Core Insights - Ingram Micro Inc. has reported a cybersecurity incident affecting the personal information of 42,000 individuals [1] - An unauthorized individual accessed Ingram Micro's network, potentially acquiring personally identifiable information (PII) [2] Company Overview - Ingram Micro is a significant player in the technology distribution sector, with a focus on cybersecurity and data protection [1] Incident Details - The data breach involved the acquisition of records that may include names, contact information, date of birth, government-issued identification numbers, Social Security numbers, driver's license numbers, passport numbers, and employment-related information [4] - Lynch Carpenter, LLP is investigating claims against Ingram Micro related to this data breach, indicating potential legal ramifications for the company [1][2]

Summary of the Conference Call Transcript Industry Overview - The report covers the **US IT hardware and distributors** sector, with specific focus on companies such as **DELL**, **Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)**, **NetApp (NTAP)**, **TD SYNNEX (SNX)**, **Penguin Solutions (PENG)**, **Super Micro Computer Inc (SMCI)**, and **HP Inc (HPQ)** [1][4]. Core Insights Hardware Demand Environment - General consensus among investors indicates that **neocloud AI infrastructure demand** will remain strong through **2026**. However, there is skepticism regarding the demand outlook for **PCs**, **general servers**, and **storage**, with concerns that these markets may be adversely affected by **memory price hikes** and shortages. The forecast for **PC shipments** in **2026** is projected to decline by **4% year-over-year**, which is more pessimistic than the **IDC's** estimate of a **2% decline** [4][5]. Company-Specific Feedback - **DELL (Buy)**: Investors expressed concerns about potential **margin pressure** due to a deteriorating PC market, demand for core **ISG** (general server, storage), and the sustainability of the **AI server opportunity**. However, DELL is viewed as better positioned than smaller competitors due to its scale and business mix [4][5]. - **HPE (Buy)**: Discussions focused on execution risks in the **Networking** business, particularly regarding the integration of **Juniper's** offerings. While HPE is considered attractively valued, investors are uncertain about near-term catalysts for earnings revisions [4][5]. - **HPQ (Sell)**: Investors largely agree that the current PC market conditions will negatively impact HPQ's **Personal Systems** business, affecting both top-line growth and margins [5]. - **SMCI (Sell)**: There is a consensus that SMCI's margins will be pressured due to its business mix and product transitions. Investors are particularly interested in understanding SMCI's working capital needs against its revenue growth expectations [5]. Least Push Back - There was minimal opposition to the ratings on **HPQ** and **SMCI**, indicating a general agreement on the challenges these companies face [4][5]. Valuation and Key Risks DELL - **Rating**: Buy - **Target Price**: $165, based on a **12.0X** NTM+1Y EPS [6]. - **Key Risks**: Weaker than expected demand in the consumer and commercial PC markets, enterprise IT spending, and pricing pressures due to excess inventory [7]. HPE - **Rating**: Buy - **Target Price**: $31, reflecting **11X** NTM+1Y EPS [8]. - **Key Risks**: Lower corporate IT spending, competition from white box manufacturers, and integration challenges with Juniper [9]. NTAP - **Rating**: Buy - **Target Price**: $128, reflecting **14X** NTM+1 EPS [10]. - **Key Risks**: Supply shortages, demand declines for on-premise storage, and increased competition [11]. SNX - **Rating**: Buy - **Target Price**: $180, based on **11.0X** NTM+1Y EPS [12]. - **Key Risks**: Prolonged lower IT spending and shifts in sales models that bypass distributors [13]. PENG - **Rating**: Buy - **Target Price**: $25, based on a blended valuation methodology [14]. - **Key Risks**: Memory market cyclicality and competition from OEMs [14]. SMCI - **Rating**: Sell - **Target Price**: $26, reflecting **9X** NTM+1 EPS [16]. - **Key Risks**: Demand for AI servers and market share gains [16]. HPQ - **Rating**: Sell - **Target Price**: $21, based on **7.5X** NTM+1 EPS [17]. - **Key Risks**: Better-than-expected PC demand and recovery in office and consumer demand [17]. Additional Considerations - The report emphasizes the importance of understanding the broader market dynamics and individual company strategies in navigating the current challenges in the IT hardware sector [4][5].

Group 1: Core Insights - Goldman Sachs has resumed coverage of several companies in the IT hardware and distribution sector, assigning "buy" ratings to Dell Technologies, HPE, SYNNEX, and Penguin Solutions, while giving "sell" ratings to HP and Super Micro Computer, and a "neutral" rating to Insight Enterprises [1] - The IT hardware and distribution industry experienced a modest return of only 4% in 2025, compared to a 16% increase in the S&P 500, with expectations for continued volatility in 2026 due to fluctuating AI market enthusiasm and rising input costs [1][2] Group 2: Investment Themes - Analysts believe that patient investors will be rewarded, as the industry presents stock-picking opportunities, particularly for stocks with upward consensus expectations and attractive performance in three key investor topics: sustainability of AI demand, the stage of upgrade cycles for PCs, servers, storage, and campus networks, and the impact of higher input costs on margins and demand [2] - The rationale for the "buy" ratings on Dell Technologies, HPE, SYNNEX, Penguin Solutions, and NetApp includes Dell's strong earnings growth potential related to AI, HPE's attractive business transformation, NetApp's undervalued high-margin public cloud business, SYNNEX's resilient distribution model, and Penguin Solutions' accelerated profit growth through portfolio transformation [2] Group 3: Market Outlook - In terms of AI infrastructure demand, analysts expect strong growth in new cloud (GPU-as-a-service) demand, despite potential quarterly fluctuations due to product transitions and an expanding XPU ecosystem [3] - For traditional servers and enterprise storage, there is cautious optimism for revenue growth driven by data center modernization trends in 2026, while closely monitoring demand elasticity in an inflationary pricing environment and anticipating that higher DRAM/NAND costs will largely be passed on to customers [3] - The outlook for personal computers in 2026 is expected to be weaker than current market expectations due to diminished upgrade incentives and rising prices, with the impact of rising input costs on margins and demand being a key issue for 2026 [3]

Core Insights - Keepit has announced a strategic partnership with Ingram Micro in France to enhance its market reach and support for its cloud-native data protection solutions [1][2][3] Group 1: Partnership Details - The agreement allows Ingram Micro France to integrate Keepit's cloud backup and recovery platform into its portfolio, providing marketing, sales, distribution, and partner enablement support [2] - This collaboration will enable French resellers, managed service providers (MSPs), and managed security service providers (MSSPs) to access Keepit's vendor-independent data protection services through Ingram Micro's local infrastructure [2][3] Group 2: Market Strategy - France is identified as a strategic market for Keepit, with the partnership aimed at accelerating the adoption of its data protection solutions among local organizations [3] - The collaboration is expected to empower French channel partners to enhance cyber resilience and ensure long-term data protection readiness for their customers [3] Group 3: Product Features - Keepit's cloud backup and recovery platform is designed to ensure continuous access to data, independent of the original SaaS environment, addressing key demands for data sovereignty, compliance, and resilience in France [3] - The platform's architecture avoids middleware and enforces immutability, aligning with local regulatory requirements and mitigating ransomware impacts [5] Group 4: Partner Network Expansion - This agreement enhances the Keepit Partner Network, which supports resellers, MSPs, and distributors across EMEA, North America, and ANZ in offering secure, cloud-native data protection [4]

Summary of J.P. Morgan's Hardware & Networking Sector Outlook Industry Overview - The report focuses on the **Hardware & Networking** sector, particularly the impact of **AI** on company performance and market dynamics leading into **2026** [1][38]. - The sector has experienced a **multi-year outperformance**, particularly driven by AI tailwinds starting in **2024** and continuing into **2025** [39]. Core Insights 1. **AI Valuation Premiums**: - The average AI company is trading at a **26% premium** to its historical multiples, indicating conservative investor expectations of **26% medium-term earnings growth** driven by AI [2][57]. - Initial outlooks suggest potential earnings growth acceleration of **60%-80%**, significantly higher than what is currently priced in [5][58]. 2. **Earnings Growth Expectations**: - Earnings acceleration of **60%-80%** is not fully reflected in current valuations, with investors pricing in only a **30% sustainable capex growth** [5][65]. - AI revenue exposure for average AI-levered suppliers is expected to rise from **27% in 2024** to **48% in 2027** [6][66]. 3. **Market Performance**: - The sector's share price performance has been significantly influenced by AI, with **AI companies outperforming non-AI companies** in both **2024** and **2025** [47]. - In **2024**, AI stocks saw a **73% increase** in share prices, with a **27% re-rating** contributing to this performance [10]. 4. **Investment Recommendations**: - Top picks for **2026** include **Arista (ANET)**, **Amphenol (APH)**, and **Celestica (CLS)**, with a focus on companies that leverage AI for growth [8][19][20]. - **Arista** is highlighted for its strong position in networking growth, while **Amphenol** benefits from increased fiber adoption in data centers [19][20]. 5. **Concerns and Risks**: - Investor skepticism regarding AI capex sustainability may limit valuation multiple re-rating, but earnings momentum is expected to drive share price outcomes [7][9]. - The report expresses caution regarding non-AI and cyclical companies, which may struggle due to prioritization of AI spending and supply chain constraints [16][17]. Additional Insights - **Capex Growth**: The report anticipates **52% capex growth** for AI companies in **2026**, driven by robust data center announcements from hyperscalers [11][12]. - **Networking vs. Compute Growth**: There is an expectation that networking growth will catch up to compute growth, with networking becoming a larger beneficiary of AI investments [14][15]. - **Memory Costs**: The impact of rising memory costs is noted, particularly affecting traditional infrastructure, while AI infrastructure is expected to be less price elastic [17][18]. Company Ratings and Price Targets - **Amphenol (APH)**: Overweight, target price **$160.00** by December **2026** [3]. - **Arista (ANET)**: Overweight, target price **$175.00** by December **2026** [3]. - **Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)**: Overweight, target price **$30.00** by December **2026** [3]. - **Ingram Micro (INGM)** and **Insight Enterprises (NSIT)**: Downgraded to Underweight due to unfavorable enterprise spending outlook [17][18]. Conclusion - The Hardware & Networking sector is poised for continued growth driven by AI, with significant earnings upside expected in **2026**. Investors are encouraged to focus on companies with strong AI leverage while remaining cautious about non-AI sectors and potential supply chain challenges.

Core Insights - Keepit has announced a strategic partnership with Ingram Micro to enhance its market presence in Poland [1] - The collaboration aims to provide robust SaaS data protection solutions to Polish resellers, Managed Service Providers (MSPs), and Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) [1] Company Overview - Keepit is a vendor-independent, cloud-native data protection provider [1] - Ingram Micro is recognized as a leading business-to-business platform company within the global technology ecosystem [1] Market Strategy - The partnership is designed to expand Keepit's reach across the Polish IT channel [1] - Ingram Micro will play a crucial role in supporting marketing and distribution efforts for Keepit's services in Poland [1]

Core Insights - Ingram Micro (INGM) is currently viewed as a more attractive investment compared to Enpro (NPO) based on valuation metrics and earnings outlook [3][7] Valuation Metrics - INGM has a forward P/E ratio of 8.00, significantly lower than NPO's forward P/E of 30.41, indicating that INGM may be undervalued [5] - The PEG ratio for INGM is 0.89, while NPO's PEG ratio stands at 2.34, suggesting that INGM offers better value relative to its expected earnings growth [5] - INGM's P/B ratio is 1.3, compared to NPO's P/B of 3.29, further supporting the notion that INGM is a more favorable investment option [6] Analyst Outlook - INGM has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy), reflecting an improving earnings estimate revision activity, while NPO holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [3][7] - The positive earnings outlook for INGM enhances its attractiveness as a value investment [7]

Core Insights - Ingram Micro reported revenue of $12.6 billion for the quarter ended September 2025, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 7.2% and a surprise of +3.67% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $12.16 billion [1] - The company's EPS for the quarter was $0.72, matching the EPS from the same quarter last year, with a surprise of +7.46% over the consensus estimate of $0.67 [1] Revenue Performance - Geographic revenues for Latin America reached $965.89 million, exceeding the average estimate of $893.64 million [4] - EMEA revenues were reported at $3.66 billion, surpassing the average estimate of $3.55 billion [4] - Asia-Pacific revenues amounted to $3.55 billion, exceeding the average estimate of $3.31 billion [4] - North America revenues were $4.43 billion, slightly above the average estimate of $4.4 billion [4] Stock Performance - Ingram Micro's shares have returned -0.8% over the past month, while the Zacks S&P 500 composite has increased by +3.6% [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating expected performance in line with the broader market in the near term [3]

Core Insights - Ingram Micro reported quarterly earnings of $0.72 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.67 per share, and matching the earnings from the previous year [1] - The company achieved revenues of $12.6 billion for the quarter ended September 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.67% and showing an increase from $11.76 billion year-over-year [3] Earnings Performance - The earnings surprise for the quarter was +7.46%, with the company having surpassed consensus EPS estimates in all four of the last quarters [2] - Ingram Micro's shares have increased approximately 13.4% since the beginning of the year, compared to a 17.2% gain for the S&P 500 [4] Future Outlook - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.87 on revenues of $13.53 billion, and for the current fiscal year, it is $2.77 on revenues of $50.76 billion [8] - The Zacks Rank for Ingram Micro is currently 3 (Hold), indicating expected performance in line with the market in the near future [7] Industry Context - The Technology Services industry, to which Ingram Micro belongs, is currently in the top 35% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting a favorable outlook compared to lower-ranked industries [9] - Priority Technology, another company in the same industry, is expected to report quarterly earnings of $0.30 per share, reflecting a year-over-year change of +328.6% [10]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported revenues of $12.6 billion for Q3 2025, representing a year-over-year increase of 7.2% and exceeding the high end of guidance [4][15] - Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share (EPS) was $0.72, at the high end of guidance, despite a minor impact from a ransomware incident [4][21] - Gross profit for Q3 was $870 million, up from $845 million year-over-year, with gross margins showing a sequential improvement of 34 basis points [19][21] - Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $342 million, reflecting a 3% increase in U.S. dollars [21] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Client and endpoint solutions grew nearly 13% on an FX-neutral basis, driven by strong demand for notebooks and desktops [15][17] - Advanced solutions sales decreased by 4.5% year-over-year, with growth in servers and storage offset by weaker results in virtualization and infrastructure software [15][19] - Cloud revenues saw a 4% decline; however, excluding a non-core divestiture, cloud net revenues were up low single digits year-over-year [16][19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Geographically, Latin America and Asia-Pacific regions experienced robust FX-neutral growth in the low teens year-over-year, while North America grew just over 3% [17] - EMEA showed slight growth on an FX-neutral basis, reflecting a generally softer macro environment in parts of Europe [17] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on scaling its Xvantage digital platform and enhancing its AI ecosystem, positioning itself at the center of the $5 trillion global technology landscape [6][7] - The Enable AI program has engaged thousands of customers, providing tools for assessing and deploying AI solutions [10][21] - The company aims to support enterprise customers in their AI transformation journey, leveraging its proprietary AI innovation [6][7] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the fourth quarter, expecting continued year-over-year net sales growth and a solid guidance range for revenues [24][54] - The impact of the ransomware incident was estimated to be within 1% to 1.5% of net sales, with a minimal effect on overall operations [14][21] - The company remains optimistic about the SMB segment, which has shown growth over the past three quarters [46][51] Other Important Information - The company returned $18.3 million to stockholders through dividends and announced a 2.6% increase in the quarterly dividend for Q4 [23] - The balance sheet showed net working capital of $4.9 billion, an increase from $4.3 billion year-over-year, driven by higher net sales [22] Q&A Session Summary Question: How should margins be expected to trend going forward? - Management indicated that guidance implies margins in the high 6s, with continued strength in SMB contributing positively [27][28] Question: How should inventory and free cash flow be viewed going forward? - Management noted a sequential decline in inventory and anticipated a solid cash flow quarter in Q4, similar to previous years [32][33] Question: Where is Xvantage seeing the most benefit? - Xvantage is benefiting across both SMB and enterprise segments, with SMB leveraging it for comprehensive business management [40][41] Question: What is the outlook for the PC refresh cycle? - The company is in the later stages of the PC refresh cycle, with potential for AI-powered PCs to extend this cycle [43] Question: What are the expectations for a budget flush exiting 2025? - Management noted a typical seasonal increase in revenues due to budgeting cycles, with a positive outlook for SMB spending [46]