Microsoft common stock trades on The Nasdaq Stock Market under the ticker symbol MSFT. Microsoft’s board most recently declared a quarterly dividend of $0.98 per share on September 15, 2026. That dividend is scheduled for shareholders of record on November 19, 2026, with payment on December 10, 2026; Microsoft also lists November 19, 2026 as the ex-dividend date. Whether you can buy fractional MSFT shares depends on the brokerage or investment plan you use. Microsoft’s official information confirms that Computershare administers its direct stock purchase and dividend reinvestment plans, but the pages reviewed do not establish whether those plans accept fractional-share purchases.
Microsoft stock at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is Microsoft’s ticker? | MSFT |
| Where does it trade? | The Nasdaq Stock Market |
| Latest declared quarterly dividend | $0.98 per share, declared September 15, 2026 |
| Record date for that dividend | November 19, 2026 |
| Ex-dividend date listed by Microsoft | November 19, 2026 |
| Payable date for that dividend | December 10, 2026 |
| Can Microsoft’s official pages confirm fractional purchases? | No. They describe Computershare-administered plans but do not state whether purchases can be fractional. |
| Most recent Microsoft stock split | 2-for-1 split; adjusted-price trading began February 18, 2003 |
The dividend amount and dates are a specific 2026 declaration, not a permanent Microsoft policy. A later board declaration can change the amount, record date, ex-dividend date or payment date.
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What is Microsoft’s stock ticker and exchange?
Microsoft common shares trade on The Nasdaq Stock Market under MSFT. Entering MSFT in a brokerage’s quote or order screen should identify Microsoft common stock, although the exact display can vary by provider. Confirm that the security description says Microsoft common shares before submitting an order, particularly if a platform also lists funds, options or other instruments that reference Microsoft.
The ticker answers the identification question; it does not tell you the current share price, valuation, dividend yield or whether an order will execute. Those are time-sensitive details supplied by your brokerage or market-data service. A quote should be checked at the time you plan to trade and should be labeled with its date and whether it is real-time or delayed.
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Does Microsoft pay a dividend?
Yes. Microsoft’s board declared a quarterly dividend of $0.98 per share on September 15, 2026. Microsoft stated that the dividend is payable on December 10, 2026, to shareholders of record on November 19, 2026, and lists November 19, 2026 as the ex-dividend date.
| Item | 2026 declaration |
|---|---|
| Announcement date | September 15, 2026 |
| Dividend rate | $0.98 for each share |
| Ex-dividend date | November 19, 2026 |
| Record date | November 19, 2026 |
| Payment date | December 10, 2026 |
How the per-share amount translates to a holding
The announced rate is multiplied by the number of shares entitled to the distribution. For example, 100 eligible shares would produce a declared gross amount of $98 before any account-level deductions or tax treatment. A fractional holding, if your provider permits one and treats it as dividend-eligible, would generally be calculated by multiplying the fraction by the per-share rate; the provider’s terms control how it rounds or credits the result.
What the record and ex-dividend dates mean
The record date is the date Microsoft uses to identify shareholders entitled to the declared dividend. The ex-dividend date is the trading-date marker used by the market and brokerage system to determine whether a purchase carries the upcoming distribution. Microsoft’s 2026 announcement lists both dates as November 19, 2026. Do not assume that every future dividend will use the same dates; each declaration must be checked separately.
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The payable date is when Microsoft schedules payment. Your brokerage may display the cash on that date or after its own processing, and a reinvestment election can change how the credit appears. If a dividend is missing, compare the account’s transaction history with the issuer’s declaration and contact the provider rather than relying on an old calendar entry.
Why a future dividend calendar can be wrong
Dividend declarations are made by Microsoft’s board. The $0.98 figure and November–December 2026 dates are current only for the declaration dated September 15, 2026. A website that projects a later quarter may be showing an estimate rather than a board-approved amount. Treat an amount as confirmed only when Microsoft has announced it or your provider has posted an official corporate-action notice.
Can you buy fractional shares of Microsoft?
There is no issuer-level confirmation in the official pages reviewed that Microsoft itself sells fractional shares. Microsoft says that Computershare administers a direct stock purchase plan and a dividend reinvestment plan, but those pages do not state whether an investor can make a fractional initial purchase, what minimum applies, how orders are handled, or whether reinvested dividends produce fractional holdings.
Fractional ownership is therefore a provider question. A brokerage may allow an order for less than one whole share, while another may require whole shares. A direct plan may have different eligibility, enrollment, minimum, fee and reinvestment rules. The existence of Microsoft’s plan does not, by itself, prove that fractional purchases are available.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems| Access route | What is established | What you must verify |
|---|---|---|
| Brokerage account | Some providers may offer fractional trading, but no particular provider’s terms are established here. | Whether MSFT is eligible; minimum dollar or share amount; order types; trading windows; fees; transfer and sale rules; dividend treatment. |
| Computershare direct stock purchase plan | Computershare administers a Microsoft direct stock purchase plan. | Eligibility, enrollment, minimum purchase, fees, settlement, whole-share requirements and fractional handling. |
| Computershare dividend reinvestment plan | Computershare administers a Microsoft dividend reinvestment plan. | Whether reinvestment buys fractional shares, how fractions are recorded, fees, elections and withdrawal rules. |
How to verify fractional-share availability before investing
- Identify the route. Decide whether you are using an ordinary brokerage account or Microsoft’s Computershare-administered plan. The rules are not interchangeable.
- Read the current terms. Look for the provider’s sections on fractional trading, eligible securities, direct purchases, dividend reinvestment, fees and order execution. Save the version date or download the disclosure.
- Check the exact security. Confirm that the provider lists MSFT common stock as eligible. Fractional availability can be limited to selected securities even when a platform advertises fractional trading generally.
- Confirm the order method. Ask whether a fractional order is placed in dollars or shares, whether it executes immediately or during a processing window, and which order types are permitted.
- Confirm ownership and exit rules. Find out whether fractional interests can be transferred to another firm, sold only for cash, or combined into a whole share. These operational rules affect what happens if you move or close the account.
- Check dividend instructions. Verify whether cash dividends are paid in cash or reinvested, and how any fractional result is credited. Do not infer the answer from Microsoft’s dividend rate.
If the provider’s disclosure is unclear, obtain a written answer from its customer service team before placing an order. Microsoft’s investor information identifies Computershare as the transfer agent for these plans and provides plan contacts; confirm current terms directly because eligibility, fees and fractional treatment can change.
Microsoft’s most recent stock split
Microsoft identifies February 18, 2003 as the date its most recent 2-for-1 split began trading at the adjusted price. The date is historical; it does not predict another split or change the current number of shares in your account.
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What a 2-for-1 split does
In a 2-for-1 split, each pre-split share becomes two shares and the market price is approximately halved at the split adjustment. An investor holding 10 shares immediately before the split would have 20 shares immediately after the adjustment, while the per-share price would be roughly half its prior level. The investor’s total market value is unchanged at the instant of the split, before later price movements.
A split does not, by itself, create an investment return. It changes the share count and per-share measurements used in an account. It also does not establish fractional-share access: a split can create a fractional result in some corporate actions, but Microsoft’s 2003 split was a 2-for-1 adjustment and the reviewed materials do not describe any current fractional-purchase policy.
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Use Microsoft Investor Relations for the company’s FAQ, dividend announcements and stock-history information. The FAQ is the source for the MSFT ticker, Nasdaq listing and split explanation. The September 15, 2026 dividend release is the source for the $0.98 amount and the November 19 and December 10 dates. Microsoft’s dividend and stock-history information identifies Computershare as administrator of the direct purchase and dividend reinvestment plans.
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For an actual order, use your brokerage’s current security page and account agreement. For a direct-plan transaction, use the current Computershare plan documentation and contact details. The issuer’s pages establish the company-level facts; they do not replace the provider’s rules for order handling, account eligibility, fees or fractional interests.
Common mistakes when looking up MSFT
- Confusing the ticker with a recommendation: MSFT identifies the security; it does not indicate whether buying or selling is appropriate.
- Using an undated dividend figure: The confirmed amount here is $0.98 per share for the September 15, 2026 declaration. Later declarations can differ.
- Mixing up record and payment dates: November 19, 2026 is the listed record and ex-dividend date; December 10, 2026 is the scheduled payment date.
- Assuming a direct plan guarantees fractions: Computershare’s role confirms plan administration, not fractional-purchase availability.
- Treating a stock split as a gain: A 2-for-1 split doubles the share count and approximately halves the per-share price at adjustment; value changes later with the market.
- Relying on a projected calendar: Verify each dividend against a current Microsoft announcement or provider corporate-action notice.
Practical checklist before placing an MSFT order
- Confirm the security name is Microsoft common stock and the ticker is MSFT.
- Check the live quote’s timestamp and whether it is delayed.
- Decide whether you need whole shares or a provider that permits fractional orders.
- Read the provider’s current fractional, dividend and fee disclosures.
- If you are buying around a dividend date, verify the ex-dividend and record dates for that specific declaration.
- Keep the September 15, 2026 declaration separate from any future estimate or announcement.
The Bottom Line
Microsoft trades as MSFT on Nasdaq and most recently declared a $0.98 quarterly dividend for eligible shareholders on the dates announced for 2026. Fractional MSFT ownership is not confirmed by Microsoft’s official plan pages; verify the exact rules with your brokerage or Computershare before investing.
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