Dell’s third quarter was characterized by robust demand for AI servers and continued operational discipline, with management highlighting accelerated order momentum and improved profitability in key segments. CEO Jeff Clarke pointed to an "all-time high in AI server orders" and emphasized the company's ability to deploy large-scale AI infrastructure rapidly. Growth in the Infrastructure Solutions Group and stable performance in commercial PCs contributed to the overall results, while improved storage margins and double-digit international growth in commercial PCs further supported performance.
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Dell (DELL) Q3 CY2025 Highlights:
- Revenue: $27.01 billion vs analyst estimates of $27.1 billion (10.8% year-on-year growth, in line)
- Adjusted EPS: $2.59 vs analyst estimates of $2.48 (4.5% beat)
- Adjusted EBITDA: $3.14 billion vs analyst estimates of $3.06 billion (11.6% margin, 2.5% beat)
- Revenue Guidance for Q4 CY2025 is $31.5 billion at the midpoint, above analyst estimates of $27.49 billion
- Management raised its full-year Adjusted EPS guidance to $9.92 at the midpoint, a 3.9% increase
- Operating Margin: 7.8%, in line with the same quarter last year
- Market Capitalization: $88.53 billion
While we enjoy listening to the management's commentary, our favorite part of earnings calls are the analyst questions. Those are unscripted and can often highlight topics that management teams would rather avoid or topics where the answer is complicated. Here is what has caught our attention.
Our Top 5 Analyst Questions From Dell’s Q3 Earnings Call
- Samik Chatterjee (JPMorgan) asked about Dell's pricing power amid rising component costs. CEO Jeff Clarke explained the company’s experience managing DRAM cycles and emphasized supply chain flexibility and the ability to minimize customer impact.
- Mark Newman (Bernstein) inquired about potential impacts from NVIDIA’s vertical integration and the mix of AI server orders. Clarke highlighted Dell’s value at the rack and solution level, stating that differentiation remains strong in engineering and rapid deployment.
- Ben Reitzes (Melius Research) asked about AI server margin trends and future sustainability. Clarke and Kennedy explained that margins stabilized in the mid-single digit range due to mix improvements and operational execution.
- Eric Woodring (Morgan Stanley) questioned the longevity of the PC refresh cycle. Clarke detailed that a significant portion of the installed base remains unupgraded, suggesting continued opportunities for growth as users migrate to Windows 11 and newer AI-enabled devices.
- Wamsi Mohan (Bank of America) pressed for detail on AI growth sustainability and cost recovery. Kennedy and Clarke reiterated confidence in demand across customer segments and described steps to recover rising costs through pricing and supply chain tactics.
Catalysts in Upcoming Quarters
Our analysts will be watching (1) whether Dell can maintain momentum in AI server orders and convert its record backlog into revenue, (2) continued margin improvement in proprietary storage as product mix shifts further toward high-value offerings, and (3) signs of a sustained PC refresh cycle, particularly in international and commercial markets. Execution on managing commodity cost pressures and maintaining operational discipline will also be key metrics to track.
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