
Stifel trims Microsoft target as Azure margin drag deepens into FY27
Stifel lowers Microsoft’s price target to $400, warning that Street FY27 gross-margin estimates don’t fully reflect Azure-driven margin compression and ongoing cloud capex. The firm models FY27 gross margins around 63% (about 450 bps below the consensus 66.5%), with Azure margins near 47.5% still dragging overall margins by roughly 300 bps YoY due to mix shift. Higher operating expenses and finance lease costs could keep FY27 EPS about $1 below Street expectations (roughly $18.5–$19 vs. ~ $19.5).









