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Flex Ltd.: Q1 FY2027 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2027, from the documents filed with the SEC on 29 July 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 raised, 5 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales up 21% year on year: Net sales were $7,928 million against $6,575 million a year earlier, an increase of 21%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS of $1.00 described as record: Adjusted EPS was $1.00 against $0.72 a year earlier. GAAP diluted EPS was $0.76 against $0.50. Source
  • Adjusted operating margin reached 6.7%: Adjusted operating margin was 6.7% against 6.0% a year earlier. The adjusted measure excludes intangible amortization, stock-based compensation, restructuring and legal and other items. Source
  • Free cash flow fell to $41 million: Free cash flow was $41 million against $268 million a year earlier. Operating cash flow was $276 million against $399 million. Source
  • Full-year net sales range raised: The full-year net sales range moved to $33.7 billion to $35.2 billion from $32.3 billion to $33.8 billion. Adjusted EPS range moved to $4.42 to $4.74 from $4.21 to $4.51. Source
  • Second-quarter ranges given: Second-quarter net sales of $7.95 billion to $8.25 billion, adjusted operating income of $535 million to $565 million and adjusted EPS of $1.00 to $1.07. Source
  • Cloud and Power spin-off planned: Full-year guidance does not reflect the planned spin-off of the Cloud and Power Infrastructure segment. The release does not give the timing. Source
  • Investor Day set for November 10: An Investor Day was announced for November 10, 2026, after the quarter's results. Source

“This quarter reflects the continued execution of the strategy we've advanced over the last several years.”

Revathi Advaithi, CEO of Flex

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales Sourcesecond quarter fiscal 2027$7.95 billion to $8.25 billionNew
Adjusted operating income Sourcesecond quarter fiscal 2027$535 million to $565 millionNew
Adjusted EPS Sourcesecond quarter fiscal 2027$1.00 to $1.07New
Interest and other; adjusted income tax rate Sourcesecond quarter fiscal 2027Interest & Other approximately $58 million; tax rate 21%New
Weighted average shares outstanding Sourcesecond quarter fiscal 2027approximately 375 millionNew
Net sales Sourcefull fiscal year 2027$33.7 billion to $35.2 billionRaised from $32.3 billion to $33.8 billion
Adjusted operating margin Sourcefull fiscal year 20277.0% to 7.2%Raised from 7.0% to 7.1%
Adjusted EPS Sourcefull fiscal year 2027$4.42 to $4.74Raised from $4.21 to $4.51
Adjusted income tax ratefull fiscal year 202721%Kept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year net sales, adjusted operating margin and adjusted EPS ranges were raised from the May release. The updated ranges are shown beside the prior ones. Source
  • New guidance: Second-quarter guidance was given for net sales, adjusted operating income, adjusted EPS, interest and other, tax rate and share count. Source
  • New: An Investor Day date was announced for November 10, 2026. Source
  • New: The company recognized a $46 million gain on the divestiture of a subsidiary in the quarter, excluded from adjusted results. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net sales up 21% year on year: Net sales were $7,928 million against $6,575 million a year earlier, an increase of 21%. Source
  • Adjusted EPS of $1.00 described as record: Adjusted EPS was $1.00 against $0.72 a year earlier. GAAP diluted EPS was $0.76 against $0.50. Source
  • GAAP operating income rose to $392 million: GAAP operating income was $392 million against $311 million, with GAAP operating margin of 4.9% against 4.7%. Source
  • Diluted share count lower: Diluted shares used in the per-share calculation were 374 million against 381 million a year earlier. Source

Costs, margins and one-off items

  • Adjusted operating margin reached 6.7%: Adjusted operating margin was 6.7% against 6.0% a year earlier. The adjusted measure excludes intangible amortization, stock-based compensation, restructuring and legal and other items. Source
  • Spin-off costs in legal and other: Legal and other adjustments were $67 million, including about $53 million tied to the spin-off and $14 million of acquisition costs. The year-earlier figure was $6 million. Source
  • Restructuring charges fell to $1 million: Restructuring charges were $1 million against about $23 million a year earlier, mostly employee severance. Stock-based compensation rose to $51 million from $34 million. Source
  • Non-GAAP tax provision higher: The non-GAAP provision for income taxes was $99 million against $73 million. A $7 million net tax benefit from adjustments was recognized in the quarter. Source

“Looking ahead, we're confident both Flex and SpinCo have the leadership, capabilities, and focus”

Revathi Advaithi, CEO of Flex

Cash flow and working capital

  • Free cash flow fell to $41 million: Free cash flow was $41 million against $268 million a year earlier. Operating cash flow was $276 million against $399 million. Source
  • Separation costs reduced free cash flow: Free cash flow was reduced by $24 million of separation costs tied to the spin-off of the Cloud & Power Infrastructure segment. Source
  • Working capital absorbed cash: Changes in working capital and other used $149 million, against $65 million provided a year earlier. Inventories rose to $6,453 million from $5,845 million. Source
  • Capital spending rose to $236 million: Purchases of property and equipment were $236 million against $133 million a year earlier, net of small disposal proceeds. Source

Balance sheet and capital

  • Borrowings lifted long-term debt: Long-term debt, net of current portion, was $5,219 million against $3,751 million at March 31, after $2,830 million of new borrowing proceeds in the quarter. Source
  • Acquisitions used $1.1 billion: Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired, used $1,134 million, partly offset by $90 million of proceeds from divestitures. Source
  • No share repurchases in quarter: The cash flow statement shows no repurchases of ordinary shares in the quarter, against $247 million a year earlier. Cash and equivalents rose to $2,840 million. Source

Second quarter and full-year guidance

  • Full-year net sales range raised: The full-year net sales range moved to $33.7 billion to $35.2 billion from $32.3 billion to $33.8 billion. Adjusted EPS range moved to $4.42 to $4.74 from $4.21 to $4.51. Source
  • Second-quarter ranges given: Second-quarter net sales of $7.95 billion to $8.25 billion, adjusted operating income of $535 million to $565 million and adjusted EPS of $1.00 to $1.07. Source
  • Full-year margin range top raised: The full-year adjusted operating margin range is 7.0% to 7.2%, against 7.0% to 7.1% in the May release. Source
  • Interest, tax and share assumptions set: Second-quarter interest and other is approximately $58 million, the adjusted tax rate is 21%, and weighted average shares are about 375 million. Source

Strategy, spin-off and portfolio

  • Cloud and Power spin-off planned: Full-year guidance does not reflect the planned spin-off of the Cloud and Power Infrastructure segment. The release does not give the timing. Source
  • AI infrastructure role described: The company description in the release says Flex helps customers accelerate data center deployment with power, cooling and IT infrastructure solutions. Source
  • Divestiture gain in other income: A $46 million gain was recognized on the divestiture of a subsidiary, excluded from adjusted results. Divestiture proceeds were $90 million. Source
  • Investment losses narrowed: Equity in losses of unconsolidated affiliates was $5 million against $20 million a year earlier. Other charges were income of $37 million against a charge of $7 million. Source

Leadership and investor communications

  • CEO frames quarter as execution: The CEO said the quarter reflects continued execution of a strategy advanced over several years. Source
  • Investor Day set for November 10: An Investor Day was announced for November 10, 2026, after the quarter's results. Source
  • Results call and webcast scheduled: The management team hosted a call on July 29, 2026 at 7:30 AM CT, with a live webcast, slides and a later transcript. Source

Coming up, as management said on 29 July 2026

  • Investor Day on November 10: Investor Day is scheduled for November 10, 2026, as announced in the release. Source
  • Spin-off still planned, timing not stated: The planned spin-off is excluded from full-year guidance. The release gives no completion date. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Separation costs for the spin-off reduced free cash flow by $24 million in the quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: The CEO says the quarter reflects continued execution of a strategy advanced over several years. 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.