# Microsoft Target Price Raised to $662 Ahead of First-Quarter Earnings

- URL: https://stocks.freetheai.org/news/microsoft-target-price-raised-to-662-ahead-of-first-quarter-earnings-128ac7
- Published: 2026-10-19T12:43:03Z
- Category: analyst_ratings; sentiment: mixed; impact: medium
- Symbols: [NASDAQ:MSFT](https://stocks.freetheai.org/symbols/NASDAQ-MSFT)
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Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) received a higher price target of $662, up from $660, while maintaining an Outperform rating from research firm Bernstein. The price adjustment comes shortly before the company publishes its quarterly financial results. Separately, the technology firm ended a planned data center deal with British infrastructure provider Nscale at a site in Loughton, Essex, following local power grid delays that pushed electricity delivery into the 2030s.

The price target increase highlights ongoing Wall Street confidence in Microsoft's financial performance, with 53 out of 56 covering analysts rating the stock Buy or Strong Buy. Meanwhile, the canceled agreement in the UK points to broader infrastructure hurdles facing expanding artificial intelligence networks. Microsoft had planned to serve as the anchor tenant for 23,000 Nvidia AI chips at the location, but prolonged power supply delays disrupted the project timeline.

Investors are looking ahead to Microsoft's fiscal first-quarter 2027 earnings release on October 28, 2026, after the market close. Wall Street estimates point to earnings of $4.72 per share on revenue of approximately $90.4 billion. Market participants will monitor whether AI infrastructure constraints impact cloud expansion strategies in coming quarters.

## Key points

- Bernstein raised its price target on Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) to $662 from $660 with an Outperform rating.
- Microsoft will report fiscal first-quarter 2027 results on October 28, 2026, with revenue expected near $90.4 billion.
- Microsoft canceled a UK AI data center lease with Nscale due to power grid delays extending into the 2030s.
- Of the 56 analysts covering Microsoft stock, 53 maintain a Buy or Strong Buy rating.

## Questions and answers

### When does Microsoft report fiscal Q1 2027 earnings?

Microsoft is scheduled to report its fiscal first-quarter 2027 financial results on October 28, 2026, after market close. Analysts expect earnings of approximately $4.72 per share on revenue of about $90.4 billion.

### Why did Microsoft cancel its UK data center deal with Nscale?

Microsoft ended the agreement after learning that grid power for the facility in Loughton, Essex, would not be available until the 2030s, long past the original planned operational timeline.

### What is the new price target for Microsoft stock?

Bernstein raised its price target on Microsoft stock to $662 from $660 while reiterating an Outperform rating ahead of quarterly earnings.