Nebius Group, Microsoft, and Meta Platforms are shaping three distinct AI strategies investors need to watch now.
Nebius Group (NBIS) is the European AI infrastructure dark horse. The Amsterdam firm, led by ex-Yandex head Arkady Volozh, posted 385% revenue growth in Q1 2025, hitting $55.3 million. Its stock is up 92% this year. Nebius builds custom hardware and software for AI workloads—not just repurposed cloud gear. It runs on 94% low-carbon electricity and aims for $750 million to $1 billion ARR by end of 2025. Nebius wants to be Europe’s AI infrastructure answer to US hyperscalers.
Microsoft (MSFT) is the pragmatic AI money machine. Shares are up 24% YTD. Azure and cloud services hit over $75 billion in FY25 revenue, up 34% YoY. Microsoft integrates AI tools like Copilot directly into Office and Teams—now reaching 100 million users. Teams Phone has 20 million users. Total Q4 revenue hit $76.4 billion, beating forecasts. Microsoft plans to spend $30 billion on AI infrastructure this quarter alone, tightening its grip on AI-powered productivity globally. 
Meta Platforms (META) is doubling down on AI-driven advertising. Shares gained 29% YTD after a strong Q2. Revenue rose 22% YoY to $47.5 billion, with $46.6 billion from ads. Mark Zuckerberg calls it “personal superintelligence” powering better ad targeting. Meta owns a $14.3 billion stake in Scale AI and added 6% more daily users this year—3.48 billion now. Capital spending is climbing to $66–72 billion this year, mostly on AI infrastructure and training. Meta aims to own the global attention economy with AI at the core.
These three show the AI race’s varied paths: Nebius for infrastructure with a green European twist, Microsoft for integrated enterprise AI monetization, and Meta for social-scale AI advertising domination.
George Budwell has positions in Microsoft. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Meta Platforms and Microsoft. The Motley Fool recommends Nebius Group and recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
