Microsoft reports Commercial segment growth in third quarter results
Microsoft announced revenue of $20.4 billion, net income of $5.66 billion, and $0.68 per share for the third quarter of its 2014 fiscal year. Revenue was virtually unchanged from the same quarter last year, while earnings per share fell 6% from $6.05 billion.
The latest quarter's profit beat Wall Street's average estimate of 63 cents per share. Deferred revenue related to Windows upgrade and Office Deferral programs reduced the company's results, the company reported.
The company's Commercial segment now includes all Microsoft Dynamics business solutions. Commercial revenue grew 7% or $797 million to $12.2 billion and margins rose 6% to $9.9 billion compared to the previous year's quarter. Microsoft attributed that revenue growth to Cloud Services and on-premise licensing. The sub-segment that Microsoft calls "Commercial Other" and which includes Dynamics CRM Online saw 31% revenue growth in the quarter.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella framed the results as a demonstration of "the strength of our business, as well as the opportunities we see in a mobile-first, cloud-first world," according to a statement from the company.