Nokia (HEL:NOKIA) shares decline as €2.8 billion in AI and cloud deals await conversion

Nokia (HEL:NOKIA) shares decline as €2.8 billion in AI and cloud deals await conversion

HELSINKI, August 6, 2026, 13:05 EEST — Trading begins on Nasdaq Helsinki.

  • Nokia slipped 1.1% to €8.36, as the OMXH25 rose 0.6%.
  • AI and cloud bookings were equivalent to 6.3 times the quarterly revenue from these customers.
  • Nokia trades at a trailing P/E of 65.8, which is close to Arista’s 62.2.

Nokia Oyj slipped 1.1% to €8.36 on Thursday, while the OMXH25 index in Helsinki climbed 0.6%. The differing performance brings focus to order conversion in trading.

Stock chart for HEL:NOKIA

Nokia’s trailing price-to-earnings ratio is 65.8, similar to Arista Networks Inc at 62.2. Ericsson has a multiple of 12.8.

However, AI and cloud clients generated €446 million in revenue for the second quarter, accounting for 9.3% of total group sales. The valuation depends on future translation rather than the current sales composition.

Listed peerLatest quote basisMoveReported trailing P/E
Nokia Oyj €8.36, Helsinki intradaydown 1.1%65.8x
Ericsson SEK96.68, Stockholm intradayup 0.4%12.8x
Arista Networks Inc $197.31, August 5 closeup 3.6%62.2x
Ciena Corp $408.83, August 5 closedown 0.6%136.1x

European prices were quoted during the day. The U.S. market was still closed.

The peer comparison is not exact. Nokia’s reported earnings for the trailing period are affected by substantial restructuring charges. For the second quarter, its stated margin stood at minus 1.0%, compared to a comparable margin of 9.0%.

The quarter saw improved performance. Group sales climbed 8%, and comparable operating profit advanced 18%. Network Infrastructure was the main driver, posting a 12% increase in sales.

Q2 metric20262025Change
Group net sales€4.815 billion€4.443 billion+8%
AI and cloud customer sales€446 millionAbout €218 million+105%
AI and cloud share of group sales9.3%About 4.9%+4.4 percentage points
Comparable operating profit€434 million€367 million+18%
Comparable operating margin9.0%8.3%+0.7 percentage points

Estimated figure based on the reported 105% growth rate. Nokia did not separately provide the prior-period data.

Comparable operating profit totalled €434 million, surpassing the €382 million LSEG consensus by 13.6%. The reported operating profit showed a loss of €50 million.

Chief Executive Justin Hotard emphasized ongoing supply challenges. “Demand remains strong, while supply continues to be the main industry constraint,” he stated. With capacity becoming more limited, customers are committing to longer-term orders. Nokia Corporation | Nokia

Order intake far exceeds existing sales levels. In Q2, AI and cloud-related orders amounted to 6.3 times the quarterly revenue from these clients. Approximately 50% of those orders are expected to turn into revenue within the next 12 months.

Conversion testReported or guided figureDerived comparison
Q2 orders in AI and cloud€2.8 billion6.3 times Q2 AI and cloud revenues
Projected conversion in the next 12 monthsRoughly €1.4 billion3.1 times Q2 AI and cloud revenues
Q3 total group sales forecastIncrease of 3% to 7% from previous quarter€4.96 billion to €5.15 billion
Q3 adjusted operating profit outlookExpected to be stable compared to Q2Q2 reference value was €434 million
Comparable operating profit outlook for 2026€2.1 billion to €2.6 billionTechnical revision of €0.1 billion

These are derived estimates. Nokia did not issue these specific euro point projections. The revision for the full year was due to discontinued operations, with the operational outlook staying the same.

Nokia projects a slower profit trajectory in the near term. The company anticipates that Q3 comparable operating profit will remain roughly unchanged, followed by a substantial rise in Q4.

The drop on Thursday was unrelated to an ex-dividend adjustment. Shares turned ex-dividend on July 27. Nokia distributed the €0.04 payment on Thursday.

The stock is still up nearly 49% so far this year, but trades 44% beneath its €15 peak over the past 52 weeks. Market expectations have changed significantly.

Analysts remain largely upbeat. Out of 23 surveyed, the average rating is Outperform, and the consensus price target stands at €10.32. Price estimates vary, spanning from €4.65 up to €18.

Firm or consensusDateRecommendationTargetImplied move from €8.36
23-analyst averageCurrent snapshotOutperform€10.32+23.4%
Deutsche BankJuly 27Buy€11.50+37.6%
HandelsbankenJuly 24Hold€9.80+17.2%
UBSJuly 24Neutral€9.65+15.4%
BarclaysJuly 27Underweight€8.00-4.3%

Implied moves are based on Thursday’s intraday price.

Risks: Order conversion may be postponed by supply limitations. Ericsson has been impacted by increasing memory-chip prices. Nokia anticipates restructuring charges of €800 million and cash outflows tied to these charges ranging from €700 million to €800 million in 2026.

Nokia is set to announce its third-quarter earnings on October 22. Investors are expected to focus on AI-driven revenue, the pace of order conversion and adjusted margin performance. Gains in orders may not be sufficient to uphold the valuation.

TS2 TECH • EXTENDED COVERAGE

Further analysis

Is the transition to AI currently delivering significant earnings?
Second-quarter comparable operating profit increased by 18% to €434 million, surpassing analysts' expectations. Sales from AI and cloud surged twofold to €446 million in the quarter. New orders hit €2.8 billion, with approximately half anticipated to be delivered within 12 months. Nokia identifies supply, rather than demand, as its limiting factor.
Did Nokia truly upgrade its profit forecast for 2026?
There was no operational upgrade. The range was adjusted to €2.1–€2.6 billion, previously at €2.0–€2.5 billion. Nokia attributes the €100 million shift to discontinued operations. Management continues to forecast profit slightly above the midpoint of the range. Q3 profit is expected to be similar to Q2, with a notable rise forecast in Q4.
Is it possible for higher profits to result in more cash this year?
Negative free cash flow in Q2 totaled €732 million. Working capital consumed roughly €1.15 billion in the quarter. Net cash declined 27% from the previous quarter to €2.78 billion. A restructuring charge of €390 million contributed to a reported operating loss of €50 million. Nokia continues to aim for 55%–75% cash conversion, even with restructuring outflows between €700 million and €800 million.
Is Mobile Infrastructure growing in parallel with the AI-driven business?
Mobile Infrastructure revenue grew 6% to €2.68 billion, while operating profit was unchanged at €310 million. The unit’s margin narrowed to 11.6% from 12.2%. Network Infrastructure profit climbed 42% to €166 million. Growth has not yet become broad-based.
Leokadia Głogulska

Leokadia Głogulska is a financial and technology journalist at TS2.tech, covering stocks, artificial intelligence, space technology and global market developments. She graduated from Wrocław University of Economics and Business and previously worked in financial analysis before moving into business journalism. Her reporting focuses on helping readers understand the market trends, companies and technologies shaping the global economy.

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