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StocksMediumUpdated•Originally published 15 July 2026•Updated 15 July 2026•
1 min read

3M Shares Rise as Microsoft Taps Optical Tech for Azure Data Centers

Key Facts

1Microsoft becomes the first hyperscale cloud provider to deploy 3M's Expanded Beam Optical (EBO) technology.
23M will utilize Microsoft's AI and digital capabilities to drive enterprise transformation across its key functions.

In a move reinforcing its position as a key digital infrastructure provider, 3M shares gained following a strategic partnership with Microsoft to deploy Expanded Beam Optical (EBO) technology across Azure data centers. According to reports, Microsoft has become the first hyperscale cloud provider to adopt this technology to boost data transfer efficiency, while 3M will leverage Microsoft’s AI capabilities to accelerate its own enterprise digital transformation.

This collaboration emerges as industry peers like Alphabet and Meta compete fiercely for energy efficiency and interconnect speeds, with market data showing META closed at $661.04 and GOOGL at $359.51 (close July 14, 2026). Analysts suggest that integrating 3M’s optical tech into Azure could provide Microsoft with a latency advantage, a critical factor for training large-scale AI models.

Regarding price levels, MSFT settled at $384.93, while MMM closed at $156.58 (close July 14, 2026) amid positive momentum. Investors are now monitoring upcoming US Initial Jobless Claims and further updates on cloud profit margins to gauge the sustainability of this rally in industrial and tech growth stocks.