greeksoup/ stock research

Avnet Inc.: Q4 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 raised, 2 lowered, 4 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Record quarterly sales rose 48%: Fourth-quarter sales were $8.3 billion, up 48% year over year and 17% sequentially. Source
  • Electronic Components sales rose 49%: EC sales were $7.8 billion, up 49.0% year over year and 17.0% sequentially, with EC operating margin of 4.1% against 3.0%. Source
  • Farnell operating margin reached 9.0%: Farnell sales were $500.1 million, up 29.4% year over year, with operating margin of 9.0% against 4.3%. Source
  • Operating margin up 147 basis points: GAAP operating margin was 2.8% against 1.3%. Adjusted operating margin was 3.8%, up 129 basis points year over year. Source
  • Inventory days fell to 71: Inventory days declined 6 days from the prior quarter to 71. For fiscal 2026, inventory days were 81, down 18 days year over year. Source
  • Operating cash flow was negative: Operating cash flow was negative $280.9 million for fiscal 2026, against positive $724.5 million a year earlier. Source
  • Momentum building across all regions: Management said momentum continues to build across all regions, end markets and customer segments, supporting confidence in its competitive position. Source
  • First quarter guidance issued: Guidance was given for the first quarter of fiscal 2027, ending October 3, 2026; the figures are listed under guidance. Source

“Our fourth quarter results underscore the strength of Avnet’s business model and the impact of our disciplined execution and long-term strategy.”

Avnet Chief Executive Officer Phil Gallagher

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Sales SourceFirst quarter of fiscal 2027, ending October 3, 2026$9.00B - $9.30B; midpoint $9.15BNew
Adjusted diluted EPS SourceFirst quarter of fiscal 2027$2.80 - $2.90; midpoint $2.85New
GAAP diluted EPS SourceFirst quarter of fiscal 2027$2.57 - $2.77New
Sequential sales growth SourceFirst quarter of fiscal 2027 versus fourth quarter of fiscal 2026approximately 10% at the midpointNew
Adjusted effective tax rate SourceFirst quarter of fiscal 2027between 21% and 25%Kept
Average diluted shares SourceFirst quarter of fiscal 202785 millionRaised from 83 million
Euro to U.S. dollar rate assumed SourceFirst quarter of fiscal 2027 guidance$1.15Lowered from $1.17
GBP to U.S. dollar rate assumed SourceFirst quarter of fiscal 2027 guidance$1.34Lowered from $1.35

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Guidance started for the first quarter of fiscal 2027, the quarter ending October 3, 2026. Source
  • Ended: The fourth quarter of fiscal 2026 guidance period closed, and results for that quarter are reported in this release.
  • Guidance kept: Adjusted effective tax rate range of 21% to 25% is the same as in the prior quarter's guidance. Source

Fourth quarter and full-year results

  • Record quarterly sales rose 48%: Fourth-quarter sales were $8.3 billion, up 48% year over year and 17% sequentially. Source
  • Fourth-quarter EPS rose sharply: Diluted EPS was $1.49 against $0.07 a year earlier; adjusted diluted EPS was $2.28, up 182% year over year. Source
  • Fiscal 2026 sales and EPS grew: Fiscal 2026 sales were $27.6 billion, up 25%. Diluted EPS was $4.01 against $2.75; adjusted diluted EPS was $5.67, up 65%. Source

Segments and regions

  • Electronic Components sales rose 49%: EC sales were $7.8 billion, up 49.0% year over year and 17.0% sequentially, with EC operating margin of 4.1% against 3.0%. Source
  • Farnell operating margin reached 9.0%: Farnell sales were $500.1 million, up 29.4% year over year, with operating margin of 9.0% against 4.3%. Source
  • Asia share of sales mix: Asia was 47.5% of fourth-quarter sales mix against 47.9% a year earlier. Source

“We delivered record sales while growing profitability at more than two and a half times the rate of sales growth, demonstrating the operating leverage in our business model.”

Avnet Chief Executive Officer Phil Gallagher

Margins and costs

  • Operating margin up 147 basis points: GAAP operating margin was 2.8% against 1.3%. Adjusted operating margin was 3.8%, up 129 basis points year over year. Source
  • Selling and admin costs increased: Selling, general and administrative expenses were $547.5 million against $451.2 million a year earlier. Source
  • EC gross margin was lower: Electronic Components gross profit margin was 9.2% against 9.5% a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EPS grew faster than sales: Management said adjusted diluted EPS grew 3.8 times greater than sales year over year. Source

Working capital and cash flow

  • Inventory days fell to 71: Inventory days declined 6 days from the prior quarter to 71. For fiscal 2026, inventory days were 81, down 18 days year over year. Source
  • Operating cash flow was negative: Operating cash flow was negative $280.9 million for fiscal 2026, against positive $724.5 million a year earlier. Source
  • Receivables and inventory used cash: Receivables used $2.61 billion and inventories $918.3 million in cash; accounts payable provided $2.61 billion. Source

“As demand improves and mass market activity continues to accelerate, we are entering fiscal 2027 with great momentum.”

Avnet Chief Executive Officer Phil Gallagher

Demand and first quarter setup

  • Momentum building across all regions: Management said momentum continues to build across all regions, end markets and customer segments, supporting confidence in its competitive position. Source
  • Sales grew across all regions: Management said sales grew sequentially and year over year across all EC regions and Farnell. Source
  • First quarter guidance issued: Guidance was given for the first quarter of fiscal 2027, ending October 3, 2026; the figures are listed under guidance. Source

Capital and shareholder returns

  • Share repurchases of $138 million: Share repurchases totaled $138 million in fiscal 2026, representing 3.2% of shares outstanding. Source
  • Dividends paid in fiscal 2026: Dividends paid were $114 million for fiscal 2026; $29 million was paid in the fourth quarter, with $0.35 per share declared for the quarter. Source
  • Convertible and public notes activity: Fiscal 2026 financing included $633.8 million net from convertible notes and $550 million of public note repayments; a $270.2 million term loan was borrowed. Source
  • Capital spending fell: Purchases of property, plant and equipment were $73.6 million for fiscal 2026, against $147.5 million a year earlier. Source

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.