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HP Enterprise (HPE) Down 1.2% Since Last Earnings Report: Can It Rebound?
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A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE - Free Report) . Shares have lost about 1.2% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.
Will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is HP Enterprise due for a breakout? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers.
Hewlett Packard Surpasses Earnings Estimates in Q3
Hewlett Packard Enterprise reported fiscal third-quarter 2018 non-GAAP net earnings of 44 cents per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 38 cents and increased 42% on a year-over-year basis.
Management noted that the bottom line was driven by the company’s strong operational performance, favorable one-time benefits in OI&E and a lower-than-expected tax rate.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise reported revenues from continuing operations of $7.764 billion, up 3.5% on a year-over-year basis. Further, quarterly revenues outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7.678 billion. The upside was driven by Hybrid IT, Intelligent Edge and Financial Services, particularly strong growth in Intelligent Edge segment.
Adjusted for currency-exchange rates, the company’s revenues from continuing operations increased 1% year over year.
Quarter Details
Segment wise, Hybrid IT revenues of $6.243 billion increased 3% year over year and remained flat at constant currency. The healthy IT spending environment is proving to be conducive.
Coming to Hybrid IT Products, Compute revenues increased 5% to $3.5 billion driven by strong momentum across public and private sector deployments. Storage revenues grew 1% to $887 million. Double-digit growth in big data storage has been a tailwind. However, data center networking revenues dropped 6% in the quarter.
HPE Point next revenues fell 1% from the year-ago quarter but overall orders improved 4%.
Revenues from the Intelligent Edge climbed 10% to $785 million driven by secure cloud offerings in the company’s campus segment. The company’s Intelligent Edge solutions are gaining traction among customers. In the quarter, a significant number of deals were won by Aruba. Moreover, the company’s Edgeline system is also witnessing strong traction in industrial IoT applications.
Revenues from Aruba product grew 10% backed by strong growth in campus switching and edge compute. Aruba services revenues were up 14% on continued installed base growth due to strong attach of the company’s software platform like ClearPass and AirWave.
The company’s Financial Services segment revenues grew 3% to $897 million on the back of asset management business.
Geographically, Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s revenues in the Americas grew 1% but declined 3% in constant currency. Core compute and the Intelligent Edge grew 10% in the region.
Revenues in Europe were up 3% in constant currency driven by growth in UK, France and Italy. EMEA results were driven by strength in compute and data center networking.
Asia Pacific revenues were up 6% at constant currency, with double-digit growth in Japan and Australia.
Operating Results
Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s gross margin expanded 140 basis points (bps) on a year-over-year basis to 30.7%. In addition, the company’s non-GAAP operating margin increased 190 bps to 10.1%.
The improvement in margins was primarily attributed to cost savings from HPE Next. Management was also positive about pricing and DRAM was less of a negative aspect compared to the previous quarters.
Operating margin of Hybrid IT segment expanded 270 bps to 10.6% driven by greater mix of Gen10, improved pricing and cost savings from HPE Next. Operating margin of Financial Services segment increased 20 bps to 7.9%.
However, operating margins of Intelligent Edge fell 300 bps to 11.6% due to higher investments in sales and R&D. Nonetheless, significant investment in Intelligent Edge is expected to help it maintain its leadership position in the high growth-opportunity market.
Balance Sheet and Cash Flow
Hewlett Packard Enterprise ended the quarter with $5.2 billion in cash and cash equivalents, compared with $6.9 billion recorded at the end of the previous quarter.
Long-term debt at quarter end was $9.963 billion compared with $9.970 billion recorded in the previous quarter.
During the quarter, Hewlett Packard Enterprise generated $1.25 billion of cash flow from operational activities and free cash flow of $751 million. Additionally, during the reported quarter, the company returned $1.1 billion to shareholders, of which $936 million was through share repurchases and the remaining through dividend payments.
Guidance
For fourth-quarter fiscal 2018, Hewlett Packard Enterprise projects non-GAAP earnings per share in the range of 39-44 cents.
Increase sales productivity and latest storage offerings are expected to drive organic growth in the fourth quarter. Management is particularly optimistic about HPE InfoSight and next generation HPE Nimble Storage platform to gain customer traction.
However, foreign exchange volatility is a concern. Management predicts less than 1 point of benefit to revenue in fourth quarter at the current rate.
For fiscal 2018, Hewlett Packard Enterprise now expects non-GAAP earnings per share in the range of $1.50-$1.55, up from the previous range of $1.40-$1.50.
The non-GAAP operating margin is anticipated to be a bit more than 9% compared with the company’s prior guidance of 9.5%.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?
It turns out, fresh estimates flatlined during the past month.
VGM Scores
At this time, HP Enterprise has an average Growth Score of C, however its Momentum Score is doing a lot better with an A. Following the exact same course, the stock was allocated a grade of A on the value side, putting it in the top 20% for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of A. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
Outlook
HP Enterprise has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.
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HP Enterprise (HPE) Down 1.2% Since Last Earnings Report: Can It Rebound?
A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE - Free Report) . Shares have lost about 1.2% in that time frame, underperforming the S&P 500.
Will the recent negative trend continue leading up to its next earnings release, or is HP Enterprise due for a breakout? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at the most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important drivers.
Hewlett Packard Surpasses Earnings Estimates in Q3
Hewlett Packard Enterprise reported fiscal third-quarter 2018 non-GAAP net earnings of 44 cents per share, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 38 cents and increased 42% on a year-over-year basis.
Management noted that the bottom line was driven by the company’s strong operational performance, favorable one-time benefits in OI&E and a lower-than-expected tax rate.
Hewlett Packard Enterprise reported revenues from continuing operations of $7.764 billion, up 3.5% on a year-over-year basis. Further, quarterly revenues outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $7.678 billion. The upside was driven by Hybrid IT, Intelligent Edge and Financial Services, particularly strong growth in Intelligent Edge segment.
Adjusted for currency-exchange rates, the company’s revenues from continuing operations increased 1% year over year.
Quarter Details
Segment wise, Hybrid IT revenues of $6.243 billion increased 3% year over year and remained flat at constant currency. The healthy IT spending environment is proving to be conducive.
Coming to Hybrid IT Products, Compute revenues increased 5% to $3.5 billion driven by strong momentum across public and private sector deployments. Storage revenues grew 1% to $887 million. Double-digit growth in big data storage has been a tailwind. However, data center networking revenues dropped 6% in the quarter.
HPE Point next revenues fell 1% from the year-ago quarter but overall orders improved 4%.
Revenues from the Intelligent Edge climbed 10% to $785 million driven by secure cloud offerings in the company’s campus segment. The company’s Intelligent Edge solutions are gaining traction among customers. In the quarter, a significant number of deals were won by Aruba. Moreover, the company’s Edgeline system is also witnessing strong traction in industrial IoT applications.
Revenues from Aruba product grew 10% backed by strong growth in campus switching and edge compute. Aruba services revenues were up 14% on continued installed base growth due to strong attach of the company’s software platform like ClearPass and AirWave.
The company’s Financial Services segment revenues grew 3% to $897 million on the back of asset management business.
Geographically, Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s revenues in the Americas grew 1% but declined 3% in constant currency. Core compute and the Intelligent Edge grew 10% in the region.
Revenues in Europe were up 3% in constant currency driven by growth in UK, France and Italy. EMEA results were driven by strength in compute and data center networking.
Asia Pacific revenues were up 6% at constant currency, with double-digit growth in Japan and Australia.
Operating Results
Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s gross margin expanded 140 basis points (bps) on a year-over-year basis to 30.7%. In addition, the company’s non-GAAP operating margin increased 190 bps to 10.1%.
The improvement in margins was primarily attributed to cost savings from HPE Next. Management was also positive about pricing and DRAM was less of a negative aspect compared to the previous quarters.
Operating margin of Hybrid IT segment expanded 270 bps to 10.6% driven by greater mix of Gen10, improved pricing and cost savings from HPE Next. Operating margin of Financial Services segment increased 20 bps to 7.9%.
However, operating margins of Intelligent Edge fell 300 bps to 11.6% due to higher investments in sales and R&D. Nonetheless, significant investment in Intelligent Edge is expected to help it maintain its leadership position in the high growth-opportunity market.
Balance Sheet and Cash Flow
Hewlett Packard Enterprise ended the quarter with $5.2 billion in cash and cash equivalents, compared with $6.9 billion recorded at the end of the previous quarter.
Long-term debt at quarter end was $9.963 billion compared with $9.970 billion recorded in the previous quarter.
During the quarter, Hewlett Packard Enterprise generated $1.25 billion of cash flow from operational activities and free cash flow of $751 million. Additionally, during the reported quarter, the company returned $1.1 billion to shareholders, of which $936 million was through share repurchases and the remaining through dividend payments.
Guidance
For fourth-quarter fiscal 2018, Hewlett Packard Enterprise projects non-GAAP earnings per share in the range of 39-44 cents.
Increase sales productivity and latest storage offerings are expected to drive organic growth in the fourth quarter. Management is particularly optimistic about HPE InfoSight and next generation HPE Nimble Storage platform to gain customer traction.
However, foreign exchange volatility is a concern. Management predicts less than 1 point of benefit to revenue in fourth quarter at the current rate.
For fiscal 2018, Hewlett Packard Enterprise now expects non-GAAP earnings per share in the range of $1.50-$1.55, up from the previous range of $1.40-$1.50.
The non-GAAP operating margin is anticipated to be a bit more than 9% compared with the company’s prior guidance of 9.5%.
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?
It turns out, fresh estimates flatlined during the past month.
VGM Scores
At this time, HP Enterprise has an average Growth Score of C, however its Momentum Score is doing a lot better with an A. Following the exact same course, the stock was allocated a grade of A on the value side, putting it in the top 20% for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of A. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
Outlook
HP Enterprise has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We expect an in-line return from the stock in the next few months.