Microsoft(US:MSFT) 美股研究社·2025-12-26 12:27Core Viewpoint - Microsoft is positioned for strong growth and substantial shareholder returns due to its significant stake in OpenAI and the growth of its Azure cloud business, with a market capitalization exceeding $3.5 trillion [1]. Financial Performance - Microsoft reported impressive financial results with all core metrics achieving double-digit growth, driven by a robust cloud business, with revenue increasing by 18% year-over-year (17% excluding currency effects), approaching $77.7 billion [3]. - The operating profit margin reached 99%, with operating profit at $88 billion, and net profit of $77.7 billion, resulting in diluted earnings per share of $3.72. The current price-to-earnings ratio is approximately 33 times [3]. Shareholder Returns and Capital Expenditure - Microsoft returned $10.7 billion to shareholders this quarter, with a total yield slightly above 1% and a dividend yield of only 0.66% [6]. - Capital expenditures surged to $44.9 billion to meet the growing demand from Azure, with expectations for continued growth in capital spending [6]. - Free cash flow reached $55.7 billion, supported by revenue growth and a leasing model that mitigates the impact of AI-related disruptions [6]. Business Segment Performance - The cloud business is the core growth engine, with commercial orders driven by OpenAI increasing by 122% year-over-year, while Azure's revenue grew nearly 99% [9][10]. - The productivity and business processes segment continued to grow, benefiting from a slowdown in cost growth and improved gross margins [10]. - The Windows OEM and gaming segments showed the slowest growth, with Windows OEM revenue increasing by 6%, primarily due to a one-time boost from the transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11 [10]. Core Advantages - Microsoft has three main advantages for future development: 1. Antitrust compliance advantage, having successfully navigated past antitrust challenges, allowing for greater operational flexibility [12]. 2. A diversified business portfolio that includes Windows, Azure, ChatGPT, GitHub, LinkedIn, Xbox, and Blizzard, enhancing resilience against market changes [12]. 3. Valuation advantage, with a non-GAAP annualized earnings per share of $16.5 and a price-to-earnings ratio of about 30 times, making it more attractive compared to competitors like Google [13]. Conclusion - Despite a market capitalization of $3.6 trillion, Microsoft is believed to have significant growth potential, supported by its diversified business model and strong performance in the AI sector, particularly with Azure and ChatGPT [17][18].