Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported revenue of $2.3 billion for Q1 FY 2026, representing a sequential increase of 21% and a year-over-year increase of 23% [4][12] - Non-GAAP earnings per share (EPS) were $1.22, up from $0.29 in the prior quarter, exceeding guidance of $0.70-$0.90 [15][22] - Non-GAAP gross margin for Q1 was 29.9%, up 350 basis points sequentially, compared to guidance of 28.5%-29.5% [15][12] - Adjusted free cash flow generated was $448 million, with a free cash flow margin of 19.4% [16][17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Data Center Business revenue increased by 26% sequentially, reaching $269 million [14][7] - Edge revenue was $1,387 million, up 26% sequentially, driven by a PC refresh cycle and smartphone demand [14][8] - Consumer revenue was $652 million, up 11% quarter-over-quarter, supported by strong partnerships and product launches [14][10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company anticipates ongoing demand for NAND products to exceed supply through the end of calendar year 2026 and beyond [4][18] - Investments in data centers and AI infrastructure are expected to surpass $1 trillion by 2030, driving demand for high-capacity SSDs [6][10] - The average smartphone capacity per device is expected to grow in the high-single digits in calendar years 2025 and 2026 [8][10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on growing revenue, expanding margins, and generating sustainable free cash flow to create shareholder value [4][22] - Strategic allocation decisions are being made to maximize long-term value creation, with an emphasis on advancing the Technology Roadmap and strengthening customer partnerships [5][6] - The company aims to maintain a net cash position and continue investing in the business while returning cash to shareholders [19][22] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the ability to create significant and sustainable value for customers and shareholders amidst robust demand [22][10] - The company is optimistic about the growth opportunities in the Data Center Business, with ongoing qualifications and strategic engagements with key hyperscale customers [22][7] - Management noted that the demand for products is expected to exceed supply beyond 2026, indicating a strong market outlook [18][19] Other Important Information - The company incurred $61 million in startup costs and $11 million in underutilization charges during the quarter [15][16] - The company plans to align its end market nomenclature to match industry standards, referring to data center, edge, and consumer segments [12][13] Q&A Session Summary Question: Are you seeing similar trends in NAND as in the HD world regarding customer engagement? - Management noted that customers are seeking long-term commitments and visibility into supply, indicating a shift from quarter-by-quarter deals to multi-quarter agreements [25][26] Question: How do you view the supply situation over the next couple of years? - Management indicated that the market is expected to remain undersupplied through 2026, with a focus on long-term demand trends [35][36] Question: What is the update on enterprise SSD qualifications and market share ambitions? - Management expressed satisfaction with the progress in enterprise SSD qualifications and anticipates increasing sales in this segment throughout FY 2026 [37][38] Question: How do you assess the enterprise SSD market opportunity relative to hard disk drives? - Management believes that both technologies will grow, with enterprise SSDs expected to grow faster due to increasing data storage needs [44][45] Question: Can you clarify the guidance for the upcoming quarter? - Management expects revenue growth to be driven primarily by pricing, with low-single-digit bid growth anticipated [92][93]
Sandisk Corporation(SNDK) - 2026 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript