Microsoft Hits New High as Nadella Highlights OpenAI Partnership

​Microsoft’s stock closed at a record high Thursday, rising 0.8% to $467.68, as CEO Satya Nadella underscored the company’s deepening relationship with OpenAI. The stock’s gain came on an otherwise down day for the broader market, helping Microsoft reclaim its title as the world’s most valuable company, with a market cap of $3.48 trillion—edging past Nvidia and Apple.

During a Bloomberg interview, Nadella emphasized Microsoft’s strong collaboration with OpenAI, calling it a key driver of future growth. “Why would any one of us want to go upset that?” Nadella said, reaffirming Microsoft’s strategy of tightly integrating OpenAI’s innovations with its Azure cloud platform. Microsoft has invested nearly $14 billion in OpenAI to date.

The latest gains build on a year of strong momentum. Microsoft shares are now up 11% year-to-date, even as the Nasdaq remains flat. The company last hit a record close in July 2024, and its stock has benefited from investor enthusiasm for AI and cloud services.

The contrast was notable Thursday as other tech giants lagged. Tesla shares plunged amid a growing public feud between Elon Musk and President Trump over government spending—a drama that Microsoft investors appear happy to ignore.

​Bottom line: Microsoft is thriving as it doubles down on AI partnerships and cloud dominance. While tech volatility swirls elsewhere, the company’s steady focus on its OpenAI alliance continues to pay dividends—both strategically and in market value.