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Dell Technologies Inc.: Q1 FY2027 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2027, from the documents filed with the SEC on 28 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 6 raised, 3 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 88% to $43.8 billion: Net revenue was $43.8 billion, up 88% from $23.4 billion. Operating income was $3.7 billion, up 214%, from $1.2 billion. Source
  • GAAP EPS includes equity investment gain: GAAP diluted EPS was $5.24 and non-GAAP diluted EPS was $4.86. GAAP net income includes a $631 million fair value gain on equity investments that non-GAAP excludes. Source
  • ISG revenue rose 181%: ISG revenue was $29.0 billion, up 181%, and was the larger of the two reported segments this quarter. Source
  • AI-optimized server revenue rose 757%: AI-optimized servers were $16.1 billion, up 757% from $1.9 billion, and were the largest product line within ISG. Source
  • Gross margin rate declined to 17.8%: Gross margin was 17.8% of net revenue against 21.1% a year earlier. Non-GAAP gross margin was 18.1% against 21.6%. Source
  • AI orders booked totaled $24.4 billion: AI orders booked in the quarter were $24.4 billion, as management stated. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose 46%: Cash from operations was $4.1 billion, up 46%. Free cash flow was $3.1 billion, up 40%, and adjusted free cash flow was $3.2 billion, up 42%. Source

“Our record Q1 performance reflects strong in-quarter demand, as well as our pace of innovation across the full stack of PCs, compute and storage,”

Jeff Clarke, vice chairman and chief operating officer, Dell Technologies

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue SourceSecond quarter fiscal 2027 (three months ending July 31, 2026)$44.0 billion to $45.0 billion; midpoint $44.5 billionNew
GAAP diluted EPS SourceSecond quarter fiscal 2027$4.48 at midpointNew
Non-GAAP diluted EPS SourceSecond quarter fiscal 2027$4.80 at midpointNew
Revenue SourceFull-year fiscal 2027 (ending January 29, 2027)$165.0 billion to $169.0 billion; midpoint $167.0 billionRaised from $138.0 billion to $142.0 billion; midpoint $140.0 billion
AI-optimized servers revenue SourceFull-year fiscal 2027roughly $60 billionRaised from roughly $50 billion
GAAP diluted EPS SourceFull-year fiscal 2027$17.31 at midpointRaised from $11.52 at midpoint
Non-GAAP diluted EPS SourceFull-year fiscal 2027$17.90 at midpointRaised from $12.90 at midpoint
Stock-based compensation per share SourceFull-year fiscal 2027$1.16Raised from $1.10
Amortization of intangibles per share SourceFull-year fiscal 2027$0.59Kept
Aggregate income tax reconciliation adjustment SourceFull-year fiscal 2027approximately $0.4 billionRaised from approximately $0.2 billion

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Second-quarter fiscal 2027 revenue guidance is included; the February release gave first-quarter guidance only. Source
  • New guidance: Second-quarter GAAP diluted EPS guidance of $4.48 at the midpoint is included for the first time in this release set. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year revenue midpoint raised to $167.0 billion from $140.0 billion. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year AI-optimized servers revenue raised to roughly $60 billion from roughly $50 billion. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year GAAP diluted EPS midpoint raised to $17.31 from $11.52. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year non-GAAP diluted EPS midpoint raised to $17.90 from $12.90. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 88% to $43.8 billion: Net revenue was $43.8 billion, up 88% from $23.4 billion. Operating income was $3.7 billion, up 214%, from $1.2 billion. Source
  • GAAP EPS includes equity investment gain: GAAP diluted EPS was $5.24 and non-GAAP diluted EPS was $4.86. GAAP net income includes a $631 million fair value gain on equity investments that non-GAAP excludes. Source
  • February release gave first-quarter revenue range: The February release expected first-quarter revenue between $34.7 billion and $35.7 billion, with a midpoint of $35.2 billion.

Segment results

  • ISG revenue rose 181%: ISG revenue was $29.0 billion, up 181%, and was the larger of the two reported segments this quarter. Source
  • ISG operating income rose 206%: ISG operating income was $3.1 billion, 10.5% of ISG revenue against 9.7%. ISG was 72% of reportable segment operating income, against 60%. Source
  • CSG revenue rose 17%: CSG operating income was $1.2 billion, up 79%, at 8.0% of CSG revenue against 5.2%. CSG was 28% of reportable segment operating income, against 40%. Source

“We entered FY27 with clear momentum, raising our full-year revenue outlook to $167 billion at the midpoint, up nearly 50% year over year.”

David Kennedy, chief financial officer, Dell Technologies

Products and customers

  • AI-optimized server revenue rose 757%: AI-optimized servers were $16.1 billion, up 757% from $1.9 billion, and were the largest product line within ISG. Source
  • Traditional servers and networking rose 92%: Traditional servers and networking revenue was $8.5 billion, up 92% from $4.4 billion a year earlier. Source
  • Storage revenue rose 8%: Storage revenue was $4.3 billion, up 8% from $4.0 billion a year earlier. Source
  • Commercial client revenue rose 18%: Commercial client revenue was $13.0 billion, up 18%. Consumer revenue was $1.6 billion, up 9%. Source

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross margin rate declined to 17.8%: Gross margin was 17.8% of net revenue against 21.1% a year earlier. Non-GAAP gross margin was 18.1% against 21.6%. Source
  • Operating expenses rose 9%: Operating expenses rose 9% to $4.1 billion, or 9.5% of revenue against 16.1%. Research and development rose 22% to $983 million. Source
  • Income tax rate rose to 12.9%: Income tax expense was $510 million against $118 million, a 12.9% rate against 10.9%. Source
  • Execution credited across supply chain and pricing: David Kennedy attributed the revenue result to execution across supply chain, sales and pricing. Source

“We’re increasing our AI server revenue expectations for FY27 to $60 billion, which only goes to show the AI opportunity shows no signs of slowing.”

Jeff Clarke, vice chairman and chief operating officer, Dell Technologies

Demand and order book

  • AI orders booked totaled $24.4 billion: AI orders booked in the quarter were $24.4 billion, as management stated. Source
  • February backlog figure of $43 billion: The February release gave backlog of $43 billion entering FY27. This release does not state a backlog figure.

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow rose 46%: Cash from operations was $4.1 billion, up 46%. Free cash flow was $3.1 billion, up 40%, and adjusted free cash flow was $3.2 billion, up 42%. Source
  • Shareholder returns reached $2.1 billion: Share repurchases were $1.6 billion and dividends were $464 million. Repurchases for employee tax withholding were $537 million. Source
  • Diluted weighted share count fell 7%: Diluted weighted average shares were 656 million, against 702 million a year earlier. Source
  • February dividend and buyback increases: The February release announced a 20% dividend increase and a $10 billion increase in the share repurchase authorization. This release does not restate them.

Balance sheet and working capital

  • Inventories rose to $15.1 billion: Inventories were $15.1 billion at May 1, 2026, against $10.4 billion at January 30, 2026. Source
  • Receivables and payables rose: Accounts receivable were $25.9 billion, against $17.6 billion; accounts payable were $45.3 billion, against $33.6 billion. Source
  • Stockholders' equity deficit narrowed: Total stockholders' equity was a deficit of $1.4 billion, against $2.5 billion at January 30, 2026. Source
  • Cash and equivalents edged up: Cash and cash equivalents were $11.6 billion, against $11.5 billion at January 30, 2026. Source
  • Debt balances changed modestly: Short-term debt was $7.6 billion, against $8.0 billion, and long-term debt was $23.6 billion, against $23.5 billion. Source

Coming up, as management said on 28 May 2026

  • Potential acquisitions not in amortization estimate: The amortization estimate covers acquisitions completed as of May 1, 2026, and excludes potential acquisitions during fiscal 2027. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
ISG net revenue Source$29,009 million
CSG net revenue Source$14,609 million
AI-optimized servers revenue Source$16,132 million
Traditional servers and networking revenue Source$8,543 million
Storage revenue Source$4,334 million
Commercial client revenue Source$13,020 million
Consumer revenue Source$1,589 million
Gross margin (GAAP, % of net revenue) Source17.8%
Non-GAAP gross margin (% of net revenue) Source18.1%
ISG operating margin Source10.5% of ISG net revenue
AI orders booked Source$24.4 billion
Backlog (entering FY27)$43 billion

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: No estimate of fair value adjustments on strategic investments is included in guidance, because gains or losses on those equity investments can be volatile. Source
  • Operational: Guidance includes no estimate for severance expense, which management said cannot be reasonably estimated at this time. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The February release said the company had the portfolio and customer base to exceed long-term growth targets in FY27. This release does not report on that.
  • Not stated: Kennedy referred to raising the full-year revenue expectation from the February release. This release does not give a status 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.