Microsoft’s third-quarter financials exceeded investor expectations, marking $65.59 billion in revenue against a forecast of $64.51 billion. Earnings per share (EPS) also surpassed projections, reaching $3.3 instead of the expected $3.1. Year-over-year, revenue grew by 16%, while net profit rose by 11%. However, profit forecasts for the current quarter anticipate a decline due to continued investments in OpenAI’s development.
According to CNBC, Microsoft’s total revenue for the quarter rose by 16% year-over-year to $65.59 billion, and net profit increased by 11%, reaching $24.67 billion. Despite this positive outcome, the company’s revenue forecast for the current quarter, estimated between $68.1 billion and $69.1 billion, fell short of analyst expectations of $69.83 billion, signaling a potential slowdown. Microsoft CFO Amy Hood acknowledged that upcoming quarters will see net profit reduced by approximately $1.5 billion due to the ongoing need to support OpenAI.
OpenAI Investments and Supply Chain Challenges
Microsoft’s strategic commitment to OpenAI continues to be substantial, with nearly $14 billion allocated to the startup. Although this investment has paid off, contributing billions to Microsoft’s revenue through artificial intelligence (AI) integrations, ongoing financial details between the two companies remain confidential. Microsoft reportedly invested about $13 billion in OpenAI by the end of September, with an additional $750 million recently allocated. The corporation has already incurred more than $2.3 billion in “other expenses” over the past year, some of which funded OpenAI’s growth.
A separate challenge for Microsoft has emerged in its data center supply chain. Due to limitations in server equipment supply, the company is struggling to meet customer demand for computing power in the current quarter. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella expressed cautious optimism, predicting a rebalancing of supply and demand in the second half of the fiscal year. He stated, “I am fairly confident that the second half of the year will see at least some rebalancing of supply and demand.” We’ll keep you updated on this evolving situation as Microsoft addresses these supply limitations.
Segment Growth and Challenges in Profitability
Microsoft’s latest adjustments to its financial reporting structure have impacted clarity in some areas, yet the cloud sector, led by Azure, remains a bright spot. Azure revenue grew by 33%, with artificial intelligence accounting for 12 percentage points of this increase, outpacing market expectations. Microsoft’s Intelligent Cloud division as a whole grew by 20%, reaching $24 billion. Despite an 8% rise in operating expenses for Azure infrastructure improvements, operating profit in this area climbed by 18% to $10.5 billion. Projections for the next quarter suggest Azure growth will remain strong, between 31% and 32%.
Meanwhile, Microsoft Cloud overall recorded a 22% revenue increase to $38.9 billion, with a profit margin steady at 71%. However, scaling AI infrastructure has slightly reduced this margin, which stood a few points higher a year ago. Server products and partner programs experienced a slight dip in revenue, with the latter impacting core revenue by 1%. In the segment Microsoft labels “Productivity and Business Processes,” revenue rose 12% year-over-year to $28.3 billion, driven by a 13% increase in Microsoft 365 and cloud services in the commercial market, compared to a 5% rise in the consumer market. Revenue from the Dynamics suite and related cloud offerings also grew by 14%.
The “More Personal Computing” segment reported a 17% revenue increase to $13.18 billion, although operating profit in this area dropped 4% to $3.53 billion. A substantial 49% rise in operating expenses, largely related to the Activision acquisition, contributed to this decline. Windows OEM and devices revenue rose by 2%, while Xbox-related gaming services surged by 61%. Additionally, Microsoft’s search and news revenue, excluding traffic costs, grew by 18%.
Mixed Outlook with Capital Expenditure and Share Performance
Microsoft’s total operating profit rose by 14% to $30.6 billion, with net profit up by 11% to $24.7 billion. EPS grew by 10% to $3.3. However, capital expenditures for the past quarter amounted to $14.92 billion, exceeding analyst forecasts and prompting concern among investors. In comparison, the company’s capital expenditures a year ago were $9.9 billion, highlighting the significant increase. Microsoft’s cloud segment profit margin may also see a year-on-year decrease in the current quarter due to further capital expenditure requirements. Following these announcements, Microsoft shares dropped by 3.73% after trading closed, notes NIX Solutions.
Microsoft’s forecast for the coming quarters remains tempered, with OpenAI investment and supply chain constraints likely to influence results. As the company navigates these challenges, investors remain watchful of profit margins and capital allocation trends.