Microsoft has reported a substantial $3.2 billion gain from its investment in artificial intelligence firm Anthropic during its fourth fiscal quarter of 2026, a period that also saw a $600 million markdown on its stake in rival OpenAI.
Microsoft's Fiscal Q4 2026 AI Investment Performance
The tech giant disclosed that its stake in Anthropic contributed 33 cents to its diluted earnings per share for the quarter ending June 30. This valuation boost comes after Microsoft invested $5 billion in Anthropic in November 2025, a deal that also includes a significant commitment from Anthropic to purchase $30 billion worth of Microsoft Azure cloud services.
While Microsoft does not routinely revalue its Anthropic investment each quarter, its engagement with OpenAI is reviewed more frequently. In the same fiscal quarter, Microsoft's investment in OpenAI experienced a decline, resulting in a $600 million write-down that reduced diluted earnings per share by approximately 7 cents.
Microsoft holds a significant stake, approximately 27%, in OpenAI. Although the company receives revenue-sharing payments from OpenAI, the specific amounts are not disclosed. Instead, Microsoft accounts for the value of its investment. Despite the recent quarterly dip, the $600 million reduction represents a relatively minor adjustment for Microsoft, which posted robust financial results for the quarter, with revenue reaching $90 billion and net income at $35.8 billion. For the full fiscal year, Microsoft's revenue stood at $331.8 billion, with a net income of $133.7 billion.
Full-Year Perspective on Microsoft's AI Holdings
When viewed across the entire fiscal year, Microsoft's investment in OpenAI demonstrated positive returns. The company reported a gain of $5 billion from its OpenAI investment for the fiscal year, contributing $0.67 to its overall earnings per share of $17.95. However, it is notable that the gain reported from Anthropic in a single quarter nearly matched the full-year gain from OpenAI. This disparity was significant enough for Microsoft to specifically highlight in its earnings report.
Microsoft's financial reporting indicates varying performance from its substantial investments in the leading artificial intelligence research laboratories. Investors will be observing future quarterly reports to gauge the continued trajectory of these significant tech holdings.
