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HP Beats Q3 Estimates but Sees Sharp PC Volume Drop and Extended Margin Pressure

Tariff refunds plus price increases lifted reported profit, leaving investors to weigh a one-time boost against rising memory and storage costs that delay margin recovery until fiscal 2027.

A screen displays the HP logo on the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., August 21, 2026. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon

Overview

  • HP reported fiscal third-quarter revenue of $15.7 billion and adjusted EPS of $0.83, both above analyst estimates, with the quarter’s results including an $0.11-per-share benefit from U.S. tariff refunds.
  • Personal Systems revenue rose to $11.8 billion even as total PC unit shipments fell 16% year over year and consumer unit shipments dropped 19%, signaling weaker demand and constrained supply.
  • The company raised full-year adjusted EPS guidance to $3.19–$3.29 and lifted free cash flow guidance to $3.0–$3.2 billion, with annual guidance reflecting an estimated $0.19-per-share tariff refund benefit.
  • HP forecast fourth-quarter adjusted EPS of $0.69–$0.79, which includes an estimated $0.08 tariff benefit, and warned that rising memory and storage costs will continue to squeeze margins through fiscal 2026.
  • Investors reacted negatively despite the beats, sending shares down about 9% after hours, as markets focused on falling PC volumes, higher component costs and the company’s view that margins won’t recover until fiscal 2027.