Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) Earnings Review

Microsoft Corporation earnings review — the reported quarter's EPS and revenue against the Street's estimates, the forward outlook, margins, cash flow, and valuation reset as of July 2, 2026.

By TGMCharts Research · Data as of · Updated

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Microsoft Corporation posted EPS of $4.27 versus the $4.06 consensus (a 5.22% surprise) on revenue of $82.89B; whether it changed the thesis depends on the forward setup, not the headline.

The review ties the print to the durable trend: the TTM revenue change is 17.87%, operating margin is 46.80%, and the market pays 23.24x trailing earnings; next-quarter consensus is $4.21 EPS.

  • Microsoft Corporation posted EPS of $4.27 versus the $4.06 consensus — a surprise of 5.22%.
  • Revenue was $82.89B against a $81.44B estimate — a revenue surprise of 1.77%.
  • Trailing-twelve-month revenue change is 17.87% and EPS change is 15.53%.
  • Operating margin is 46.80% and net margin is 39.34%.
  • Next quarter consensus is $4.21 EPS on $87.61B revenue, with the next report due July 29, 2026.

Quarterly Setup

The reported quarter against the Street's estimates, plus the latest TTM trend behind it.

Actual EPS
$4.27
EPS estimate
$4.06
EPS surprise
5.22%
Revenue surprise
1.77%
Revenue TTM growth
17.87%
Operating margin
46.80%

Evaluating the Latest Microsoft Print Against Consensus Expectations

The latest financial disclosure from Microsoft Corporation provides a clear snapshot of how the enterprise is performing relative to Wall Street expectations. Actual earnings per share reached $4.27, which represents an outperformance of 5.22% relative to the consensus estimate of $4.06. This bottom-line execution was paired with quarterly top-line revenue of $82.89B, exceeding the analyst projection of $81.44B.

While clearing quarterly hurdles is a useful signal of operational execution, the long-term investment thesis relies on the trajectory of the broader business model. Trailing-twelve-month revenue expansion stands at 17.87%, while trailing-twelve-month diluted earnings per share expanded by 15.53%. This review contextualizes these results across cash conversion, margin sustainability, and forward valuation multiples.

Current compounder snapshot · MSFT

Live supporting context; not part of the article's frozen 2026-07-02 evidence snapshot.

Score
28/100
10Y CAGR
13.8%
Median YoY
14.3%
YoY volatility
σ 4.4pp· very smooth
Quarters ≥ 20%
4 of 40
Negative quarters
0
Valuation vs own 10Y history
P/S 11.1x · 10Y median 10.5x · 59th percentile · as of Aug 12, 2026
How this score is computed
  • Quarters at or above 20%: 4 of 40 4 of 40 pts
  • Steadiness (typical swing 4.4pp) → 21.9 of 25 pts
  • Pace (median 14.3% YoY) → 0 of 20 pts
  • Latest quarter (17.7% YoY) → 2 of 15 pts
  • Score: 28 of 100

Annualized revenue (TTM) · by quarter, last 40

$0.00$100.00B$200.00B$300.00B$400.00B20172019202120232025

Quarterly YoY revenue growth vs the 20% line

0%5%10%15%20%25%20%20172019202120232025

P/S multiple vs its 10Y median

5x7.5x10x12.5x15x10Y median 10.5x20172019202120232025

MSFT compounder charts →All consistent compounders →

Analyzing the Headline Performance and Surprise Percentages

A granular look at the reported figures reveals a positive variance on both the top and bottom lines. The reported revenue of $82.89B yielded a positive revenue surprise of 1.77% when measured against the Wall Street consensus of $81.44B. This top-line variance helped flow through to the bottom line, where the reported EPS of $4.27 beat the consensus estimate of $4.06 by 5.22%.

Analyzing these surprise margins helps determine whether the beat was driven by organic top-line expansion or secondary factors such as tax adjustments, financial engineering, or lower-than-expected share counts. Because revenue outperformance was positive, the quarter indicates a genuine expansion of the underlying business volume during the period.

Earnings scorecard: reported vs expected

The quarter's actual EPS and revenue against the Street's consensus, with the forward-quarter setup.

Quarterly EPS

Reported
$4.27
Street estimate
$4.06

Quarterly revenue

Reported
$82.89B
Street estimate
$81.44B

Next quarter — EPS consensus

Reported
Street estimate
$4.21

Next quarter — revenue consensus

Reported
Street estimate
$87.61B
TTM revenue

MSFT TTM revenue Chart

$331.84B

TTM revenue keeps the quarterly review focused on the most recent four-quarter business base.

+97.42% over 5Y

Latest revenue TTM growth: 17.87%.

Revenue TTM growth of 17.87% is the first quarterly-review checkpoint. It shows whether the latest reported periods are still adding to the business base.

Assessing Long Term Revenue and Net Income Trajectories

The long-term health of the business is best understood by evaluating trailing-twelve-month trends rather than single-quarter data points. Currently, trailing-twelve-month revenue growth is positive at 17.87%, which indicates a steady upward trajectory in total business volume. This top-line expansion is mirrored by a positive trailing-twelve-month net income growth rate of 29.58%, suggesting that absolute profitability is rising in tandem with sales.

Furthermore, the trailing-twelve-month EPS growth rate of 15.53% shows how these absolute net income gains translate to a per-share basis. When net income growth outpaces revenue growth, it typically signals that the business is achieving operational leverage, though this relationship must always be verified against underlying margin developments.

TTM net income

MSFT TTM net income Chart

$133.75B

Net income TTM history checks whether revenue momentum is reaching the bottom line.

+118.29% over 5Y

Latest net income TTM growth: 29.58%.

Net income TTM growth of 29.58% is the earnings-conversion check. If it diverges from revenue growth, the review should focus on margins rather than only sales.

EPS

MSFT EPS Chart

$18.00

EPS connects reported earnings momentum to the per-share outcome.

+121.67% over 5Y

Latest EPS TTM growth: 15.53%.

EPS TTM growth of 15.53% shows what the recent reporting cycle delivered per share. It is most useful beside revenue and margin data, not as a standalone verdict.

Verifying Earnings Honesty Through Cash Flow Generation

While accrual-based net income is the standard metric for headline earnings, cash flow conversion serves as an essential sanity check on the quality of those reported profits. For the trailing twelve months, free cash flow growth is positive at 5.12%. This positive trajectory confirms that the company is successfully translating its operational expansion into actual cash generation.

However, a comparison reveals that the free cash flow growth rate of 5.12% is lower than the trailing EPS growth rate of 15.53%. This divergence suggests that while the business is expanding, cash conversion is not fully matching the pace of GAAP earnings growth, which can occur when capital expenditures or working capital requirements increase.

TTM free cash flow

MSFT TTM free cash flow Chart

$66.99B

Free cash flow TTM is the cash-conversion counterpoint to earnings momentum.

+19.37% over 5Y

Latest FCF TTM growth: 5.12%.

Free-cash-flow TTM growth of 5.12% can confirm or challenge the earnings story. A quarterly review is incomplete if cash conversion is moving differently from EPS.

Evaluating Margin Structures and Profitability Levels

The efficiency of the operational model is reflected in the company's margin profile. Currently, the trailing-twelve-month gross margin stands at 68.31%, establishing a highly profitable baseline for the core product and service offerings. This is supported by an operating margin of 46.80%, which indicates strong control over overhead and administrative expenses.

At the bottom line, the net margin reaches 39.34%, showing how much of each dollar of revenue ultimately becomes net profit. These margins help explain the relationship between top-line sales growth and bottom-line earnings growth; if these profitability ratios compress in future quarters, even robust revenue growth will fail to drive proportional earnings expansion.

operating margin

MSFT operating margin

45.11%

Operating margin shows whether the latest revenue base is becoming more or less profitable.

+14.5pp over 10Y

Operating margin (TTM): 46.80%. The bars below are individual quarters, so the latest bar can differ from this trailing-twelve-month figure.

Operating margin (TTM) of 46.80% is the quality read across the last four quarters. The review should become more cautious if growth is present but margin quality is fading.

Assessing the Forward Consensus Bar and Next Reporting Date

Looking ahead, the market has established specific expectations for the upcoming quarterly release. Wall Street consensus estimates project an EPS of $4.21 on quarterly revenue of $87.61B. The company is scheduled to report these results on July 29, 2026, which will serve as the next major checkpoint for investors.

Evaluating the upcoming consensus revenue target of $87.61B against the trailing-twelve-month revenue growth rate of 17.87% helps determine whether the forward estimates are demanding or conservative. If the forward bar is set too high, any deceleration in the underlying business could lead to a negative surprise, even if absolute growth remains positive.

Valuation Multiples and Market Pricing Context

The market's current appraisal of these fundamentals is reflected in the prevailing valuation multiples. Investors are currently paying a trailing price-to-earnings ratio of 23.24x, which reflects the premium placed on the company's earnings stream. This valuation is accompanied by a trailing free cash flow yield of 2.51%.

When evaluating these multiples, it is important to note that the current market price is above the analyst DCF (FMP) reference, indicating a negative margin of safety relative to that specific valuation model. Consequently, the company must maintain high operational execution and margin consistency to justify the current trailing multiple of 23.24x.

P/E ratio

MSFT P/E ratio Chart

23.24x

P/E history keeps the quarterly review connected to what investors are paying for the updated fundamentals.

-38.57% over 5Y

Latest P/E ratio: 23.24x.

The P/E ratio at 23.24x is the market's price on the quarterly evidence. Improving fundamentals matter more when the multiple does not already assume too much progress.

Weighing the Bull and Bear Perspectives on the Print

The optimistic interpretation of this quarterly print highlights the synchronized expansion across key financial dimensions. Positive trailing-twelve-month revenue growth of 17.87% and net income growth of 29.58% demonstrate that the business model is successfully scaling. This is supported by a robust operating margin of 46.80%, which ensures that a high percentage of incoming revenue is captured as operating profit.

Conversely, the cautious perspective focuses on the quality of cash conversion and the demanding valuation. The trailing free cash flow growth rate of 5.12% lags the EPS growth rate of 15.53%, indicating that cash generation is not keeping perfect pace with reported accounting profits. With the market price sitting above the analyst DCF reference and the P/E ratio at 23.24x, there is little room for operational error.

Bull and bear case

Quarterly support

  • Revenue TTM growth of 17.87% supports the latest operating momentum.
  • Net margin of 39.34% keeps the quarterly review connected to earnings quality.

Quarterly pressure

  • Free-cash-flow TTM growth of 5.12% can weaken the read if cash conversion lags earnings.
  • The valuation still has to be checked against a P/E ratio of 23.24x.

Synthesizing the Fundamentals and Long Term Outlook

In summary, the latest earnings report from Microsoft Corporation confirms that the business is maintaining positive growth trajectories, with revenue and earnings both expanding over the trailing twelve months. However, the divergence between cash flow growth and GAAP earnings growth, combined with a valuation that sits above the analyst DCF reference, suggests that investors must closely monitor margin sustainability and cash conversion in future periods.

All data and metrics presented in this analysis are current as of July 2, 2026. This fundamental review is based strictly on historical filings and consensus estimates, serving as a neutral research tool rather than a personalized investment recommendation or directional market forecast.

FAQ

Did MSFT beat or miss earnings estimates last quarter?

Microsoft Corporation posted EPS of $4.27 against the $4.06 consensus — an EPS surprise of 5.22% — on revenue of $82.89B versus the $81.44B estimate, a revenue surprise of 1.77%.

What is the forward outlook for MSFT after the print?

Consensus models $4.21 in EPS on $87.61B in revenue for the coming quarter, with the next report due July 29, 2026. The TTM revenue change of 17.87% is the reference for judging whether that bar is conservative or demanding.

What would make this MSFT earnings review stale?

If the next data update materially changes the reported-quarter figures, forward estimates, margins, or valuation inputs, this note is corrected or withdrawn rather than left stale. Figures are as of July 2, 2026.

What would change our mind

  • The next report due July 29, 2026 versus the $4.21 EPS consensus.
  • Free-cash-flow TTM change versus the EPS TTM change of 15.53%.
  • Operating margin or valuation moving away from 46.80% and 23.24x.

The bottom line

Microsoft Corporation earnings-report review from TGMCharts Research: the reported quarter versus consensus, the forward setup, and what it means for the business — grounded in precomputed data and a frozen claim ledger.

Read next: The Bull Case for Microsoft (MSFT)Bull case on Microsoft — from the same data-checked research desk.
How we checked this researchShow

Data snapshot · By TGMCharts Research.

Every number in this note comes from data we compute and store ourselves from the company's reported figures, plus verbatim excerpts from its SEC filings. When a value isn't available we say so — we never fill gaps with estimates.

Latest filing excerpt

10-Q · filed 2026-04-29 · period 2026-03-31 · SEC EDGAR source

  • Highlights from the third quarter of fiscal year 2026 compared with the third quarter of fiscal year 2025 included: Microsoft Cloud revenue increased 29% to $54.5 billion.
  • Commercial remaining performance obligation increased 99% to $627 billion.
  • Cost of revenue increased $4.9 billion or 22% driven by growth in Microsoft Cloud.
  • Gross margin increased $7.9 billion or 16% with growth across each of our segments.
Full methodology