在人工智能的帮助下，Azure继续强劲增长，微软股价上涨

Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) shares rose around 4% in extended hours as the tech giant reported fiscal third-quarter results that topped expectations.

For the period ending March 31, Microsoft (MSFT) earned $2.94 as sales rose 17% year-over-year to $61.86B. Included in that was $26.7B from its Intelligent Cloud division, which consists of its Azure cloud unit. Microsoft said Azure revenue grew 31% year-over-year and 31% in constant currency.

“Microsoft Copilot and Copilot stack are orchestrating a new era of AI transformation, driving better business outcomes across every role and industry," Satya Nadella, chairman and chief executive officer of Microsoft, said in a statement.

The Redmond, Washington-based tech giant also said Personal Computing revenue came in at $15.6B, including the company's first quarter with Activision Blizzard under its wings. Separately, Productivity and Business processes sales came in at $19.6B, up 12% year-over-year. 

Included in Productivity and Business Processes was a 13% year-over-year rise in Office Commercial, while Dynamics 365 saw revenue growth of 19% over the same time frame. LinkedIn, its business-focused social network, had a 10% jump in sales, or 9% in constant currency.

A consensus of analysts expected Microsoft (MSFT) to earn $2.84 per share on $60.89B in revenue.

Seeking Alpha Investing Group Leader Stone Fox Capital said he was impressed with the quarterly results, but expressed some about Microsoft's valuation at current levels.

"Microsoft had a blowout earnings report for the March quarter with big growth in Azure cloud signaling strong AI demand," he said in an email. "The reacceleration of Azure growth to 31%, far above analyst estimates at 28%, and positive indications from the company suggest Copilot and the AI transformation are now driving growth leading to a $1+ billion revenue beat for Q1. The stock is richly valued due to AI and Microsoft is one of the companies delivering on the AI promise."

The company will host a conference call at 5:30 p.m. EST to discuss the results.