greeksoup/ stock research

Microsoft Corp.: Q4 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 July 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue and operating income rose 18%: Revenue was $90.0 billion, up 18% (17% in constant currency). Operating income was $40.6 billion, up 18%. Net income was $35.8 billion GAAP and $35.3 billion non-GAAP. Source
  • Diluted EPS on GAAP and adjusted bases: Diluted EPS was $4.81 GAAP, up 32%, and $4.74 non-GAAP, up 23%. Non-GAAP results exclude the impact from investments in OpenAI. Source
  • Discrete items added $0.27 to EPS: Compared with guidance given on April 29, 2026, several discrete items produced a benefit of $0.27 on diluted EPS. Source
  • Intelligent Cloud revenue up 32%: Intelligent Cloud revenue was $39.3 billion, versus $29.9 billion a year earlier. Segment operating income was $16.0 billion versus $12.1 billion. Source
  • Azure growth rose to 43%: Azure and other cloud services revenue grew 43%, compared with 40% growth in the March quarter. The company said Azure revenue surpassed $100 billion for the first time this year. Source
  • Copilot passed 30 million paid seats: Satya Nadella said Microsoft 365 Copilot reached over 30 million paid seats, which he linked to customer confidence in the company's AI transformation. Source
  • Commercial backlog grew 84%: Commercial remaining performance obligation reached $678 billion, up from 99% growth to $627 billion in the March quarter. Source
  • Capital spending rose to $35.8B: Additions to property and equipment were $35.8 billion in the quarter, up from $17.1 billion. For fiscal 2026 they were $115.9 billion, up from $64.6 billion. Source

“We are advancing the frontier on the cost-to-outcome curve, ensuring every customer can turn tokens into business results”

Satya Nadella, chairman and chief executive officer of Microsoft

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue and operating income rose 18%: Revenue was $90.0 billion, up 18% (17% in constant currency). Operating income was $40.6 billion, up 18%. Net income was $35.8 billion GAAP and $35.3 billion non-GAAP. Source
  • Diluted EPS on GAAP and adjusted bases: Diluted EPS was $4.81 GAAP, up 32%, and $4.74 non-GAAP, up 23%. Non-GAAP results exclude the impact from investments in OpenAI. Source
  • Discrete items added $0.27 to EPS: Compared with guidance given on April 29, 2026, several discrete items produced a benefit of $0.27 on diluted EPS. Source
  • Anthropic gain and retirement program: The discrete items included a $3.2 billion gain from the Anthropic investment and lower-than-expected Voluntary Retirement Program expenses. Source
  • Full-year revenue and profit growth: For fiscal 2026, operating income was $155.2 billion, up 21%. Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $17.28, up 22%; GAAP diluted EPS was $17.95, up 32%. Source

Segment results

  • Productivity segment revenue up 14%: Productivity and Business Processes revenue was $37.8 billion versus $33.1 billion. Segment operating income was $21.9 billion versus $19.0 billion. Source
  • Intelligent Cloud revenue up 32%: Intelligent Cloud revenue was $39.3 billion, versus $29.9 billion a year earlier. Segment operating income was $16.0 billion versus $12.1 billion. Source
  • Personal computing revenue down 4%: More Personal Computing revenue was $12.9 billion, down from $13.5 billion. Segment operating income was $2.7 billion versus $3.2 billion. Source

“This year, Azure revenue surpassed $100 billion for the first time, and Microsoft 365 Copilot reached over 30 million paid seats, reflecting the confidence customers are placing in us to power their AI transformation”

Satya Nadella, chairman and chief executive officer of Microsoft

Products and customers

  • Azure growth rose to 43%: Azure and other cloud services revenue grew 43%, compared with 40% growth in the March quarter. The company said Azure revenue surpassed $100 billion for the first time this year. Source
  • Commercial cloud growth shown two ways: Microsoft 365 Commercial cloud revenue grew 14% as reported and 16% when adjusted for the prior-year comparable, which benefited from 2 points of in-period revenue recognition. Source
  • Consumer cloud, LinkedIn, Dynamics growth: Microsoft 365 Consumer cloud revenue rose 24%, LinkedIn 12%, and Dynamics 365 13%, all as reported. Source
  • Copilot passed 30 million paid seats: Satya Nadella said Microsoft 365 Copilot reached over 30 million paid seats, which he linked to customer confidence in the company's AI transformation. Source
  • Search and gaming revenue trends: Search advertising revenue excluding traffic acquisition costs rose 10%. Windows OEM and Devices and Xbox content and services both declined 7% and 10%. Source

Costs and margins

  • Gross margin rose in dollars: Gross margin was $60.5 billion, up from $52.4 billion, about 67.2% of revenue versus 68.6% a year earlier. Research and development was $10.0 billion, up from $8.8 billion. Source
  • Service cost of revenue up 28%: Service and other cost of revenue was $26.6 billion, up from $20.7 billion, a rise of about 28% against revenue growth of 18%. Source
  • Sales, marketing and admin costs rose: Sales and marketing was $7.6 billion, up from $7.3 billion. General and administrative was $2.3 billion, up from $2.0 billion. Source
  • XBOX severance and impairment charges: Severance expense and impairment charges in XBOX partly offset the benefit from lower Voluntary Retirement Program expenses. Source
  • Other income swung to a gain: Other income (expense), net was $3.4 billion in the quarter, compared with an expense of $1.7 billion a year earlier. Source

“highlighted by Microsoft Cloud revenue of $59.3 billion, up 27% year-over-year”

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

Demand and the order book

  • Commercial backlog grew 84%: Commercial remaining performance obligation reached $678 billion, up from 99% growth to $627 billion in the March quarter. Source
  • Microsoft Cloud revenue up 27%: Microsoft Cloud revenue was $59.3 billion, up from $54.5 billion in the March quarter, when growth was 29%. Source
  • Short-term unearned revenue increased: Short-term unearned revenue was $73.0 billion, up from $50.9 billion at March 31, 2026 and $64.6 billion at June 30, 2025. Source
  • Receivables rose from March: Accounts receivable, net, was $80.9 billion, up from $60.0 billion at March 31, 2026. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow rose to $55.4B: Net cash from operations was $55.4 billion in the quarter, up from $42.6 billion. For fiscal 2026 it was $182.9 billion, up from $136.2 billion. Source
  • Capital spending rose to $35.8B: Additions to property and equipment were $35.8 billion in the quarter, up from $17.1 billion. For fiscal 2026 they were $115.9 billion, up from $64.6 billion. Source
  • $10.2B returned to shareholders: The company returned $10.2 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases in the quarter. The cash flow statement shows dividends paid of $6.8 billion and repurchases of $4.6 billion. Source
  • Cash and short-term investments declined: Cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments totaled $76.8 billion, compared with $94.6 billion at June 30, 2025. Source

Investments and accounting

  • OpenAI investment results excluded: Non-GAAP results exclude OpenAI investment results. The fourth quarter included a net gain of $480 million, or $0.07 of diluted EPS; fiscal 2026 included a net gain of $4,963 million. Source
  • Equity investments and property grew: Equity and other investments were $36.3 billion, up from $33.7 billion at March 31, 2026. Property and equipment, net, was $313.1 billion, up from $283.2 billion. Source
  • Long-term debt declined: Long-term debt was $31.1 billion, down from $40.2 billion at June 30, 2025. The current portion of long-term debt was $9.2 billion. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Microsoft Cloud revenue Source$59.3 billion, up 27%
Commercial remaining performance obligation Source$678 billion, up 84%
Azure and other cloud services revenue growth Source43%
Microsoft 365 Copilot paid seats Sourceover 30 million
Azure annual revenue Sourcesurpassed $100 billion for the first time
Microsoft 365 Commercial cloud revenue growth Source14% reported, 16% adjusted
Microsoft 365 Consumer cloud revenue growth Source24%
LinkedIn revenue growth Source12%
Dynamics 365 revenue growth Source13%

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Net income and diluted EPS have been moved by OpenAI investment results in both directions, such as the fiscal 2025 net losses. Source
  • Operational: Severance expense and impairment charges in XBOX were recorded this quarter and offset part of the discrete benefit. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said that, adjusted for the discrete items, results exceeded expectations across revenue, operating income, and diluted EPS. 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.