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Keysight Technologies, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 23 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 23 percent: Revenue reached $1.60 billion against $1.30 billion a year earlier, an increase of 23 percent across both reporting segments. Source
  • Non-GAAP earnings per share reached $2.17: Non-GAAP net income was $376 million, or $2.17 per share, against $317 million, or $1.82 per share a year earlier. Source
  • CSG revenue up 27 percent: Communications Solutions Group revenue was $1,124 million, up 27 percent, with commercial communications up 33 percent and aerospace, defense and government up 18 percent. Source
  • EISG revenue up 15 percent: Electronic Industrial Solutions Group revenue was $476 million, up 15 percent, with double-digit growth in automotive and energy, general electronics and semiconductor. Source
  • Orders above revenue: Orders were $1,645 million against $1,263 million a year earlier, and revenue was $1,600 million in the quarter. Source
  • Free cash flow rose to $407 million: Operating cash flow was $441 million against $378 million; capital expenditure was $34 million, giving free cash flow of $407 million against $346 million. Source

“Keysight had a strong start to the fiscal year with outstanding results that exceeded our expectations”

Satish Dhanasekaran, President and CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue SourceSecond quarter of fiscal 2026$1.690 billion to $1.710 billionNew
Revenue growth SourceSecond quarter of fiscal 2026approximately 30% at the mid-pointNew
Non-GAAP diluted EPS SourceSecond quarter of fiscal 2026$2.27 to $2.33New
Diluted share count SourceSecond quarter of fiscal 2026approximately 173 million sharesNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Second-quarter revenue range provided. Source
  • New guidance: Second-quarter non-GAAP EPS range provided. Source
  • Ended: First-quarter revenue range from the prior release has closed, and first-quarter results are now reported.

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 23 percent: Revenue reached $1.60 billion against $1.30 billion a year earlier, an increase of 23 percent across both reporting segments. Source
  • GAAP earnings per share rose: GAAP net income was $281 million, or $1.63 diluted per share, against $169 million, or $0.97 per share, a year earlier. Source
  • Non-GAAP earnings per share reached $2.17: Non-GAAP net income was $376 million, or $2.17 per share, against $317 million, or $1.82 per share a year earlier. Source

Segments and end markets

  • CSG revenue up 27 percent: Communications Solutions Group revenue was $1,124 million, up 27 percent, with commercial communications up 33 percent and aerospace, defense and government up 18 percent. Source
  • CSG operating income increased: CSG income from operations was $309 million against $240 million, with gross margin at 68 percent and operating margin at 27 percent in both periods. Source
  • EISG revenue up 15 percent: Electronic Industrial Solutions Group revenue was $476 million, up 15 percent, with double-digit growth in automotive and energy, general electronics and semiconductor. Source
  • EISG gross margin rose: EISG gross margin was 62 percent against 61 percent; income from operations was $130 million against $114 million, with operating margin at 27 percent in both periods. Source

“The investments we have made over the last 3 years are enabling us to capitalize on continued momentum in our markets and deliver value.”

Satish Dhanasekaran, President and CEO

Costs, margins and profit

  • Cost lines rose with revenue: Cost of products and services was $605 million against $478 million; research and development $303 million against $249 million; SG&A $447 million against $361 million. Source
  • Operating income rose to $248 million: Income from operations was $248 million against $218 million. Other income (expense), net was negative $37 million against negative $18 million. Source
  • Tax line was a benefit: The company reported a tax benefit of $83 million against a $30 million provision a year earlier, and GAAP net income was $281 million. Source
  • Non-GAAP adjustments rose: Acquisition-related amortization was $73 million against $33 million, share-based compensation $77 million against $62 million, and restructuring and others $60 million. Source
  • Non-GAAP tax rate held at 14 percent: Management used a non-GAAP effective tax rate of 14 percent for both periods in the non-GAAP reconciliation. Source

Orders and deferred revenue

  • Orders above revenue: Orders were $1,645 million against $1,263 million a year earlier, and revenue was $1,600 million in the quarter. Source
  • Current deferred revenue increased: Deferred revenue was $729 million at January 31, 2026, against $652 million at October 31, 2025. Source
  • Long-term deferred revenue edged up: Long-term deferred revenue was $237 million at January 31, 2026, against $232 million at October 31, 2025. Source

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Free cash flow rose to $407 million: Operating cash flow was $441 million against $378 million; capital expenditure was $34 million, giving free cash flow of $407 million against $346 million. Source
  • Cash balance rose: Cash and cash equivalents were $2,178 million at January 31, 2026, against $1,873 million at October 31, 2025. Source
  • Acquisition payment was small: Payment of acquisition-related consideration was $13 million in financing activities during the quarter. Source
  • Long-term debt unchanged: Long-term debt was $2,534 million at January 31, 2026, the same as at October 31, 2025. Source

Shareholder returns and share count

  • Buybacks reached $87 million: Treasury stock repurchases, including excise tax payments, were $87 million against $75 million in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Treasury shares rose to 31.2 million: Treasury stock stood at 31.2 million shares at January 31, 2026, against 30.8 million at October 31, 2025, at a cost of $3,886 million. Source
  • Diluted share count eased: Weighted average diluted shares were 173 million in the quarter, against 174 million a year earlier. Source
  • Employee plan proceeds and tax payments: Proceeds from employee stock plans were $32 million, and taxes paid on net share settlement of equity awards were $31 million. Source

Non-GAAP measures and definitions

  • Free cash flow defined: The company defines free cash flow as cash provided by operating activities adjusted for net investments in property, plant and equipment. Source
  • Excluded items treated as actual expenses: Management says the excluded costs are actual expenses that may affect the cash available to the company for other uses. Source
  • Reconciliations in supplemental schedules: Reconciliations of each non-GAAP measure to its closest GAAP measure are given in the attached supplemental schedules for the quarter. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Orders Source$1,645 million (prior year $1,263 million)
Commercial Communications revenue Source$758 million (prior year $572 million)
Aerospace, Defense and Government revenue Source$366 million (prior year $311 million)

Risks management discussed

  • External: Second-quarter expectations exclude possible effects of the February 20, 2026 Supreme Court ruling on IEEPA tariffs and later administration actions. Source
  • Financial: No GAAP diluted EPS reconciliation is given for the second quarter because tax items are not currently estimable. 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.