Microsoft share price up as revenue grows 25pc in third quarter

Shares in Microsoft went up by 2.1 per cent to $45 in after-hours trading this evening, after the multinational software giant reported a strong performance across its commercial and consumer businesses for the third quarter.

 

Revenue for the company was $23.2bn (£14.5bn) during the three months to 30 September – a 25 per cent increase from $18.5bn in 2013. 

 

Gross margin was $14.9bn for the company – a 12 per cent increase from $13.4bn during the equivalent period the year before. 

 

Earnings per share were $0.54, despite integration a $0.11 per share negative impact caused by Microsoft’s restructuring plan announced in July.

 

Satya Nadella, chief executive officer of Microsoft, put the good quarter down to innovation. 

“We are innovating faster, engaging more deeply across the industry, and putting our customers at the center of everything we do, all of which positions Microsoft for future growth,” he said in a statement.

 

“Our teams are delivering on our core focus of reinventing productivity and creating platforms that empower every individual and organization.”

 

Chief financial officer Amy Hood emphasised the importance of driving benefits for shareholders.“We delivered a strong start to the year, with continued cloud momentum and meaningful progress across our device businesses,” she said.  

 

“We will continue to invest in high-growth opportunities and drive efficiencies across the organization to deliver long-term shareholder value.”