Core Insights - The infrastructure supporting artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming a significant investment theme, particularly in data storage, as it is essential for efficient data management and access [1] - Companies like Sandisk and Western Digital have performed well, driven by increased demand for high-capacity storage solutions, while investors are now looking towards companies that provide the foundational technologies for AI [2] Company Focus: Pure Storage - Pure Storage is positioned as a key player in the modern data center landscape, offering software-driven, all-flash storage solutions that enhance speed, scalability, and cloud flexibility [4] - The company’s core products, FlashArray and FlashBlade, utilize the Purity operating environment and are complemented by cloud-based management tools, indicating a comprehensive approach to data storage [5] - Analysts predict a double-digit upside potential for Pure Storage's stock, suggesting it could be a significant player in the evolving data center storage market as it heads into 2026 [3] Stock Performance - Pure Storage's stock experienced a notable increase of 10.4% in 2025, reaching a peak of $100.59 in November, but has since corrected, dropping approximately 50% from its highs [6] - Despite the recent decline, the stock has shown resilience, with a 16.38% increase over the past six months, indicating a potentially strong recovery trajectory [6]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for Q3 FY26 was $964 million, representing a 16% year-over-year growth, while operating profit grew 17% year-over-year to $196 million, achieving an operating margin of 20.3% [19][24] - Total gross margin increased to 74.1%, with subscription services gross margin at 75.5% and product gross margin at 72.9% [23][24] - Annual recurring revenue (ARR) grew 17% to $1.8 billion, and total remaining performance obligations (RPO) increased 24% to $2.9 billion [22] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Product revenue reached $534 million, growing 18% year-over-year, while total contract value (TCV) sales for storage as a service offerings grew 25% year-over-year to $120 million [21][22] - Subscription services revenue in Q3 was $430 million, accounting for 45% of total revenue [22] - The number of customers deploying the Fusion platform has more than tripled since the beginning of the year, indicating strong demand [7] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - U.S. revenue was $683 million, growing 22%, while international revenue was $281 million, growing 4% year-over-year [23] - The company added 258 new customers, with a penetration rate of 63% in the Fortune 500 [23] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to capitalize on the financial benefits from hyperscaler revenues to make significant investments in R&D and sales and marketing to sustain momentum and capture additional profitable growth opportunities [26][28] - The focus is on expanding the Enterprise Data Cloud and enhancing the capabilities of the Pure Fusion platform to meet evolving customer needs [10][11] - The company plans to grow its hyperscaler business and evaluate additional business model options that may change gross margin economics in FY27 [28] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management anticipates increased commodity pricing and excess demand will pressure global supply chains, but the company is well-prepared with a resilient supply chain and strong business continuity plans [16] - The outlook for Q4 anticipates revenue in the range of $1.02-$1.04 billion, representing a 17.1% year-over-year increase at the midpoint [25] - The company expects operating profit for FY26 to be in the range of $629-$639 million, reflecting a 13.3% year-over-year increase at the midpoint [26] Other Important Information - The company has a strong balance sheet with $1.5 billion in cash and investments, and Q3 operating cash flow was $116 million [24] - The company returned $53 million to shareholders through share repurchases and has $56 million remaining in its buyback authorization [24] Q&A Session Summary Question: Impact of memory price inflation on margins and revenue - Management explained that commodity pricing affects overall market pricing, and higher prices generally lead to increased revenue across the storage market, benefiting the company [32][34] Question: Increase in inventory and its implications - Management noted that the increase in inventory was due to tariff mitigation purchases and strategic positions in key components to avoid supply chain disruptions [38][40] Question: Product gross margin and mix shift - Management confirmed that higher-end product configurations contributed positively to product gross margins, alongside revenue from Portworx licenses and hyperscaler shipments [44][46] Question: Feedback on Enterprise Data Cloud - Early feedback on the Enterprise Data Cloud has been positive, with significant demand for cloud-native solutions and improved customer engagement across various roles [50][52] Question: Engagements with hyperscalers - Management indicated ongoing engagements with top hyperscalers, with multiple proofs of concept underway, and emphasized investments in product SKUs and technology to drive growth [58][61] Question: Changes in demand dynamics due to memory costs - Management acknowledged that while rising prices could constrain demand, the overall demand for data remains strong, particularly due to AI [84][86] Question: Expectations for gross margin dynamics as hyperscale business scales - Management highlighted that while current gross margins are strong, exploring new revenue models with hyperscalers could impact future gross margin economics [70][72] Question: Operating margin trajectory into FY27 - Management reassured that they expect operating profit to grow beyond FY26, with continued investments in growth areas [80][81]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for Q3 FY26 was $964 million, representing a 16% year-over-year growth, while operating profit grew 17% year-over-year to $196 million, achieving an operating margin of 20.3% [17][21] - Product revenue reached $534 million, up 18% year-over-year, and subscription services revenue was $430 million, increasing 14% year-over-year, accounting for 45% of total revenue [19][21] - Total remaining performance obligations (RPO) grew 24% to $2.9 billion, with annual recurring revenue (ARR) increasing 17% to $1.8 billion [19][21] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The enterprise segment continued to show strength, driven by the Pure Storage platform and the Evergreen One subscription model [5][17] - Hyperscaler shipments exceeded the annual forecast of 2 exabytes by the end of Q3, with expectations for continued momentum in Q4 [5][18] - TCV sales for storage as a service offerings grew 25% year-over-year to $120 million, reflecting strong customer resonance with subscription-based offerings [19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - U.S. revenue was $683 million, growing 22%, while international revenue was $281 million, growing 4% year-over-year [20] - The company added 258 new customers, increasing its penetration of the Fortune 500 to 63% [20] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to capitalize on the financial benefits from hyperscaler revenues to invest significantly in R&D and sales and marketing to sustain momentum and capture profitable growth opportunities [24][25] - The focus is on expanding the Enterprise Data Cloud and enhancing the capabilities of Pure Fusion to meet evolving customer needs in data management [10][36] - The company plans to explore additional business model options for hyperscaler engagements, which may impact gross margin economics in FY27 [25][43] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - The management anticipates increased commodity pricing and excess demand will pressure global supply chains, but the company is well-prepared with a resilient supply chain and strong business continuity plans [15] - The outlook for Q4 anticipates revenue in the range of $1.02-$1.04 billion, representing approximately a 17.1% year-over-year increase at the midpoint [23] - The company expects operating profit for FY26 to be in the range of $629-$639 million, reflecting a 13.3% year-over-year increase at the midpoint [24] Other Important Information - The company recognized in the Gartner Magic Quadrants for enterprise storage platforms and infrastructure platform consumption services, highlighting its competitive advantages [11] - The management announced the appointment of Pat Finn as the new Chief Revenue Officer, emphasizing the importance of leadership in scaling sales and go-to-market strategies [16] Q&A Session Summary Question: Impact of memory price inflation on margins - Management explained that commodity pricing affects overall market pricing more than gross margins, suggesting that higher prices could lead to increased revenue growth [27][28] Question: Inventory increase and strategic purchases - The increase in inventory was attributed to tariff mitigation purchases and strategic positions in key components to avoid supply chain disruptions [30][31] Question: Product gross margin sustainability - Management indicated that a mix shift to higher-end products and increased Portworx license sales contributed to strong product gross margins, which they expect to maintain [32][33] Question: Engagements with hyperscalers - The company is actively engaged with top hyperscalers, conducting multiple proofs of concept and exploring new revenue models to enhance growth [39] Question: NeoCloud opportunity and product offerings - Management clarified the distinction between hyperscale and AI market opportunities, emphasizing the growth potential in specialized products for AI environments [52]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a 13% year-over-year growth and remains strongly profitable in the last quarter [6] - The percentage of revenue from subscriptions is expected to remain around 40% throughout the year [6] - The company is now spending as much on R&D as its competitors, indicating a significant investment in innovation [5] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is focusing on a unified data plane that supports various types of data, including block, file, and object storage [17] - The introduction of the Fusion capability allows for a more integrated approach to data management across different applications [18] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is positioning itself to capitalize on the growing demand for AI and cloud-based solutions, indicating a shift in market focus [20] - The enterprise data cloud architecture is designed to address the challenges of data silos and improve data accessibility for analytics and AI [20] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to bring a cloud operating model to enterprise storage, emphasizing automation and standardization [16] - The focus is on creating a unified data plane that enhances customer experience and operational efficiency [17][25] - The company is committed to continuous improvement and innovation through its Evergreen architecture, which allows for non-disruptive upgrades [57] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in continuing to outperform the market and highlighted the importance of R&D spending for future growth [4][5] - The shift towards AI and data-driven solutions is seen as a significant opportunity for the company [20] - Management acknowledged the challenges of changing long-standing architectures in organizations but believes progress is being made [25] Other Important Information - The company has launched several new products aimed at enhancing its data management capabilities and addressing various customer needs [21] - The FlashBlade Exa product is highlighted as a flexible architecture that can handle high-performance metadata and data storage needs [23] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are the key advantages of Pure Storage's technology? - The company highlighted its unique approach to software designed specifically for flash, avoiding the inefficiencies of SSD architectures [32][36] - The integration of hardware and software is central to the company's Evergreen promise, allowing for seamless upgrades and scalability [34][38] Question: How does the company plan to address the needs of hyperscalers? - The company is focusing on providing storage solutions that integrate well with hyperscalers' existing management systems and hardware [44] - DirectFlash software is emphasized as a key enabler for improving the transition from hard disk drives to flash storage [44]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for Q2 FY 2026 was $861 million, representing a 13% year-over-year growth, while operating profit was $130 million with an operating margin of 15.1% [22][28] - Subscription services revenue reached $415 million, up 15% year-over-year, accounting for 48% of total revenue [26] - Total remaining performance obligations (RPO) grew 22% to $2.8 billion, reflecting robust renewals and new commitments [26] - Total gross margin remained strong at 72.1%, with subscription services gross margin at 76.5% [27] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Strong performance was noted across the entire portfolio, particularly in FlashBlade and core software and services offerings like Evergreen One, Cloud Block Store, and Portworx [22][24] - Total contract value (TCV) sales for Storage as a Service offerings grew 24% year-over-year to $125 million [24] - The FlashBlade E family showed strength, contributing to overall product gross margin improvement [88] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - U.S. revenue was $577 million, growing 7%, while international revenue was $284 million, growing 26% year-over-year [27] - More than 300 new customers were added, maintaining a 62% penetration rate in the Fortune 500 [27] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on the enterprise data cloud architecture, which is transforming how organizations manage data, emphasizing the shift from traditional siloed storage to a software-defined model [9][11] - Continued investment in partnerships with hyperscalers, including Meta, to enhance direct flash technology and expand market presence [25][17] - The introduction of a guidance range for financial metrics aims to align with industry practices and provide flexibility for growth opportunities [30] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's ability to extend industry leadership despite a variable macro environment, citing strong execution and planning [20] - Positive momentum is expected in the second half of the fiscal year, driven by strong demand signals and an increasing pipeline of large deals [110] - The company anticipates revenue for FY 2026 to be in the range of $3.6 billion to $3.63 billion, representing a 14% year-over-year growth at the midpoint [31] Other Important Information - The company reported a strong free cash flow performance of $150 million, with a free cash flow margin of 17.4% [29] - A new partnership with Nutanix is expected to enhance customer interest and scalability in virtualization environments [58] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is driving the acceleration of growth in the back half of the fiscal year? - Management noted broad-based strength in product lines and improved visibility into the pipeline, contributing to confidence in growth forecasts [36] Question: How has the relationship with Meta evolved? - The relationship is progressing as expected, with deployments on track and revenue recognition beginning [42] Question: What factors contributed to the sequential gross margin improvement? - Management attributed the improvement to revenue mix, product mix, and pricing discipline, with Meta's contribution being less material than anticipated [48] Question: How is the engagement with other hyperscalers progressing? - Early-stage engagements are ongoing, with technology assessments and proofs of concept underway, but still in the initial phases [64] Question: What are the long-term expectations for Meta's contribution? - Management expects to achieve one to two exabytes of deployment this fiscal year, with potential for double-digit contributions in the next fiscal year [70] Question: How should the split between product versus subscriptions be viewed? - Management indicated that both product and subscription revenues are expected to grow, with subscription gross margins being higher than product gross margins [98]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for Q2 FY 2026 was $861 million, representing a 13% year-over-year growth [20] - Operating profit was $130 million, resulting in an operating margin of 15.1% [20] - Subscription services revenue reached $415 million, up 15% year-over-year, accounting for 48% of total revenue [25] - Total remaining performance obligations (RPO) grew 22% to $2.8 billion [25] - Free cash flow was $150 million, with a free cash flow margin of 17.4% [28] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Strong performance in FlashBlade and core software and services offerings, including Evergreen One, Cloud Block Store, and Portworx [20][6] - TCV sales for Storage as a Service offerings grew 24% year-over-year to $125 million [23] - Product gross margin rose to 68%, aligning with long-term expectations [26] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - U.S. revenue was $577 million, growing 7%, while international revenue was $284 million, growing 26% year-over-year [26] - The company added over 300 new customers, maintaining a 62% penetration of the Fortune 500 [26] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on the enterprise data cloud architecture, which transforms data management for organizations [9][13] - Continued emphasis on modernizing IT environments, including partnerships with hyperscalers and financial institutions [11][15] - The introduction of a guidance range for financial metrics to align with industry practices and allow flexibility for growth opportunities [29] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the company's momentum and the macroeconomic environment, indicating a positive outlook for the second half of the fiscal year [36][110] - The company anticipates revenue growth of 14% year-over-year for FY 2026, with Q3 revenue expected to be between $950 million and $960 million [29][30] Other Important Information - The company recognized its first revenue from a strategic co-engineering effort with Meta during Q2 [24] - The balance sheet remains strong with $1.5 billion in cash and investments [27] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is driving the acceleration of growth in the back half of the fiscal year? - Management noted broad-based strength in product lines and improved visibility into the pipeline, contributing to confidence in forecasts [35] Question: How has the relationship with Meta evolved? - The relationship is progressing as expected, with revenue recognition beginning and confidence in achieving the forecasted deployment of one to two exabytes [40][42] Question: How much of the gross margin improvement was due to Meta shipments? - Management indicated that while Meta contributed to gross margin improvement, the majority came from product and revenue mix, as well as pricing discipline [48] Question: What are the expectations for the partnership with Nutanix? - The partnership is generating strong customer interest, with plans for general availability by the end of the year [57] Question: How are early engagements with other hyperscalers progressing? - Engagements are progressing well, with technology assessments and proofs of concept underway, but still in early stages [62] Question: What are the demand drivers observed in the quarter? - Demand was steady with above-average linearity, indicating strong macro and competitive environments, along with an increasing willingness from customers to expand their needs [110]