Confidence for MSFT Stock Crumbles – Microsoft’s Costly AI Gamble Shakes Investors

Due to internal disputes, insider stock dealings, and escalating AI costs, investor enthusiasm for Microsoft is quickly diminishing. enthus

Microsoft Falters as AI Expenses, Insider Sales, and Weak Demand Bite

Quick overview

  • Investor enthusiasm for Microsoft is waning due to internal conflicts, insider stock sales, and rising AI expenses.
  • The stock has fallen over 4% in a week, breaching key moving averages and indicating a loss of bullish momentum.
  • Microsoft's partnership with OpenAI is showing signs of strain, raising concerns about its future business ecosystem.
  • Internal protests and security issues further erode trust, suggesting that the company's dominance may be at risk.

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Due to internal disputes, insider stock dealings, and escalating AI costs, investor enthusiasm for Microsoft is quickly diminishing.

Rally Loses Steam After Brief Highs

Microsoft’s post-earnings euphoria has quickly dissolved. After hitting record highs above $555 following strong Q2 results, the stock attempted another push higher but failed at $553.70, reversing sharply. Shares have now fallen more than 4% in a week, closing near $507, and breaching key short-term moving averages — a sign that bullish momentum has broken down.

Traders are watching $468 as the next major support level, with fading confidence and heavy profit-taking dominating sentiment. The inability to sustain gains suggests that the tech giant’s aura of stability may be cracking.

Technical Weakness Deepens the Slide

On the weekly chart, Microsoft’s brief rebound off its 20-SMA quickly reversed, with the stock sliding back below this critical line — a bearish technical signal that often precedes deeper corrections.

MSFT Chart Weekly – Diving Below the 20 SMAChart MSFT, W1, 2025.11.10 17:19 UTC, MetaQuotes Ltd., MetaTrader 5, Demo

Investor anxiety was amplified by insider selling: Vice Chair and President Bradford L. Smith offloaded 30,411 shares worth $15.8 million in early November, according to SEC filings. In a market already on edge, the timing of the sale has been viewed as a vote of no confidence in the company’s near-term outlook.

AI Spending Turns into a Financial Burden

Despite beating Q3 expectations — posting EPS of $3.72 on $77.67 billion in revenue — Microsoft’s results were overshadowed by surging AI expenses. A staggering $3.1 billion in OpenAI-related costs wiped nearly $0.41 per share from profits.

CFO Amy Hood warned that capital expenditures will continue to accelerate, especially in AI infrastructure, casting doubt on future profitability. Analysts now question whether Microsoft’s aggressive AI push is fueling innovation or draining returns in a race that’s proving more expensive than expected.

Tensions with OpenAI Raise Red Flags

The once-celebrated Microsoft–OpenAI partnership is showing clear signs of strain. Reports suggest OpenAI may collaborate with Broadcom on chip development and even launch a recruitment platform rivaling LinkedIn — a direct threat to Microsoft’s business ecosystem.

While Microsoft’s push to promote its Copilot AI through influencer campaigns has drawn attention online, critics argue it’s a desperate bid for relevance among younger users, not a sustainable growth strategy.

Security Lapses and Product Weakness Erode Trust

Microsoft’s credibility suffered another blow after internal AI data leaks exposed security flaws. Simultaneously, its Xbox division reported a 29% decline in hardware sales year-over-year, underscoring weak consumer demand and lack of innovation in the gaming space.

Internal Unrest and Global Backlash

The company is also facing employee protests over its defense and AI partnerships, particularly those tied to conflicts in the Middle East. These demonstrations have intensified scrutiny of Microsoft’s ethics just as it expands its presence in the UAE through a $15 billion AI-focused data center project with G42 — a move seen by some as contradictory and politically fraught.

Conclusion: Confidence Cracks Beneath the Surface

What was once the most trusted pillar of Big Tech is now under pressure from within and without. Insider sales, growing internal dissent, and unsustainable AI spending have all combined to cast doubt on Microsoft’s direction. Unless the company reins in costs and rebuilds credibility, the era of effortless dominance may be coming to an end.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR See More
Skerdian Meta
Lead Analyst
Skerdian Meta Lead Analyst. Skerdian is a professional Forex trader and a market analyst. He has been actively engaged in market analysis for the past 11 years. Before becoming our head analyst, Skerdian served as a trader and market analyst in Saxo Bank's local branch, Aksioner. Skerdian specialized in experimenting with developing models and hands-on trading. Skerdian has a masters degree in finance and investment.

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