Despite already trading at historical highs, Microsoft’s artificial intelligence (AI) business is still in its nascent stages, yet poised for significant growth, according to a recent assessment by Wells Fargo.
The financial institution maintained its “overweight” rating on the technology behemoth, simultaneously elevating its price target for Microsoft’s shares to $585 from the previous $565.
This revised forecast represents an approximately 19% upside from where the shares concluded trading on Tuesday, signaling strong conviction in Microsoft’s future prospects.
Michael Turrin, a Wells Fargo analyst stated the bank’s continued optimism, stating, “We still see a bright future ahead for Microsoft, driven by continued growth prospects in huge categories of IT spend, ability to further monetize strong positioning in multiple end markets, and a financial profile that continues to exhibit durable margin expansion.”
Turrin acknowledges the current elevated trading levels of Microsoft’s stock but asserts that this valuation is “justified given its early AI lead and strong incumbent position in a tight market, especially favorable in the current environment.”
This sentiment underscores a belief that Microsoft’s strategic advantage in the rapidly evolving AI landscape merits its premium market position.
Accelerated AI growth and future projections
Microsoft has already demonstrated an unparalleled ability to rapidly scale its AI initiatives.
The company’s AI business has remarkably surged to $13 billion in annual recurring revenue (ARR) in less than three years, a feat Turrin describes as its “fastest product ramp ever.”
In his most optimistic scenario, Turrin envisions Microsoft’s overall artificial intelligence business achieving a staggering $100 billion in revenue by fiscal year 2029.
This forecast highlights not just an incremental increase but a transformative shift in Microsoft’s revenue composition, driven primarily by its AI innovations.
This sustained growth in significant IT spending categories, coupled with the ability to extract further value from its strong standing in diverse end markets, is expected to continue bolstering Microsoft’s financial profile.
The bank anticipates that the company will consistently exhibit durable margin expansion, a key indicator of financial health and operational efficiency, further solidifying its investment appeal.
Copilot’s critical role and market confidence
A growing emphasis on Microsoft’s AI assistant, Copilot, is also a central component of Wells Fargo’s optimistic outlook.
Turrin specifically anticipates Copilot reaching “critical mass” by next year, projecting that the application will eventually contribute $12 billion in annual recurring revenue.
The analyst notes that the Microsoft 365 Commercial Cloud business has a total addressable population estimated at 430 million users across all tiers.
To achieve the $10 billion annualized revenue run-rate mark, Microsoft would only need to attain approximately a 10% adoption rate among this vast user base, even accounting for an average 20% discount.
This scenario illustrates the significant untapped potential that Copilot holds within Microsoft’s ecosystem.
The market has largely responded positively to Microsoft’s strategic direction and strong performance.
The company’s stock has already experienced a notable rally of 16% in 2025 year-to-date.
This strong market performance aligns with the broader sentiment among industry analysts.
According to LSEG, 55 out of 62 analysts covering Microsoft rate the stock as either a “buy” or “strong buy,” underscoring widespread confidence in its leadership in AI and its robust incumbent position in a highly competitive market.
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