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Super Micro Computer, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 May 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 lowered, 5 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net sales grew sharply year on year: Net sales were $10.2 billion, up from $4.6 billion a year earlier and down from $12.7 billion in the second quarter. Nine-month net sales were $27.9 billion, against $16.2 billion. Source
  • Net income and diluted EPS rose: Net income was $483 million, against $401 million in the second quarter and $109 million a year earlier. GAAP diluted EPS was $0.72; non-GAAP diluted EPS was $0.84, against $0.31 a year earlier. Source
  • Gross margin up from second quarter: GAAP gross margin was 9.9% and non-GAAP 10.1%, against 6.3% GAAP in the second quarter and 9.6% GAAP a year earlier. Nine-month GAAP gross margin was 8.2%, against 11.6%. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin rose to 7.9%: Adjusted EBITDA was $814.3 million, or 7.9% of net sales, against 5.0% in the second quarter and 5.5% a year earlier. Nine-month Adjusted EBITDA margin was 6.4%, against 8.1%. Source
  • Operating cash used in the quarter: Cash used in operations was $6.6 billion in the quarter, with capital expenditures and investments of $97 million. Nine-month operating cash flow was negative $7.6 billion. Source
  • Cash fell to $1.3 billion: Cash and cash equivalents were $1.3 billion at March 31, 2026, against $4.1 billion at December 31, 2025. Bank debt and convertible notes were $8.8 billion, against $4.9 billion. Source
  • Full-year net sales range replaces floor: The full-year net sales range replaces the second-quarter release's floor of at least $40.0 billion. The low end of the range sits below that floor.
  • DCBBS growth cited as evidence: Management cites margin recovery and rapid growth of the DCBBS business as evidence the business remains robust. The release gives no DCBBS revenue figure. Source
  • Board independent review pending: The Board is conducting an independent review of certain transactions tied to export-control issues. Its outcome could affect forecasts, these preliminary results and prior period results. Source

“Supermicro's transformation into a total datacenter infrastructure provider is accelerating,”

Charles Liang, Founder, President and CEO of Supermicro

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net sales SourceFourth quarter of fiscal 2026, ending June 30, 2026$11.0 billion to $12.5 billionNew
Diluted net income per share SourceFourth quarter of fiscal 2026GAAP $0.53 to $0.67; non-GAAP $0.65 to $0.79New
Tax rate SourceFourth quarter of fiscal 2026GAAP approximately 19.4%; non-GAAP approximately 20.4%New
Fully diluted share count SourceFourth quarter of fiscal 2026695 million shares GAAP; 712 million shares non-GAAPNew
Stock-based compensation SourceFourth quarter of fiscal 2026approximately $95 million, net of related tax effects of $30 millionNew
Net sales SourceFiscal year 2026$38.9 billion to $40.4 billionLowered from at least $40.0 billion

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Fourth-quarter net sales, EPS, tax rate, share count and stock-based compensation figures added. The second-quarter release gave only third-quarter figures. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Full-year net sales figure moved from at least $40.0 billion to a range of $38.9 billion to $40.4 billion. Source
  • New: The release cites new US manufacturing facilities in Silicon Valley. The second-quarter release referred to expanding global manufacturing footprint without naming these facilities. Source
  • New: The release refers to a Board independent review of certain transactions tied to export-control issues. The second-quarter release does not mention it. Source
  • New: The release presents preliminary, unaudited estimates because the financial close is incomplete. The second-quarter release contains no such statement. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Net sales grew sharply year on year: Net sales were $10.2 billion, up from $4.6 billion a year earlier and down from $12.7 billion in the second quarter. Nine-month net sales were $27.9 billion, against $16.2 billion. Source
  • Net sales compared with prior guidance: The second-quarter release projected third-quarter net sales of at least $12.3 billion. Reported third-quarter net sales were $10.2 billion.
  • Net income and diluted EPS rose: Net income was $483 million, against $401 million in the second quarter and $109 million a year earlier. GAAP diluted EPS was $0.72; non-GAAP diluted EPS was $0.84, against $0.31 a year earlier. Source
  • Operating income rose to $626 million: Income from operations was $625.9 million, against $474.3 million in the second quarter and $146.8 million a year earlier. Nine-month income from operations was $1.28 billion. Source

Margins and cost structure

  • Gross margin up from second quarter: GAAP gross margin was 9.9% and non-GAAP 10.1%, against 6.3% GAAP in the second quarter and 9.6% GAAP a year earlier. Nine-month GAAP gross margin was 8.2%, against 11.6%. Source
  • Nine-month margins below prior year: Nine-month GAAP gross margin was 8.2% and non-GAAP 8.3%, against 11.6% and 11.7% a year earlier. Stock-based compensation in cost of sales was 0.1% of sales for nine months. Source
  • Research spend drove higher operating costs: Research and development was $215.7 million, against $180.8 million in the second quarter. Non-GAAP operating expenses were $278.4 million, against $240.6 million; sales and marketing was $89.5 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA margin rose to 7.9%: Adjusted EBITDA was $814.3 million, or 7.9% of net sales, against 5.0% in the second quarter and 5.5% a year earlier. Nine-month Adjusted EBITDA margin was 6.4%, against 8.1%. Source
  • Stock-based compensation rose to $126 million: Stock-based compensation before taxes was $125.9 million, against $90.5 million in the second quarter. It is excluded from non-GAAP measures. Source

“Our margin recovery and the rapid growth of our DCBBS business demonstrate that our business remains robust.”

Charles Liang, Founder, President and CEO of Supermicro

Working capital and cash flow

  • Operating cash used in the quarter: Cash used in operations was $6.6 billion in the quarter, with capital expenditures and investments of $97 million. Nine-month operating cash flow was negative $7.6 billion. Source
  • Receivables fell while inventories rose: Accounts receivable fell to $8.4 billion from $11.0 billion at December 31, while inventories rose to $11.1 billion from $10.6 billion. Accounts payable fell to $3.7 billion from $13.8 billion. Source
  • Deferred revenue rose: Current deferred revenue was $1.47 billion, against $775 million at December 31. Non-current deferred revenue was $663 million. Source
  • Inventory write-downs rose for nine months: Inventory valuation write-downs were $239 million for nine months, against $159 million a year earlier. They are added back in the operating cash flow reconciliation. Source
  • Capital spending and equity investment: Purchases of property, plant and equipment were $134 million for nine months, against $105 million. Another $42 million was invested in equity securities. Source

Capital, cash and debt

  • Cash fell to $1.3 billion: Cash and cash equivalents were $1.3 billion at March 31, 2026, against $4.1 billion at December 31, 2025. Bank debt and convertible notes were $8.8 billion, against $4.9 billion. Source
  • Borrowing proceeds rose sharply: Proceeds from lines of credit and term loans were $4.2 billion for nine months, against $1.4 billion a year earlier. Repayments were $225 million, and current lines and term loans were $2.1 billion. Source
  • Convertible notes balance stable: Convertible notes were $4.66 billion at March 31, 2026, against $4.65 billion at June 30, 2025. Source
  • Equity award tax withholding payments: Withholding taxes paid on settled equity awards were $102 million for nine months, against $119 million a year earlier. GAAP diluted weighted-average shares were 692 million in the quarter. Source

“With the addition of our new US manufacturing facilities in Silicon Valley, we are exceptionally well-positioned to meet the massive demand for various AI and enterprise verticals.”

Charles Liang, Founder, President and CEO of Supermicro

Fourth-quarter and full-year guidance

  • Full-year net sales range replaces floor: The full-year net sales range replaces the second-quarter release's floor of at least $40.0 billion. The low end of the range sits below that floor.
  • Third-quarter tax and share assumptions: The second-quarter release assumed a third-quarter tax rate of about 19.6% GAAP and 20.2% non-GAAP, with 684 million GAAP diluted shares.
  • Third-quarter stock compensation projection: The second-quarter release expected about $62 million of stock-based compensation in the third-quarter GAAP EPS projection, net of a $19 million tax effect.

Strategy, DCBBS and US manufacturing

  • DCBBS growth cited as evidence: Management cites margin recovery and rapid growth of the DCBBS business as evidence the business remains robust. The release gives no DCBBS revenue figure. Source
  • Silicon Valley manufacturing added: New US manufacturing facilities in Silicon Valley were added, which management links to positioning for AI and enterprise demand. Source
  • Manufacturing spread across three countries: Products are designed and manufactured in-house in the US, Taiwan and the Netherlands, according to the company description. Source

Reporting status and Board review

  • Results preliminary; financial close incomplete: The figures are preliminary, unaudited estimates because the quarter's financial close is not complete. The independent auditor has not audited, reviewed or performed procedures on them. Source
  • Board independent review pending: The Board is conducting an independent review of certain transactions tied to export-control issues. Its outcome could affect forecasts, these preliminary results and prior period results. Source
  • Prior periods could be revised: Further adjustments may be identified during preparation and review, and final results for these periods may vary from the preliminary estimates. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 May 2026

  • Final quarter results after review: Final third-quarter results depend on completing financial closing, management review and audit committee review. Source
  • Fourth quarter ends June 30: The fourth quarter of fiscal 2026 ends June 30, 2026; the fourth-quarter ranges given in the guidance apply to that period. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Gross margin (GAAP) Source9.9%
Gross margin (non-GAAP) Source10.1%

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.