Connect with us

Published

on

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella speaks at the company’s Ignite Spotlight event in Seoul on Nov. 15, 2022.

SeongJoon Cho | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Microsoft shares rose 5% in extended trading on Tuesday after the software maker issued fiscal third-quarter results that exceeded analysts’ predictions.

Here’s how the company did:

  • Earnings: $2.45 per share, vs. $2.23 per share as expected by analysts, according to Refinitiv.
  • Revenue: $52.86 billion, vs. $51.02 billion as expected by analysts, according to Refinitiv.

Overall company revenue increased 7% year over year in the quarter ended March 31, according to a statement. Net income, at $18.30 billion, was up 9%.

Revenue in Microsoft’s Intelligent Cloud business segment, which includes the Azure public cloud, Enterprise Services, SQL Server and Windows Server, generated $22.08 billion in revenue. That’s up 16% and higher than the $21.94 billion consensus among analysts surveyed by StreetAccount.

Revenue from Azure and other cloud services grew by 27%, compared with 31% in the prior quarter. The average estimate from analysts polled by CNBC had expected 26.5% growth, while those consulted by StreetAccount were looking for 27.2%.

The Productivity and Business Process segment containing Dynamics, LinkedIn and Office, posted $17.52 billion in revenue, which was up about 11% and above the StreetAccount consensus of $17.05 billion.

The More Personal Computing segment, featuring Bing, Windows, Surface and Xbox, delivered $13.26 billion in revenue, down 9% but more than the $12.25 billion StreetAccount consensus.

Sales of Windows operating-system licenses to device makers declined some 28%. Research firm Gartner estimated that PC shipments declined 30% in the quarter.

During the quarter, Microsoft announced a new multibillion-dollar investment in OpenAI and said it would draw on the company’s artificial intelligence models for a new version of its Bing search engine and enhancements to the Microsoft 365 productivity software.

Notwithstanding the after-hours move, Microsoft shares are up 15% so far this year, while the S&P 500 index is up 6% in the same period.

Executives will discuss the results with analysts and issue guidance on a conference call starting at 5:30 p.m. ET.

WATCH: Cramer on Microsoft: ChatGPT is good for the company

Cramer on Microsoft: ChatGPT is good for the company

Continue Reading

Technology

Instacart shares drop on report that FTC is probing company over AI pricing tool

Published

on

By

Instacart shares drop on report that FTC is probing company over AI pricing tool

Cheng Xin | Getty Images

Shares of grocery delivery service Instacart dropped about 7% in extended trading on Wednesday, following a report that said the U.S. Federal Trade Commission has begun an investigation into the company’s pricing practices.

The FTC sent a civil investigative demand to Instacart, Reuters reported, citing unnamed people.

A study released last week showed that prices for the same products in the same supermarkets that work with Instacart can vary by around 7%, which can result in over $1,000 in extra annual costs for customers. Instacart responded by saying that retailers determine prices listed in the app.

In 2022, Instacart spent $59 million to acquire Eversight, a company specializing in artificial intelligence-driven pricing and promotions for retailers and consumer packaged goods. Instacart sought to “create compelling savings opportunities for customers in real-time” with Eversight, according to a regulatory filing.

The FTC and Instacart did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Read Reuters’ full report here.

Continue Reading

Technology

Cramer slams Amazon for considering a circular AI deal reminiscent of the dotcom bubble

Published

on

By

Cramer slams Amazon for considering a circular AI deal reminiscent of the dotcom bubble

Continue Reading

Technology

Amazon says AI chief Rohit Prasad is leaving, Peter DeSantis to lead ‘AGI’ group

Published

on

By

Amazon says AI chief Rohit Prasad is leaving, Peter DeSantis to lead 'AGI' group

Rohit Prasad, Senior VP & Head Scientist for Alexa, Amazon, on Centre Stage during day one of Web Summit 2022 at the Altice Arena in Lisbon, Portugal.

Ben McShane | Sportsfile | Getty Images

Rohit Prasad, a top Amazon executive overseeing its artificial general intelligence unit, is leaving the company at the end of this year, the company confirmed Wednesday.

As part of the move, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said the company is reorganizing the AGI unit under a more expansive division that will also include its silicon development and quantum computing teams. The new division will be led by Peter DeSantis, a 27-year veteran of Amazon who currently serves as a senior vice president in its cloud unit.

This is breaking news. Please refresh for updates.

Continue Reading

Trending