Microsoft shares climb after strong earnings and surging AI demand
Microsoft shares rose 8 percent in after-hours trading following a quarterly report that beat market expectations. The company reported strong growth for its Azure cloud service and a gain from its investment in Anthropic.
What happened?
For the fourth quarter of its fiscal year, ending 30 June 2026, Microsoft reported revenue of 90.01 billion USD, surpassing expectations of 87.62 billion USD. Earnings per share reached 4.74 USD, compared with an expected 4.24 USD. Net income increased to 35.77 billion USD, positively impacted by a 3.2 billion USD gain from the company's investment in the AI laboratory Anthropic.
Key facts
| Omsättning Q4 2026 | 90,01 miljarder USD |
|---|---|
| Justerad vinst per aktie | 4,74 USD |
| Vinst från Anthropic-investering | 3,2 miljarder USD |
| Intäktsökning år för år | 18 % |
Why it matters
The revenue increase of approximately 18 percent compared to the same period last year is largely driven by strong growth in the Azure cloud service and AI services. Demand for AI infrastructure means that Microsoft is planning for continued and increasing capital expenditures (capex) in the coming fiscal year. CFO Amy Hood also stated that the company is expected to maintain positive cash flow throughout fiscal year 2027.
Who is affected?
The news primarily concerns Microsoft's shareholders, investors, and technology analysts. Corporate customers and developers who rely on Microsoft's Azure cloud platform and AI infrastructure are also affected, as the company's increased investments are intended to meet high demand for computing capacity.
Impact on the EU
Not relevant to EU status. Microsoft's financial results concern the global group and affect the availability of cloud resources and AI infrastructure worldwide, including within the EU.
What else you should know
During the same quarter, however, a decline was noted for Microsoft's gaming segment. Revenue from Xbox content and services fell by 10 percent, while hardware sales for Xbox decreased by 13 percent.
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