Microsoft became the first software company to reach a $1 trillion market capitalization in April 2019.
Microsoft crossed the milestone on April 25, 2019, after reporting quarterly results that exceeded analysts’ expectations. The company’s stock-market value was supported by growth in Azure cloud computing, Office 365 subscriptions, enterprise software, and its broader shift toward recurring services.
Microsoft had been founded primarily as a personal-computer software company. Under chief executive Satya Nadella, who became CEO in 2014, the business placed greater emphasis on cloud computing and subscription-based products. That strategy helped revive investor enthusiasm after a period in which the company was seen as less dynamic than some technology rivals.
Microsoft was not the first company in any industry to reach $1 trillion; Apple and Amazon had already done so. The distinction here is the company’s identity as a software-focused technology corporation.