Microsoft Approves Bigger Dividend Ahead Of Shareholder Meeting

Core Points - Microsoft Corporation announced a quarterly dividend of 91 cents per share, an increase of 10% from the previous payout [1] - The company reported fourth-quarter revenue of $76.44 billion, a 17% year-over-year increase, surpassing the consensus estimate of $73.80 billion [3] - Analysts are optimistic about Microsoft's growth driven by cloud services and artificial intelligence [4][5] Dividend and Shareholder Meeting - The approved dividend will be distributed on December 11, 2025, to shareholders of record as of November 20, 2025 [1] - The annual shareholders meeting is scheduled for December 5, 2025, with eligible voters being those on record as of September 30, 2025 [2] Financial Performance - Microsoft expects first-quarter sales between $74.70 billion and $75.80 billion, exceeding the analyst estimate of $74.07 billion [4] - Fourth-quarter earnings per share were reported at $3.65, beating the consensus estimate of $3.37 [3] Analyst Ratings and Forecasts - Analysts have raised their price forecasts for Microsoft, with Cantor Fitzgerald increasing it from $581 to $639, and Oppenheimer from $600 to $630 [6] - KeyBanc upgraded the stock to Overweight with a $630 forecast, while Piper Sandler raised its forecast from $600 to $650 [6] Market Reaction - Microsoft stock is trading higher by 0.08% to $515.80 in premarket trading [7]