The Nadella Touch: How Microsoft’s stock grew by over 1000% since Satya took over as CEO

Microsoft has achieved a significant milestone by surpassing a market capitalisation of $3 trillion, joining its longtime rival Apple as only the second company in history to reach this valuation. The news, announced on Tuesday, follows closely on the heels of Microsoft briefly overtaking Apple as the world’s most valuable company just two weeks ago.

The decades-long competition between Microsoft and Apple has seen them jockeying for the top spot in corporate America.

Microsoft’s recent surge, led by CEO Satya Nadella, reflects a remarkable turnaround for the tech giant. In fact, since taking over as CEO, Nadella, has overseen Microsoft’s stock go up by 1006 per cent

In the early 2000s, Microsoft faced challenges as Apple gained prominence with successful products like the iPod, iPhone, and Apple Watch.

However, under Nadella’s leadership since 2014, Microsoft has experienced a resurgence, reclaiming its position at the forefront of the industry.

Nadella’s strategic initiatives, including a revival of the company’s culture of innovation and a pivot to cloud computing, have been key drivers of Microsoft’s success.

The CEO’s foresight in recognising the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and establishing the company as a major player in the AI boom has been particularly noteworthy.

Microsoft’s Azure cloud services division, a major contributor to its success, provides crucial cloud computing power for AI developers worldwide.

The company’s partnership with OpenAI, a leader in AI research, positions Microsoft advantageously in the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence. The visionary decision to collaborate with OpenAI, showcased by the $10 billion deal in 2019, demonstrated Nadella’s ability to anticipate industry trends and position Microsoft ahead of its competitors.

Year-to-date, Microsoft’s stock has risen by 7 per cent, marking a staggering 1,006 per cent increase under Nadella’s leadership.

The broader tech industry has been a significant driver of the overall stock market rally, with Microsoft, along with other tech giants like Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Nvidia, and Tesla, accounting for 60 per cent of the gains on the S&P 500.

As Microsoft continues to solidify its presence at the forefront of the corporate landscape, its success underscores the pivotal role of AI and cloud computing in shaping the future of the tech industry.