Trailing Dividend / Share
$3.23
Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) Dividend History
Income profile from 2003 to 2026 with payout safety and yield-on-cost trend
Dividend Yield
0.8%
Payout Ratio
23.6%
Sustainable
Dividend Streak
20 years
3-Second Income Check
Safety
23.6% payout ratio with sustainable safety profile.
Consistency
20 straight years of dividend increases.
Income Trend
Yield on cost is 1.6% and trend is rising.
Dividend Scorecard
Yield & Income
Dividend Yield0.8%
Trailing DPS$3.23
FrequencyAnnual
Payments / 12M4
Payout Safety
Earnings Payout23.6%
Earnings SafetySustainable
FCF Payout31.1%
FCF SafetyWell Covered
Piotroski F-Score6/9
Growth
Growth Streak20 years
3Y CAGR10.2%
5Y CAGR10.2%
Yield on Cost (5Y)1.6%
YOC Trendrising
Total Returns
Buyback Yield0.6%
Total Shareholder Yield1.5%
1Y Total Return-0.2%
5Y Total Return71.9%
Div Contribution (5Y)6.1%
Estimated $10K growth (return + dividends):
5Y ago$17,18610Y ago$81,81720Y ago$157,716
Uses precomputed total return metrics from screening data (not lot-by-lot dividend reinvestment transactions). Different time windows can produce different outcomes depending on market regime and entry point.
Income Growth Story
Dividend per share and yield on cost over time (24 years of payments)
Dividend Safety Story
EPS is the container — dividend is what's drawn out
Dividend Analysis
Payout Safety
Microsoft Corporation distributes 23.6% of earnings as dividends (Sustainable). When measured against free cash flow—a stricter test—the payout ratio stands at 31.1%, rated "Well Covered".
Piotroski F-Score: 6/9 — moderate financial health.
Growth Track Record
MSFT has raised its dividend for 20 consecutive years, with a 3-year CAGR of 10.2% and 5-year CAGR of 10.2%.
Total Shareholder Returns
Beyond cash dividends, MSFT returns capital through share repurchases. The combined picture: 0.8% dividend yield, 0.6% buyback yield, 1.5% total shareholder yield.
Income Trend & Total Return
Yield on cost (5-year basis) has reached 1.6% and is currently rising. The 5-year total return is 71.9%, with dividends contributing 6.1% of that performance.
DRIP Growth
A $10,000 investment made 10 years ago with dividends reinvested would have grown to approximately $81,817 today.
Recent Dividend Payments
Last 20 payments · Annual
TTM Total$14.46
Avg/Payment$0.7230
| Ex-Date | Amount | Change | Yield % | Payment Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 19, 2026Latest | $0.9100 | — | 87.34% | Mar 12, 2026 |
| Nov 20, 2025 | $0.9100 | ↑ +9.6% | 71.07% | Dec 11, 2025 |
| Aug 21, 2025 | $0.8300 | — | 65.84% | Sep 11, 2025 |
| May 15, 2025 | $0.8300 | — | 71.50% | Jun 12, 2025 |
| Feb 20, 2025 | $0.8300 | — | 75.94% | Mar 13, 2025 |
| Nov 21, 2024 | $0.8300 | ↑ +10.7% | 74.60% | Dec 12, 2024 |
| Aug 15, 2024 | $0.7500 | — | 71.25% | Sep 12, 2024 |
| May 15, 2024 | $0.7500 | — | 69.25% | Jun 13, 2024 |
Dividend Peer Comparison
Peer group: Cloud infrastructure and hosting
#3 yield in peer group
Div Yield
0.8%
#3 of 3
Safety
Sustainable
23.6% payout
Streak
20Y
10.2% 5Y CAGR
Total Shareholder
1.5%
#3 of 3
Annual Dividend History
38 years of dividend data
GrowthDecline
| Year | DPS | YoY | Pmts | EPS | Payout | Coverage | YOC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | $0.91 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 0.4% |
| 2025 | $3.40 | 10.4% | 4 | $13.64 | 24.9% | 4.01x | 1.6% |
| 2024 | $3.08 | 10.4% | 4 | $11.80 | 26.1% | 3.83x | 1.4% |
| 2023 | $2.79 | 9.8% | 4 | $9.68 | 28.8% | 3.47x | 1.3% |
| 2022 | $2.54 | 10.4% | 4 | $9.65 | 26.3% | 3.80x | 1.2% |
| 2021 | $2.30 | 10.0% | 4 | $8.05 | 28.6% | 3.50x | 1.1% |
| 2020 | $2.09 | 3.8% | 4 | $5.76 | 36.3% | 2.76x | 1.0% |
| 2019 | $2.01 | 17.0% | 5 | $5.06 | 39.8% | 2.51x | 0.9% |
| 2018 | $1.72 | 8.2% | 4 | $2.13 | 80.8% | 1.24x | 0.8% |
| 2017 | $1.59 | 8.2% | 4 | $3.25 | 48.9% | 2.04x | 0.7% |
See MSFT's True Return
Price is only half the story. See total return with reinvested dividends.
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Start ComparisonFrequently Asked Questions
How much dividend does MSFT pay per share?
Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) pays a trailing 12-month dividend of $3.23 per share, with a current dividend yield of +0.8%. Payments are made Annual.
When is MSFT's next ex-dividend date?
MSFT's most recent ex-dividend date is N/A. You must own shares before the ex-dividend date to receive the next payment. MSFT typically pays dividends Annual.
Is MSFT's dividend safe?
MSFT's dividend safety is rated "Sustainable" based on an earnings payout ratio of +23.6% and FCF payout ratio of +31.1%. With 20 consecutive years of dividend growth, the track record supports sustainability.
Is MSFT a Dividend Achiever?
Yes, Microsoft Corporation is classified as a Dividend Achiever with 20 consecutive years of dividend increases. The 5-year dividend CAGR is +10.2%, demonstrating above-inflation dividend growth.
How often does MSFT pay dividends?
Microsoft Corporation pays dividends Annual. The trailing 12-month total is $3.23 per share. Dividend data on this page covers 23+ years from 2003 to 2026.
How much would $10,000 invested in MSFT grow with dividend reinvestment?
With dividends reinvested (DRIP), $10,000 invested in MSFT five years ago would be worth approximately $17,186 today. This includes both price appreciation and compounded dividend reinvestment. Use the DRIP calculator above for other time periods.
What is MSFT's yield on cost for long-term holders?
MSFT's yield on cost — the current dividend divided by the original purchase price — is +1.6% for a 5-year holding period. This means long-term holders earn a higher effective yield than today's +0.8% market yield, thanks to consistent dividend growth.