Dow Hits Record High, S&P 500 Posts Eighth Week of Gains
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: May 22 2026
0mins
Stocks closed higher on Friday amid strong earnings and cautious signs of progress toward ending the U.S. conflict with Iran. The Dow advanced to a record high, while the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100 posted their eighth week of gains ahead of the long holiday weekend.Get caught up quickly on the top news and calls moving stocks with these five Top Five lists.1. STOCK NEWS:Estee Lauderand Puigannounced that the parties haveregarding a potential business combinationImaxis exploring a sale, according toWorkdayreportedand reiterated its FY27 revenue guidanceZoom Communicationsprovided areport for Q1Deckers Outdoorreportedand provided its outlook for FY272. WALL STREET CALLS:JPMorganSweetgreenon ramping brand transformationViking Holdingsto Buy at Truist on strong demand trendsJefferiesGeneracon data center contract potentialSummit Therapeuticsto Neutral at H.C. WainwrightInspire Medicalto Underperform at BofA on coding overhang3. AROUND THE WEB:Nintendoaims to make about 20M Switch 2 consoles in the year through March, Bloomberg reportsMicrosoftagreed to pay $250M to settle investor litigation over its massive takeover Activision Blizzard, Bloomberg saysSony'sBungie plans to lay off a significant number of workers as it concludes active development on "Destiny 2," Bloomberg saysStarbucksshut down an AI program for automating inventory counts, nine months after deploying it, after it frequently miscounted and mislabeled items, Reuters saysSamsungis set to distribute about $26.6B to its 78,000 chip employees, or a $340,000 bonus to each, in early 2027 as part of a last-minute labor union deal, Bloomberg reports4. MOVERS:Pelotongained afterEnviriin the S&P 600Rocket Labsincreased after completing its ninthGileadwas higher after the FDA approved the company'sFutu Holdingsand UP Fintechfell in New York afterhas launched a broad crackdown on unauthorized cross-border investingImmunityBiodeclined after reportingand presenting preliminary results from a new health economic analysis on that ANKTIVA plus Bacillus Calmette-Guerin5. EARNINGS/GUIDANCE:BJ's Wholesaleand backed its guidance for FY26 after what CEO Bob Eddy called "a strong first quarter"Take-Two, with EPS missing consensusBooz Allenand provided guidance for FY27Ross Stores, with EPS and revenue beating consensusGlobal Ship Lease, with EPS lower year-over-yearINDEXES:The Dow rose 294.04, or 0.58%, to 50,579.70, the Nasdaq gained 50.87, or 0.19%, to 26,343.97, and the S&P 500 advanced 27.75, or 0.37%, to 7,473.47.
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Analyst Views on MSFT
Wall Street analysts forecast MSFT stock price to rise
34 Analyst Rating
32 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 390.490
Low
500.00
Averages
631.36
High
678.00
Current: 390.490
Low
500.00
Averages
631.36
High
678.00
About MSFT
Microsoft Corporation is a technology company. The Company develops and supports software, services, devices, and solutions. The Company’s segments include Productivity and Business Processes, Intelligent Cloud, and More Personal Computing. The Productivity and Business Processes segment consists of products and services in its portfolio of productivity, communication, and information services. This segment primarily comprises: Office Commercial, Office Consumer, LinkedIn, and Dynamics business solutions. The Intelligent Cloud segment consists of server products and cloud services, including Azure and other cloud services, SQL Server, Windows Server, Visual Studio, System Center, and related Client Access Licenses (CALs), and Nuance and GitHub; and Enterprise Services, including enterprise support services, industry solutions and Nuance professional services. The More Personal Computing segment primarily comprises Windows, Devices, Gaming, and search and news advertising.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Microsoft Faces Challenges but Optimistic Outlook Ahead
- Financial Performance Analysis: Microsoft reported an 18% year-over-year revenue increase in the last quarter, with its intelligent cloud segment growing by 30%, indicating strong demand in the AI sector, despite the stock price dropping over 30% from its peak.
- Capital Expenditure Plans: The company expects capital expenditures to reach $190 billion for the current fiscal year, more than 60% higher than last year, reflecting Microsoft's commitment to AI infrastructure, although investors remain skeptical about this spending.
- Copilot User Growth: The paid version of Microsoft's Copilot has grown to 20 million users from 15 million last quarter, indicating a foundation for future commercialization, despite slow market share growth against competitors.
- Analyst Ratings Optimistic: Over 80% of analysts rate Microsoft as a strong buy, with a 12-month price target of $559.02, representing a 46% upside from the current stock price, reflecting confidence in the company's future growth prospects.
See More
OpenAI Plans IPO at Over $1 Trillion Valuation
- Microsoft Stake Value: Microsoft's 27% stake in OpenAI is valued at approximately $135 billion, and if OpenAI goes public at $1 trillion, this stake could be worth about $270 billion, significantly enhancing Microsoft's market capitalization and potentially accounting for 9% of its total value.
- IPO Timing Delay: OpenAI is now targeting a 2027 IPO, as CEO Sam Altman refuses to accept a valuation below $1 trillion, a decision that could impact Microsoft's investment returns and force the market to reassess the value of its assets.
- Microsoft Financial Performance: Despite a declining stock price, Microsoft reported $82.9 billion in revenue for Q3 2026, an 18% year-over-year increase, with earnings per share rising 23% to $4.27, demonstrating strong growth potential in its core business.
- Capital Expenditure Pressure: Microsoft anticipates capital expenditures of $190 billion in 2026, including $25 billion due to rising component prices, which may pressure profit margins in the coming years, causing investor concerns about the sustainability of its growth.
See More
Microsoft Faces Class Action Lawsuit for Securities Fraud
- Stock Price Plunge: Microsoft's stock dropped 10% from $481.63 to $433.50 on January 29, 2026, due to misleading statements regarding its AI chatbot Copilot and Azure, significantly impacting investor confidence and market performance.
- Class Action Initiated: A class action lawsuit filed by Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP accuses Microsoft and its executives of violating securities laws, with investors needing to apply by August 11, 2026, to lead the case, highlighting potential reputational risks for the company.
- Functionality Issues Exposed: The lawsuit alleges that despite claims of Copilot's best-in-class capabilities, severe functionality issues led to user attrition, jeopardizing Azure's revenue growth and reflecting challenges in the company's technological innovation.
- Market Reaction: The Wall Street Journal reported significant problems with Copilot, exacerbating investor concerns about Microsoft's future growth and potentially leading to a broader crisis of trust in the company’s long-term strategy.
See More
Apple Excluded from Top Investment Stocks List
- Investment Recommendation Omission: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team has identified that Apple is not included in the current list of top investment stocks, indicating a cautious market sentiment regarding its future growth potential, which may affect investor confidence.
- Historical Return Comparison: Compared to previously recommended stocks like Netflix and Nvidia, which achieved returns of 418,761% and 1,195,804% respectively after their recommendations, Apple's relative disadvantage in the current investment landscape may lead to capital outflows.
- Market Performance Discrepancy: With Stock Advisor's total average return at 918%, significantly surpassing the S&P 500's 208%, it suggests that investors may prefer other recommended stocks, potentially impacting Apple's market performance.
- Analyst Holdings Insight: Analyst Parkev Tatevosian holds shares in Microsoft, while The Motley Fool recommends both Apple and Microsoft, reflecting differing investment confidence in these companies, which may influence market perceptions of Apple.
See More
Microsoft to Cut 3,200 Jobs in Xbox Division Amid Restructuring
- Job Cuts Announcement: Microsoft plans to cut 3,200 jobs in its Xbox division, with 1,600 layoffs this week and an additional 1,250 by the end of the fiscal year, representing about 20% of the division's workforce, indicating a significant restructuring in response to market pressures.
- Subscription Service Underperformance: The company's Game Pass subscription service is falling short of internal targets, projected to reach 77 million users this year but currently at only 30 million, highlighting the challenges Microsoft faces in the gaming market and the need for strategic adjustments.
- Poor Stock Performance: Microsoft shares have dropped 23% in the first half of 2026, marking its worst performance since 2000, reflecting investor concerns amid a broader selloff in software stocks and increasing competition in AI from rivals like Google and OpenAI.
- Retail Sentiment Shift: As of early Tuesday, retail sentiment for MSFT shifted from 'bullish' to 'neutral', indicating investor frustration over the company's underperformance and raising questions about its strategic decisions in the AI landscape.
See More
Decades of Competition Between Microsoft and Apple
- Competitive History: Microsoft and Apple have been in fierce competition for decades, continually challenging each other in operating systems and hardware, which has accelerated technological advancements.
- Market Performance: As of July 3, 2026, Microsoft's stock price stood at 0.94%, while Apple's was at 1.36%, indicating differing performances in the market between the two companies.
- Video Release: A related video was published on July 5, 2026, further exploring the dynamics of competition between the two companies and its impact on the industry.
- Industry Impact: The rivalry between Microsoft and Apple not only affects their respective market shares but also drives innovation and progress across the entire technology sector, serving as a significant catalyst for technological development.
See More
Microsoft Faces Challenges but Optimistic Outlook Ahead
- Financial Performance Analysis: Microsoft reported an 18% year-over-year revenue increase in the last quarter, with its intelligent cloud segment growing by 30%, indicating strong demand in the AI sector, despite the stock price dropping over 30% from its peak.
- Capital Expenditure Plans: The company expects capital expenditures to reach $190 billion for the current fiscal year, more than 60% higher than last year, reflecting Microsoft's commitment to AI infrastructure, although investors remain skeptical about this spending.
- Copilot User Growth: The paid version of Microsoft's Copilot has grown to 20 million users from 15 million last quarter, indicating a foundation for future commercialization, despite slow market share growth against competitors.
- Analyst Ratings Optimistic: Over 80% of analysts rate Microsoft as a strong buy, with a 12-month price target of $559.02, representing a 46% upside from the current stock price, reflecting confidence in the company's future growth prospects.
See More
OpenAI Plans IPO at Over $1 Trillion Valuation
- Microsoft Stake Value: Microsoft's 27% stake in OpenAI is valued at approximately $135 billion, and if OpenAI goes public at $1 trillion, this stake could be worth about $270 billion, significantly enhancing Microsoft's market capitalization and potentially accounting for 9% of its total value.
- IPO Timing Delay: OpenAI is now targeting a 2027 IPO, as CEO Sam Altman refuses to accept a valuation below $1 trillion, a decision that could impact Microsoft's investment returns and force the market to reassess the value of its assets.
- Microsoft Financial Performance: Despite a declining stock price, Microsoft reported $82.9 billion in revenue for Q3 2026, an 18% year-over-year increase, with earnings per share rising 23% to $4.27, demonstrating strong growth potential in its core business.
- Capital Expenditure Pressure: Microsoft anticipates capital expenditures of $190 billion in 2026, including $25 billion due to rising component prices, which may pressure profit margins in the coming years, causing investor concerns about the sustainability of its growth.
See More
Microsoft Faces Class Action Lawsuit for Securities Fraud
- Stock Price Plunge: Microsoft's stock dropped 10% from $481.63 to $433.50 on January 29, 2026, due to misleading statements regarding its AI chatbot Copilot and Azure, significantly impacting investor confidence and market performance.
- Class Action Initiated: A class action lawsuit filed by Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP accuses Microsoft and its executives of violating securities laws, with investors needing to apply by August 11, 2026, to lead the case, highlighting potential reputational risks for the company.
- Functionality Issues Exposed: The lawsuit alleges that despite claims of Copilot's best-in-class capabilities, severe functionality issues led to user attrition, jeopardizing Azure's revenue growth and reflecting challenges in the company's technological innovation.
- Market Reaction: The Wall Street Journal reported significant problems with Copilot, exacerbating investor concerns about Microsoft's future growth and potentially leading to a broader crisis of trust in the company’s long-term strategy.
See More
Apple Excluded from Top Investment Stocks List
- Investment Recommendation Omission: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team has identified that Apple is not included in the current list of top investment stocks, indicating a cautious market sentiment regarding its future growth potential, which may affect investor confidence.
- Historical Return Comparison: Compared to previously recommended stocks like Netflix and Nvidia, which achieved returns of 418,761% and 1,195,804% respectively after their recommendations, Apple's relative disadvantage in the current investment landscape may lead to capital outflows.
- Market Performance Discrepancy: With Stock Advisor's total average return at 918%, significantly surpassing the S&P 500's 208%, it suggests that investors may prefer other recommended stocks, potentially impacting Apple's market performance.
- Analyst Holdings Insight: Analyst Parkev Tatevosian holds shares in Microsoft, while The Motley Fool recommends both Apple and Microsoft, reflecting differing investment confidence in these companies, which may influence market perceptions of Apple.
See More
Microsoft to Cut 3,200 Jobs in Xbox Division Amid Restructuring
- Job Cuts Announcement: Microsoft plans to cut 3,200 jobs in its Xbox division, with 1,600 layoffs this week and an additional 1,250 by the end of the fiscal year, representing about 20% of the division's workforce, indicating a significant restructuring in response to market pressures.
- Subscription Service Underperformance: The company's Game Pass subscription service is falling short of internal targets, projected to reach 77 million users this year but currently at only 30 million, highlighting the challenges Microsoft faces in the gaming market and the need for strategic adjustments.
- Poor Stock Performance: Microsoft shares have dropped 23% in the first half of 2026, marking its worst performance since 2000, reflecting investor concerns amid a broader selloff in software stocks and increasing competition in AI from rivals like Google and OpenAI.
- Retail Sentiment Shift: As of early Tuesday, retail sentiment for MSFT shifted from 'bullish' to 'neutral', indicating investor frustration over the company's underperformance and raising questions about its strategic decisions in the AI landscape.
See More
Decades of Competition Between Microsoft and Apple
- Competitive History: Microsoft and Apple have been in fierce competition for decades, continually challenging each other in operating systems and hardware, which has accelerated technological advancements.
- Market Performance: As of July 3, 2026, Microsoft's stock price stood at 0.94%, while Apple's was at 1.36%, indicating differing performances in the market between the two companies.
- Video Release: A related video was published on July 5, 2026, further exploring the dynamics of competition between the two companies and its impact on the industry.
- Industry Impact: The rivalry between Microsoft and Apple not only affects their respective market shares but also drives innovation and progress across the entire technology sector, serving as a significant catalyst for technological development.
See More
