/Oracle%20Corp_%20logo%20on%20phone%20and%20stock%20data-by%20Rokas%20Tenys%20via%20Shutterstock.jpg)
Oracle Corporation (ORCL), headquartered in Austin, Texas, is a technology company specializing in database management systems, cloud solutions, and enterprise software products. With a market cap of $389.38 billion, ORCL is a key player in the tech industry, providing comprehensive solutions for data management, cloud infrastructure, and business applications. Competing with other major technology companies, Oracle’s primary rival is Microsoft Corporation (MSFT), known for its cloud services and enterprise software offerings, as both companies drive innovation and digital transformation across various sectors.
Companies worth $200 billion or more are generally described as "mega-cap stocks," Oracle certainly fits that description. A long-standing leader in the technology sector, Oracle has built a strong presence in the enterprise software and cloud computing markets, supported by a loyal customer base.
ORCL shares are trading 3.6% below their 52-week high of $146.59, which they hit on Jul. 15. However, the stock has gained 20.7% over the past three months, outperforming the Dow Jones Industrial Average Index’s ($DOWI) 9.1% returns over the same time frame.
In the long term, ORCL is up 34% on a YTD basis, and the shares have gained 17.1% over the past 52 weeks. The Dow has gained 10.3% in 2024 and 19.3% over the past year.
To confirm the bullish price action, ORCL has been trading above its 200-day moving average since late April and 50-day moving average since late August.
Oracle Corporation’s strong performance is primarily driven by the rapid growth of its cloud business, benefiting significantly from the shift from on-premise software to cloud-based infrastructure. The cloud migration services market is expected to reach $70 billion by the end of this decade, with an annual growth rate of about 26% until 2030.
Additionally, the rising demand for artificial intelligence (AI) is further boosting Oracle’s cloud services, which saw a 12% year-over-year increase in revenue to $39.4 billion for the fiscal year ended May 31. Oracle’s cloud infrastructure is anticipated to remain in high demand, particularly for running AI workloads.
Highlighting the contrast in performance, rival MSFT has underperformed ORCL, with a 10.9% gain on a YTD basis.
Given ORCL's recent outperformance compared to Dow, analysts are moderately optimistic about its prospects. The stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" from 29 analysts. The mean price target of $149.64 reflects a 5.9% premium over current levels.
On the date of publication, Rashmi Kumari did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
