Why you need to buy Microsoft stock before March 1

Core Viewpoint - Microsoft's stock is showing signs of potential recovery as seasonal trends indicate strong performance in March and April, following a rough start to 2026 with a year-to-date decline of over 17% [1][8]. Seasonal Performance - Historical data shows that March and April are among Microsoft's strongest months, with March delivering gains 65% of the time and an average return of 2.1%, while April has a 69% win rate and an average gain of 2.3% [2][3]. - February typically shows weaker performance with a 33% positive rate, often followed by a rebound into March and sustained strength through April, indicating a seasonal shift in momentum [4]. Analyst Sentiment - Microsoft holds a 'Strong Buy' consensus from Wall Street analysts, with a 12-month average price target of $593.38, suggesting a potential upside of 47.86% [5]. - Out of 36 analysts, 32 recommend buying, four suggest holding, and none advise selling, with the highest target at $678 and the lowest at $392 [5]. Financial Performance - In the fiscal second quarter, Microsoft reported a 17% year-over-year revenue increase to $81.3 billion, with adjusted earnings per share of $4.14, surpassing expectations [9]. - The Microsoft Cloud segment achieved over $50 billion in quarterly revenue for the first time, growing 26%, with Azure revenue up 39% (38% in constant currency) [9]. Long-term Outlook - Despite short-term concerns regarding AI spending returns and cloud competition, Microsoft's strong enterprise position and expanding AI integration support a bullish long-term outlook for investors [10].