Microsoft stock carries a higher 98 cent dividend

Published on 10/04/2026 at 12:56 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

Microsoft stock was last at USD 517.53 on Nasdaq on October 2, 2026, up 0.92 percent. Fiscal Q4 revenue reached USD 90.01 billion, up 17.7 percent year over year.

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Microsoft stock (ISIN US5949181045) was last at USD 517.53 on Nasdaq on October 2, 2026, up 0.92 percent, giving Microsoft a market capitalization of USD 3.8 trillion. The company had just set an 8 percent quarterly dividend increase, shifting attention toward shareholder returns alongside its AI infrastructure spending.

Dividend reaches 98 cents

In a September 15, 2026 release, Microsoft said its board declared a quarterly dividend of USD 0.98 per share, up USD 0.07, or 8 percent, from the previous payout. The same release set November 19, 2026 as the ex-dividend date and December 10, 2026 as the payment date, according to Microsoft.

Quarterly revenue grows 17.7 percent

Microsoft's fiscal Q4 2026 revenue reached USD 90.01 billion, up 17.7 percent from the same quarter a year earlier, while reported earnings per share came to USD 4.74 versus a USD 4.24 consensus estimate, MarketBeat reported on October 3, 2026.

The spending counterweight is substantial. MarketBeat reported on September 22, 2026 that Microsoft expected USD 50 billion of capital expenditure in fiscal Q1 2027 and USD 175 billion for the full fiscal year, making cash generation a key test for the dividend policy.

Analysts see USD 571.18

The consensus view remains Moderate Buy: 43 analysts rate Microsoft Buy, four rate it Hold and one rates it Sell, producing 48 ratings and an average price target of USD 571.18, according to MarketBeat on October 3, 2026. That target lies 10.37 percent above the USD 517.53 reference price, while the 52-week range remains USD 349.20 to USD 553.72.

The next operating checkpoint is fiscal Q1 2027. Trefis reported on October 1, 2026 that Microsoft is scheduled to report results on October 27, 2026, with Azure growth expected to be a central measure of execution.

Microsoft stock stays below its yearly high

Microsoft stock was last at USD 517.53 on Nasdaq on October 2, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. ET, with 17,179,496 shares traded. The price stood USD 36.19 below the 52-week high of USD 553.72, keeping valuation, AI spending and Azure monetization central to the next earnings reaction.