Microsoft's AI Bill: Four Times Its Dividend Payout

Microsoft's (MSFT) dividend payout in fiscal year 2026 was $6.8 billion, but its spending on AI-related capital expenditures (capex) was significantly higher at $116 billion.

This means that for every dollar returned to shareholders as a dividend, Microsoft spent approximately four and a half dollars on AI capex.

CFO Amy Hood has committed to keeping the company's free cash flow positive in fiscal year 2027, despite expecting capex to reach $175 billion due to strong demand across its portfolio.