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Sandisk Corp.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 November 2025: press release. Guidance figures: 8 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 21% sequentially: Revenue was $2,308 million, up 21% from $1,901 million in the prior quarter and up 23% from $1,883 million a year earlier. Source
  • GAAP net income of $112 million: GAAP net income was $112 million, or $0.75 diluted per share, compared with a $23 million net loss in the prior quarter and $211 million a year earlier. Source
  • Edge revenue grew 26% sequentially: Edge revenue was $1,387 million, up 26% from $1,103 million in the prior quarter and up 30% from $1,069 million a year earlier. Source
  • Datacenter revenue up on prior quarter: Datacenter revenue was $269 million, up 26% from $213 million in the prior quarter and down 10% from $300 million a year earlier. Source
  • BiCS8 share of bits shipped: BiCS8 technology accounted for 15% of total bits shipped in the quarter. Source
  • Gross margin rose 3.6 points sequentially: GAAP gross margin was 29.8%, up 3.6 points from 26.2%. Non-GAAP gross margin was 29.9%, up 3.5 points from 26.4%. Source
  • Operating cash flow of $488 million: Operating cash flow was $488 million, against $94 million in the prior quarter and a $131 million outflow a year earlier. Source

“Customers are turning to Sandisk for our leading technology and products, which are exceptionally well positioned at a time when demand is strengthening”

David Goeckeler, CEO, Sandisk

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue SourceSecond quarter of fiscal 2026$2.55 billion to $2.65 billionNew
Gross margin SourceSecond quarter of fiscal 2026GAAP 40.8% to 42.8%; Non-GAAP 41.0% to 43.0%New
Operating expenses SourceSecond quarter of fiscal 2026GAAP $497 million to $538 million; Non-GAAP $450 million to $475 millionNew
Interest and other expense, net SourceSecond quarter of fiscal 2026GAAP $38 million to $43 million; Non-GAAP $40 million to $45 millionNew
Tax expense SourceSecond quarter of fiscal 2026Non-GAAP $80 million to $90 millionNew
Diluted EPS SourceSecond quarter of fiscal 2026Non-GAAP $3.00 to $3.40New
Diluted shares outstanding SourceSecond quarter of fiscal 2026~155 millionNew
Excluded items from Non-GAAP EPS guidance SourceSecond quarter of fiscal 2026$49 million to $67 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Segment labels changed. The prior release reported Cloud, Client and Consumer; the current release reports Datacenter, Edge and Consumer.
  • New: Amended and Restated Equity Purchase Agreement entered September 25, 2025, relating to the September 28, 2024 sale of 80% of a manufacturing subsidiary. Source
  • New guidance: First guidance for the second quarter of fiscal 2026 given in this release. The prior release gave guidance only for the first quarter. Source

Revenue and profit results

  • Revenue rose 21% sequentially: Revenue was $2,308 million, up 21% from $1,901 million in the prior quarter and up 23% from $1,883 million a year earlier. Source
  • GAAP net income of $112 million: GAAP net income was $112 million, or $0.75 diluted per share, compared with a $23 million net loss in the prior quarter and $211 million a year earlier. Source
  • Non-GAAP earnings reached $1.22 per share: Non-GAAP net income was $181 million, or $1.22 diluted per share, compared with $42 million in the prior quarter. Source
  • Operating income rose from prior quarter: GAAP operating income was $176 million, up from $18 million in the prior quarter and down from $291 million a year earlier. Non-GAAP operating income was $245 million. Source

Segments and end markets

  • Edge revenue grew 26% sequentially: Edge revenue was $1,387 million, up 26% from $1,103 million in the prior quarter and up 30% from $1,069 million a year earlier. Source
  • Datacenter revenue up on prior quarter: Datacenter revenue was $269 million, up 26% from $213 million in the prior quarter and down 10% from $300 million a year earlier. Source
  • Consumer revenue up 11% sequentially: Consumer revenue was $652 million, up 11% from $585 million in the prior quarter and up 27% from $514 million a year earlier. Source

“Our strong balance sheet and leading portfolio, combined with this phase of renewed growth and profitability, enabled us to achieve our net cash positive milestone”

David Goeckeler, CEO, Sandisk

Products and customer qualification

  • BiCS8 share of bits shipped: BiCS8 technology accounted for 15% of total bits shipped in the quarter. Source
  • Two hyperscalers in qualification: Two hyperscalers are in qualification, and the company reports engagement with five major hyperscale customers. Source
  • Demand described as strengthening: Management said demand is strengthening. The release gives no backlog, unit volume or average selling price figures. Source

Operating expenses and separation costs

  • Operating expenses rose 6% sequentially: GAAP operating expenses were $511 million, up 6% from $480 million. Non-GAAP operating expenses were $446 million, up 11% from $402 million. Source
  • R&D and SG&A higher than a year earlier: Research and development was $316 million against $283 million a year earlier. Selling, general and administrative expense was $179 million against $130 million. Source
  • Divestiture loss and separation costs: Business separation costs were $9 million. The loss on business divestiture was $10 million, recognized as an adjustment to the 2024 sale. Source

Gross margin and cost of revenue

  • Gross margin rose 3.6 points sequentially: GAAP gross margin was 29.8%, up 3.6 points from 26.2%. Non-GAAP gross margin was 29.9%, up 3.5 points from 26.4%. Source
  • Gross margin below first-quarter 2025 level: Compared with the first quarter of fiscal 2025, GAAP gross margin fell 8.8 points from 38.6%. Non-GAAP gross margin fell 9 points from 38.9%. Source
  • Gross profit and cost of revenue: GAAP gross profit was $687 million against $726 million a year earlier, with cost of revenue of $1,621 million against $1,157 million. Source

Operating and free cash flow

  • Operating cash flow of $488 million: Operating cash flow was $488 million, against $94 million in the prior quarter and a $131 million outflow a year earlier. Source
  • Free cash flow of $438 million: Free cash flow was $438 million. Adjusted free cash flow, which adds Flash Ventures activity, was $448 million. Source

Balance sheet and debt

  • Debt repayment of $500 million: The company repaid $500 million of debt in the quarter. Long-term debt was $1,331 million, down from $1,829 million, with $20 million current. Source
  • Cash balance slightly lower: Cash and cash equivalents were $1,442 million at October 3, 2025, against $1,481 million at June 27, 2025. Source
  • Inventories down, receivables up: Inventories were $1,907 million, down from $2,079 million. Accounts receivable, net rose to $1,193 million from $1,068 million. Source

Strategy and manufacturing

  • Outsourcing certain component manufacturing: The company cited a strategic decision to outsource manufacturing of certain components and assemblies. It sold 80% of a manufacturing subsidiary on September 28, 2024. Source
  • Standalone company since February 2025: The company completed its separation from Western Digital Corporation on February 21, 2025, and reports as a standalone public company. Source
  • Cash framed for strategic use: The company says free cash flow and adjusted free cash flow indicate cash available for strategic use, including investment, acquisitions, debt repayment and the balance sheet. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 November 2025

  • BiCS8 majority of bit production: Management expects BiCS8 to reach a majority of bit production by the exit of fiscal 2026. Source
  • Third hyperscaler and storage OEM planned: Management planned a third hyperscaler and a top storage OEM for calendar 2026. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Gross margin, GAAP Source29.8%
Gross margin, Non-GAAP Source29.9%
Segment revenue, Datacenter Source$269 million
Segment revenue, Edge Source$1,387 million
Segment revenue, Consumer Source$652 million

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management says the net cash positive milestone was achieved ahead of plan. Source
  • Ahead: Revenue came in above the $2.10 billion to $2.20 billion range given in the prior release. 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.