Microsoft Q3 2017 earnings: Meet expectations, Dynamics up 10%, Azure steady at 93% growth

By:  Dann Anthony Maurno

With both Dynamics and Azure performing strongly, Microsoft has released the following results for the quarter ended March 31, 2017:

  • Revenue was $22.1 billion GAAP, $23.6 billion non-GAAP, just missing analyst expectations of $23.62 billion
  • Still, diluted earnings per share was $0.61 GAAP, $0.73 non-GAAP, exceeding expectations by $0.03
  • Operating income was $5.6 billion GAAP, $7.1 billion non-GAAP
  • Net income was $4.8 billion GAAP, $5.7 billion non-GAAP

CEO Satya Nadella believes results reflect the trust customers are placing in the Microsoft Cloud. “From large multi-nationals to small and medium businesses to non-profits all over the world, organizations are using Microsoft’s cloud platforms to power their digital transformation,” he said in a statement

Revenue in Productivity and Business Processes (home of Dynamics) was $8.0 billion and increased 22% (up 23% in constant currency), with the following business highlights:

  • Dynamics products and cloud services revenue increased 10% (up 11% in constant currency) driven by Dynamics 365 revenue growth of 81% (up 82% in constant currency)
  • LinkedIn contributed revenue of $975 million. Note that this is the first full quarter of earnings since the LinkedIn acquisition in 2016. Microsoft has just announced an update to the integration between Dynamics 365’s Enterprise Sales app and LinkedIn Sales Navigator, and the combined Microsoft Relationship Sales (due for July release) will roll out at $135/user/month (before volume discounts).
  • Office commercial products and cloud services revenue increased 7% (up 8% in constant currency) driven by Office 365 commercial revenue growth of 45% (up 45% in constant currency)
  • Office consumer products and cloud services revenue increased 15% (up 14% in constant currency) and Office 365 consumer subscribers increased to 26.2 million

DynamicsFocus, LLC. and Productivity and Business Processes

Revenue in Intelligent Cloud was $6.8 billion and increased 11% (up 12% in constant currency), exceeding Q2 growth of 8% handily, with the following highlights:

  • Server products and cloud services revenue increased 15% (up 16% in constant currency) driven by Azure revenue growth of 93% (up 94% in constant currency). Azure recorded 93% growth in Q2 as well.
  • Enterprise Services revenue decreased 1% (unchanged in constant currency) with declines in custom support agreements offset by growth in Premier Support Services and consulting

DynamicsFocus, LLC. and Cloud Computing

Revenue in More Personal Computing was $8.8 billion and decreased 7% (down 7% in constant currency) driven primarily by lower phone revenue. Windows commercial products and cloud services revenue increased 6% (up 6% in constant currency).

About Dann Anthony Maurno

Dann Anthony Maurno is a seasoned business journalist who began his career as International Marketing Manager with Lilly Software, then moved on as a freelancer to write for such prestigious clients as CFO Magazine; Compliance Week;Manufacturing Business Technology; Decision Resources, Inc.; The Economist Intelligence Unit; and corporate clients such as Iron Mountain, Microsoft and SAP. He is the co-author of Thin Air: How Wireless Technology Supports Lean Initiatives(CRC/Productivity Press, 2010).