10-QPeriod: Q3 FY2021

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co Quarterly Report for Q3 Ended Jul 31, 2021

Filed September 3, 2021For Securities:HPEHPE-PC

Summary

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) reported a 1.2% year-over-year increase in net revenue to $6.9 billion for the third quarter of fiscal year 2021, with an overall improvement in the demand environment and favorable foreign currency fluctuations. The company demonstrated strong operational execution, leading to a significant increase in both GAAP and non-GAAP gross profit margins, primarily driven by pricing discipline and cost savings from transformation programs. Earnings from operations also saw substantial improvement on a GAAP basis, reflecting the company's focus on higher-margin offerings and operational efficiency. For the nine-month period, net revenue grew 3.3%, and the company generated strong operating cash flow of $2.9 billion. HPE continued to invest in strategic growth areas, evidenced by recent acquisitions like Zerto and Determined AI, aiming to enhance its edge-to-cloud platform and software capabilities. The company also reaffirmed its commitment to returning capital to shareholders through dividends and plans to resume share repurchases, signaling confidence in its financial position and future outlook.

Financial Statements
Beta
Revenue$6.90B
R&D Expenses$506.00M
SG&A Expenses$1.29B
Operating Expenses$6.62B
Operating Income$282.00M
Net Income$392.00M
EPS (Basic)$0.30
EPS (Diluted)$0.29
Shares Outstanding (Basic)1.31B
Shares Outstanding (Diluted)1.34B

Key Highlights

  • 1Net revenue increased by 1.2% to $6.9 billion in Q3 FY21 compared to the prior year, driven by an improved demand environment and favorable currency fluctuations.
  • 2GAAP gross profit margin improved by 4.2 percentage points to 34.5%, and non-GAAP gross profit margin increased by 4.2 percentage points to 34.7%, reflecting pricing discipline and cost efficiencies.
  • 3Earnings from operations increased significantly by 2,250% on a GAAP basis to $282 million, with an operating profit margin of 4.1%, up 3.9 percentage points.
  • 4For the nine months ended July 31, 2021, net revenue grew 3.3% to $20.4 billion, and operating cash flow was strong at $2.9 billion.
  • 5The company completed several acquisitions in Q3 FY21, including Zerto, Determined AI, and Ampool, to strengthen its portfolio in cloud data management, AI, and hybrid analytics.
  • 6HPE declared a quarterly dividend of $0.12 per share and has a remaining authorization of $2.1 billion for future share repurchases, indicating a focus on shareholder returns.
  • 7Segment performance showed growth in Intelligent Edge (+26.8% revenue) and Financial Services (+4.1% revenue) for the quarter, while Compute revenue declined (-8.9%) impacted by material constraints.

Frequently Asked Questions

HPE reported a 1.2% increase in net revenue to $6.9 billion for the third quarter of fiscal year 2021, compared to $6.8 billion in the prior-year period. This growth was primarily attributed to an improved demand environment and favorable foreign currency fluctuations.

Profitability improved significantly. GAAP gross profit margin increased by 4.2 percentage points to 34.5%, and GAAP operating profit margin rose by 3.9 percentage points to 4.1%. This was driven by pricing discipline, cost savings from transformation programs, and a favorable mix towards higher-margin software-rich offerings.

HPE generated $2.9 billion in operating cash flow for the nine months ended July 31, 2021. The company maintains a strong liquidity position with $5.7 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash as of July 31, 2021. HPE also declared a quarterly dividend and has a substantial remaining authorization for share repurchases, indicating a commitment to returning capital to shareholders.

HPE made strategic acquisitions to bolster its technology portfolio. This included the acquisition of Zerto Ltd. for cloud data management and protection, Determined AI Inc. for machine learning software, and Ampool Inc. for a hybrid analytics data platform. These acquisitions are expected to enhance HPE GreenLake and accelerate growth in software-defined solutions.