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INSIGHT ENTERPRISES INC (NSIT)·Q1 2025 Earnings Summary

Executive Summary

  • Q1 2025 delivered mixed results: adjusted EPS of $2.06, slightly above Street, but revenue and adjusted EBITDA missed; gross margin expanded 80 bps to 19.3% on lower on‑prem software mix .
  • Hardware revenue rose 1% YoY (first growth in 10 quarters), while cloud gross profit fell 3% and Insight Core Services gross profit declined 4% amid delayed enterprise projects and partner program changes .
  • Management reiterated FY2025 guidance (adjusted EPS $9.70–$10.10; gross margin ~20%; low single‑digit gross profit growth), with profitability weighted to H2 as cloud partner program headwinds ease; SG&A discipline remains a key lever .
  • Capital allocation/catalyst: warrants settlement lowers average share count to 32.9M for FY25 , and the company repurchased 600K shares ($76M) from ValueAct post‑quarter, supporting EPS and signaling confidence .
  • Macro/tariffs: minimal tariff‑related demand pull‑ins so far; pricing actions subdued; AI infrastructure and device refresh (Windows 11) underpin hardware momentum while services softness likely improves as hardware attach lags normalize .

What Went Well and What Went Wrong

What Went Well

  • Hardware momentum resumed (servers/storage strength, devices recovery), driving the first YoY hardware revenue increase in 10 quarters and aiding margin mix shift .
  • Gross margin expanded 80 bps to 19.3% as lower on‑prem software mix offset partner program headwinds; adjusted EFO of $102.4M landed in line with internal expectations .
  • Management reiterated FY25 guide despite a tougher macro backdrop, citing disciplined SG&A, improving hardware demand and confidence in H2 profitability .
  • Quote: “We delivered adjusted earnings from operations and adjusted diluted earnings per share in line with our expectations… effective expense management allowed us to achieve our profitability target.” — Joyce Mullen, CEO .

What Went Wrong

  • Cloud gross profit fell 3% and Insight Core Services gross profit fell 4% YoY; management cited legacy Microsoft enterprise agreement declines and delayed product‑related services attach with large enterprises .
  • GAAP earnings hit by non‑operating items: $25.1M loss from warrant revaluation and $15.2M earnout revaluation drove diluted GAAP EPS down 87% YoY to $0.22 .
  • Services demand remained soft amid macro uncertainty; management expects improvement as hardware attach catches up later in the year .

Financial Results

MetricQ3 2024Q4 2024Q1 2025
Revenue ($USD Billions)$2.09 $2.07 $2.10
Gross Profit ($USD Millions)$432.1 $439.6 $406.5
Gross Margin %20.7% 21.2% 19.3%
GAAP EFO ($USD Millions)$92.9 $64.7 $60.1
GAAP EFO Margin %4.4% 3.1% 2.9%
Adjusted EFO ($USD Millions)$120.1 $129.4 $102.4
Adjusted EFO Margin %5.8% 6.2% 4.9%
Diluted EPS (GAAP) ($)$1.52 $0.99 $0.22
Adjusted Diluted EPS ($)$2.19 $2.66 $2.06
Adjusted EBITDA ($USD Millions)$128.8 $141.1 $111.3

Segment breakdown (Q1 2025):

SegmentNet Sales ($USD Millions)YoY %Gross Profit ($USD Millions)Gross Margin %GAAP EFO ($USD Millions)Adjusted EFO ($USD Millions)
North America$1,700.6 (11%) $319.5 18.8% $50.8 $87.0
EMEA$342.8 (17%) $71.9 21.0% $5.0 $11.0
APAC$60.1 (3%) $15.1 25.1% $4.3 $4.4

KPIs:

KPIQ3 2024Q4 2024Q1 2025
Cloud Gross Profit ($USD Millions)$129$125$103
Insight Core Services Gross Profit ($USD Millions)$81$78$73

Notes:

  • GAAP net earnings: $7.5M (0.4% of net sales) .
  • Operating cash flow: $78.1M .
  • Total debt at 3/31/25: ~$961M; debt up ~$80M YoY, while $574M spent on acquisitions, buybacks, and warrant settlements .

Guidance Changes

MetricPeriodPrevious GuidanceCurrent GuidanceChange
Adjusted Diluted EPSFY 2025$9.70–$10.10 $9.70–$10.10 Maintained
Gross Profit GrowthFY 2025Low single‑digits Low single‑digits Maintained
Gross MarginFY 2025~20% ~20% Maintained
Interest ExpenseFY 2025$70–$75M $70–$75M Maintained
Effective Tax RateFY 202525%–26% 25%–26% Maintained
Capital ExpendituresFY 2025$35–$40M $35–$40M Maintained
Average Share CountFY 202532.9M 32.9M Maintained

Earnings Call Themes & Trends

TopicPrevious Mentions (Q3 2024)Previous Mentions (Q4 2024)Current Period (Q1 2025)Trend
AI/technology initiativesStrong cloud GP +33% YoY; building capabilities across cloud/data/AI; cautious macro Record gross margin; cloud GP +21% FY; continued AI/multi‑cloud investments AI focus; Vertex/Gemini case studies; elite Databricks status; clients reallocating budgets to AI Steady build; more client examples and partner accolades
Tariffs/supply chainNot a focus in Q3 releaseNot contemplated in Feb guidance Minimal tariff pull‑ins; subdued OEM pricing; >10% tariffs slightly positive; higher tariffs would mute demand Watching; currently manageable
Product performance (hardware)North America product down 11%; services up 10% Hardware down 10% YoY; devices strength; margin up Hardware +1% YoY; servers/storage solid; devices recovery Improving sequentially
Cloud partner program changesCloud GP +33% YoY; strong EMEA/APAC growth Cloud GP +3% YoY in Q4; FY +21%; definition recast Headwind in H1; pivot to corporate/mid‑market; underlying SaaS/IaaS GP +17% ex‑program changes Near‑term headwind; H2 improvement expected
Services demandServices GP +13% YoY; ICS +14% ICS GP +12% YoY in Q4 ICS GP down 4% on delayed product‑related services; attach lag noted Soft in H1; expected to improve with hardware attach

Management Commentary

  • Strategic focus: “We remain focused on our strategy to drive long‑term profitable growth… AI will be a huge driver of business process transformation for our clients.” — Joyce Mullen, CEO .
  • Cloud/programs: “Cloud performance… underlying SaaS and IaaS gross profit grew 17%, offset by partner program changes… we anticipate the headwind to be weighted more in the first half.” — James Morgado, CFO .
  • Macro/tariffs: “We saw some minimal pull‑ins in response to the threat of tariffs… if tariff rates stay ~10%, impact is slightly positive as ASPs go up; at higher rates, demand gets muted.” — Joyce Mullen .
  • Cost discipline: “We will continue to prudently manage SG&A… adjusted SG&A declined 5% driven by actions we took in Q4.” — James Morgado .

Q&A Highlights

  • Tariffs/pricing elasticity: OEM responses vary; quotes shortened; subdued for now; 10% tariffs modest tailwind via ASPs; higher tariffs a risk to demand and budget certainty .
  • Hardware demand breadth: Momentum extends beyond PCs to infrastructure; minimal tariff‑related pull‑ins; AI infrastructure readiness (data, devices) cited as demand driver .
  • Services softness/attach lag: Product‑related services declined; attach lags improving as hardware bookings rise; consulting retooled for rapid scoping and digestible projects; continued focus on data/AI, multi‑cloud, cyber, edge M&A .
  • SG&A and headcount: SG&A to grow slower than GP; preserve sales/technical capacity; watch carefully through year .
  • Liquidity/capital structure: $961M debt; $1.8B ABL capacity ($1.3B available); warrants and convert settled; trailing ROIC 14.9% . Post‑quarter, repurchased 600K shares ($76M) from ValueAct, reinforcing capital returns .

Estimates Context

MetricConsensus (Q1 2025)Actual (Q1 2025)Surprise
Primary EPS (Adjusted)$2.009*$2.06 +$0.051 (beat)
Revenue ($USD Billions)$2.19*$2.10 -$0.09B (miss)
EBITDA ($USD Millions)$125.0*$111.3 -$13.7M (miss)

Values retrieved from S&P Global.*
Implications: A modest adjusted EPS beat amid revenue and adjusted EBITDA misses reflects stronger mix/margins and lower adjusted SG&A, but top‑line pressure from on‑prem software and cloud program changes likely drives estimate revisions toward lower revenue/EBITDA in H1, with H2 recovery embedded in full‑year guidance .

Key Takeaways for Investors

  • Mix‑driven margin expansion offset weaker revenue/EBITDA: Lower on‑prem software and disciplined SG&A supported adjusted EPS beat despite revenue/EBITDA misses; monitor sustainability as cloud program headwinds fade in H2 .
  • Hardware upturn is credible: Servers/storage strength and device recovery, plus Windows 11 refresh and AI infrastructure needs, underpin sequential improvement; services attach should lag but improve into H2 .
  • Guidance intact; H2 weighted: Reiterated adjusted EPS $9.70–$10.10 and gross margin ~20%; visibility improves as partner program changes annualize and services attach normalizes .
  • Capital allocation supportive: Average share count guided to 32.9M (warrant settlements), plus post‑quarter repurchase from ValueAct (~$76M) provides EPS tailwind and confidence signal .
  • Risks: Elevated tariffs (>10%) could dampen demand and increase budget uncertainty; services softness at large enterprises persists in H1; cloud program changes weigh near‑term .
  • Trade setup: Near‑term choppiness likely as Street resets revenue/EBITDA for H1; constructive into H2 if hardware momentum holds and services attach improves, with buybacks/share count reduction a potential EPS support .
  • Medium‑term thesis: Execution on AI/data/multi‑cloud solutions and deepening partner integration should shift mix to higher‑margin services over time; watch for M&A that augments domain/process capabilities .

Appendix: Additional Data Points

  • Q1 2025 cloud GP: $103M (-3% YoY); Insight Core Services GP: $73M (-4% YoY) .
  • Non‑GAAP adjustments: $25.069M warrant revaluation loss and $15.2M earnout revaluation lowered GAAP EPS; adjusted EPS excludes these items per policy .
  • Segment margin expansion: EMEA and APAC gross margin up 280 bps and down 90 bps respectively; North America gross margin up 40 bps .