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Yes. Microsoft pays a quarterly cash dividend. Its latest declaration, announced September 15, 2026, is $0.98 per share, payable December 10, 2026, to shareholders of record on November 19, 2026. At a dated share price of $541.15, four payments at that rate imply a forward dividend yield of about 0.72%—an estimate that changes whenever the share price or dividend rate changes.
The latest Microsoft dividend at a glance
Microsoft Investor Relations says the company pays a quarterly dividend of $0.98 per share. The company’s board announced that rate on September 15, 2026, describing it as a 7-cent, or 8%, increase over the preceding quarter. You can verify the basic policy in Microsoft’s Investor Relations FAQ and the increase in the company’s September 15, 2026 announcement.
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| Item | Latest announced detail |
|---|---|
| Dividend frequency | Quarterly cash dividend |
| Dividend per share | $0.98 |
| Announcement date | September 15, 2026 |
| Increase from prior quarter | $0.07, equal to 8% |
| Ex-dividend date listed by Microsoft | November 19, 2026 |
| Record date | November 19, 2026 |
| Payment date | December 10, 2026 |
The $0.98 figure is the declared amount for the upcoming payment cycle; it is not a promise that every future quarter will use the same rate. Dividend decisions are made by the board, so a future declaration could increase, reduce, suspend or otherwise change the payment.
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Why some pages still show $0.91
Microsoft’s immediately preceding announcement, dated June 10, 2026, declared $0.91 per share, payable September 10, 2026, to shareholders of record on August 20. The September announcement replaced that rate for the next quarter with $0.98.
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| Announcement | Quarterly amount | Payment date | Record date |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 10, 2026 | $0.91 | September 10, 2026 | August 20, 2026 |
| September 15, 2026 | $0.98 | December 10, 2026 | November 19, 2026 |
Search results, dividend calendars and cached pages can lag behind a new declaration. When two Microsoft dividend figures conflict, check the announcement date and the payment cycle they describe. The September 15 announcement and the current FAQ are the relevant references for the $0.98 rate discussed here.
How Microsoft’s dividend yield is calculated
Dividend yield expresses a dividend as a percentage of the share price. The basic formula is:
Dividend yield = annual dividend per share ÷ share price × 100
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For a forward-looking estimate, annualize the latest regular quarterly payment. Four quarterly payments at $0.98 would be:
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$0.98 × 4 = $3.92 per share per year
Then divide $3.92 by the share price used in the calculation. This method assumes four future payments at $0.98. The $3.92 figure is arithmetic based on the latest declaration, not a separate annual dividend declared by Microsoft.
Worked example using a dated MSFT price
Stock Analysis reported Microsoft’s closing share price as $541.15 on October 12, 2026. Using that dated observation and the annualized $3.92 amount produces:
| Calculation step | Value |
|---|---|
| Latest quarterly dividend | $0.98 per share |
| Annualized amount | $0.98 × 4 = $3.92 |
| Share-price observation | $541.15 closing price on October 12, 2026 |
| Yield calculation | $3.92 ÷ $541.15 = approximately 0.00724 |
| Percentage result | Approximately 0.724%, or about 0.72% rounded |
The price data comes from Stock Analysis’ MSFT dividend and price page. The approximately 0.72% result is an independent calculation tied to that closing price; it is not a fixed yield published by Microsoft and it is not a live quote.
Forward yield versus trailing yield
Not every website uses the same dividend-yield convention. A forward, or annualized, yield uses the latest declared regular payment and assumes the rate continues for four quarters. A trailing yield uses dividends actually paid during the preceding 12 months.
| Yield convention | Dividend amount used | What it tells you | Main qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forward or annualized | Latest regular quarterly payment multiplied by four | What the yield would be if the latest rate continued | Future payments can change |
| Trailing 12-month | Dividends actually paid in the prior year | Cash distributions that occurred during that period | It may include an older rate and can lag a new increase |
Neither convention is automatically “the” Microsoft yield. A useful quote must identify the dividend rate, the price date and whether the percentage is company-reported or calculated by the publisher. A percentage without those details can become stale quickly, especially after a dividend change or a large stock-price move.
Why MSFT’s yield moves when the dividend does not
The dividend yield has two moving parts: the cash dividend in the numerator and the share price in the denominator. If Microsoft leaves its quarterly payment at $0.98 while the stock price rises, the same $3.92 annualized dividend represents a smaller percentage of the higher price. If the share price falls, the percentage rises, even though the cash amount per share has not changed.
The reverse is also possible. A board can change the dividend while the share price stays near the same level, causing the yield to change because the numerator changed. Both variables can move at once, so a yield quoted on one date should not be presented as a permanent rate.
Yield also is not total return. It measures the dividend relative to the share price; it does not include gains or losses in the market value of the stock. An investor’s overall result can therefore differ substantially from the dividend percentage shown on a quote page.
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Understanding the ex-dividend, record and payment dates
Microsoft’s latest announcement lists November 19, 2026 as the ex-dividend date and the record date, with cash scheduled for December 10, 2026. These dates describe different parts of the distribution process.
Ex-dividend date
The ex-dividend date is the trading-date cutoff used to determine whether a newly purchased share is entitled to the upcoming distribution under the market’s settlement rules. Buying around the cutoff can involve settlement timing, so investors should confirm the current rule and their broker’s treatment rather than rely on the payment date.
Record date
On the record date, Microsoft checks its shareholder records to identify holders entitled to the declared dividend. The latest record date is November 19, 2026.
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The payment date is when Microsoft schedules the cash distribution to be paid. For the latest declaration, that date is December 10, 2026. Merely holding a share on the payment date does not by itself determine eligibility; the ex-dividend and record-date rules do.
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For a purchase made close to November 19, consult your broker’s current dividend calendar and Microsoft’s announcement. Those sources can account for market holidays, settlement conventions and account-specific posting times without assuming that every trade settles identically.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the yield can—and cannot—tell you
What it measures
- The cash distribution per share relative to a specified market price.
- A way to compare the income component of the same stock across different prices or dates, provided the calculation method is consistent.
- A snapshot that can be recomputed from a declared dividend and a dated price.
What it does not establish
- It does not guarantee that Microsoft will maintain the $0.98 quarterly rate.
- It does not forecast the stock’s future price or total return.
- It does not show whether an investor will receive the next payment unless the investor satisfies the applicable ex-dividend and record-date requirements.
- It does not make a high or low percentage a standalone buy-or-sell signal.
To evaluate a dividend beyond the percentage, an investor would need additional information about the company, valuation, risks and personal objectives. Those questions are separate from the mechanical yield calculation.
A repeatable method for calculating MSFT yield yourself
- Identify the dividend rate. Start with Microsoft’s latest regular quarterly declaration. For this article’s calculation, that is $0.98 announced September 15, 2026.
- Choose the yield convention. For a forward estimate, multiply the latest quarterly amount by four. For a trailing figure, add the dividends actually paid in the prior 12 months instead.
- Record the share-price date and basis. Note whether you are using a closing price, an intraday quote or another stated price. The worked example uses the October 12, 2026 closing price of $541.15.
- Divide the annual dividend by the price. Using the forward example, calculate $3.92 ÷ $541.15.
- Convert to a percentage and label it. Multiply by 100 and round only after calculating. Report the result as approximately 0.72% forward yield at that dated price, not as a timeless Microsoft rate.
- Recheck after a new declaration or price move. A new board announcement changes the dividend input; a market move changes the denominator. Either event can make an old percentage obsolete.
How to compare two Microsoft yield figures online
When two pages disagree, compare the underlying inputs rather than choosing the larger number. Use this checklist:
| Check | Question to ask | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend rate | Does the page use $0.98 or the prior $0.91? | A new declaration changes the annualized numerator. |
| Method | Is the figure trailing 12-month or forward/annualized? | The two methods can produce different percentages after a rate change. |
| Price date | When was the share price measured? | Yield changes with the stock price. |
| Price basis | Is it a close, an intraday quote or an unspecified price? | The denominator may not be comparable. |
| Attribution | Is the percentage published by Microsoft or calculated by the page? | An independently calculated figure should not be presented as a company statement. |
This process explains why a page can show a number that is mathematically reasonable yet not comparable with the approximately 0.72% example. Different rates, dates and conventions can all be valid when clearly labeled.
Dividend reinvestment and shareholder administration
Microsoft’s Dividends and Stock History page identifies Computershare as the administrator of Microsoft’s direct stock purchase and dividend reinvestment plan. That tells existing shareholders where plan administration is handled; it does not establish an affiliate relationship, a commission arrangement or any particular eligibility terms.
Shareholders considering reinvestment should read the current plan documents and account instructions for enrollment, timing, fees and transaction treatment. Reinvesting a dividend changes what happens to the cash distribution, but it does not change the published yield formula: yield still compares the declared cash amount per share with the relevant share price.
Bottom line for MSFT dividend readers
Microsoft does pay a quarterly dividend, and the latest declaration covered here is $0.98 per share. Four payments at that rate equal an annualized $3.92, but that annualization assumes the board keeps the rate unchanged. Using the October 12, 2026 closing price of $541.15 gives an independently calculated forward yield of about 0.72%. Treat that percentage as a dated calculation, not guaranteed income, a live quote or a measure of total investment return.
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