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HP(HPQ) - 2025 Q3 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Top line revenue increased by 3% year over year, driven by strong performance in Personal Systems [7] - Non-GAAP EPS was slightly above the midpoint of guidance, reflecting a sequential improvement of 6% [7][26] - Gross margin was 20.5%, down year over year due to a higher mix from Personal Systems and increased trade-related costs [26] Business Line Performance - Personal Systems revenue grew by 6% year over year, with a 5% unit growth and increased average selling prices (ASPs) [28] - Print revenue declined by 4% year over year, or 3% in constant currency, with market-driven hardware declines in both consumer and commercial segments [30] - Strong performance in key growth areas, including double-digit growth in consumer subscriptions and industrial graphics [30][15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - In constant currency, Americas and EMEA each grew by 1%, while APJ was up 11%, particularly strong in China [26] - The installed base of active AIPC users is growing significantly, positioning the company well for future AI-driven innovations [11] Company Strategy and Industry Competition - The company is focused on becoming a leader in the future of work, with a strategy that includes manufacturing diversification and cost reduction [8][22] - The company is shifting its mix to higher value segments, such as AIPCs and commercial premium, while maintaining discipline in pricing [10][12] - The print market is expected to decline in low single digits in 2025, but the company aims to protect the operating profit contribution of the premium business [21] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the strength of the PC market in 2025, expecting mid-single-digit growth in the second half [21] - The company is adapting to a dynamic environment and has strengthened operational agility to navigate evolving conditions [23] - Management acknowledged continued uncertainty in the global trade environment but remains confident in the ability to respond quickly to changes [23] Other Important Information - The company is on track to achieve $2 billion in annualized gross run rate savings by the end of fiscal year 2025 [8][32] - The company returned over $400 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases [33] Q&A Session Summary Question: Impact of tariff-related costs in the quarter - Management indicated that they were able to mitigate the majority of tariff costs in Q3 through supply chain optimization and pricing actions [40][42] Question: Outlook for the print business amid return to office initiatives - Management noted that while there is short-term softness in hardware sales, the demand for printed pages remains stable, indicating a potential recovery in the future [46][47] Question: AIPC pricing and margin profile - Management confirmed that AIPCs carry a higher ASP and margin profile compared to non-AIPCs, with a price increase of 5% to 10% driven by AIPC capabilities [49] Question: Expectations for print pricing and office environment - Management expects aggressive pricing competition to continue, but remains confident in the long-term demand for print as the number of pages printed has not deviated from expectations [78] Question: Capital allocation and leverage - Management indicated that leverage improved to slightly over 2 times, and they anticipate returning 100% of free cash flow to shareholders as leverage continues to improve [80]