Oracle report and shares

Oracle Corp. has reported its fiscal third-quarter revenue, which increased by 18% to $12.4 billion, a figure that is just shy of analysts' average estimate of $12.41 billion.

The company's cloud revenue segment, which it has been trying to expand, rose by 45% to $4.1 billion during the period ending February 28, 2023. Despite this, Oracle's cloud business failed to meet expectations for higher growth, leading to a decline in share prices in extended trading.

The cloud infrastructure industry, characterized by leasing computing power and storage, has been experiencing a slow market growth. However, industry analysts remain positive about the increasing number of customers opting for these services, leading to accelerated expansion. Oracle has implemented assertive marketing strategies and attractive pricing to attract customers from major players in the industry such as Microsoft Corp. and Amazon.com Inc., who have recently experienced a decline in growth within their cloud divisions.

Investors were highly enthusiastic about the recent large cloud deals, including one with Uber Technologies Inc., which boosted anticipation before Oracle's earnings release. However, the results fell short of expectations, leading some analysts to suggest that the numbers may indicate weaker demand for information technology amid continuing economic uncertainty.

During the same period, Cerner, Oracle's digital health records provider, achieved $1.5 billion in sales. Oracle's Chairman, Larry Ellison, is optimistic about the unit's potential for even stronger growth in the future. The majority of Oracle's cloud revenue, over two-thirds, comes from business applications such as Fusion software for corporate finance management and NetSuite's enterprise planning tools, which are designed for small and medium-sized businesses.

Despite the underwhelming performance in its cloud business, Oracle's CEO, Safra Catz, has projected a 16% increase in sales for the current period, which ends in May, in line with estimates. Profit, excluding certain items, is expected to range from $1.56 to $1.60 per share, surpassing analysts' average projection of $1.45 per share. Additionally, Oracle has raised its dividend by 25% to 40 cents per share.