Tech giant Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) will raise its quarterly dividend by 9.5 percent to $0.46 per share in 2018. This marks the 16th consecutive year of annual dividend increases.

The next dividend is payable December 13, 2018, to shareholders of record on November 15, 2018. The ex-dividend date for this dividend is November 14, 2018. A new annual dividend of $1.84 per share yields 1.6% at the current stock price.

Microsoft is one of the biggest dividend payers in the United States with an estimated annual dividend amount of $14.1 billion following today's dividend hike. Only Dividend Aristocrat AT&T Corporation currently pays a larger annual dividend of $14.5 billion.

Microsoft Corporation is a technology company. The company develops, licenses, and supports software products, services and devices. Its products include operating systems and a wide range of applications and devices (including tablets and gaming and entertainment consoles) that integrate with its cloud-based offerings.