Microsoft's strong Q4 performance sent the stock up 8% in pre-market trading, extending its impressive rally of over 50% since its April low of around $350

Shares of tech giant Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) jumped 4.5% in the afternoon session after the company reported impressive fiscal fourth-quarter earnings that surpassed analyst expectations, fueled by significant growth in its cloud and artificial intelligence divisions.

Microsoft Corp. could become the second company ever to close with a $4 trillion market capitalization Thursday, as analysts heaped praise on what some see as a no-brainer investment.