Microsoft beats Q1 forecasts as Azure drives 20% revenue growth

Microsoft reported strong fiscal first-quarter 2027 earnings on Wednesday, beating analyst expectations with earnings per share of $4.92 versus the forecast $4.71. Revenue rose to $92.3 billion, surpassing the projected $90.62 billion. The software giant's revenue grew nearly 20% year-over-year, driven by high growth in its Azure cloud platform. Net profit climbed 32% to $36.6 billion, and capital investments came in lower than expected, positively surprising investors. In after-hours NASDAQ trading, Microsoft shares jumped 2.9% to $546.39, briefly exceeding $560. If gains hold Thursday, the stock could surpass its summer 2025 record high of about $555. The company's market value stands near $4 trillion.