It announced that its dividend for the quarter would rise to 20 cents a share - up from 16 cents in the previous quarter - and is the sixth time that Microsoft has raised its dividend since 2004.
Analysts say one of the reasons for this is that Microsoft's directors feel that the company's growth rate by itself would not be sufficient to attract investors.
The rapid increase in tablet computers, the rise of mobile phone penetration and the sterling performance of Apple's products have given rise to concerns among some commentators that Microsoft might be drifting towards technological obscelence.
In mid-September Microsoft launched a preview of Windows 8 at the BUILD conference and outlined the new tools it's launching for developers to write Windows applications for more than a billion people that use Microsoft's software every day.
Among other things in the new operating system is increased use of touch technology for interfacing through Metro style.
Microsoft says that Windows 8 will be even more stable than Windows 7 but will deliver improvements in performance, security, privacy and system reliability.
Its Windows Store will allow developers to sell applications directly to users.
Read more on Microsoft's new device line-up for 2011.
Read the report on BUILD 2011.
Read more about Windows 8.
Read Microsoft raises dividend.
