On October 9, Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) announced a partnership with Grab, the Singapore-based ride-hailing service which has supplanted Uber in Southeast Asia. The deal should boost Microsoft stock over the longer term.
Under the terms of , MSFT will invest in Grab and provide the company with cloud computing services. Microsoft and Grab will also work together on projects such as chatbots and facial recognition.
“Our partnership with Grab opens up new opportunities to innovate in both a rapidly evolving industry and growth region,” said Peggy Johnson, Microsoft’s executive vice president for business development.
Grab is one of Southeast Asia’s biggest startups. In March, Grab reported that nearly are now booked each day using its app. Grab expects to generate this year.
The company was founded in 2012 by Anthony Tan and Hooi Ling Tan, who are not related to each other. In March, Uber sold its to Grab in exchange for a 27.5% stake in the company.
According to the , Microsoft’s investment has boosted Grab’s valuation to $12 billion.
Toyota Motor Corp (NYSE:TM) invested in Grab last year and doubled down in June, increasing its stake by . Japan’s SoftBank Group Corp (OTCMKTS:SFTBY) and China’s Didi Chuxing are also major Grab shareholders.
The Impact of the Grab Deal on Microsoft Stock
If Grab’s valuation increases, the value of Microsoft’s stake will increase. And as Grab expands, its demand for Microsoft’s cloud services will also grow.
Finally, MSFT has strengthened its position in Southeast Asia’s fast-growing cloud market.
Why Is Microsoft Investing in Grab?
Grab operates in eight countries with a combined population of over 640 million. The company is more than just a ride-hailing platform; it bills itself as “the leading Online-to-Offline Mobile Platform in Southeast Asia.”
Indeed, Grab has expanded beyond ride-hailing; it plays a role in delivering all sorts of goods and services in the region, and it is active in transportation, food, payments, fintech, and .
As Grab grows, so will its valuation and its need for cloud services. Those developments will boost Microsoft stock.
Microsoft stock will also benefit from the company’s strengthened position in the region. According to research firm demand for cloud services in Southeast Asia will grow at a 27.7% annual rate through 2022.
Competitors Aren’t Standing Still
But MSFT is not alone. Other cloud companies such as Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) and Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG, NASDAQ:GOOGL) are also making moves in Southeast Asia.
Alphabet brought its
to Singapore last year and there in May. In October, Alphabet announced that it would be opening a Google Cloud zone .
Grab’s biggest rival, the Indonesian ride-hailing service Go-Jek, . Microsoft is actually following in Alphabet’s footsteps, since Alphabet in January.
In September, Amazon Web Services announced that it would beef up its presence by in Indonesia.
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (NYSE:BABA) is also interested in Southeast Asia. In August, Alibaba Cloud held a , its first outside of China, and increased the range of its services that are available in the region.
Microsoft should watch out for Alibaba; according to Synergy Research, Alibaba is the world’s .
Is Microsoft Stock Attractive?
Tech stocks like MSFT have suffered over the past few weeks amidst rate hike and trade war fears. The price of Microsoft stock is currently $109; MSFT stock hit its 52-week high of $116.18 on October 3.
InvestorPlace contributor Luke Lango sees the recent slump as an opportunity to buy Microsoft stock.
I think Microsoft’s decision to invest in Grab will boost MSFT stock.
Microsoft is one of my favorite tech stocks. In February, I wrote about some of Microsoft’s advantages.
First, Microsoft has a , unlike other tech companies, including Alphabet and Facebook, Inc. (NASDAQ:FB), which rely heavily on advertising.
Second, MSFT has a strong position in three cutting-edge technologies which will have a massive economic impact: artificial intelligence, or AI, blockchain, and quantum computing.
Microsoft is second among the FAMGA companies (Facebook, Apple, Microsoft, Google, Amazon) in AI patents, according to .
A survey by last year ranked Microsoft second only to IBM (NYSE:IBM) in blockchain, the technology behind bitcoin.
Cryptocurrencies have suffered this year, but the underlying technology will still have a major economic impact; IHS believes that blockchain will create in 2030.
Microsoft is also working on quantum computing, a technology which could revolutionize fields like medicine and IT security. Specifically, Microsoft recently added a to its Quantum Development Kit and opened a in Denmark.
If these bold bets on technology pay off, MSFT stock will definitely reward investors.
As of this writing, Lucas Hahn was long bitcoin.
