New York, February 4, 2026, 04:58 (EST) — Premarket
- SMCI inched higher by roughly 0.1% to $29.67 during premarket trades.
- Super Micro raised its fiscal 2026 revenue forecast to a minimum of $40.0 billion.
- Investors are balancing rapid AI-server expansion with a steep decline in margins.
Shares of Super Micro Computer, Inc. (SMCI) edged up about 0.1% to $29.67 in early Wednesday trading after the company boosted its fiscal 2026 revenue forecast to a minimum of $40.0 billion. The San Jose-based server maker posted December-quarter net sales of $12.7 billion. Gross margin, which reflects earnings after direct costs, dipped to 6.3%.
The company raised its forecast from $36 billion as investors seek signs that AI data-center spending is translating into shipments and repeat orders. Partnering closely with Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices, Super Micro said around $1.5 billion of this quarter’s revenue came from delayed first-quarter shipments once customers were ready. Shares climbed more than 5% in after-hours trading Tuesday. “Super Micro’s growth is tied to its importance as the integrator,” noted Gadjo Sevilla, a tech analyst at Emarketer. CFO David Weigand told analysts “order strength remains strong” from large data-center and enterprise clients. Reuters
Sales jumped sharply this quarter, yet profitability remained strained. Gross margin dropped to 6.3% from 9.3% in the previous quarter. Analysts chalked this up to a tougher customer mix and rising memory costs, which pose short-term challenges for the AI-server sector.
During the earnings call, management pointed to tariffs, expanding international facilities, and shortages of vital parts like memory and storage as pressures on margins. They told analysts that demand for AI and the wider IT infrastructure sector stayed “unprecedentedly strong.” Investing.com
Super Micro projects net sales of at least $12.3 billion for the fiscal third quarter ending March 31. It also anticipates non-GAAP earnings per share of at least $0.60, excluding items like stock-based compensation. As of Dec. 31, the company held $4.1 billion in cash and cash equivalents, alongside $4.9 billion in bank debt and convertible notes.
A U.S. SEC filing Tuesday revealed the results and press release were furnished under Item 2.02 of an 8-K. They were not considered “filed” under Section 18 of the Exchange Act. SEC
Super Micro’s pitch focuses on rapid-turnaround server designs compatible with the newest GPUs—a niche gaining traction as AI clusters grow. But that speed can backfire when parts fall short or customers aren’t ready, causing revenue to bounce between quarters.
MarketBeat’s call recap highlighted that customer and product mix, plus rising freight and expedited shipping costs related to large new platform launches, weighed on margins in the December quarter. If component shortages continue or tariffs push costs higher, the company may find it tough to boost profitability despite sales growth.
Regular trading kicks off at 09:30 a.m. EST, with investors closely watching if the stock sustains its post-earnings jump once volume increases. After the open, the focus shifts to execution in the March quarter, particularly for any indication that gross margin steadies as shipments return to normal levels.
