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Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 4 December 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 3 raised, 3 new, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue up 14% year on year: Net revenue was $9.7 billion, up 14% from the prior-year period in actual dollars and in constant currency. Source
  • ARR up 63% to $3.2 billion: Annualized revenue run-rate, which tracks Consumption Services offerings, was $3.2 billion, up 63% in actual dollars and 62% in constant currency. Source
  • Non-GAAP EPS above estimated range: Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $0.62, up $0.04 from the prior-year period and above the $0.56 to $0.60 range it had estimated. Source
  • Networking revenue up 150%: Networking revenue was $2.8 billion, up 150% from the prior-year period, with a 23% operating profit margin compared with 24.4% a year earlier. Source
  • GAAP gross margin up 270 basis points: GAAP gross margin was 33.5%, up 270 basis points year on year and 430 basis points from the prior quarter. Source
  • Non-GAAP gross margin 36.4%: Non-GAAP gross margin was 36.4%, up 550 basis points year on year and 650 basis points sequentially. Source
  • Fiscal 2026 revenue growth reaffirmed: Fiscal 2026 revenue growth is reaffirmed at 17% to 22%, as previously given at the Securities Analyst Meeting. Source
  • Fiscal 2026 EPS ranges raised: GAAP diluted EPS is now $0.62 to $0.82 and non-GAAP diluted EPS $2.25 to $2.45, both raised. Source

“HPE finished a transformative year with a strong fourth quarter of profitable growth and disciplined execution”

Antonio Neri, president and CEO of HPE

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue growth SourceFiscal 2026 full year17% to 22%Kept
Non-GAAP operating profit growth SourceFiscal 2026 full year32% to 40%
GAAP operating profit growth SourceFiscal 2026 full year455% to 520%
GAAP diluted net EPS SourceFiscal 2026 full year$0.62 to $0.82Raised
Non-GAAP diluted net EPS SourceFiscal 2026 full year$2.25 to $2.45Raised
Free cash flow SourceFiscal 2026 full year$1.7 billion to $2 billionRaised
Non-GAAP operating profit exclusions SourceFiscal 2026 full yearapproximately $2.9 billion
Revenue SourceFiscal 2026 first quarter$9 billion to $9.4 billionNew
GAAP diluted net EPS SourceFiscal 2026 first quarter$0.09 to $0.13New
Non-GAAP diluted net EPS SourceFiscal 2026 first quarter$0.57 to $0.61New
Non-GAAP EPS exclusions SourceFiscal 2026 first quarterapproximately $0.48 per diluted share
Non-GAAP EPS exclusions SourceFiscal 2026 full yearapproximately $1.63 per diluted share

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Fiscal 2026 GAAP diluted net EPS range raised to $0.62 to $0.82. Source
  • Guidance raised: Fiscal 2026 non-GAAP diluted net EPS range raised to $2.25 to $2.45. Source
  • Guidance raised: Midpoint of the fiscal 2026 free cash flow range raised; range now $1.7 billion to $2 billion. Source
  • New guidance: First-quarter fiscal 2026 revenue and EPS estimates given for the first time in this release. Source
  • Guidance kept: Fiscal 2026 revenue growth range of 17% to 22% reaffirmed. Source
  • New: Juniper Networks acquisition completed during the fiscal year. Source
  • New: The prior release said Server, Hybrid Cloud and Financial Services would merge into a Cloud & AI segment, effective fiscal 2026.

Fourth quarter results

  • Revenue up 14% year on year: Net revenue was $9.7 billion, up 14% from the prior-year period in actual dollars and in constant currency. Source
  • ARR up 63% to $3.2 billion: Annualized revenue run-rate, which tracks Consumption Services offerings, was $3.2 billion, up 63% in actual dollars and 62% in constant currency. Source
  • GAAP diluted EPS was $0.11: GAAP diluted net EPS was $0.11, down $0.88 from the prior-year period. Source
  • Non-GAAP EPS above estimated range: Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $0.62, up $0.04 from the prior-year period and above the $0.56 to $0.60 range it had estimated. Source

Segment revenue and margins

  • Networking revenue up 150%: Networking revenue was $2.8 billion, up 150% from the prior-year period, with a 23% operating profit margin compared with 24.4% a year earlier. Source
  • Server revenue down 5%: Server revenue was $4.5 billion, down 5%, with a 9.8% operating profit margin compared with 11.6% a year earlier. Source
  • Hybrid Cloud revenue down 12%: Hybrid Cloud revenue was $1.4 billion, down 12%, with a 5% operating profit margin compared with 7.8% a year earlier. Source
  • Financial Services revenue flat: Financial Services revenue was $889 million, flat year on year, with an 11.5% operating profit margin compared with 9.2% a year earlier. Source

“HPE continued to drive operational discipline in Q4, resulting in record gross profit and robust non-GAAP operating profit as well as free cash flow generation that exceeded our outlook”

Marie Myers, executive vice president and CFO of HPE

Gross margin and operating costs

  • GAAP gross margin up 270 basis points: GAAP gross margin was 33.5%, up 270 basis points year on year and 430 basis points from the prior quarter. Source
  • Non-GAAP gross margin 36.4%: Non-GAAP gross margin was 36.4%, up 550 basis points year on year and 650 basis points sequentially. Source
  • Non-GAAP operating profit rose: Non-GAAP operating profit was $1,183 million, a 12.2% margin, against $938 million and 11.1% a year earlier; GAAP result was a loss of $8 million. Source
  • Amortization and impairment charges rose: Amortization of intangible assets was $310 million, against $69 million a year earlier, and impairment charges were $260 million in the quarter. Source
  • Research and development spending rose: Research and development was $881 million and selling, general and administrative was $1,642 million, against $527 million and $1,211 million a year earlier. Source

Cash flow and capital returns

  • Free cash flow $1.9 billion: Free cash flow was $1.9 billion, up $420 million from the prior-year period, against cash flow from operations of $2.5 billion. Source
  • Full-year operating cash flow lower: Full-year operating cash flow was $2,919 million, against $4,341 million in fiscal 2024. Source
  • Capital returned $271 million: Capital returned to common shareholders in the quarter was $271 million, in dividends and share repurchases. Source
  • Quarterly dividend of $0.1425: The board declared a regular cash dividend of $0.1425 per share, payable on or about January 16, 2026. Source

“Our focus on disciplined spending, portfolio simplification, and ongoing structural cost management initiatives gives us the confidence to raise our FY26 diluted net earnings per share guidance”

Marie Myers, executive vice president and CFO of HPE

Fiscal 2026 guidance

  • First-quarter revenue estimate set: First-quarter fiscal 2026 revenue is estimated at $9 billion to $9.4 billion, with non-GAAP diluted EPS of $0.57 to $0.61. Source
  • Fiscal 2026 revenue growth reaffirmed: Fiscal 2026 revenue growth is reaffirmed at 17% to 22%, as previously given at the Securities Analyst Meeting. Source
  • Fiscal 2026 EPS ranges raised: GAAP diluted EPS is now $0.62 to $0.82 and non-GAAP diluted EPS $2.25 to $2.45, both raised. Source
  • Free cash flow midpoint raised: Free cash flow is now expected at $1.7 billion to $2 billion, with the midpoint raised. Source
  • Non-GAAP adjustments excluded from EPS: Fiscal 2026 non-GAAP diluted EPS excludes about $1.63 per share of after-tax adjustments, mainly amortization and stock-based compensation. Source

Juniper integration and cost actions

  • Juniper acquisition completed: Management said the company completed the Juniper Networks acquisition during the year and further scaled its AI and Cloud businesses. Source
  • Segment realignment planned for fiscal 2026: The prior release said Server, Hybrid Cloud and Financial Services would merge into a Cloud & AI segment from fiscal 2026.
  • Cost actions cited for EPS raise: The CFO linked the raised fiscal 2026 EPS guidance to spending discipline, portfolio simplification and structural cost management initiatives. Source
  • H3C severance and $120 million savings: Severance tied to the H3C divestiture is excluded from non-GAAP results; the company expects about $120 million of annualized cost savings after those actions. Source
  • Juniper July contribution in prior release: The prior release said Juniper contributed $480 million of revenue and $76 million of operating profit for July 2025.

Coming up, as management said on 4 December 2025

  • Dividend payment in January 2026: The $0.1425 regular dividend is payable on or about January 16, 2026, to holders of record on December 19, 2025. Source
  • First-quarter fiscal 2026 estimates: Company estimates first-quarter fiscal 2026 non-GAAP diluted EPS of $0.57 to $0.61 and GAAP diluted EPS of $0.09 to $0.13. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Gross margin (GAAP) Source33.5%
Server segment revenue Source$4.5 billion, down 5%
Hybrid Cloud segment revenue Source$1.4 billion, down 12%
Networking segment revenue Source$2.8 billion, up 150%
Financial Services segment revenue Source$889 million, flat

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Non-cash goodwill impairment for the Hybrid Cloud reporting unit and certain fixed assets was recorded in fiscal 2025 and excluded from non-GAAP results. Source
  • Operational: Hybrid Cloud operating profit margin was 5% in the quarter, down from 7.8% a year earlier. Source
  • Demand: Server revenue declined 5% year on year, with operating profit margin down to 9.8% from 11.6%. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management reaffirmed the fiscal 2026 revenue growth range it gave earlier. 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.