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CDW Corp.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales rose 9.2 percent: Net sales were $5,680 million, up from $5,199 million. On a constant currency basis, growth was 8.4 percent. Source
  • Commercial growth led the quarter: Commercial net sales were $3,569 million, with Financial Services up 28.2 percent, Corporate up 8.4 percent and Healthcare up 4.9 percent. Source
  • Gross margin fell to 21.0 percent: Gross margin was 21.0 percent against 21.6 percent a year earlier. Management attributed the decline mainly to a lower contribution of netted down revenue. Source
  • Operating margins were lower: Operating margin was 6.6 percent and non-GAAP operating margin was 8.0 percent, compared with 7.0 and 8.5 percent a year earlier. Source
  • Diluted EPS rose 7.9 percent: Diluted EPS was $1.82 against $1.69. Weighted average diluted shares were 129 million, compared with 133 million. Source
  • Customers moving AI into production: Management said customers are moving from AI exploration into production and relying on partners for integration, governance and lifecycle expertise. Source

“CDW delivered a strong first quarter, reflecting outcome-driven execution in a complex and fast-moving environment,”

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

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
US IT addressable market growth, constant currency Source2026200 to 300 basis pointsKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: The target to exceed US IT addressable market growth by 200 to 300 basis points was kept from the prior quarter.
  • New: Net sales are now reported as Commercial, Government, Education and Other, in place of the prior Corporate, Small Business, Public and Other split. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net sales rose 9.2 percent: Net sales were $5,680 million, up from $5,199 million. On a constant currency basis, growth was 8.4 percent. Source
  • Demand rose in four product areas: Management attributed the increase to customer demand for data storage and servers, netcomm products, software and notebooks/mobile devices. Source
  • Spending improved in every segment: Management said customer spending improved in all segments compared with the prior year quarter, while uncertainty persists. Source
  • Average daily sales were $90.2 million: Average daily sales were $90.2 million against $82.5 million a year earlier, as reported in the summary table. Source

Segments and regions

  • Commercial growth led the quarter: Commercial net sales were $3,569 million, with Financial Services up 28.2 percent, Corporate up 8.4 percent and Healthcare up 4.9 percent. Source
  • Government and Education grew more slowly: Government net sales were $633 million, up 4.6 percent, and Education net sales were $675 million, up 2.5 percent. Source
  • UK and Canada rose 17.9 percent: Operations in the UK and Canada, reported together as Other, reached $803 million in net sales. Source

“Strong demand for infrastructure hardware, combined with disciplined execution, drove solid net sales growth and resilient profitability in the first quarter,”

Albert J. Miralles, chief financial officer, CDW

Gross margin and costs

  • Gross margin fell to 21.0 percent: Gross margin was 21.0 percent against 21.6 percent a year earlier. Management attributed the decline mainly to a lower contribution of netted down revenue. Source
  • Gross profit rose 6.0 percent: Gross profit was $1,190 million, compared with $1,122 million in the prior year quarter. Source
  • Selling and admin costs rose 7.0 percent: Higher compensation, including performance-based incentives, coworker-related costs and AI investments, drove the increase. Source

Profit and earnings per share

  • Operating income rose 4.0 percent: Operating income was $376 million, compared with $361 million a year earlier. Source
  • Operating margins were lower: Operating margin was 6.6 percent and non-GAAP operating margin was 8.0 percent, compared with 7.0 and 8.5 percent a year earlier. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating income up 1.8 percent: Non-GAAP operating income was $452 million, against $444 million a year earlier. Source
  • Interest expense fell on lower debt: Interest expense, net was $55 million against $57 million, reflecting lower debt levels and a lower variable rate on the term loan. Source
  • Diluted EPS rose 7.9 percent: Diluted EPS was $1.82 against $1.69. Weighted average diluted shares were 129 million, compared with 133 million. Source
  • Non-GAAP diluted EPS rose 6.3 percent: Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $2.28 against $2.15 a year earlier. Source

Cash, working capital and capital returns

  • Operating cash flow was $274.8 million: Operating cash flow was $274.8 million against $287.2 million. Free cash flow was $248.4 million against $260.3 million. Source
  • Disciplined working capital management: Management said it continues to prioritize working capital discipline. Days of sales outstanding were 96, against 86 a year earlier. Source
  • Board approved quarterly cash dividend: The board approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.630 per share, unchanged from the amount declared in February. Source

Strategy and AI positioning

  • Customers moving AI into production: Management said customers are moving from AI exploration into production and relying on partners for integration, governance and lifecycle expertise. Source
  • Services-led, full-stack model: Management cites diversified end-markets, services-led full-stack capabilities and an AI-forward strategy as positioning the company to capture demand. Source
  • Trusted advisor role: Management said the company's role as a trusted advisor has become more relevant amid complexity and rapid technology change. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 May 2026

  • Dividend payable June 10: The quarterly dividend of $0.630 per share is to be paid on June 10, 2026, to holders of record at the close of business on May 25, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Gross margin Source21.0 percent (against 21.6 percent)
Inventory Source$820.6 million at March 31, 2026 (against $563.4 million at December 31, 2025)
Days of supply in inventory Source14 days (against 11 days at December 31, 2025)

Risks management discussed

  • External: Management cites economic and geopolitical uncertainty as persisting, even as customer spending improved in every segment. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management said it remains confident in this target; the release does not report progress against it. 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.