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Microsoft Corp.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 28 January 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue and operating income rose: Revenue reached $81.3 billion, up 17%, and operating income reached $38.3 billion, up 21%. Constant-currency growth was 15% and 19% respectively. Source
  • Intelligent Cloud grew fastest: Intelligent Cloud revenue was $32.9 billion, up 29% (28% constant currency). Its operating income was $13.9 billion, against $10.9 billion a year earlier. Source
  • Azure and cloud services grew 39%: Azure and other cloud services revenue rose 39%, or 38% in constant currency, within the Intelligent Cloud segment. Source
  • Commercial backlog reached $625 billion: Commercial remaining performance obligation was $625 billion, up 110% year on year. The first quarter of fiscal year 2026 reported $392 billion. Source
  • Capital spending rose to $29.9 billion: Additions to property and equipment were $29.9 billion in the quarter, against $15.8 billion a year earlier. Six-month additions were $49.3 billion, against $30.7 billion. Source
  • Shareholder returns rose 32%: Returns totaled $12.7 billion across dividends and repurchases. Repurchases were $7.4 billion in the quarter and dividends paid were $6.8 billion. Source
  • OpenAI gains lifted GAAP net income: GAAP net income includes a $7.6 billion net gain on OpenAI investments. The non-GAAP reconciliation removes it, giving non-GAAP net income of $30.9 billion. Source

“We are only at the beginning phases of AI diffusion and already Microsoft has built an AI business that is larger than some of our biggest franchises”

Satya Nadella, chairman and chief executive officer of Microsoft

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Prior-period cash flow amounts were recast to match the current presentation. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue and operating income rose: Revenue reached $81.3 billion, up 17%, and operating income reached $38.3 billion, up 21%. Constant-currency growth was 15% and 19% respectively. Source
  • Diluted EPS grew on both bases: GAAP diluted EPS was $5.16, up 60%. Non-GAAP diluted EPS, which excludes OpenAI investment results, was $4.14, up 24%, or 21% in constant currency. Source
  • Other income moved to a gain: Other income (expense), net was $9.97 billion, against a $2.29 billion expense a year earlier. Income before income taxes was $48.2 billion, against $29.4 billion. Source

Segment results

  • Intelligent Cloud grew fastest: Intelligent Cloud revenue was $32.9 billion, up 29% (28% constant currency). Its operating income was $13.9 billion, against $10.9 billion a year earlier. Source
  • Productivity segment revenue rose 16%: Productivity and Business Processes revenue was $34.1 billion, up 16% (14% constant currency). Segment operating income was $20.6 billion, against $16.9 billion. Source
  • More Personal Computing revenue declined: More Personal Computing revenue was $14.3 billion, down 3%. Segment operating income was $3.8 billion, compared with $3.9 billion a year earlier. Source

“We exceeded expectations across revenue, operating income, and earnings per share.”

Amy Hood, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Microsoft

Products and customers

  • Azure and cloud services grew 39%: Azure and other cloud services revenue rose 39%, or 38% in constant currency, within the Intelligent Cloud segment. Source
  • Microsoft 365 cloud revenue grew: Microsoft 365 Commercial cloud revenue rose 17%, or 14% in constant currency. Microsoft 365 Consumer cloud revenue rose 29%, or 27% in constant currency. Source
  • Dynamics 365 and LinkedIn grew: Dynamics 365 revenue rose 19%, or 17% in constant currency. LinkedIn revenue rose 11%, or 10% in constant currency. Source
  • Windows OEM and Devices was flat: Windows OEM and Devices revenue rose 1%, relatively unchanged in constant currency. Source
  • Xbox fell while search advertising rose: Xbox content and services revenue fell 5%, or 6% in constant currency. Search and news advertising excluding traffic acquisition costs rose 10%, or 9% in constant currency. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross margin dollars rose: Gross margin was $55.3 billion, against $47.8 billion. Total cost of revenue was $26.0 billion, against $21.8 billion. Source
  • Service cost of revenue rose: Service and other cost of revenue was $22.5 billion, against $17.9 billion. Product cost of revenue was $3.5 billion, down from $3.9 billion. Source
  • Operating expenses rose year on year: Research and development was $8.5 billion, up from $7.9 billion. Sales and marketing was $6.6 billion, against $6.4 billion. General and administrative was $1.9 billion. Source
  • Tax provision rose with pre-tax income: The provision for income taxes was $9.8 billion, against $5.3 billion. Net income was $38.5 billion, against $24.1 billion. Source

“Microsoft Cloud revenue crossed $50 billion this quarter, reflecting the strong demand for our portfolio of services,”

Amy Hood, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Microsoft

Demand and the order book

  • Commercial backlog reached $625 billion: Commercial remaining performance obligation was $625 billion, up 110% year on year. The first quarter of fiscal year 2026 reported $392 billion. Source
  • Unearned revenue balance declined: Short-term unearned revenue was $51.4 billion at December 31, 2025, against $64.6 billion at June 30, 2025. Long-term unearned revenue was $2.7 billion. Source
  • Receivables fell from year-end: Accounts receivable, net, was $56.5 billion, against $69.9 billion at June 30, 2025. The six-month cash flow line for receivables was a $13.1 billion inflow. Source

Capital, cash and returns to shareholders

  • Capital spending rose to $29.9 billion: Additions to property and equipment were $29.9 billion in the quarter, against $15.8 billion a year earlier. Six-month additions were $49.3 billion, against $30.7 billion. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose: Net cash from operations was $35.8 billion, against $22.3 billion. Six-month net cash from operations was $80.8 billion, against $56.5 billion. Source
  • Shareholder returns rose 32%: Returns totaled $12.7 billion across dividends and repurchases. Repurchases were $7.4 billion in the quarter and dividends paid were $6.8 billion. Source
  • Debt repayments and cash position: Debt repayments were $3.0 billion in the quarter. Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments were $89.5 billion, against $94.6 billion at June 30, 2025. Source
  • Total assets grew with property: Total assets were $665.3 billion, against $619.0 billion at June 30, 2025. Property and equipment, net, rose to $261.1 billion from $205.0 billion. Source

OpenAI investments and non-GAAP

  • OpenAI gains lifted GAAP net income: GAAP net income includes a $7.6 billion net gain on OpenAI investments. The non-GAAP reconciliation removes it, giving non-GAAP net income of $30.9 billion. Source
  • Prior quarter had an OpenAI loss: In the first quarter of fiscal year 2026, OpenAI investment losses reduced net income by $3.1 billion and diluted EPS by $0.41.
  • Currency added to reported growth: Exchange rates added $972 million to revenue and $0.07 to diluted EPS, per the constant currency reconciliation, so constant-currency growth was lower than reported growth. Source

Strategy, AI and management

  • Hundreds of releases every quarter: The company said research and development investments support hundreds of products, services and enhancements each quarter, with innovation updates on Azure, Microsoft 365 and official blogs. Source
  • AI made broadly available: The company describes its mission as empowering every person and organization to achieve more, and says it is committed to making AI available broadly and doing so responsibly. Source
  • Executives hosted same-day call: Management hosted a 2:30 p.m. Pacific conference call and webcast the same day to discuss the quarter and forward-looking information. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Commercial remaining performance obligation Source$625 billion, up 110%
Microsoft Cloud revenue Source$51.5 billion, up 26% (24% constant currency)
Azure and other cloud services revenue Sourceup 39% (38% constant currency)
Microsoft 365 Commercial cloud revenue Sourceup 17% (14% constant currency)
Microsoft 365 Consumer cloud revenue Sourceup 29% (27% constant currency)
Dynamics 365 revenue Sourceup 19% (17% constant currency)
LinkedIn revenue Sourceup 11% (10% constant currency)

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Net income and diluted EPS move with OpenAI investment results, which the company excludes from its non-GAAP figures. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.