• Microsoft has recently disbanded its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) team due to "changing business needs".
• The company has previously invested $150 million in DEI.
• Microsoft's stock has experienced volatility, but has a year-to-date growth of 17%

Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:MSFT) has recently disbanded its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) team. This information was revealed through a leaked email from the DEI team leader, who mentioned "changing business needs" as the reason for the decision.

The move has sparked controversy within the company, with significant internal criticism and concerns that the company is retreating from its commitment to a diverse and inclusive workplace.

They have historically supported DEI initiatives, investing up to $150 million in programs promoting racial allyship and addressing privilege among its non-black employees.

This makes the current rollback particularly notable, especially in a year where the company has already laid off around 10,000 employees as part of routine cuts at the financial year's end.

Microsoft isn't alone, as other major tech companies like Google, Meta, and Zoom have also scaled back some of their DEI efforts that were intensified during the Black Lives Matter protests.

This industry-wide reduction in DEI initiatives raises questions about the long-term priorities of these tech giants regarding workplace diversity.

Despite these cutbacks, a Microsoft spokesperson assured stakeholders that the company's commitment to diversity and inclusion "remains strong and unchanged." However, the optics of reducing the DEI team amid broader layoffs might suggest otherwise to critics and employees.

From a financial perspective, the company's stock has shown volatility due to internal changes and broader market dynamics. After reaching a record high of $468 on July 5th, the stock declined by 5.3%.

This downturn was evident on a recent trading day when the stock opened lower and closed over 1% down. Such movements often reflect investor sentiment and reactions to company decisions.

Looking ahead, technical analysis suggests that if the decline continues, a significant support level at $430, created from the high of March 2024, could stabilize the price.

If the stock holds and then gains bullish momentum, the next psychological barrier and target for the stock price is $500, which would require strong momentum to surpass.

As Microsoft navigates these financial and organizational changes, the market will closely watch how these affect its long-term growth, which has been robust with a year-to-date growth of 17%.

Additionally, Wednesday's trading closed with an indecision bar, a technical signal that sometimes precedes a reversal. If a bullish trend takes hold, Microsoft's ability to surpass its previous high could indicate its resilience in both market and workplace strategies.

After the closing bell on Wednesday, July 17, the stock closed at $443.52, trading down by 1.33%.

This article is from an unpaid external contributor. It does not represent Benzinga's reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy.