Microsoft shares jumped 9% in after-hours trading Wednesday after strong Azure-driven earnings and upbeat guidance exceeded expectations. The tech giant beat LSEG consensus estimates with earnings of $3.46 per share and revenue of $70.07 billion. Microsoft projected fourth-quarter revenue between $73.15 billion and $74.25 billion, surpassing the $72.26 billion consensus at the midpoint. It also expects Azure growth of 34% to 35%, ahead of the 31.5% estimate. CEO Satya Nadella said Microsoft plans to spend $80 billion in fiscal 2025 on AI-focused data centers, with costs potentially rising due to tariff-related import expenses.
