3 Stocks With Robust Cloud Computing Operations – Zacks Investment Research

Cloud computing is one of the most exciting industries that has rapidly gained traction over the last several years. Its undoubtedly a significant highlight of modern technology and has allowed companies and consumers to achieve digital feats that otherwise felt impossible.

For a quick, somewhat simplistic definition, cloud computing is the delivery of computing services including servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence over the internet to offer accelerated innovation, flexible resources, and economies of scale.

The cloud is super secure, blazingly fast, and very reliable. In addition, it eliminates the need to buy expensive hardware and run those expensive on-site data centers.

Its fascinating to see what companies have achieved with this technology, and it turns out that its a very robust industry as well; cloud computing lines of businesses have primarily enjoyed stellar performances and strong revenue growth.

Three big players in the cloud computing realm include Amazon (AMZN Quick QuoteAMZN - Free Report) , Salesforce (CRM Quick QuoteCRM - Free Report) , and Microsoft (MSFT Quick QuoteMSFT - Free Report) . The year-to-date chart below illustrates the performance of all three companies while blending in the S&P 500 as a benchmark.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

As we can see, its been a tough stretch for all three companies throughout 2022. Soaring energy costs, supply chain bottlenecks, and most importantly, rising borrowing rates have all played spoilsport for the companies throughout the year.

Lets dig deeper into each companys cloud computing segment and analyze how much it has aided top and bottom line results.

Microsoft

Microsoft (MSFT Quick QuoteMSFT - Free Report) Azure is the companys cloud computing service. Its the only consistent hybrid cloud, delivering unparalleled developer productivity and comprehensive, multilayered security. Azure is available in more than 60 regions globally.

In its latest quarterly release, the companys Azure cloud platform posted robust results. It reported better-than-expected commercial booking growth of 28%, and Azure Cloud revenue was $23.4 billion, up 32% year-over-year.

Additionally, MSFT believes that cloud technology will be a critical growth driver of the worlds economic output and will further boost its top line in the future.

Since 2017, MSFTs cloud revenue has grown substantially, up a triple-digit 119%.

Amazon

Amazon Web Services (AWS), Amazons (AMZN Quick QuoteAMZN - Free Report) cloud service, is the worlds most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud platform. The service has millions of customers, including fast-growing startups, large enterprises, and leading government agencies. Customers rely on AWS services to lower business costs, become more agile in the cloud, and ramp up innovation.

With over 200 fully-featured services from data centers globally, AWS allows customers an effortless, faster, and more cost-effective experience than any other cloud provider.

Additionally, AWS has the deepest functionality within its services, offering the widest variety of purpose-built databases for various applications.

Its been the companys fastest-growing source of revenue. From 2020 to 2021, net sales from AWS surged nearly 80%, raking in $62 billion compared to the previous figure of $35 billion.

This line of business looks to remain rock-solid, with companies such as Meta Platforms (META Quick QuoteMETA - Free Report) and Best Buy (BBY Quick QuoteBBY - Free Report) recently selecting AWS as their preferred cloud provider.

Furthermore, Nasdaq has shared its multi-year partnership to migrate its markets onto AWS to become the worlds first fully enabled, cloud-based exchange undoubtedly a major positive.

Salesforce

A giant in the cloud space, Salesforce (CRM Quick QuoteCRM - Free Report) , reported strong quarterly results in its latest earnings release. Following the report, shares surged nearly 10%.

Cloud results were robust. The companys Sales Cloud continued to accelerate, surpassing $1.6 billion in the reported quarter, an 18% year-over-year increase.

CRMs Service Cloud grew 17% year-over-year to $1.8 billion in revenue in the quarter. Together, Commerce Cloud and Marketing Cloud grew 22% year-over-year for the reported quarter.

Revenue of $7.4 billion pegged a 24% increase in the top-line from the year-ago quarter, and CRM initiated Q2 FY23 revenue guidance of $7.69 - $7.70 billion. In addition, operating cash flow came in at $3.7 billion, a sizable 14% year-over-year increase.

Bottom Line

Cloud computing is a fascinating yet lucrative industry that a few major tech players have recently started to dip their toes into. Its no surprise why its been one of the fastest-growing and most sought-after technologies in recent times.

Moving forward, the cloud is expected to continue aiding top and bottom line growth. All three companies above would be great places to start for investors seeking exposure to the rapidly growing industry.

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3 Stocks With Robust Cloud Computing Operations - Zacks Investment Research