Microsoft earnings: Tech giant to report Q2 earnings as AI mania pushes stock higher

Microsoft (MSFT) will report its second quarter earnings after the bell on Tuesday, as Wall Street looks for signs that the company's vast artificial intelligence (AI) investments continue to pay off. Microsoft has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of the AI trade, sending shares jumping 50% over the last 12 months and Microsoft's market capitalization over $3 trillion. As of Monday afternoon, Microsoft was the wealthiest company in the world by market cap, outmuscling long-time rival Apple (AAPL), which has been stung by recent stock downgrades on fears of sluggish iPhone sales in China. For the quarter, Wall Street…