Shares of tech titans Microsoft and Meta Platforms surged in European markets on Thursday, following impressive quarterly earnings that blew past investor expectations. The rally was driven by both companies’ continued dominance in artificial intelligence and cloud technologies, with market sentiment turning decisively bullish.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, saw its stock leap by 12.2% in Frankfurt. The surge came after the company forecasted revenue for the upcoming quarter that far exceeded Wall Street’s projections — a clear signal of its robust advertising business and growing user engagement across its platforms. Investors are responding positively to Meta’s ongoing push into AI-enhanced ad delivery and content recommendation systems, which have started showing tangible returns.
Microsoft also delivered a blockbuster performance, with shares climbing 9% after the company reported stronger-than-expected growth in Azure, its cloud computing arm. Azure’s gains, driven in part by rising demand for AI integration among enterprise customers, reaffirmed Microsoft’s strategic position in the increasingly competitive cloud sector. The results reflect confidence in Microsoft’s multibillion-dollar investments in generative AI, including its collaboration with OpenAI.
Strong Tech Results Lift Wall Street Futures
The earnings surprise sent ripples through global markets. US stock futures climbed in response, with S&P 500 futures rising by 1%, and the Nasdaq futures — which heavily weight tech companies — jumping 1.3%.
Both companies are seen as bellwethers of the AI boom, and their results reinforce the belief that artificial intelligence remains one of the most lucrative trends in the market right now. Their performances could drive more capital inflows into the tech sector, especially among investors seeking high-growth opportunities.
AI Bets Paying Off Big for Microsoft and Meta
As AI adoption accelerates across industries, Microsoft and Meta are proving they are not only keeping pace but setting the standard. From Azure’s role in enabling AI-driven workloads to Meta’s recommender engines and chatbot integrations, both firms are reaping the financial rewards of early, aggressive investments in AI infrastructure.
Analysts expect their momentum to continue, with both stocks now seen as key players not just in tech, but in the broader transformation of global business powered by artificial intelligence.