Mega-Cap Earnings Flood In — Can AI Spending Pass the Test?
Alphabet fell 1.08% and Intel gained 1.72% Friday ahead of earnings from Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, and Intel, together representing about 15% of the S&P 500. Investors will watch cloud growth, AI capex, and cash conversion, with Nvidia and chip suppliers also in focus. Bulls expect cloud demand to translate into orders; bears say Meta showed growth alone cannot justify valuations without faster cash returns. What will prove AI spending is paying off first: faster cloud growth or stronger cash conversion?