NEW YORK, Jan 22, 2026, 16:06 ET — After-hours
- Microsoft shares climbed roughly 1.6%, closing near $451.22 late in the session
- Bristol Myers teamed up with Microsoft to leverage its imaging network for an AI radiology partnership
- Microsoft’s fiscal Q2 earnings are due Jan. 28, with investors on alert.
Microsoft shares climbed late Thursday, outpacing several megacap rivals as investors digested new deal news and braced for the company’s earnings report next week.
The move is significant as Microsoft approaches earnings with its cloud and AI story closely scrutinized. Traders have been focusing on contract wins and partnerships as key indicators while awaiting official guidance.
The broader market has found its footing following a steep midweek selloff sparked by easing trade-threat concerns. This rebound has boosted major tech stocks that were under pressure earlier.
One immediate catalyst came from healthcare: Bristol Myers Squibb announced a deal to deploy Microsoft’s AI-powered radiology platform via its Precision Imaging Network, aiming to accelerate early lung cancer detection.
“By combining Microsoft’s highly scalable radiology solutions with Bristol’s deep expertise,” Alexandra Goncalves of the drugmaker said, the two companies plan to create an “AI-enabled workflow” aimed at steering patients toward care. https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/bristol-myers-partners-with-microsoft-ai-driven-lung-cancer-detection-2026-01-20/
At Davos, CEO Satya Nadella sought to soften the tone around the AI race. “I’m glad there’s the competition,” he told the “All-In” podcast, saying it keeps companies on their toes. https://www.businessinsider.com/satya-nadella-comments-competition-ai-zero-sum-game-2026-1
Microsoft has been announced as a new sponsor partner for Mercedes as the Formula One team revealed its 2026 car. Sky News, citing an unnamed sponsorship expert, suggested the deal might be worth around $60 million a year. Mercedes, however, did not disclose any financial details.
In other megacaps, Apple and Alphabet edged up slightly, making Microsoft’s jump stand out as more of a stock-specific surge than just a broader index lift.
That said, the stock’s direction now hinges on Microsoft’s commentary rather than its actual deals. Any suggestion that expenses are climbing faster than sales—or that clients are hesitating—might spook a market with scant tolerance for disappointing quarters.
Microsoft’s fiscal 2026 second-quarter earnings land after the market closes on Jan. 28. CEO Satya Nadella and CFO Amy Hood will hold a conference call to discuss the results.
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