Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net sales for Q2 reached $12.79 billion, up 10.9% year over year in U.S. dollars and 10.2% on an FX neutral basis [17] - Adjusted EBITDA was $294 million, an increase of nearly 6% in U.S. dollars and 5% in constant currency [26] - Non-GAAP net income increased to $142 million from $120 million in 2024, representing an over 18% increase in U.S. dollars [27] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Client and Endpoint Solutions grew nearly 14% on an FX neutral basis, driven by strong demand in desktop, notebook, and smartphone categories [17] - Advanced Solutions saw mid-single digit growth, supported by servers, storage, and cybersecurity, particularly in Asia Pacific markets [17] - Cloud business continued to grow, contributing to overall positive performance across all business lines [7][16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - North America net sales were $4.98 billion, up 13.8% year over year on an FX neutral basis, driven by strong growth in servers, storage, and cybersecurity [20] - Asia Pacific demonstrated the highest net sales growth at 16.2% year over year in U.S. dollars, with strong performance in Client and Endpoint Solutions [21] - Latin America returned to growth with net sales of $853 million, increasing 0.8% in U.S. dollars and 6.4% in constant currency [22] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on its xVantage platform to streamline operations and enhance customer experiences through AI and automation [11][12] - Recent divestitures of non-core assets are part of a strategy to improve operational effectiveness and concentrate on core strengths [10] - The evolution into a platform company aims to provide customers with speed, scale, and service, enhancing overall business efficiency [11][12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged the ransomware attack in July but confirmed it had no impact on Q2 results, emphasizing a strong recovery and operational resilience [4][6] - The company expects continued year-over-year top line growth in Q3, with guidance reflecting some conservatism due to the cyber incident [30][31] - Management remains optimistic about the impact of the platform strategy and the overall business environment moving forward [16] Other Important Information - The company ended Q2 with net working capital of $4.6 billion, an increase from $3.9 billion year over year, driven by higher sales and investment needs [28] - Adjusted free cash flow was an outflow of $263 million, reflecting investments to grow the business [29] - The company announced a 2.6% increase in its quarterly dividend to be paid in Q3 [29] Q&A Session Summary Question: Expectations for endpoint and advanced solutions revenue growth in Q3 - Management expects mid-single digit growth for client and endpoint solutions, with stronger performance in desktop and notebook categories, while smartphone growth is anticipated to be lower [36][38] Question: Impact of government subsidies on mobility growth in China - Management noted that some growth in mobility was likely driven by government subsidies, but overall demand remained strong [39][41] Question: Demand pull forward in North America - Management did not observe significant demand pull forward across categories, with some minor effects in desktop and notebook refresh [46][47] Question: Implications of the recent bill on customer discussions - Management indicated that the impact of the recent bill is not significant for their business, as public sector sales are a minor part of their overall revenue [49][50] Question: Market cycle positioning for various products - Management believes the market is in a mid-cycle phase, with growth observed in storage, server, and networking categories [57] Question: Cash flow dynamics and expectations for the year - Management expects Q3 cash flow to be neutral to slightly negative due to inventory investments, with a positive cash flow anticipated in Q4 as inventory converts to receivables [91][92]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For the third fiscal quarter, the company reported revenue of $2.3 billion, down 5% sequentially but up 31% year over year [12] - Non-GAAP gross margin was 40.1%, an improvement of 1.7 percentage points sequentially [14] - Non-GAAP earnings per share (EPS) was $1.36, driven by disciplined cost management and tax benefits [12][14] - Free cash flow for the quarter was $436 million [17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Cloud business represented 87% of total revenue at $2 billion, down 4% sequentially but up 38% year over year [13] - Client business accounted for 6% of total revenue at $137 million, down 2% sequentially and year over year [13] - Consumer segment represented 7% of revenue at $150 million, down 13% sequentially and 4% year over year [14] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Nearline bit shipments decreased by 6% sequentially to 145 exabytes, while average price per unit increased by 4% to $179 [12][13] - Demand from hyperscale customers remains robust despite broader market uncertainties [10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on three pillars for capital allocation: reinvestment in the business, debt reduction, and returning cash to shareholders [8] - The introduction of a quarterly dividend of $0.10 per share reflects confidence in long-term cash generation [18] - The company is committed to innovation in HDD technology, with a focus on high-capacity drives and energy efficiency [6] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - The current environment is characterized by uncertainty due to tariffs and global trade tensions, but demand from hyperscale customers remains strong [9][10] - The company expects sequential revenue growth in the fiscal fourth quarter, driven by data center demand [10][11] - Management expressed confidence in navigating the dynamic environment and maintaining a healthy supply-demand balance [20] Other Important Information - The company successfully redeemed $1.8 billion of its 2026 senior notes, strengthening its balance sheet [8][17] - The effective tax rate for the fiscal third quarter was 2%, lower than expected due to one-time deferred tax benefits [16] Q&A Session Summary Question: Inquiry about capital allocation and dividend growth - Management indicated that once the net leverage is reduced to the target range of 1.0 to 1.5x, they plan to return 100% of excess cash to shareholders through dividends and share buybacks [25][26] Question: Visibility into revenue margins and EPS growth - Management noted that long-term agreements with hyperscale customers provide greater visibility, suggesting strong demand through 2025 and into 2026 [28][30] Question: Clarification on tariff impacts - Management stated that while there are no direct tariff impacts anticipated, there is demand uncertainty in certain segments due to market volatility [34][36] Question: Discussion on gross margins and pricing dynamics - Management confirmed that gross margins are driven by technology value and operational discipline, with expectations for continued strength [38][40] Question: Insights on manufacturing capacity and exabyte growth - Management highlighted that exabyte growth is primarily driven by technology improvements rather than additional manufacturing capacity [44][53] Question: Update on HAMR technology and customer engagement - Management expects to start qualification for HAMR technology in the second half of 2026, with production ramp-up planned for early 2027 [78][80] Question: Concerns about hyperscaler demand and potential double ordering - Management reassured that there are no signs of double ordering and that demand patterns align with long-term agreements [67][69]