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HP Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 26 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 raised, 4 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue up 12.5%, record third quarter: Net revenue was $15.7 billion, up 12.5% and up 10.9% in constant currency. Management called it record third-quarter revenue. Source
  • Tariff refunds added $0.11 per share: Both GAAP and non-GAAP diluted EPS included an $0.11 favorable impact from tariff refunds. Source
  • Personal Systems revenue up 18%: Personal Systems revenue reached $11.8 billion, with Commercial PS up 22% and Consumer PS up 10%. Source
  • Personal Systems units fell 16%: Personal Systems units fell 16% while revenue rose 18%. Consumer units fell 19% and commercial units fell 14%. Source
  • Non-GAAP margin down year over year: Non-GAAP operating margin was 6.5%, down from 7.1% a year earlier and 7.5% in the second quarter. Source
  • Free cash flow of $1.6 billion: Free cash flow was $1.6 billion, against $1.47 billion a year earlier. Source

“The strong foundation we are building as a trusted edge platform positions us well to lead as AI evolves and allows us to help customers improve their AI economics, security, latency and governance.”

Bruce Broussard, Interim CEO, HP Inc.

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
GAAP diluted net EPS Sourcefiscal 2026 fourth quarter$0.74 to $0.84New
Non-GAAP diluted net EPS Sourcefiscal 2026 fourth quarter$0.69 to $0.79New
Non-GAAP adjustments Sourcefiscal 2026 fourth quarter$(0.05) per diluted shareNew
GAAP diluted net EPS Sourcefiscal 2026$2.52 to $2.62Raised from $2.15 to $2.45
Non-GAAP diluted net EPS Sourcefiscal 2026$3.19 to $3.29Raised from $2.90 to $3.10
Tariff refunds in EPS estimates Sourcefiscal 2026$0.19 favorable impactNew
Non-GAAP adjustments Sourcefiscal 2026$0.67 per diluted share
Free cash flow Sourcefiscal 2026$3.0 to $3.2 billionRaised from $2.8 to $3.0 billion

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Full-year GAAP diluted EPS estimate raised to $2.52 to $2.62 from $2.15 to $2.45. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year non-GAAP diluted EPS estimate raised to $3.19 to $3.29 from $2.90 to $3.10. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year free cash flow estimate raised to $3.0 to $3.2 billion from $2.8 to $3.0 billion. Source
  • New guidance: First fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 EPS estimates given, with GAAP diluted EPS of $0.74 to $0.84. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue up 12.5%, record third quarter: Net revenue was $15.7 billion, up 12.5% and up 10.9% in constant currency. Management called it record third-quarter revenue. Source
  • GAAP EPS below prior-year level: GAAP diluted EPS was $0.71 against $0.80. The company tied the decline partly to one-time tax and litigation benefits in the prior-year period. Source
  • Non-GAAP EPS up 10.7%: Non-GAAP diluted EPS was $0.83 against $0.75 a year earlier, up 10.7%. Source
  • Tariff refunds added $0.11 per share: Both GAAP and non-GAAP diluted EPS included an $0.11 favorable impact from tariff refunds. Source

Segments and business units

  • Personal Systems revenue up 18%: Personal Systems revenue reached $11.8 billion, with Commercial PS up 22% and Consumer PS up 10%. Source
  • Printing revenue down 2%: Printing revenue was $3.9 billion, down 2%, and its operating margin was 18.1%, up 1.1 points from a year earlier. Source
  • Printing sub-units declined: Consumer Printing revenue fell 2% and Commercial Printing fell 1%. Supplies revenue fell 3%. Source

“We delivered another strong quarter, with record third quarter revenue, EPS above the top of our guidance range, and are raising our guidance for FY26,”

Karen Parkhill, CFO, HP Inc.

Products, units and customers

  • Personal Systems units fell 16%: Personal Systems units fell 16% while revenue rose 18%. Consumer units fell 19% and commercial units fell 14%. Source
  • Printing hardware units down 7%: Printing hardware units fell 7%, with Consumer Printing units down 9% and Commercial Printing units down 2%. Source
  • Share gains in premium products: Management said it raised sales and share in premium products and drew new customers through WXP, Print, workstation and AI PC innovations. Source

Costs, margins and charges

  • GAAP operating margin up 0.6 points: GAAP operating margin was 5.7%, against 5.1% a year earlier. Gross profit was $2,945 million. Source
  • Non-GAAP margin down year over year: Non-GAAP operating margin was 6.5%, down from 7.1% a year earlier and 7.5% in the second quarter. Source
  • Restructuring charges fell: Restructuring and other charges were $48 million, against $365 million in the prior quarter and $110 million a year earlier. Source
  • Tax provision and litigation items: Tax provision was $137 million, against a $139 million benefit a year earlier. Certain litigation charges, net were $2 million. Source

Demand and working capital

  • Receivables rose to 41 days: Accounts receivable reached $7.2 billion, up 3 days from the prior quarter to 41 days. Source
  • Inventory flat at 73 days: Inventory was $10.3 billion, flat quarter over quarter at 73 days. Source
  • Payables flat at 151 days: Accounts payable were $21.4 billion, flat quarter over quarter at 151 days. Source

Cash, debt and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow of $1.7 billion: Net cash from operations was $1.7 billion, against $1.66 billion a year earlier. Source
  • Free cash flow of $1.6 billion: Free cash flow was $1.6 billion, against $1.47 billion a year earlier. Source
  • Capital spending of $187 million: Net investments in property, plant, equipment and purchased intangibles were $187 million. Net investment in leases was $20 million. Source
  • Dividend of $0.30 per share: The dividend of $0.30 per share used $274 million of cash in the quarter. Source
  • Share repurchases of $300 million: The company repurchased about 12.2 million shares for $300 million in the quarter. Source
  • Gross cash of $4.2 billion: Gross cash at quarter end was $4.2 billion. Total returns to shareholders in the quarter were $0.6 billion, from repurchases and dividends. Source

Strategy, charges and leadership

  • Memory supply improved: Management linked an ongoing strategy on environmental constraints to better memory supply and higher fulfillment rates. Source
  • AI adoption costs in other charges: Other charges, excluded from non-GAAP results, include costs relating to artificial intelligence adoption and enablement. Source
  • CEO transition costs in other charges: From the second quarter of fiscal 2026, other charges also include CEO transition costs, covering executive hiring and retention. Source

Coming up, as management said on 26 August 2026

  • Annual report to follow: The company said the figures are estimates that could differ from amounts in its 10-K for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Personal Systems units Sourcedown 16%
Consumer PS units Sourcedown 19%
Commercial PS units Sourcedown 14%
Printing hardware units Sourcedown 7%
Personal Systems net revenue Source$11.8 billion, up 18%
Printing net revenue Source$3.9 billion, down 2%
Supplies net revenue Source$2,536 million, down 3%
Personal Systems operating margin Source4.6%
Printing operating margin Source18.1%
Gross profit Source$2,945 million

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Management cited a challenging cost environment and near-term cost pressures that it aims to mitigate while continuing to invest. Source
  • Operational: Memory supply was a constraint that management said it is addressing through an ongoing strategy, with fulfillment rates higher. 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.