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: 390.740
Low
500.00
Averages
631.36
High
678.00
Current: 390.740
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.
Analysis of Bill Ackman's Investment Portfolio
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- Brookfield Outlook: Ackman established a 14.9% position in Brookfield in 2024, anticipating $25 billion in carried interest from 2025 to 2034, highlighting rapid growth in its insurance business and future profitability improvements.
- Microsoft New Addition: Ackman began purchasing Microsoft shares in February 2023, currently holding 12.2% of assets; despite slower cloud growth, Azure revenue is expected to accelerate in the second half, with the software business showing a 19% year-over-year growth.
- Portfolio Concentration: Ackman's portfolio is highly concentrated, with 42% of assets in three stocks, demonstrating his keen insight into market trends and confidence in long-term growth.
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- AI Momentum vs. Investor Doubts: Microsoft is caught between strong AI momentum and rising investor concerns regarding capital expenditures, margins, and execution risks; while the stock's valuation reset may be alarming, it still indicates potential long-term earnings power.
- Azure Growth Outlook: The ongoing growth of Azure provides Microsoft with a robust revenue stream, and if the company can effectively monetize its spending, it will further enhance its market position and profitability.
- Quantum Breakthrough Potential: Microsoft's advancements in quantum computing could open new opportunities for future technology applications, and if successfully commercialized, this will significantly boost the company's long-term competitiveness.
- Execution Risk Management: Despite facing execution risks, Microsoft's strategic investments and technological innovations may provide it with greater market adaptability, potentially leading to higher revenue growth in the future.
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- Market Value and Growth: With a market capitalization of $2.9 trillion, Microsoft has shown strong demand and sustained revenue growth potential, as its cloud computing business achieved a 40% year-over-year growth rate in the most recent quarter, despite facing challenges.
- AI Business Surge: Microsoft's AI business has surpassed an annual revenue run rate of $37 billion, with a growth rate of 123%, and nearly 90% of Fortune 500 companies have utilized its low-code tools, indicating the company's extensive application and market penetration in the AI sector.
- Long-Term Investment Opportunity: Despite short-term stock fluctuations, Microsoft trades at a forward earnings estimate of 23 times, attracting investor interest and indicating its long-term growth potential in AI and cloud computing, potentially representing a once-in-a-decade investment opportunity.
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- Cloud Revenue Growth: The company's cloud computing segment, including Azure, saw a 40% year-over-year increase, which not only strengthens Microsoft's market position but also provides robust support for its AI products, further driving overall business growth.
- Widespread Adoption by Enterprises: Nearly 90% of Fortune 500 companies have utilized Microsoft's low-code or no-code tools to build agents, showcasing Microsoft's strong influence in the enterprise market and providing a solid foundation for the proliferation of its AI products.
- Investor Confidence Rebounds: Despite a 15% drop in Microsoft's stock price since the beginning of the month, its forward P/E ratio of 23 is seen as an attractive opportunity for investors, indicating that confidence in the company's long-term growth potential remains intact.
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- Potential Buyers: Major media players including Comcast, Microsoft, Netflix, The Trade Desk, and Disney are identified as potential acquirers, all seeking to bolster their competitive edge in the streaming market through strategic acquisitions.
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See More
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- Amazon Investment: Ackman first bought Amazon shares in 2025, currently holding 15.3% of assets, as the company plans to invest $200 billion in AI infrastructure, indicating strong growth potential with expected annual EPS growth of 20%.
- Brookfield Outlook: Ackman established a 14.9% position in Brookfield in 2024, anticipating $25 billion in carried interest from 2025 to 2034, highlighting rapid growth in its insurance business and future profitability improvements.
- Microsoft New Addition: Ackman began purchasing Microsoft shares in February 2023, currently holding 12.2% of assets; despite slower cloud growth, Azure revenue is expected to accelerate in the second half, with the software business showing a 19% year-over-year growth.
- Portfolio Concentration: Ackman's portfolio is highly concentrated, with 42% of assets in three stocks, demonstrating his keen insight into market trends and confidence in long-term growth.
See More
Microsoft Navigates AI Momentum Amid Investor Concerns
- AI Momentum vs. Investor Doubts: Microsoft is caught between strong AI momentum and rising investor concerns regarding capital expenditures, margins, and execution risks; while the stock's valuation reset may be alarming, it still indicates potential long-term earnings power.
- Azure Growth Outlook: The ongoing growth of Azure provides Microsoft with a robust revenue stream, and if the company can effectively monetize its spending, it will further enhance its market position and profitability.
- Quantum Breakthrough Potential: Microsoft's advancements in quantum computing could open new opportunities for future technology applications, and if successfully commercialized, this will significantly boost the company's long-term competitiveness.
- Execution Risk Management: Despite facing execution risks, Microsoft's strategic investments and technological innovations may provide it with greater market adaptability, potentially leading to higher revenue growth in the future.
See More
Microsoft's AI Growth Surge Amid Stock Pullback Presents Investment Opportunity
- Stock Pullback Impact: Microsoft's stock has dropped 15% since the beginning of the month, primarily due to Broadcom's disappointing sales forecast, which has weakened investor confidence in AI stocks and could affect the company's short-term market performance.
- Market Value and Growth: With a market capitalization of $2.9 trillion, Microsoft has shown strong demand and sustained revenue growth potential, as its cloud computing business achieved a 40% year-over-year growth rate in the most recent quarter, despite facing challenges.
- AI Business Surge: Microsoft's AI business has surpassed an annual revenue run rate of $37 billion, with a growth rate of 123%, and nearly 90% of Fortune 500 companies have utilized its low-code tools, indicating the company's extensive application and market penetration in the AI sector.
- Long-Term Investment Opportunity: Despite short-term stock fluctuations, Microsoft trades at a forward earnings estimate of 23 times, attracting investor interest and indicating its long-term growth potential in AI and cloud computing, potentially representing a once-in-a-decade investment opportunity.
See More
Microsoft's AI Business Sees Significant Growth
- AI Revenue Surge: Microsoft's AI business achieved an annual revenue run rate exceeding $37 billion with a 123% year-over-year increase in the recent quarter, indicating strong growth potential that could lay the groundwork for future revenue expansion.
- Cloud Revenue Growth: The company's cloud computing segment, including Azure, saw a 40% year-over-year increase, which not only strengthens Microsoft's market position but also provides robust support for its AI products, further driving overall business growth.
- Widespread Adoption by Enterprises: Nearly 90% of Fortune 500 companies have utilized Microsoft's low-code or no-code tools to build agents, showcasing Microsoft's strong influence in the enterprise market and providing a solid foundation for the proliferation of its AI products.
- Investor Confidence Rebounds: Despite a 15% drop in Microsoft's stock price since the beginning of the month, its forward P/E ratio of 23 is seen as an attractive opportunity for investors, indicating that confidence in the company's long-term growth potential remains intact.
See More
ETF Analysis: SPDR SSGA Implies 13.56% Upside Potential
- ETF Target Price Analysis: The SPDR SSGA US Sector Rotation ETF (XLSR) has an implied analyst target price of $73.38 per unit, while trading at $64.62, indicating a 13.56% upside potential, reflecting market optimism about the ETF's future performance.
- Netflix's Significant Upside: Despite Netflix (NFLX) trading at $80.34 per share, analysts set a target price of $115.21, suggesting a 43.40% upside, which indicates strong confidence in its future growth prospects.
- Microsoft's Positive Outlook: Microsoft (MSFT) is currently priced at $390.74, with an analyst target of $554.28, representing a potential upside of 41.85%, suggesting a positive market sentiment regarding its growth in cloud computing and software services.
- Google's Target Analysis: Google (GOOG) trades at $358.16, with an analyst target price of $433.73, indicating a 21.10% upside, reflecting analysts' optimistic expectations for its advertising and cloud services business.
See More
Roku Shares Surge 20% Amid Potential Acquisition Talks
- Stock Surge: Roku's stock jumped 20.52% to $24.55 following reports of acquisition talks, reflecting strong market optimism about its future growth potential and investor confidence in the company's trajectory.
- Strong Financial Position: With over $2 billion in cash and no long-term debt, Roku's consistent profitability enhances its bargaining power in acquisition discussions, solidifying its competitive stance in the media industry.
- Potential Buyers: Major media players including Comcast, Microsoft, Netflix, The Trade Desk, and Disney are identified as potential acquirers, all seeking to bolster their competitive edge in the streaming market through strategic acquisitions.
- Market Dynamics Shift: Roku's stock has soared 87% over the past year while The Trade Desk has plummeted 73%, indicating a significant market reversal that underscores Roku's strengthening leadership position in the streaming sector, likely attracting increased acquisition interest.
See More
