# Q4 Dates: When Does the Fourth Quarter Start and End? A Complete Guide Published: 2026-03-01 Author: Warren Team URL: https://www.heywarren.com/blog/q4-fiscal-quarter --- Q4, the fourth quarter, is the final three-month period in a fiscal or calendar year. For most companies reporting on a calendar year, Q4 runs from October 1 to December 31. But fiscal years vary widely, and knowing the exact Q4 dates for a given company is essential for timing earnings analysis, tax planning, and investment decisions. ## What Are the Q4 Dates? **Calendar year Q4**: October 1 – December 31 ![The four calendar-year quarters with approximate earnings reporting windows for each period.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20800%20149%22%20width%3D%22800%22%20height%3D%22149%22%20role%3D%22img%22%3E%3Ctitle%3ETimeline%3C%2Ftitle%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%25%22%20height%3D%22100%25%22%20fill%3D%22%23f8fafc%22%2F%3E%3Cline%20x1%3D%22137.5%22%20y1%3D%2255%22%20x2%3D%22662.5%22%20y2%3D%2255%22%20stroke%3D%22%23cbd5e1%22%20stroke-width%3D%223%22%2F%3E%3Ccircle%20cx%3D%22137.5%22%20cy%3D%2255%22%20r%3D%2224%22%20fill%3D%22white%22%20stroke%3D%22%23cbd5e1%22%20stroke-width%3D%222%22%2F%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%22137.5%22%20y%3D%2260%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20font-family%3D%22system-ui%2C-apple-system%2Csans-serif%22%20font-size%3D%2215%22%20font-weight%3D%22700%22%20fill%3D%22%230f172a%22%3E1%3C%2Ftext%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%22137.5%22%20y%3D%22101%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20font-family%3D%22system-ui%2C-apple-system%2Csans-serif%22%20font-size%3D%2212%22%20font-weight%3D%22600%22%20fill%3D%22%230f172a%22%3EQ1%3C%2Ftext%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%22137.5%22%20y%3D%22119%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20font-family%3D%22system-ui%2C-apple-system%2Csans-serif%22%20font-size%3D%2210%22%20fill%3D%22%2364748b%22%3EJan%201%20%E2%80%93%20Mar%2031%3C%2Ftext%3E%3Ccircle%20cx%3D%22312.5%22%20cy%3D%2255%22%20r%3D%2224%22%20fill%3D%22white%22%20stroke%3D%22%23cbd5e1%22%20stroke-width%3D%222%22%2F%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%22312.5%22%20y%3D%2260%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20font-family%3D%22system-ui%2C-apple-system%2Csans-serif%22%20font-size%3D%2215%22%20font-weight%3D%22700%22%20fill%3D%22%230f172a%22%3E2%3C%2Ftext%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%22312.5%22%20y%3D%22101%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20font-family%3D%22system-ui%2C-apple-system%2Csans-serif%22%20font-size%3D%2212%22%20font-weight%3D%22600%22%20fill%3D%22%230f172a%22%3EQ2%3C%2Ftext%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%22312.5%22%20y%3D%22119%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20font-family%3D%22system-ui%2C-apple-system%2Csans-serif%22%20font-size%3D%2210%22%20fill%3D%22%2364748b%22%3EApr%201%20%E2%80%93%20Jun%2030%3C%2Ftext%3E%3Ccircle%20cx%3D%22487.5%22%20cy%3D%2255%22%20r%3D%2224%22%20fill%3D%22white%22%20stroke%3D%22%23cbd5e1%22%20stroke-width%3D%222%22%2F%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%22487.5%22%20y%3D%2260%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20font-family%3D%22system-ui%2C-apple-system%2Csans-serif%22%20font-size%3D%2215%22%20font-weight%3D%22700%22%20fill%3D%22%230f172a%22%3E3%3C%2Ftext%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%22487.5%22%20y%3D%22101%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20font-family%3D%22system-ui%2C-apple-system%2Csans-serif%22%20font-size%3D%2212%22%20font-weight%3D%22600%22%20fill%3D%22%230f172a%22%3EQ3%3C%2Ftext%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%22487.5%22%20y%3D%22119%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20font-family%3D%22system-ui%2C-apple-system%2Csans-serif%22%20font-size%3D%2210%22%20fill%3D%22%2364748b%22%3EJul%201%20%E2%80%93%20Sep%2030%3C%2Ftext%3E%3Ccircle%20cx%3D%22662.5%22%20cy%3D%2255%22%20r%3D%2224%22%20fill%3D%22%232563eb%22%20stroke%3D%22%232563eb%22%20stroke-width%3D%223%22%2F%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%22662.5%22%20y%3D%2260%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20font-family%3D%22system-ui%2C-apple-system%2Csans-serif%22%20font-size%3D%2215%22%20font-weight%3D%22700%22%20fill%3D%22white%22%3E4%3C%2Ftext%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%22662.5%22%20y%3D%22101%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20font-family%3D%22system-ui%2C-apple-system%2Csans-serif%22%20font-size%3D%2212%22%20font-weight%3D%22600%22%20fill%3D%22%230f172a%22%3EQ4%3C%2Ftext%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%22662.5%22%20y%3D%22119%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20font-family%3D%22system-ui%2C-apple-system%2Csans-serif%22%20font-size%3D%2210%22%20fill%3D%22%2364748b%22%3EOct%201%20%E2%80%93%20Dec%2031%3C%2Ftext%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E) *The four calendar-year quarters with approximate earnings reporting windows for each period.* This applies to all companies and individuals whose fiscal year runs January to December, including most US public companies, and all US individual taxpayers. **The four quarters of a calendar year**: | Quarter | Start Date | End Date | Earnings Reports (approx.) | |---|---|---|---| | Q1 | January 1 | March 31 | April–May | | Q2 | April 1 | June 30 | July–August | | Q3 | July 1 | September 30 | October–November | | **Q4** | **October 1** | **December 31** | **January–February** | Q4 earnings reports typically arrive 4–8 weeks after quarter-end, so a December 31 year-end company usually reports Q4 results in January or February of the following year. The Q4 report is also the **full-year annual results**, which receives more analyst and investor attention than any other quarter. ## Fiscal Year Q4 Variations Many companies use non-calendar fiscal years, their Q4 dates differ from October–December: ![How fiscal year-end choices shift Q4 dates across major companies and entities.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20760%20211%22%20width%3D%22760%22%20height%3D%22211%22%20role%3D%22img%22%3E%3Ctitle%3EHierarchy%3C%2Ftitle%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%22100%25%22%20height%3D%22100%25%22%20fill%3D%22%23f8fafc%22%2F%3E%3Crect%20x%3D%22300%22%20y%3D%2220%22%20width%3D%22160%22%20height%3D%2258%22%20rx%3D%228%22%20fill%3D%22%232563eb%22%2F%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%22380%22%20y%3D%2254%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20font-family%3D%22system-ui%2C-apple-system%2Csans-serif%22%20font-size%3D%2214%22%20font-weight%3D%22700%22%20fill%3D%22white%22%3EFiscal%20Q4%20End%3C%2Ftext%3E%3Cpath%20d%3D%22M%20380%2078%20L%20380%20105.5%20L%20110%20105.5%20L%20110%20133%22%20stroke%3D%22%23cbd5e1%22%20stroke-width%3D%222%22%20fill%3D%22none%22%2F%3E%3Crect%20x%3D%2230%22%20y%3D%22133%22%20width%3D%22160%22%20height%3D%2258%22%20rx%3D%228%22%20fill%3D%22white%22%20stroke%3D%22%230891b2%22%20stroke-width%3D%222%22%2F%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%22110%22%20y%3D%22158%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20font-family%3D%22system-ui%2C-apple-system%2Csans-serif%22%20font-size%3D%2213%22%20font-weight%3D%22600%22%20fill%3D%22%230f172a%22%3EJan%2031%3C%2Ftext%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%22110%22%20y%3D%22176%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20font-family%3D%22system-ui%2C-apple-system%2Csans-serif%22%20font-size%3D%2210%22%20fill%3D%22%2364748b%22%3EWalmart%3C%2Ftext%3E%3Cpath%20d%3D%22M%20380%2078%20L%20380%20105.5%20L%20290%20105.5%20L%20290%20133%22%20stroke%3D%22%23cbd5e1%22%20stroke-width%3D%222%22%20fill%3D%22none%22%2F%3E%3Crect%20x%3D%22210%22%20y%3D%22133%22%20width%3D%22160%22%20height%3D%2258%22%20rx%3D%228%22%20fill%3D%22white%22%20stroke%3D%22%230891b2%22%20stroke-width%3D%222%22%2F%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%22290%22%20y%3D%22158%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20font-family%3D%22system-ui%2C-apple-system%2Csans-serif%22%20font-size%3D%2213%22%20font-weight%3D%22600%22%20fill%3D%22%230f172a%22%3EJun%2030%3C%2Ftext%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%22290%22%20y%3D%22176%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20font-family%3D%22system-ui%2C-apple-system%2Csans-serif%22%20font-size%3D%2210%22%20fill%3D%22%2364748b%22%3EMicrosoft%3C%2Ftext%3E%3Cpath%20d%3D%22M%20380%2078%20L%20380%20105.5%20L%20470%20105.5%20L%20470%20133%22%20stroke%3D%22%23cbd5e1%22%20stroke-width%3D%222%22%20fill%3D%22none%22%2F%3E%3Crect%20x%3D%22390%22%20y%3D%22133%22%20width%3D%22160%22%20height%3D%2258%22%20rx%3D%228%22%20fill%3D%22white%22%20stroke%3D%22%230891b2%22%20stroke-width%3D%222%22%2F%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%22470%22%20y%3D%22158%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20font-family%3D%22system-ui%2C-apple-system%2Csans-serif%22%20font-size%3D%2213%22%20font-weight%3D%22600%22%20fill%3D%22%230f172a%22%3ESep%2030%3C%2Ftext%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%22470%22%20y%3D%22176%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20font-family%3D%22system-ui%2C-apple-system%2Csans-serif%22%20font-size%3D%2210%22%20fill%3D%22%2364748b%22%3EApple%20%2F%20US%20Gov%3C%2Ftext%3E%3Cpath%20d%3D%22M%20380%2078%20L%20380%20105.5%20L%20650%20105.5%20L%20650%20133%22%20stroke%3D%22%23cbd5e1%22%20stroke-width%3D%222%22%20fill%3D%22none%22%2F%3E%3Crect%20x%3D%22570%22%20y%3D%22133%22%20width%3D%22160%22%20height%3D%2258%22%20rx%3D%228%22%20fill%3D%22white%22%20stroke%3D%22%230891b2%22%20stroke-width%3D%222%22%2F%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%22650%22%20y%3D%22158%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20font-family%3D%22system-ui%2C-apple-system%2Csans-serif%22%20font-size%3D%2213%22%20font-weight%3D%22600%22%20fill%3D%22%230f172a%22%3EDec%2031%3C%2Ftext%3E%3Ctext%20x%3D%22650%22%20y%3D%22176%22%20text-anchor%3D%22middle%22%20font-family%3D%22system-ui%2C-apple-system%2Csans-serif%22%20font-size%3D%2210%22%20fill%3D%22%2364748b%22%3EMost%20US%20cos.%3C%2Ftext%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E) *How fiscal year-end choices shift Q4 dates across major companies and entities.* | Company (Example Fiscal Year End) | Fiscal Q4 Start | Fiscal Q4 End | |---|---|---| | Apple (September 30) | July 1 | September 30 | | Microsoft (June 30) | April 1 | June 30 | | Walmart (January 31) | November 1 | January 31 | | US Federal Government (September 30) | July 1 | September 30 | | UK Companies (often March 31) | January 1 | March 31 | **Why companies choose non-calendar fiscal years**: - Align with natural business cycles (e.g., retailers end their year in January after holiday sales) - Avoid December year-end congestion for auditors - Match regulatory reporting requirements in their industry or jurisdiction Always check a company's fiscal year end before interpreting quarterly results, comparing "Q4" across companies with different fiscal years is meaningless without this adjustment. ## Why Q4 Is the Most Important Quarter **1. Full-year results**: Q4 contains the annual results. Analysts compare Q4 performance against full-year guidance, and management teams update multi-year outlooks. **2. Holiday retail season**: For consumer companies, Q4 (October–December) contains Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Christmas, often 30–40% of annual revenue compressed into a few weeks. Q4 results are often the make-or-break quarter for retail sector analysis. **3. Budget flush**: Many corporate and government buyers spend remaining annual budgets in Q4, creating a natural revenue boost for enterprise software and services companies. **4. Tax loss harvesting**: Investors review portfolios in Q4 to harvest losses and manage capital gains distributions before December 31. This affects trading volumes and stock prices. **5. Guidance for next year**: Full-year earnings calls in Q4 reporting season include management's first formal guidance for the coming fiscal year, a key input for forward valuation. ## Q4 Earnings Season Calendar For calendar-year companies, Q4 earnings season runs roughly: - **January**: Major banks and financial institutions typically report first (JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs, etc.) - **Late January/February**: S&P 500 companies report the bulk of Q4 results - **February/March**: Smaller companies and those with later-than-typical reporting timelines The S&P 500 earnings season is tracked widely by analysts, when more than 50% of companies have reported, consensus earnings growth is calculated and compared to analyst forecasts. ## Q4 for US Tax Purposes For individuals and businesses on a calendar year (December 31 year-end): **Q4 estimated tax payments**: The [IRS](https://www.irs.gov/) requires quarterly estimated tax payments. The "Q4" estimated tax payment covers September 1 – December 31 and is due **January 15** of the following year. **Year-end tax planning**: Q4 is critical for: - Accelerating deductions into the current year (prepaying expenses) - Deferring income to the next year where possible - Maximising retirement account contributions (401k, IRA) - Realising capital losses to offset gains (tax loss harvesting) For related financial calendar topics, see our guides on [year-over-year analysis](/blog/year-over-year) and [TTM (trailing twelve months)](/blog/ttm-meaning). ## Q4 in Financial Modelling When building financial models, analysts must handle Q4 carefully: - **Seasonality**: Q4 is often seasonally strong (retail) or seasonally variable (construction, agriculture). Always normalise for seasonality before extrapolating quarterly run rates. - **One-time items**: Year-end Q4 is when companies typically recognise restructuring charges, goodwill impairments, and other large non-recurring items. Strip these out for normalised analysis. - **Working capital**: Year-end balance sheet snapshots in Q4 can look artificially clean (companies pay down revolvers, collect receivables), compare to mid-year figures for a more representative picture. ## Conclusion Q4 is October 1 – December 31 for calendar-year companies and individuals, but fiscal year Q4 dates vary widely by company and industry. It is the most watched quarter of the year: it contains the holiday retail season, annual results and guidance, year-end tax deadlines, and budget flush spending. For investors, understanding Q4 timing for specific companies, and what Q4 seasonality means for their businesses, is a core part of earnings analysis. Warren at [heywarren.com](https://heywarren.com) tracks earnings calendars, seasonality patterns, and full-year guidance for the companies in your portfolio so you never miss a critical reporting date. --- ## Related Reading **More from Warren**: - [Year-Over-Year (YoY): What It Means and How to Use It in Financial Analysis](/blog/year-over-year) - [TTM Meaning: What Trailing Twelve Months Tells You About a Business](/blog/ttm-meaning) - [YTD: What Year-to-Date Means and How to Use It](/blog/ytd-meaning) **Authoritative sources**: - [IRS, Estimated Taxes](https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/estimated-taxes) - [SEC EDGAR, Earnings Filing Dates](https://www.sec.gov/edgar/searchedgar/companysearch) - [S&P Global, Earnings Calendar](https://www.spglobal.com/)