Pure Storage (PSTG) Q2 2026 Earnings Call August 27, 2025 05:00 PM ET Company ParticipantsPaul Ziots - VP - IRCharles Giancarlo - Chairman & CEOTarek Robbiati - CFOAmit Daryanani - Senior MD - Equity ResearchJason Ader - Co-Group Head - Technology, Media & CommunicationsEddy Orabi - Vice PresidentRob Lee - Chief Technology OfficerSimon Leopold - Managing DirectorErik Woodring - MD - Equity ResearchRuplu Bhattacharya - DirectorAsiya Merchant - Technology Equity ResearchDavid Vogt - Managing DirectorConferenc ...

Key Takeaways Western Digital's non-GAAP gross margin rose to 39.4% in fiscal 2025, with operating income up 578%.Spinning off SanDisk and rising nearline demand boosted margins, cash flow and financial strength.WDC guides Q1 revenue of $2.7B, gross margin of 41-42% and EPS of $1.54 at midpoint.Western Digital Corporation (WDC) has surprised investors with a strong turnaround in profitability over the past year. After struggling through the memory downturn and heavy losses in fiscal 2024, the company has bo ...

Core Insights - Super Micro Computer (SMCI) stock has declined by 25.6% following its fourth-quarter fiscal 2025 earnings report, which showed non-GAAP earnings of 41 cents per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 6.8% [1][6] - The stock is currently undervalued compared to the Zacks Computer-Storage Devices industry, trading at a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 19.2X, lower than the industry's 25.08X [2] Competition and Market Position - SMCI faces increasing competition from major players in the storage and server market, including Pure Storage, Dell Technologies, and Hewlett Packard Enterprise [3] - Dell Technologies reported orders worth $12.1 billion for AI servers in Q1 fiscal 2026, which increased to $14.4 billion in AI backlogs, highlighting the competitive landscape [4] Financial Performance and Margins - SMCI's server segment sales grew by 6% year over year, driven by strong demand for AI servers [7] - The company is experiencing margin compression due to competitive pricing, client delays, and rising production costs, with a non-GAAP gross margin contraction of 70 basis points year over year in Q4 fiscal 2025 [8][9] - High inventory reserves for older-generation products and increased upfront costs for production ramp-up are further pressuring margins [10][11] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimates for SMCI's first-quarter fiscal 2026 earnings is 47 cents, indicating a year-over-year decline of 37.3% [11] - Year-over-year growth estimates for the current year and next year are 23.30% and 29.21%, respectively [12] Long-Term Prospects - Despite current challenges, SMCI's long-term growth prospects remain strong, particularly in the AI-driven solutions market [13][14] - The company's expertise in integrating advanced graphics processing units positions it well for future growth as enterprises expand their data centers [15] Conclusion - While SMCI is facing near-term challenges, its long-term outlook is positive, supported by high demand for its AI-driven solutions and energy-efficient server systems [16]

Core Insights - The rapid adoption of Agentic AI is increasing the demand for unstructured data storage, with Western Digital Corporation (WDC) leveraging this technology to enhance product development and efficiency [1][2] - The demand for scalable storage solutions is rising as data becomes crucial for AI-driven innovation, with HDDs providing unmatched cost efficiency and reliability [2] - WDC's product demand is growing, with significant shipments of high-capacity drives, reflecting a strong market position [3][5] Company Performance - WDC reported a 30% year-over-year revenue increase to $2.61 billion, driven by high-capacity HDD storage for cloud and generative AI workloads [5][10] - The company projects a 22% year-over-year revenue growth for the fiscal first quarter, estimating revenues of $2.7 billion (+/- $100 million) [5][10] - Shipments of PMR drives exceeding 26 terabytes more than doubled sequentially, surpassing 1.7 million units in the June quarter [3][10] Competitive Landscape - WDC competes with major players like Seagate Technology and Pure Storage in the storage and data market [6] - Seagate reported a 30% year-over-year revenue increase to $2.44 billion, driven by demand from cloud, AI, and edge computing [8] - Pure Storage focuses on software-defined all-flash solutions, enhancing performance for unstructured data workloads [9] Market Outlook - WDC's platforms business is accelerating due to the growth of AI, positioning the company to serve infrastructure providers and AI companies [4] - Despite macroeconomic uncertainties, WDC expects revenues to grow 11% to $3.5 billion for fiscal 2026, supported by strong demand for its product offerings [11] - WDC shares have gained 18.4% over the past year, outperforming the Zacks Computer-Storage Devices industry [12]

Core Insights - Super Micro Computer (SMCI) stock has increased by 69.3% over the past three months, outperforming the Zacks Computer-Storage Devices industry's return of 54.8% [1][6] - The stock is currently considered overvalued, trading at a forward 12 months P/E ratio of 19.49X, compared to the industry's 18.59X [4][6] Performance and Valuation - SMCI's stock has shown high volatility, with a significant price increase recently [4] - The gross margin for SMCI has been inconsistent, with a decline of 590 basis points year-over-year and 220 basis points sequentially to 9.7% in Q3 FY25 [11][13] Competitive Landscape - SMCI faces strong competition from major players in the storage and server market, including Pure Storage, Dell Technologies, and Hewlett Packard Enterprise [7][8] - Dell Technologies reported a 16% year-over-year growth in AI-optimized servers, with orders worth $12.1 billion for AI servers in Q1 FY26 [8] Margin Pressures - The company is experiencing margin contraction due to rising competition, price cuts, and delayed transitions to AI platforms [6][9] - High inventory reserves for older-generation products and increased costs associated with new product ramp-ups are contributing to margin pressures [11][13] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimates for SMCI's fiscal 2025 bottom line is projected at $2.07, indicating a year-over-year decline of 6.33% [13][14] - Year-over-year growth estimates for the next fiscal year show a potential increase of 26.33% [14] Conclusion - Given the current challenges, including delayed purchasing decisions and margin contraction, the recommendation is to avoid investing in SMCI stock at this time [15]

Core Insights - Super Micro Computer (SMCI) shares have shown volatility but have returned 34.1% year-to-date, outperforming the Zacks Computer-Storage Devices industry's decline of 0.3% in the same period [1][6]. Financial Performance - SMCI is currently trading at a discounted valuation with a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 14.6X, lower than the industry average of 26.82X [2]. - The company's server revenues increased by 19% year-over-year, reaching $4.5 billion in Q3 FY25, driven by strong demand for AI servers [6][7]. Market Dynamics - The enterprise data center customer vertical generated $1.9 billion in revenues, accounting for 42% of total revenues in Q3 FY25, up from 25% in the previous quarter, indicating a growing representation of AI products in sales [9]. - SMCI is expanding its global manufacturing capabilities in Malaysia, Taiwan, and Europe to enhance deployment and mitigate geopolitical risks [10]. Competitive Landscape - SMCI faces significant competition from major players like Pure Storage, Dell Technologies, and Hewlett Packard Enterprise, which are also experiencing growth in AI-optimized servers [12][13]. - The company is encountering margin pressure due to pricing competition and inventory write-downs on older-generation GPUs, affecting its near-term outlook [14]. Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SMCI's fiscal 2025 earnings indicates a year-over-year decline of 6.33%, with downward revisions in estimates over the past 30 days [15][16].

Core Insights - Super Micro Computer's (SMCI) server and storage system revenues grew 19% year over year in Q3 FY25, surpassing $4.5 billion, driven by demand from hyperscalers and AI clients [1][11] - The company's direct liquid cooling products for data centers are a significant contributor, with production exceeding 2000 DLC racks per month [2] - Recent product launches, including Data Center Building Block Solutions (DCBBS) and petascale storage systems, are expected to enhance future growth [3] Revenue and Growth - The server and storage system segment accounted for 97% of SMCI's total revenue, indicating a strong reliance on this area for overall performance [1] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for SMCI's fiscal 2025 revenues is projected at $22.12 billion, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 48% [5] Competitive Landscape - The global storage and server market features competitors like Pure Storage and Hewlett Packard Enterprise, with Pure Storage focusing on modern storage solutions and HPE experiencing a 6% year-over-year growth in server sales due to AI demand [6][7] - The enterprise server market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 8.03% from 2025 to 2030, reaching $139.81 billion, presenting significant opportunities for SMCI and its competitors [8] Manufacturing and Expansion - SMCI is expanding its global manufacturing capabilities in Malaysia, Taiwan, and Europe to enhance deployment and navigate geopolitical and tariff challenges [4][11] Valuation and Performance - SMCI shares have increased by 43.3% year to date, contrasting with a 3.2% decline in the Zacks Computer-Storage Devices industry [9] - The company trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 0.87X, significantly lower than the industry average of 1.61X, indicating potential undervaluation [12]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Q1 revenue grew by 12%, reaching $830 million, with an operating profit of $83 million and an operating margin of 10.6% [23][28] - Subscription services revenue in Q1 reached $406 million, up 17%, representing over half of total revenue [25] - Annual recurring revenue (ARR) grew 18% to $1.7 billion, while total remaining performance obligations (RPO) grew 17% to $2.7 billion [25][26] - Total gross margin improved to 70.9%, with subscription services margin at 77.2% [26][27] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - TCV sales for Storage as a Service solutions jumped 70% to $95 million, driven by large Evergreen One deals [23] - Product margin rose by 1.1 points sequentially to 64%, with expectations for mid-60s product gross margin for the year [27] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - U.S. revenue was $531 million, growing 9%, while international revenue was $248 million, growing 21% year over year [26] - The company added 235 new customers, achieving a penetration rate of 62% of the Fortune 500 [26] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The introduction of Fusion 2.0 has been well received, with nearly 100 customers using or testing it [8] - The company is focusing on modernizing IT infrastructure and breaking down data silos, with a strong emphasis on AI and high-performance computing [10][15] - A major agreement with Nutanix was announced to integrate their cloud platform with Pure Storage, enhancing virtualization solutions [12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - The near-term view for the year remains largely unchanged despite increased uncertainty in the macro environment [18] - The company expects to deliver 1 to 2 exabytes of solutions to Meta in the second half of the year, with production validation testing on schedule [16][39] - Management remains confident in the ability to outpace competition and grow market share [19][30] Other Important Information - CFO Kevan Krysler will be leaving the company, with a transition plan in place [20] - The company returned $120 million to shareholders through share repurchases and paid $61 million in employee award withholding taxes [29] Q&A Session Summary Question: Update on hyperscale opportunity with Meta - Management indicated that the evaluation and testing process with Meta is on track, with expectations for significant progress in the second half of the year [39][40] Question: Size of the newly announced AXA offering - The opportunity is seen as niche but substantial, targeting government and large-scale GPU clusters, with margins expected to be at or above company standards [45][46] Question: Changes in buyer behavior during macro uncertainty - Management noted no significant changes in customer sentiment or purchasing behavior in Q1, with broad-based strength across sales [51][54] Question: Clarification on subscription margins amid tariff costs - Management expressed confidence in managing tariff costs without significantly impacting subscription gross margins [93] Question: Revenue contribution from Meta's 1 to 2 exabytes - Some de minimis revenue contribution has been contemplated in the annual guide, primarily through a licensing fee model [72] Question: Time to close larger deals - Management reported that larger deals are tracking as expected, with solid momentum continuing into Q1 [78] Question: Comparison of project timelines with Meta and others - The lengthy timeline is attributed to the design cycles of hyperscalers, which include multiple components beyond storage [84][86]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Q1 revenue grew 12% year-over-year, reaching $830 million, with an operating profit of $83 million and an operating margin of 10.6% [22][24] - Subscription services revenue increased 17% to $406 million, representing over half of total revenue, while annual recurring revenue (ARR) grew 18% to $1.7 billion [23][24] - Total remaining performance obligations (RPO) grew 17% to $2.7 billion, indicating strong renewals and new commitments [23][24] - Total gross margin improved to 70.9%, with subscription services margin at 77.2% [24][25] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Storage as a Service (SaaS) solutions saw a 70% increase in total contract value (TCV) sales, reaching $95 million, driven by large Evergreen One deals [22][23] - Product margin rose 1.1 points sequentially to 64%, with expectations for mid-60s product gross margin for the year [25][26] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - U.S. revenue grew 9% to $531 million, while international revenue increased 21% to $248 million year-over-year [24] - The company added 235 new customers, achieving a penetration rate of 62% within the Fortune 500 [24] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on modernizing IT infrastructure and breaking down data silos, with a strong emphasis on AI and high-performance computing solutions [7][9] - Strategic partnerships with companies like Nutanix and SK Hynix are aimed at enhancing virtualization and flash storage capabilities [10][15] - The company is committed to maintaining pricing predictability for customers amid tariff-related changes, leveraging its Evergreen model [17][18] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to navigate macroeconomic uncertainties while maintaining strong performance [16][28] - The company anticipates continued growth in the second quarter, projecting revenue of $845 million, a 10.6% year-over-year increase [28] Other Important Information - Kevin Chrysler, the CFO, will be leaving the company, with a transition plan in place to ensure continuity [19][20] - The company reported a strong balance sheet with $1.6 billion in cash and investments, and operating cash flow of $284 million [26] Q&A Session Summary Question: Update on hyperscale opportunity with Meta - Management indicated that the evaluation process with Meta is on track, with expectations to deliver one to two exabytes in the second half of the year [36][38] Question: Size of the newly announced AXA offering - The company views the AXA offering as targeting niche markets, with expectations for margins to be at or above standard company margins [42][43] Question: Changes in buyer behavior during macro uncertainty - Management noted no significant changes in customer sentiment or purchasing behavior in Q1, with broad-based strength across sales [50][52] Question: Revenue contribution from Meta's project - Some de minimis revenue contribution from the Meta project has been included in the annual guidance, primarily through a licensing fee model [69][70] Question: Clarification on subscription margins amid tariff costs - Management expressed confidence that subscription gross margins would not be significantly impacted by potential tariff costs due to operational efficiencies [90][91] Question: Investment expectations for future hyperscaler wins - The company expects to see leverage in design and investment requirements as more hyperscalers are added, reducing costs for future projects [93][94] Question: Revenue linearity throughout the quarter - Management reported typical revenue linearity throughout the quarter, with strong performance sustained [97][98]