Although Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) stock has struggled to reclaim its all-time high (ATH) so far in 2026, up nearly 35% over the past six months, Patrick Walravens, an expert at Citizens, joined other Wall Street analysts in expecting a rally towards a new peak over the next 12 months.
On September 21, 2026, Walravens maintained a ‘Buy’ rating for Microsoft stock, according to a note sent to clients. This researcher maintained the firm’s 12-month price target for MSFT stock at $550.
With Microsoft stock trading at $494.07, Citizens signals a potential 11.32% upside by September 21, 2027. This firm has reiterated its ‘Market Outperform’ rating for MSFT, driven by the company’s Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella’s clear and highly disciplined strategic vision for responsible artificial intelligence (AI) deployment.
“Citizens reiterates its Market Outperform rating as Microsoft outlines principles for responsible AI development and deployment,” Walravens noted.
Furthermore, he believes that Microsoft stock benefits from the company’s ability to balance robust human control with industry-leading safety standards and enterprise-grade privacy assurances, thereby effectively eliminating key regulatory and operational risks.
Is Microsoft a good stock to buy?
Earlier on Monday, Thomas Blakey, an expert at Cantor Fitzgerald, reaffirmed a ‘Buy’ rating for MSFT and raised the firm’s 12-month price target to $608 from $522. Additionally, Brent Thill, an analyst at Jefferies, reiterated a ‘Buy’ rating for Microsoft stock and maintained the firm’s 12-month price target at $575.
As such, 35 Wall Street analysts surveyed by TipRanks over the last 3 months have set an average rating of ‘Strong Buy’. Meanwhile, their mean 12-month price target for MSFT is $569.94.
MSFT price performance
Over the past 12 months, MSFT stock has fallen 3.96%, after getting trapped in a bear market since September 2025 and July 2026. However, Microsoft has regained bullish sentiment after forming a likely higher high amid strong AI buildout.
As such, if Microsoft stock continues with its recently established uptrend, the ATH targets from these Wall Street analysts could be met.
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