Why Is NetApp (NTAP) Up 3% Since Last Earnings Report?

Core Viewpoint - NetApp's recent earnings report shows a slight decline in earnings year over year, but revenues have increased, indicating a mixed performance. The company remains optimistic about its future outlook and growth potential in the Hybrid and Public Cloud segments [2][3][4]. Financial Performance - Non-GAAP earnings for Q1 fiscal 2026 were $1.55 per share, beating estimates by 0.7% but declining 0.6% year over year [2]. - Revenues reached $1.56 billion, a 1% increase year over year, and exceeded the consensus estimate by 1.2% [3]. - The company expects fiscal 2026 revenues to be between $6.625 billion and $6.875 billion, reflecting a 3% year-over-year growth at the midpoint [4]. Segment Performance - Hybrid Cloud segment revenues increased 1% year over year to $1.4 billion, while Public Cloud revenues also improved 1% to $161 million. Excluding the divested Spot business, Public Cloud revenues grew 18% year over year [6]. - Within the Hybrid Cloud segment, product revenues decreased 2% to $654 million, while support contract revenues increased 3% to $647 million [7]. Key Metrics - All-Flash Array revenues rose 6% year over year to $893 million, with a total annualized run rate of $3.6 billion [9]. - Total billings increased by 4% year over year to $1.51 billion, and deferred revenues totaled $4.5 billion, up 8.6% [9]. Operating Details - Non-GAAP gross margin was 71.1%, down 110 basis points from the previous year. The Hybrid segment's gross margin was 70%, while the Public Cloud segment saw an increase to 80.1% [10]. - Non-GAAP operating income decreased 0.5% year over year to $401 million, with an operating margin of 25.7% [10]. Balance Sheet & Cash Flow - The company ended the quarter with $3.32 billion in cash and equivalents, down from $3.85 billion in the previous quarter [11]. - Free cash flow was $620 million, with a margin of 39.8%, compared to $640 million in the prior year [12]. Guidance - For Q2, NetApp anticipates revenues between $6.625 billion and $6.875 billion, with a projected non-GAAP EPS between $1.84 and $1.94 [13]. Market Sentiment - Estimates for NetApp have trended downward over the past month, with a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), indicating an expectation of in-line returns in the coming months [14][17].