Microsoft announces quarterly dividend
Rhea-AI Summary
Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) announced that its board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.91 per share. The dividend is payable March 12, 2026 to shareholders of record on February 19, 2026, with an ex-dividend date of February 19, 2026. The announcement reiterates Microsoft’s focus on delivering platforms and AI-powered tools and notes the company’s stated mission to empower people and organizations.
Positive
- Quarterly dividend of $0.91 per share
- Dividend payable on March 12, 2026
- Record and ex-dividend date set for February 19, 2026
Negative
- None.
News Market Reaction
On the day this news was published, MSFT declined 2.50%, reflecting a moderate negative market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
MSFT fell 2.74% while key software peers were mixed: ORCL +4.32%, PLTR +1.48%, MDB -0.66%, NTAP -0.13%, indicating stock-specific pressure rather than a broad sector move.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 10 | Brand campaign | Positive | -2.7% | Candy Crush campaign highlighted strong engagement metrics and promotional activity. |
| Dec 09 | Governance outcome | Positive | +0.2% | Shareholders rejected Proposal 9, aligning with board and advocacy group recommendations. |
| Dec 02 | Dividend declaration | Positive | -2.5% | Board declared a $0.91 quarterly dividend with specified record and payable dates. |
| Nov 17 | AI partnership | Positive | -0.5% | Levi Strauss partnered with Microsoft to build a next‑gen AI superagent platform. |
| Nov 12 | Proxy campaign | Positive | +0.5% | ADL and JLens urged shareholders to vote against a BDS‑aligned Proposal 9. |
Recent news, including partnerships, governance items, and dividends, has often been followed by modest single-day moves that skew slightly negative.
Over the last few months, MSFT news has focused on shareholder matters, AI partnerships, and brand campaigns. A Nov 17 AI partnership with Levi Strauss and several governance-related releases around Proposal 9 and climate risk drew small price reactions within about ±3%. The prior Dec 2 dividend announcement at $0.91 per share coincided with a -2.5% move, suggesting dividend news historically aligned with only modest, sometimes negative, next-day performance.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement reiterates Microsoft’s regular capital-return program, with a quarterly dividend of $0.91 per share payable on March 12, 2026 to holders of record on February 19, 2026, which is also the ex-dividend date. Viewed alongside prior dividend increases in 2025, it underscores ongoing shareholder distributions. Investors may watch upcoming earnings, AI-related partnerships, and governance developments to contextualize this payout within Microsoft’s broader financial strategy.
Key Terms
quarterly dividend financial
ex-dividend date financial
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT" @microsoft) creates platforms and tools powered by AI to deliver innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers. The technology company is committed to making AI available broadly and doing so responsibly, with a mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.
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SOURCE Microsoft Corp.