Sam Altman’s ousting as CEO of OpenAI sent shockwaves through the tech world and grabbed headlines this morning after he was selected to lead Microsoft’s MSFT “new advanced AI research team”. Altman co-founded OpenAI in 2015 with Greg Brockman, the company’s former president who will be joining Microsoft as well after protesting Altman’s removal by the OpenAI board of directors.
While OpenAI is still a private company it’s renowned for its progress and development of artificial intelligence as the creator of the popular AI application ChatGPT. For Microsoft, the talent pool that Altman could bring may lead to a competitive advantage in the AI realm, particularly in the enterprise framework.
With many OpenAI employees wanting to follow Altman to Microsoft, this could also keep Amazon AMZN and Alphabet GOOGL at bay as it relates to superior enterprise AI applications and may have investors wondering if it’s time to buy MSFT shares.
Microsoft’s AI Capabilities
Notably, Microsoft is the largest shareholder in OpenAI forming a partnership with the tech startup after investing $1 billion into the company in 2019. Microsoft is also the exclusive provider of cloud computing enterprises to OpenAI.
Microsoft AI, powered by its Azure cloud, integrates artificial intelligence into many of its products and services including Windows, Xbox, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Teams, and Defender among others. Microsoft’s stock is up +58% this year and the software giant is seen as the leader among enterprise AI applications with Alphabet thought to have the largest consumer-related capabilities while e-commerce titan Amazon is also in the mix.
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Growth & Valuation
With its products and services being enhanced by AI, Microsoft’s annual earnings are currently forecasted to rise 13% in its current fiscal 2024 and jump another 14% in FY25 to $12.71 per share. On the top line, total sales are projected to be up 14% in FY24 and climb another 13% in FY25 to $274.82 billion.
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Microsoft’s stock currently trades at 33.2X forward earnings which is a premium to the S&P 500’s 21.1X but a slight discount to the Zacks Computer-Software Industry average of 36.3X and is a clear-cut leader in the space.
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However, in terms of price to sales, Microsoft’s P/S ratio of 11.3X is also above the benchmark’s 3.6X and its industry average of 7.3X.
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Bottom Line
While Microsoft’s stock was up +2% on today’s news of Sam Altman heading its AI research team, the valuation of MSFT shares does allude to the possibility of better buying opportunities ahead. For now, Microsoft’s stock lands a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
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