In Q3'26, Microsoft's operating expenses reached $17.8B USD, comprising $8.9B in R&D expenses and $8.7B in SG&A expenses, marking a slight increase from the prior quarter's $16.6B total. Over the period from Q4'23 to Q3'26, total operating expenses exhibited an overall upward trend, growing from $15.1B to $17.8B, driven primarily by consistent rises in R&D spending from $6.7B to $8.9B, while SG&A fluctuated between $6.7B and $9.3B with notable peaks in Q4'24 and Q4'25. This pattern reflects sustained investment in innovation amid variable administrative costs, with stacked bars highlighting R&D's growing dominance in the expense composition.