch-item.
Business segments
- Intelligent Cloud
Azure, server products, the AI infrastructure core.
- Productivity & Business Processes
Microsoft 365, Copilot, LinkedIn.
- More Personal Computing
Windows, Xbox, Surface, search advertising.
Key products
Azure OpenAI ServiceMicrosoft 365 CopilotGitHub CopilotAzure AI infrastructure
Why Microsoft is an AI stock.
Microsoft's Azure cloud is the second-largest AI cloud and the exclusive provider for OpenAI's commercial products. Copilot AI integration across Office, Teams, and GitHub adds direct revenue from AI features. Microsoft is the single largest listed company with direct OpenAI equity exposure.
Microsoft is in the Cloud and AI infrastructure category. Where models actually run: hyperscale cloud, GPU clouds, and the server builders wiring up the racks for AI workloads.
Microsoft in the AI ecosystem.
How Microsoft connects to the rest of the AI supply chain: the companies it buys from, sells to, partners with, and competes against.
AI investments and stakes
- OpenAI Largest backer and exclusive commercial cloud.
Partners
- CoreWeave Contracts GPU capacity from CoreWeave.
Competitors
- Amazon AWS cloud rival.
- Alphabet (Google) Cloud and model rival.
Microsoft financials.
Key figures below are drawn from Microsoft's most recent reporting (latest quarter ending June 30, 2026). Market cap, revenue, and analyst target are shown in the stats above.
| EPS (diluted, TTM) | $18.14 |
|---|---|
| Forward P/E | 25.7 |
| Gross profit (TTM) | $225.47B |
| Profit margin | 40.3% |
| Operating margin | 45.1% |
| Dividend yield | 0.7% |
| Beta | 1.10 |
| Shares outstanding | 7.43B |
Fundamentals sourced from Alpha Vantage, last refreshed August 15, 2026. Figures are for information only, not investment advice.
How to buy Microsoft (MSFT) step by step.
- Choose a broker. Microsoft trades on the NASDAQ under the ticker MSFT. Any broker with access to NASDAQ can execute the trade.
- Open and fund an account. Most brokers take 5-15 minutes to open an account. You will need to verify your identity. Minimum investments vary by broker.
- Search for MSFT. Once funded, search for the ticker symbol MSFT in your broker's platform and confirm you are looking at NASDAQ.
- Place your order. Select the number of shares or a dollar amount. Many brokers offer fractional shares from as little as $1. Review any fees before confirming.
- Monitor your position. Microsoft's share price will move with broader market conditions and AI sector news. Use stop-loss orders if you want to limit downside.
Key facts.
| Ticker | MSFT |
|---|---|
| Exchange | NASDAQ |
| Category | Cloud and AI infrastructure |
| Market cap size | Mega cap |
| Sector | TECHNOLOGY · SOFTWARE - INFRASTRUCTURE |
| Founded | 1975 |
| Headquarters | Redmond, Washington |
| CEO | Satya Nadella |
| Employees | ~228,000 |
| Fiscal year end | June |
Microsoft in the news
See all →- Azure Tops $100B, Applied Materials Drops on Earnings
- Cerebras Raises Targets, SMCI Lifts Nvidia, AI Bonds Loom
- Intel's $15B Dilution, Norway's AI Windfall, SpaceX's AI Pivot
- Nvidia's $500B AI Financing Push and Microsoft's Maia 300 Chip
- Anthropic Builds Chips, Meta AI Hacks, Nvidia Eyes Aug. 26
- Olix's $3.3B Chip Round Leads a Volatile AI Monday
- AI Earnings Diverge: Microsoft Rewarded, Meta Penalized
- Azure vs. Google Cloud: AI Cost Battle Defines Q3 Outlook
Frequently asked questions.
Is Microsoft an AI stock?
Yes. Microsoft earns from AI through Azure cloud (OpenAI's primary host), Microsoft Copilot products, GitHub Copilot, and its OpenAI equity stake. It is the most directly tied large-cap stock to OpenAI's commercial performance.