Google, Microsoft, and Amazon have to justify the AI spending boom this week

Google (GOOG, GOOGL), Microsoft (MSFT), and Amazon (AMZN) have one big, collective task on their digital shoulders this week as they report their quarterly earnings: They need to justify the AI spending boom. The stakes are high — these companies lead a week of corporate results that account for more than a third of the S&P 500's (^GSPC) earnings Like Meta (META) before them, the biggest question they'll face is likely about AI spending. Specifically, what that number is and how it compares to the expected returns. "All eyes will be on AI monetization vs. spending, with hyperscalers' 2027 capex estimates already revised up by nearly 90% YTD," Bank of America strategist Savita Subramanian wrote in a note on Tuesday.