Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) Q2 2023 Earnings Call Transcript

Satya Nadella: I mean I think that you can €“ you have a workload, you optimize the workload and you start a new workload. So, the thing that I would say is when you are done with optimizing a workload is when you are done with the cycle. So, I think if you sort of say, when did we enter this, we accelerated existing workloads during the pandemic over a period of 2 years. So, we are optimizing. I don’t think we are going to take 2 years to optimize, but we are going to take this year to optimize. And then as we optimize the new projects start and the new project starts don’t start instantly at their peak usage. They start and then they scale. And so those are the two cycles that will happen where there will be a time lag.

Kash Rangan: Got it. So, it’s a temporary adjustment before we start to get the full effect of the next set of workloads. Good to get that.

Satya Nadella: That’s correct.

Kash Rangan: Thank you.

Brett Iversen: Thanks Kash. Joe, next question please.

Operator: The next question comes from the line of Karl Keirstead with UBS. Please proceed.

Karl Keirstead: Thank you. This one for Amy. Amy, given the obviously tough environment, it sounds like reaching that full fiscal year 20% constant currency commercial revs guide would be tough. Is that also true for the soft guidance for 10%-plus total revenue growth for the year? And if I could just sneak in a clarification, Amy, just because it’s an important metric. When you talk about a 4-point to 5-point decel in Azure, that’s off of the 38% reported for December, right, not off the 35% exit rate? Thank you.

Amy Hood: It’s all €“ Karl, let me just €“ the first half of your question, give me a second. On the second half of your question, which is the guide of the exit rate €“ it’s off the exit rate on Azure of four points to five points, just to make sure that is clear. In terms of thinking about total year revenue, right, I did not comment on full year revenue as we continue, I think really just to watch the Windows PC market as it returns to pre-pandemic levels. Outside of that, as you can see, the trends are relatively consistent. So, in some points, it’s important because if you look at the operating income margin guidance that I talked about, the fact that we are guiding to really only one point of margin deceleration for the year on a constant currency basis with probably over $2 billion of headwind from the OEM business from what we had anticipated heading into the year, the focus on margins, the focus on prioritization, the focus on putting our investments into where we know they have high return, I actually feel quite good about the place that puts us in as we exit the year in terms of €“ and the right energy, right, or leaving the year in Q4 on leverage.

Karl Keirstead: Got it. Super helpful. Thanks Amy.

Brett Iversen: Thanks Karl. Joe, next question please.

Operator: Our next question comes from the line of Brad Zelnick with Deutsche Bank. Please proceed.