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REPORTS FIRST QUARTER 2026 RESULTS
FIRST QUARTER SUMMARY:
- Net sales: $721.9 million, up 3.0% y/y●Gross billings: $1.0 billion, up 4.3%●Gross profit: $132.7 million, up 4.3% y/y●Gross margin: 18.4%, up 20 basis points y/y●Net income: $17.2 million, up 27.8% y/y●Diluted EPS: $0.68, compared to $0.51 y/y●Adjusted Diluted EPS: $0.77, compared to $0.60
Merrimack, NH - April 29, 2026 - Connection (PC Connection, Inc.; NASDAQ: CNXN), a leading information technology solutions provider to business, government, healthcare and education markets, today announced results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026. The Company also announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.20 per share of the Company’s common stock. Payment will be made on May 29, 2026, to shareholders of record on May 12, 2026.
“Our financial performance was strong as we experienced solid demand in Q1 for both our Enterprise and Business Solutions segments, driven in part by our customers moving from AI experimentation to AI production,” said Timothy McGrath, President and Chief Executive Officer. McGrath continued, “We believe that our experienced team is well positioned to help our customers navigate through the waves of technology.”
First Quarter of 2026 Results:
Net sales for the quarter ended March 31, 2026 increased by 3.0%, year over year. Gross billings increased by 4.3% to $1.0 billion, compared to $978.9 million in the first quarter of 2025. Gross profit increased by 4.3% to $132.7 million, compared to $127.3 million for the first quarter of 2025, and gross margin increased 20 basis points to 18.4%, compared to the prior year quarter. Net income increased 27.8% to $17.2 million, or $0.68 per diluted share, compared to $13.5 million, or $0.51 per diluted share, for the first quarter of 2025. Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share was $0.77 for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, compared to $0.60 per share for the quarter ended March 31, 2025.
Performance by Segment:
- Net sales for the Business Solutions segment increased by 6.6% to $275.6 million in the first quarter of 2026, compared to $258.4 million in the prior year quarter. Gross billings increased by 9.3% to $446.0 million, compared to $408.0 million in the prior year quarter. Gross profit increased by 3.2% to $67.5
Gross billings is the total dollar value of goods and services billed during the period, net of customer returns, credit memos, and any applicable sales or other taxes and include agency fees, and freight. As certain transactions are recognized on a net basis, gross billings include amounts not recognized in net sales.
Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP measures. See page 9 for definitions and reconciliations of these measures.
million, compared to $65.4 million in the prior year quarter. Gross margin decreased by 80 basis points to 24.5% for the first quarter of 2026.
- Net sales for the Public Sector Solutions segment decreased by 31.0% to $99.8 million in the first quarter of 2026, compared to $144.6 million in the prior year quarter. Gross billings decreased by 21.2% to $135.7 million, compared to $172.2 million in the prior year quarter. Gross profit decreased by 23.4% to $15.0 million, compared to $19.6 million in the prior year quarter. Gross margin increased by 140 basis points to 15.0% for the first quarter of 2026.
- Net sales for the Enterprise Solutions segment increased by 16.3% to $346.5 million in the first quarter of 2026, compared to $298.0 million in the prior year quarter. Gross billings increased by 10.3% to $439.6 million, compared to $398.8 million in the prior year quarter. Gross profit increased by 18.7% to $50.2 million, compared to $42.3 million in the prior year quarter. Gross margin increased by 30 basis points to 14.5% for the first quarter of 2026.
Sales by Product Mix:
- Notebook/mobility and desktop sales increased by 1% year over year and accounted for 49% of net sales in the first quarter of 2026, compared to 50% of net sales in the first quarter of 2025.
- Software sales increased by 6% year over year and accounted for 11% of net sales in the first quarter of both 2026 and 2025.
- Servers/storage sales decreased by 10% year over year and accounted for 6% of net sales in the first quarter of 2026, compared to 7% of net sales in the first quarter of 2025.
- Networking sales increased by 8% year over year and accounted for 7% of net sales in the first quarter of both 2026 and 2025.
- Accessories sales increased by 1% year over year and accounted for 11% of net sales in the first quarter of both 2026 and 2025.
Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses decreased slightly in the first quarter of 2026 by 0.4% to $109.5 million from $109.9 million in the prior year quarter. SG&A as a percentage of net sales decreased to 15.2%, compared to 15.7% in the prior year quarter.
In addition, the first quarter of 2026 results include $3.1 million of severance expenses related to internal cost reduction initiatives.
Interest income in the first quarter of 2026 was $3.4 million, compared to $3.9 million in the first quarter of 2025.
Cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments were $411.4 million as of March 31, 2026, compared to $406.7 million as of December 31, 2025. During the first quarter of 2026, the Company repurchased 41,987 shares of stock at an aggregate purchase price of $2.4 million.
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, adjusted for stock-based compensation expense, restructuring and other charges and non-routine legal settlements (“Adjusted EBITDA”) increased 7% to $132.3 million for the twelve months ended March 31, 2026, compared to $123.1 million for the twelve months ended March 31, 2025.
Gross billings is the total dollar value of goods and services billed during the period, net of customer returns, credit memos, and any applicable sales or other taxes and include agency fees, and freight. As certain transactions are recognized on a net basis, gross billings include amounts not recognized in net sales.
Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP measures. See page 9 for definitions and reconciliations of these measures.
Conference Call and Webcast
Connection will host a conference call and live web cast today, April 29, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. EDT to discuss its first quarter financial results. For participants who would like to participate via telephone, please register here to receive the dial-in number along with a unique PIN number that is required to access the call. A web-cast of the conference call, which will be broadcast live via the Internet, and a copy of this press release, can be accessed on Connection’s website at ir.connection.com. For those unable to participate in the live call, a replay of the webcast will be available at ir.connection.com approximately 90 minutes after the completion of the call and will be accessible on the site for approximately one year.
Non-GAAP Financial Information
EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, LTM Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share are non-GAAP financial measures. These measures are included to provide additional information with respect to the Company’s operating performance and earnings. Non-GAAP measures are not a substitute for GAAP measures and should be considered together with the GAAP financial measures. Our non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. Definitions for each Non-GAAP measure and a reconciliation to their most directly comparable GAAP measures are available in the tables at the end of this release.
About Connection
PC Connection, Inc. and its subsidiaries, dba Connection, (www.connection.com; NASDAQ: CNXN) is a Fortune 1000 company headquartered in Merrimack, NH. With offices throughout the United States, Connection delivers custom-configured IT solutions from its ISO 9001:2015 SOC 2 Type 2 certified Technology Integration and Distribution Center in Wilmington, OH. In addition, the Company has more than 5,000 professional certifications to ensure that it can solve the most complex issues of its customers. Connection also services international customers through its GlobalServe subsidiary, a global IT procurement and service management company. Investors and media can find more information about Connection at http://ir.connection.com.
Connection Business Solutions (800.800.5555) is a rapid-response provider of IT products and services serving primarily the small- and medium-sized business sector. It offers more than 460,000 brand-name products through its staff of technically trained sales account managers, publications, and its website at www.connection.com.
Connection - Enterprise Solutions (561.237.3300), www.connection.com/enterprise, provides corporate technology buyers with best-in-class IT solutions, in-depth IT supply-chain expertise, and real-time access to over 460,000 products and 1,600 vendors through MarkITplace®, a proprietary next-generation, cloud-based supply chain solution. The team’s engineers, software licensing specialists, and subject matter experts help reduce the cost and complexity of buying hardware, software, and services throughout the entire IT lifecycle.
Connection Public Sector Solutions (800.800.0019), is a rapid-response provider of IT products and services to federal, state, and local government agencies and educational institutions through specialized account managers, publications, and online at www.connection.com/publicsector.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Forward-looking statements notice
This earnings release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or our future financial or operating performance and include statements concerning, among other things, our future financial results, business plans (including statements regarding new products and services we may offer and future expenditures, costs and investments), liabilities, impairment charges, competition and the expected impact of current macroeconomic conditions on our businesses and results of operations. You can generally identify forward-looking statements by words such as “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “may,” “should,” “will,” or similar statements or variations of such terms, although not all forward-looking statements include such terms. These statements reflect our current views and are based on assumptions as of the date of this report. Such assumptions are based upon internal estimates and other analysis of current market conditions and trends, management’s expectations, plans and strategies, economic conditions and other factors. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from expectations or results projected or implied by forward-looking statements.
Such differences may result from actions taken by us, including expense reduction or strategic initiatives (including reductions in force, capital investments and new or expanded product offerings or services), the execution of our business plans (including our inventory management, cost structure and management and other personnel decisions) or other business decisions, as well as from developments beyond our control, including;
- macroeconomic factors facing the global economy, including disruptions in or increased volatility of the capital markets, changes in trade policy, which may include the imposition of tariffs or other trade barriers, economic sanctions and economic slowdowns or recessions, government shutdowns, the impact of conflicts in Iran and the Middle East, changes in tax policy, rising inflation and changing interest rates modifying our potential for investment income and the timing thereof or reducing the level of investment our customers are willing to make in IT products;
- supply constraints, such as the global memory (DRAM and NAND) shortage;
- substantial competition reducing our market share;
- significant price competition reducing our profit margins;
- the loss of any of our major vendors adversely affecting the number or type of products we may offer;
- virtualization of information technology resources and applications, including networks, servers, applications, and data storage disrupting or altering our traditional distribution models;
- service interruptions at third party shippers negatively impacting our ability to deliver the products we offer to our customers;
- increases in shipping and postage costs reducing our margins and adversely affecting our results of operations;
- loss of key persons or the inability to attract, train and retain qualified personnel adversely affecting our ability to operate our business; and
- cyberattacks or the failure to safeguard personal information and our IT systems resulting in liability and harm to our reputation.
Additional factors include those described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, including under the captions “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and “Business,” in our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, including under the captions “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and in the other subsequent filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time.
A forward-looking statement is neither a prediction nor a guarantee of future events or circumstances. You should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements included in this release. We assume no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated, to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the statements are made except as required by law.
CONSOLIDATED SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
| At or for the Three Months Ended March 31, |
|---|
| 2026 | 2025 | % Change |
|---|
| Operating Data: | | | | | |
| Net sales (in thousands) | $721,866 | | $701,046 | | 3% |
| Diluted earnings per share | $0.68 | | $0.51 | | 33% |
| Gross margin | 18.4% | | 18.2% | | |
| Operating margin | 2.8% | | 2.1% | | |
| Inventory turns | 15 | | 18 | | |
| Days sales outstanding | 77 | | 72 | | |
| % of | | % of | | |
| Product Mix: | Net Sales | | Net Sales | | |
| Notebooks/Mobility | 37% | | 37% | | |
| Desktops | 12 | | 13 | | |
| Accessories | 11 | | 11 | | |
| Software | 11 | | 11 | | |
| Displays and Sound | 8 | | 7 | | |
| Net/Com Products | 7 | | 7 | | |
| Servers/Storage | 6 | | 7 | | |
| Other Hardware/Services | 8 | | 7 | | |
| Total Net Sales | 100% | | 100% | | |
| Stock Performance Indicators: | | | | | |
| Actual shares outstanding (in thousands) | 25,220 | | 25,628 | | |
| Closing price | $58.46 | | $62.42 | | |
| Market capitalization (in thousands) | $1,474,361 | | $1,599,700 | | |
| Trailing price/earnings ratio | 17.0 | | 18.9 | | |
| LTM Net Income (in thousands) | $87,464 | | $87,422 | | |
| LTM Adjusted EBITDA (in thousands) | $132,303 | | $123,092 | | |
- Represents the annualized cost of goods sold for the period divided by the average inventory for the prior four-month period.
- Represents the trade receivable at the end of the period divided by average daily net sales for the same three-month period.
- LTM Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure defined as EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) adjusted for stock-based compensation, severance expenses and non-routine legal settlements for the last twelve months. See page 8 for a reconciliation.
REVENUE AND MARGIN INFORMATION
| For the Three Months Ended March 31, |
|---|
| 2026 | 2025 |
|---|
| Net | Gross | Net | Gross |
|---|
| (amounts in thousands) | Sales | Margin | Sales | Margin |
| Enterprise Solutions | $346,471 | 14.5% | | $298,003 | 14.2% | |
| Business Solutions | 275,562 | 24.5 | | 258,385 | 25.3 | |
| Public Sector Solutions | 99,833 | 15.0 | | 144,658 | 13.6 | |
| Total | $721,866 | 18.4% | | $701,046 | 18.2% | |
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
| Three Months Ended March 31, |
|---|
| (amounts in thousands, except per share data) | 2026 | 2025 |
| Net sales | $721,866 | $701,046 |
| Cost of sales | 589,129 | 573,735 |
| Gross profit | 132,737 | 127,311 |
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 109,452 | 109,859 |
| Severance expenses | 3,060 | 2,930 |
| Income from operations | 20,225 | 14,522 |
| Interest income, net | 3,363 | 3,900 |
| Other income | - | 76 |
| Income tax provision | (6,365) | (5,017) |
| Net income | $17,223 | $13,481 |
| Earnings per common share: | | |
| Basic | $0.68 | $0.52 |
| Diluted | $0.68 | $0.51 |
| Shares used in the computation of earnings per common share: | | |
| Basic | 25,201 | 26,076 |
| Diluted | 25,281 | 26,218 |
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
| March 31, | December 31, |
|---|
| (amounts in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 |
| ASSETS | | |
| Current Assets: | | |
| Cash and cash equivalents | $196,259 | $193,221 |
| Short-term investments | 215,189 | 213,457 |
| Accounts receivable, net | 661,481 | 648,020 |
| Inventories, net | 194,294 | 143,567 |
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 23,382 | 22,607 |
| Total current assets | 1,290,605 | 1,220,872 |
| Property and equipment, net | 46,547 | 46,912 |
| Right-of-use assets, net | 7,173 | 1,569 |
| Goodwill | 73,602 | 73,602 |
| Intangibles, net | 684 | 989 |
| Other assets | 6,407 | 6,981 |
| Total Assets | $1,425,018 | $1,350,925 |
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | | |
| Current Liabilities: | | |
| Accounts payable | $396,481 | $338,202 |
| Accrued payroll | 28,142 | 30,939 |
| Accrued expenses and other liabilities | 52,582 | 51,251 |
| Total current liabilities | 477,205 | 420,392 |
| Deferred income taxes | 19,695 | 19,905 |
| Operating lease liability | 6,426 | 498 |
| Total Liabilities | 503,326 | 440,795 |
| Stockholders’ Equity: | | |
| Common stock | 296 | 295 |
| Additional paid-in capital | 146,575 | 144,608 |
| Retained earnings | 918,073 | 905,890 |
| Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income | (88) | 78 |
| Treasury stock at cost | (143,164) | (140,741) |
| Total Stockholders’ Equity | 921,692 | 910,130 |
| Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity | $1,425,018 | $1,350,925 |
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
| Three Months Ended March 31, |
|---|
| (amounts in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 |
| Cash Flows provided by (used in) Operating Activities: | | |
| Net income | $17,223 | $13,481 |
| Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: | | |
| Depreciation and amortization | 2,797 | 3,099 |
| Adjustments to credit losses reserve | 239 | 395 |
| Stock-based compensation expense | 2,639 | 2,208 |
| Deferred income taxes | (166) | - |
| Amortization of discount on short-term investments, net | (889) | (45) |
| Gain on sale of short-term investments | - | (76) |
| Loss on disposal of fixed assets | 50 | 16 |
| Changes in assets and liabilities: | | |
| Accounts receivable | (13,700) | 7,054 |
| Inventories | (50,727) | (56,738) |
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | (775) | (2,668) |
| Other non-current assets | 574 | 84 |
| Accounts payable | 58,086 | (26,958) |
| Accrued expenses and other liabilities | (1,084) | 7,761 |
| Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | 14,267 | (52,387) |
| Cash Flows (used in) provided by Investing Activities: | | |
| Purchases of short-term investments | (54,270) | (52,358) |
| Proceeds from sale of short-term investments | - | 108,763 |
| Maturities of short-term investments | 53,217 | 50,000 |
| Purchases of property and equipment | (1,984) | (1,711) |
| Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities | (3,037) | 104,694 |
| Cash Flows used in Financing Activities: | | |
| Proceeds from short-term borrowings | - | 732 |
| Repayment of short-term borrowings | - | (732) |
| Purchase of common stock for treasury shares | (2,481) | (43,739) |
| Dividend payments | (5,040) | (3,910) |
| Payment of payroll taxes on stock-based compensation through shares withheld | (671) | (519) |
| Net cash used in financing activities | (8,192) | (48,168) |
| Increase in cash and cash equivalents | 3,038 | 4,139 |
| Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | 193,221 | 178,318 |
| Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | $196,259 | $182,457 |
| Non-cash Investing and Financing Activities: | | |
| Accrued purchases of property and equipment | $278 | $437 |
| Accrued purchase of treasury shares | $ - | $1,027 |
| Accrued excise tax on treasury purchases | $678 | $432 |
EBITDA AND ADJUSTED EBITDA
A reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income is detailed below. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA (defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) adjusted for stock-based compensation, severance expenses and non-routine legal settlements. Both EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are considered non-GAAP financial measures. Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company’s performance, financial position, or cash flows that either includes or excludes amounts that are not normally included or excluded in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. We believe that EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA provide helpful information with respect to our operating performance including our ability to fund our future capital expenditures and working capital requirements. Adjusted EBITDA also provides helpful information as it is the primary measure used in certain financial covenants contained in our credit agreement. When analyzing our operating performance, investors should use EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA in addition to, and not as alternatives for Net income or any other performance measure presented in accordance with GAAP. Our non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies.
| Three Months Ended March 31, | LTM Ended March 31, |
|---|
| (amounts in thousands) | 2026 | 2025 | % Change | 2026 | 2025 | % Change |
| Net income | $17,223 | $13,481 | 28% | $87,464 | $87,422 | 0% |
| Depreciation and amortization | 2,797 | 3,099 | (10) | 11,401 | 12,817 | (11) |
| Income tax expense | 6,365 | 5,017 | 27 | 31,354 | 30,532 | 3 |
| Interest income | (3,364) | (3,904) | (14) | (13,911) | (18,227) | (24) |
| Interest expense | 1 | 4 | (75) | 78 | 169 | (54) |
| EBITDA | 23,022 | 17,697 | 30 | 116,386 | 112,713 | 3 |
| Severance expenses | 3,060 | 2,930 | 4 | 6,143 | 3,345 | 84 |
| Legal settlement | - | - | - | - | (1,700) | (100) |
| Stock-based compensation | 2,639 | 2,208 | 20 | 9,774 | 8,734 | 12 |
| Adjusted EBITDA | $28,721 | $22,835 | 26% | $132,303 | $123,092 | 7% |
- LTM: Last twelve months
- Severance expenses and other charges in 2026 consisted of voluntary retirement offering and internal restructuring activities and in 2025 consisted of internal restructuring activities.
- The Company recorded $1.7 million of other income as a result of a legal settlement received.
ADJUSTED NET INCOME AND ADJUSTED DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE
A reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income to Net Income is detailed below. Adjusted Net Income is defined as Net Income plus severance expenses, net of tax plus or minus loss or income from non-routine legal settlements. A reconciliation of Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share to Diluted Earnings per Share is detailed below. Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share is defined as diluted earnings per share adjusted for severance expenses, net of tax. Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share are considered non-GAAP financial measures (see note above in EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA for a description of non-GAAP financial measures). The Company believes that Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share provide helpful information with respect to the Company's operating performance. When analyzing our operating performance, investors should use Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share in addition to, and not as alternatives for Net income and Diluted Earnings per Share or any other performance measure presented in accordance with GAAP. Our non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies.
| Three Months Ended March 31, |
|---|
| (amounts in thousands, except per share data) | 2026 | 2025 | % Change |
| Net income | $17,223 | $13,481 | 28% |
| Severance expenses | 3,060 | 2,930 | 4 |
| Tax benefit | (826) | (795) | 4 |
| Adjusted Net Income | 19,457 | 15,616 | 25 |
| Diluted shares | 25,281 | 26,218 | |
| Diluted Earnings per Share | $0.68 | $0.51 | 33% |
| Adjusted Diluted Earnings per Share | $0.77 | $0.60 | 28% |
- Severance expenses and other charges in 2026 consisted of voluntary retirement offering and internal restructuring activities and in 2025 consisted of internal restructuring activities.
Contacts
Investor Relations Contact:Thomas Baker, 603.683.2505Senior Vice President, CFO, and Treasurertom@connection.com