Microsoft adds AI and IoT cautionary language to its earnings
Microsoft reported its Q4 2018 earnings yesterday, with highlights like surpassing $100 billion in revenue for the fiscal year, all three operating groups seeing double-digit year-over-year growth, and as a result the stock soaring past $800 billion in value. All of that meant a smaller tidbit slipped through: three additions and three minor changes made to the earnings release.
Statements in this release that are “forward-looking statements” are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially because of factors such as:
The third one seems ordinary and something that any company would want to include. Calling out artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) as factors that impact earnings, however, isn’t so typical, although certainly long overdue for Microsoft.