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Arista Networks, Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue topped $3 billion: Revenue was $3,035.7 million, up 37.7% from a year earlier and 12.1% from the first quarter of 2026, the company's first quarter above $3 billion. Source
  • Non-GAAP EPS rose 39.7%: Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $1.02 against $0.73; GAAP diluted EPS was $0.95 against $0.70. Net income was $1,212.9 million against $888.8 million. Source
  • 1.6 Tbps AI fabric platforms launched: The company introduced 1.6 Tbps AI fabric platforms, with liquid-cooled options for scale-up, scale-out and scale-across networks. Source
  • Gross margin declined year on year: GAAP gross margin was 62.9% against 65.2% a year earlier, and non-GAAP gross margin 63.4% against 65.6%. Product cost of revenue rose to $1,047.5 million from $707.3 million. Source
  • Operating margin rose year on year: GAAP operating income was $1,378.0 million, and operating margin was 45.4% against 44.7% a year earlier. Non-GAAP operating margin was 49.9% against 48.8%. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose for six months: Net cash provided by operating activities was $2,776.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2026, against $1,841.8 million. The first quarter alone was $1,693.5 million. Source
  • Q3 revenue guided to about $3.3 billion: Third-quarter 2026 revenue is expected at approximately $3.3 billion, following second-quarter revenue of $3.036 billion. Source

“As we deliver our first $3 billion quarter in Q2 2026, it is clear that our Arista 2.0 platform strategy is compelling,”

Jayshree Ullal, Chairperson and CEO of Arista Networks

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue SourceThird quarter of 2026approximately $3.3 billionNew
Non-GAAP operating margin SourceThird quarter of 202648 - 49%New
Non-GAAP diluted net income per share SourceThird quarter of 2026between $1.06 and $1.08New

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Third quarter 2026 guidance given for revenue, non-GAAP operating margin and non-GAAP diluted EPS; the prior release gave guidance for the second quarter. Source
  • New: Introduced the 7060XE7 Series, described as a next-generation 1.6-terabit portfolio for AI fabrics. Source
  • New: Outlined new AI fabric techniques for scale-up, scale-out and scale-across networks, including MRC and SRv6. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue topped $3 billion: Revenue was $3,035.7 million, up 37.7% from a year earlier and 12.1% from the first quarter of 2026, the company's first quarter above $3 billion. Source
  • Non-GAAP EPS rose 39.7%: Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $1.02 against $0.73; GAAP diluted EPS was $0.95 against $0.70. Net income was $1,212.9 million against $888.8 million. Source
  • Q2 results against prior guidance: The prior release had guided second-quarter revenue to approximately $2.8 billion, non-GAAP operating margin to 46-47%, and non-GAAP diluted EPS to approximately $0.88.

Products and customers

  • Product and service revenue grew: Product revenue was $2,605.2 million against $1,877.0 million, and service revenue $430.5 million against $327.8 million, for the quarter ended June 30, 2026. Source
  • 1.6 Tbps AI fabric platforms launched: The company introduced 1.6 Tbps AI fabric platforms, with liquid-cooled options for scale-up, scale-out and scale-across networks. Source
  • Linear optics cut interconnect power: The new Etherlink platforms deliver up to 100 Tbps of system bandwidth and support Linear Pluggable Optics, which management says cuts interconnect power by about 60%. Source

“Customers see networking as the central nervous system for infrastructure from the client to campus to data and AI centers.”

Jayshree Ullal, Chairperson and CEO of Arista Networks

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross margin declined year on year: GAAP gross margin was 62.9% against 65.2% a year earlier, and non-GAAP gross margin 63.4% against 65.6%. Product cost of revenue rose to $1,047.5 million from $707.3 million. Source
  • Operating expenses rose: Research and development expense rose to $348.2 million from $296.5 million, and sales and marketing to $150.3 million from $126.5 million. Source
  • Operating margin rose year on year: GAAP operating income was $1,378.0 million, and operating margin was 45.4% against 44.7% a year earlier. Non-GAAP operating margin was 49.9% against 48.8%. Source
  • Stock comp and amortization increased: Stock-based compensation expense was $120.4 million against $85.2 million, and intangible asset amortization $15.3 million against $5.0 million. Source

Demand and the order book

  • Receivables and inventory increased: Accounts receivable were $2,266.2 million against $1,886.9 million at December 31, 2025, and inventories $2,535.3 million against $2,247.1 million. Source

“This performance underscores the strength of our market position and the continued dedication of our global team.”

Chantelle Breithaupt, Arista's CFO

Cash, capital and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow rose for six months: Net cash provided by operating activities was $2,776.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2026, against $1,841.8 million. The first quarter alone was $1,693.5 million. Source
  • No share repurchases in six months: No common stock was repurchased in the six months ended June 30, 2026, against $983.0 million a year earlier. Net cash used in financing activities was $1.5 million. Source
  • Cash and marketable securities increased: Cash and cash equivalents were $2,290.2 million and marketable securities $11,053.1 million at June 30, 2026, against $1,963.9 million and $8,779.1 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Property and equipment spending rose: Purchases of property and equipment were $84.2 million for the six months against $52.4 million, and net property and equipment reached $312.5 million from $203.1 million. Source

Strategy and product launches

  • Arista 2.0 platform strategy described: The CEO said the first $3 billion quarter shows the Arista 2.0 platform strategy at work across client, campus, data and AI environments. Source
  • Scale-up and scale-out AI techniques: The company outlined multi-planar leaf-spine designs, the open Multipath Reliable Connection 1 (MRC) protocol, and segment routing over IPv6 (SRv6) to raise AI cluster utilization and resilience. Source
  • Gartner Leader recognition: Named a Leader in the 2026 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Wired and Wireless LAN, which the release ties to the single-EOS architecture spanning data center to campus edge. Source

Non-GAAP guidance basis

  • Non-GAAP guidance excludes listed items: Guidance for non-GAAP measures excludes stock-based compensation, intangible asset amortization, tax benefits on stock-based awards, the related tax effect, and potential non-recurring items. Source
  • Guidance GAAP reconciliation not provided: The company says the exclusions can be uncertain or difficult to predict and will significantly affect GAAP gross margin, operating margin and net income per share. Source
  • Prior-year non-GAAP tax method recast: Prior-period non-GAAP results were recast for a change in how the tax effect of stock-based awards is calculated, adding $10.7 million to Q2 2025 non-GAAP net income. Source

Third quarter guidance

  • Q3 revenue guided to about $3.3 billion: Third-quarter 2026 revenue is expected at approximately $3.3 billion, following second-quarter revenue of $3.036 billion. Source
  • Q3 non-GAAP margin range given: Non-GAAP operating margin is expected at 48 to 49 percent for the third quarter of 2026. Source
  • Q3 non-GAAP EPS range given: Non-GAAP diluted EPS is expected between $1.06 and $1.08 for the third quarter of 2026. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 August 2026

  • Security webinar with partners: Arista is hosting a webinar with Anthropic and Palo Alto Networks on the future of security in an AI world. The release gives no date. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Product revenue Source$2,605.2 million
Service revenue Source$430.5 million
GAAP gross margin Source62.9%
Non-GAAP gross margin Source63.4%

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.