New York, Feb 4, 2026, 15:37 ET — Regular session
- SMCI shares climbed roughly 13% in afternoon trading following an earnings beat and raised guidance
- Company projects fiscal 2026 net sales to reach a minimum of $40 billion
- Gross margin dropped to 6.3%, spotlighting ongoing profitability concerns
Shares of Super Micro Computer jumped Wednesday following an upbeat full-year sales forecast and a strong quarterly revenue boost, signaling continued heavy investment in AI computing hardware.
This move is significant since Super Micro now serves as a high-beta indicator for data center expansions. Investors are weighing if the recent surge in orders signals lasting demand or simply a catch-up on postponed projects.
Shares jumped 13% to $33.62, hitting a high of $34.82 earlier in the session. Trading volume surged past 101 million shares, unusually heavy for this stock.
Late Tuesday, Super Micro announced fiscal second-quarter net sales hitting $12.7 billion, with non-GAAP diluted earnings at $0.69 per share. Gross margin slipped to 6.3%, down from 9.3% in the previous quarter — this margin represents revenue remaining after production costs. 1
In its latest release, the company projected third-quarter net sales of at least $12.3 billion and raised its full-year fiscal 2026 net sales target to a minimum of $40.0 billion. CEO Charles Liang highlighted that the firm is “scaling rapidly” to back significant AI and enterprise rollouts. 1
Super Micro reported “continued robust demand” for its AI-optimized servers, driven by customers boosting data center capacity. Gadjo Sevilla, a tech analyst at Emarketer, linked the company’s growth to its position “as the integrator” for major cloud and AI clients. CFO David Weigand said on an earnings call that “order strength remains strong” among large data center and enterprise buyers. 2
Reuters reported that the quarter also saw roughly $1.5 billion in shipments pushed from the previous period because customers weren’t ready. Liang highlighted tariffs, facility expenses, and component shortages as immediate challenges weighing on margins. 2
On Tuesday, the company filed an 8-K that included its earnings release. 3
The upbeat report on server demand hit chip stocks, with AMD slipping following a cautious forecast. Earlier Wednesday, Super Micro shares jumped over 11%, Reuters reported, highlighting how investors are dividing the AI play between infrastructure providers and chipmakers dealing with tougher comps. 4
That said, there’s a downside: margins remain slim, even slimmer than in the previous year. Super Micro’s latest AI-focused systems deliver lower profits, and the company has pointed to ongoing supply-chain issues. 5
Traders will be closely watching to see if the rally lasts through the close and carries into Thursday. Focus will then turn to Big Tech earnings, specifically for clues on data center spending — with Alphabet reporting after Wednesday’s bell. 6
