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CDW Corp.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Fourth quarter sales rose 6.3 percent: Net sales were $5,511 million, up 6.3 percent from $5,186 million. On average daily sales, growth was 4.6 percent, with 63 selling days against 62. Source
  • Full year sales rose 6.8 percent: Full year net sales were $22,424 million, up 6.8 percent from $20,999 million. Growth on a constant currency basis was 6.6 percent, with 254 selling days in both years. Source
  • Q4 gross margin rose to 22.8 percent: Fourth quarter gross margin was 22.8 percent, against 22.3 percent a year earlier. Gross profit was $1,254 million, up 8.6 percent. Source
  • Full year margin fell on hardware rates: Full year gross margin was 21.7 percent against 21.9 percent, mainly from decreased rates in certain hardware categories. Gross profit still rose 5.9 percent. Source
  • Q4 selling costs up 10.3 percent: Selling and administrative expenses were $824 million, up 10.3 percent, mainly from higher performance-based compensation and coworker-related costs. Source
  • Operating and free cash flow fell: Operating cash flow was $1,205.2 million for 2025, against $1,277.3 million. Free cash flow was $1,088.1 million, against $1,154.7 million, after capital expenditures of $117.1 million. Source
  • About $982 million returned to holders: Management said cash flow supported capital priorities, including M&A, and about $982 million was returned through dividends and share repurchases this year. Source

“Our position as a trusted advisor remains a clear differentiator, and our results highlight the resilience of our diversified customer base”

Christine A. Leahy, chair and chief executive officer, CDW

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales growth target Source2026exceeding US IT addressable market growth by 200 to 300 basis pointsKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: The 200 to 300 basis point target is the same as in the third quarter release. The wording now refers to US IT addressable market and drops the constant currency basis. Source

Fourth quarter and full year results

  • Fourth quarter sales rose 6.3 percent: Net sales were $5,511 million, up 6.3 percent from $5,186 million. On average daily sales, growth was 4.6 percent, with 63 selling days against 62. Source
  • Full year sales rose 6.8 percent: Full year net sales were $22,424 million, up 6.8 percent from $20,999 million. Growth on a constant currency basis was 6.6 percent, with 254 selling days in both years. Source
  • Operating income rose 5.4 percent in Q4: Fourth quarter operating income was $431 million, up 5.4 percent. Full year operating income was $1,656 million, up 0.3 percent, with an operating income margin of 7.4 percent. Source
  • Diluted EPS rose on fewer shares: Full year diluted EPS was $8.08, up 1.3 percent. Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $10.02, up 5.2 percent. Diluted shares averaged 132 million, against 135 million a year earlier. Source
  • Net income fell on higher tax rate: Full year net income was $1,067 million, down 1.0 percent. The effective tax rate was 25.3 percent against 24.9 percent, mainly from lower excess tax benefits on equity-based compensation. Source

Segments and regions

  • Small Business sales up 13.3 percent: Small Business net sales were $1,727 million for 2025, up 13.3 percent. Fourth quarter Small Business sales were $457 million, up 18.4 percent on average daily sales. Source
  • Corporate sales up 6.8 percent: Corporate net sales were $9,442 million for 2025, up 6.8 percent. Fourth quarter Corporate average daily sales were down 0.6 percent. Source
  • Public sales led by healthcare: Public net sales were $8,535 million for 2025, up 4.6 percent. Healthcare rose 13.3 percent and government 4.1 percent, while education fell 1.8 percent. Source
  • Public fourth quarter by customer type: Public average daily sales rose 7.0 percent in the fourth quarter. Education rose 12.9 percent, healthcare 4.6 percent and government 4.3 percent. Source
  • UK and Canada sales grew: Sales for the UK and Canada, reported as Other, were $2,720 million for 2025, up 9.7 percent, and $669 million in the fourth quarter, up 8.4 percent on average daily sales. Source

“While customers continued to experience uncertain business conditions, our ability to deliver outcomes across the hardware, software, and services continuum”

Albert J. Miralles, chief financial officer, CDW

Products and customers

  • Software, notebooks and services led Q4: Management attributed fourth quarter growth mainly to customer demand for software, notebooks and mobile devices, and services. Source
  • Full year growth spread across categories: For 2025, management attributed sales growth to demand across notebooks and mobile devices, software, desktops, services, and netcomm products. Source
  • Large customer and brand base: Management cited more than 250,000 customers around the globe and more than 1,000 leading and emerging technology brands as partners. Source

Costs and margins

  • Q4 gross margin rose to 22.8 percent: Fourth quarter gross margin was 22.8 percent, against 22.3 percent a year earlier. Gross profit was $1,254 million, up 8.6 percent. Source
  • Netted-down revenue lifted Q4 margin: Management attributed the fourth quarter margin increase mainly to a higher contribution of netted down revenue. Source
  • Full year margin fell on hardware rates: Full year gross margin was 21.7 percent against 21.9 percent, mainly from decreased rates in certain hardware categories. Gross profit still rose 5.9 percent. Source
  • Q4 selling costs up 10.3 percent: Selling and administrative expenses were $824 million, up 10.3 percent, mainly from higher performance-based compensation and coworker-related costs. Source
  • Full year costs rose on pay and transformation: Full year selling and administrative expenses were $3,218 million, up 9.0 percent, driven by performance-based compensation, transformation costs and coworker costs. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating margin 8.9 percent: Non-GAAP operating income margin was 8.9 percent for 2025, against 9.3 percent for 2024. Operating income margin was 7.4 percent, against 7.9 percent. Source

“enabled flexibility across our capital priorities, including M&A and returning approximately $982M to shareholders via dividends and share repurchases this year”

Albert J. Miralles, chief financial officer, CDW

Cash, working capital and debt

  • Operating and free cash flow fell: Operating cash flow was $1,205.2 million for 2025, against $1,277.3 million. Free cash flow was $1,088.1 million, against $1,154.7 million, after capital expenditures of $117.1 million. Source
  • Days of sales outstanding rose to 95: Days of sales outstanding were 95, against 84. Days of supply in inventory were 11, against 13, and the cash conversion cycle was 16 days, against 18. Source
  • Net debt eased, revolver availability rose: Net debt was $5,011.1 million, against $5,125.1 million. Revolver availability was $1,925.8 million, against $1,244.1 million, and cash plus revolver availability was $2,544.5 million. Source
  • Current debt maturities rose sharply: Current maturities of long-term debt were $1,007.5 million, against $235.8 million a year earlier. Source

Capital returns and acquisitions

  • About $982 million returned to holders: Management said cash flow supported capital priorities, including M&A, and about $982 million was returned through dividends and share repurchases this year. Source
  • Diluted share count fell: Weighted average diluted shares were 131 million in the fourth quarter, against 134 million. For 2025 they were 132 million, against 135 million. Source
  • Acquisition spending fell: Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired, were $21.5 million in 2025, against $323.9 million in 2024. Source

Strategy and positioning

  • Value proposition tied to AI guidance: Management said customers turn to CDW for mission-critical IT and operational needs, including guidance on AI journeys, across the full solutions stack and lifecycle. Source
  • Portfolio depth built on investment: Management attributed the depth of the product and solutions portfolio to strategic investments and an unwavering focus on customers. Source

Customer spending and demand

  • Spending improved across most segments: Management said most segments continued to see improved customer spending in the fourth quarter, while economic and geopolitical uncertainty persists. Source
  • Full year spending improved in all segments: For the year, management said all segments continued to experience improved customer spending. Source

Coming up, as management said on 4 February 2026

  • Dividend payable March 10, 2026: The board approved a quarterly dividend of $0.630 per share, payable March 10, 2026 to stockholders of record at the close of business on February 25, 2026. Source

In management's words

“For 2026, we continue to target exceeding US IT addressable market growth by 200 to 300 basis points”

Christine A. Leahy, chair and chief executive officer, CDW

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Gross margin Source21.7 percent in 2025, against 21.9 percent in 2024; 22.8 percent in Q4 2025
Inventory SourceMerchandise inventory $563.4 million, against $605.3 million; days of supply in inventory 11, against 13

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management said customers continued to face uncertain business conditions during the quarter. Source
  • External: Management cited continuing economic and geopolitical uncertainty alongside improved spending in most segments. Source
  • Financial: Management cited decreased rates in certain hardware categories as the main cause of the full year gross margin decline. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management restated the same 2026 target range and did not state progress against it in this release. 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.