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Dell Technologies Delivers First Quarter Fiscal 2025 Financial Results

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Dell Technologies Delivers First Quarter Fiscal 2025 Financial Results

News summary

  • First quarter revenue of $22.2 billion, up 6% year over year
  • Infrastructure Solutions Group (ISG) revenue of $9.2 billion, up 22% year over year, with record servers and networking revenue of $5.5 billion, up 42%
  • Client Solutions Group (CSG) revenue of $12.0 billion, flat year over year, with commercial client revenue at $10.2 billion, up 3%
  • Diluted earnings per share of $1.32, up 67% year over year, and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share of $1.27, down 3%

ROUND ROCK, Texas, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ —

Full story

Dell Technologies (NYSE: DELL) announces financial results for its fiscal 2025 first quarter. Revenue was $22.2 billion, up 6% year over year. Operating income was $920 million and non-GAAP operating income was $1.5 billion, down 14% and 8% year over year, respectively. Cash flow from operations was $1.0 billion. Diluted earnings per share was $1.32, and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share was $1.27, up 67% and down 3% year over year, respectively.

Dell returned $1.1 billion to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends and ended the quarter with $7.3 billion in cash and investments.

“We again demonstrated our ability to execute and deliver strong cash flow, with AI continuing to drive new growth,” said Yvonne McGill, chief financial officer, Dell Technologies. “Revenue was up 6% at $22.2 billion, servers and networking revenue was up 42%, and we generated $7.9 billion of cash flow from operations over the last 12 months.”

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First Quarter Fiscal 2025 Financial Results


Three Months Ended




May 3, 2024


May 5, 2023


Change

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(in millions, except per share amounts
and percentages; unaudited)







Net revenue

$          22,244


$           20,922


6 %

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Operating income

$               920


$             1,069


(14) %

Net income

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$               955


$                578


65 %

Change in cash from operating activities

$            1,043

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$             1,777


(41) %

Earnings per share – diluted

$              1.32


$               0.79

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67 %







Non-GAAP operating income

$            1,474


$             1,598


(8) %

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Non-GAAP net income

$               923


$                963


(4) %

Adjusted free cash flow

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$               623


$                687


(9) %

Non-GAAP earnings per share – diluted

$              1.27

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$               1.31


(3) %


Information about Dell Technologies’ use of non-GAAP financial information is provided under “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below. All comparisons in this press release are year-over-year unless otherwise noted.

Infrastructure Solutions Group (ISG) delivered first quarter revenue of $9.2 billion, up 22% year over year. Servers and networking revenue was a record $5.5 billion, up 42%, with demand strength across AI and traditional servers. Storage revenue was flat at $3.8 billion. Operating income was $736 million.

Client Solutions Group (CSG) delivered first quarter revenue of $12.0 billion, flat year over year. Commercial client revenue was $10.2 billion, up 3% year over year, and Consumer revenue was $1.8 billion, down 15%. Operating income was $732 million.

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“No company is better positioned than Dell to bring AI to the enterprise,” said Jeff Clarke, vice chairman and chief operating officer, Dell Technologies. “Servers and networking hit record revenue in Q1, with our AI-optimized server orders increasing sequentially to $2.6 billion, shipments up more than 100% to $1.7 billion, and backlog growing more than 30% to $3.8 billion.”

Dell Technologies World

On May 20, Dell expanded the industry’s broadest AI solutions portfolio from desktop to data center to cloud with innovations designed to accelerate AI adoption and innovation:

  • The Dell AI Factory combines Dell infrastructure, solutions and services optimized for AI workloads with an open ecosystem of partners including NVIDIA, Meta, Microsoft and Hugging Face.
  • The Dell AI Factory with NVIDIA includes the new PowerEdge XE9680L server, which offers direct liquid cooling in a 4U form factor and can support 72 NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs in a single rack – 33% more GPU density per node compared to the XE9680.
  • Dell PowerStore software updates give customers up to a 66% performance boost, native sync replication for file and block and improved multicloud data mobility capabilities.
  • New AI PCs are Copilot+ and powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon® X Elite and Snapdragon® X Plus processors, delivering exceptional battery life and AI performance.

Operating Segments Results


Three Months Ended




May 3, 2024

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May 5, 2023


Change


(in millions, except percentages;
unaudited)

Infrastructure Solutions Group (ISG):






Net revenue:

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Servers and networking

$         5,466


$       3,837


42 %

Storage

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3,761


3,756


— %

Total ISG net revenue

$         9,227

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$       7,593


22 %







Operating Income:






ISG operating income

$            736

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$          740


(1) %

% of ISG net revenue

8.0 %


9.7 %

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% of total reportable segment operating income

50 %


45 %









Client Solutions Group (CSG):






Net revenue:

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Commercial

$       10,154


$       9,862


3 %

Consumer

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1,813


2,121


(15) %

Total CSG net revenue

$       11,967

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$     11,983


— %







Operating Income:






CSG operating income

$            732

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$          892


(18) %

% of CSG net revenue

6.1 %


7.4 %

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% of total reportable segment operating income

50 %


55 %



Conference call information

As previously announced, the company will hold a conference call to discuss its performance and financial guidance on May 30 at 3:30 p.m. CDT. Prior to the start of the conference call, prepared remarks and a presentation containing additional financial and operating information prior to financial guidance may be downloaded from investors.delltechnologies.com. The conference call will be broadcast live over the internet and can be accessed at https://investors.delltechnologies.com/news-events/upcoming-events.

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For those unable to listen to the live broadcast, the final remarks and presentation with financial guidance will be available following the broadcast, and an archived version will be available at the same location for one year.

About Dell Technologies

Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL) helps organizations and individuals build their digital future and transform how they work, live and play. The company provides customers with the industry’s broadest and most innovative technology and services portfolio for the AI era.

Copyright © 2024 Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved. Dell Technologies, Dell, EMC and Dell EMC are trademarks of Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. Other trademarks may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures:

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This press release presents information about non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP operating expenses, non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP net income attributable to Dell Technologies Inc., non-GAAP earnings per share attributable to Dell Technologies Inc. – diluted, free cash flow, and adjusted free cash flow, all of which are non-GAAP financial measures provided as a supplement to the results provided in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”). A reconciliation of each non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is provided in the attached tables for each of the fiscal periods indicated.

Special Note on Forward-Looking Statements:

Statements in this press release that relate to future results and events are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and are based on Dell Technologies’ current expectations. In some cases, you can identify these statements by such forward-looking words as “anticipate,” “believe,” “confidence,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “guidance,” “intend,” “may,” “objective,” “outlook,” “plan,” “project,” “possible,” “potential,” “should,” “will” and “would,” or similar words or expressions that refer to future events or outcomes.

Dell Technologies’ results or events in future periods could differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements because of risks, uncertainties, and other factors that include, but are not limited to, the following: adverse global economic conditions and instability in financial markets; competitive pressures; Dell Technologies’ reliance on third-party suppliers for products and components, including reliance on single-source or limited-source suppliers; Dell Technologies’ ability to achieve favorable pricing from its vendors; Dell Technologies’ execution of its strategy; social and ethical issues relating to the use of new and evolving technologies; Dell Technologies’ ability to manage solutions and products and services transitions in an effective manner; Dell Technologies’ ability to deliver high-quality products, software, and services; cyber attacks or other data security incidents; Dell Technologies’ ability to successfully execute on strategic initiatives including acquisitions, divestitures or cost savings measures; Dell Technologies’ foreign operations and ability to generate substantial non-U.S. net revenue; Dell Technologies’ product, services, customer, and geographic sales mix, and seasonal sales trends; the performance of Dell Technologies’ sales channel partners; access to the capital markets by Dell Technologies or its customers; material impairment of the value of goodwill or intangible assets; adverse economic conditions and the effect of additional regulation on Dell Technologies’ financial services activities; counterparty default risks; the loss by Dell Technologies of any contracts for ISG services and solutions and its ability to perform such contracts at their estimated costs; loss by Dell Technologies of government contracts; Dell Technologies’ ability to develop and protect its proprietary intellectual property or obtain licenses to intellectual property developed by others on commercially reasonable and competitive terms; disruptions in Dell Technologies’ infrastructure; Dell Technologies’ ability to hedge effectively its exposure to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates; expiration of tax holidays or favorable tax rate structures, or unfavorable outcomes in tax audits and other tax compliance matters; impairment of portfolio investments; unfavorable results of legal proceedings; expectations relating to environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations; compliance requirements of changing environmental and safety laws, human rights laws, or other laws; the effect of armed hostilities, terrorism, natural disasters, or public health issues; the effect of global climate change and legal, regulatory, or market measures to address climate change; Dell Technologies’ dependence on the services of Michael Dell and key employees; Dell Technologies’ level of indebtedness; and business and financial factors and legal restrictions affecting continuation of Dell Technologies’ quarterly cash dividend policy and dividend rate.

This list of risks, uncertainties, and other factors is not complete. Dell Technologies discusses some of these matters more fully, as well as certain risk factors that could affect Dell Technologies’ business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects, in its reports filed with the SEC, including Dell Technologies’ annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 2, 2024, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and current reports on Form 8-K. These filings are available for review through the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Any or all forward-looking statements Dell Technologies makes may turn out to be wrong and can be affected by inaccurate assumptions Dell Technologies might make or by known or unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, including those identified in this press release. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements made in this press release, which speak only as of its date. Dell Technologies does not undertake to update, and expressly disclaims any duty to update, its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of circumstances or events that arise after the date they are made, new information, or otherwise.

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DELL TECHNOLOGIES INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income and Related Financial Highlights

(in millions, except percentages; unaudited)



Three Months Ended




May 3, 2024

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May 5, 2023


Change

Net revenue:






Products

$    16,127

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$    15,036


7 %

Services

6,117


5,886

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4 %

Total net revenue

22,244


20,922


6 %

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Cost of net revenue:






Products

13,766


12,375


11 %

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Services

3,672


3,529


4 %

Total cost of net revenue

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17,438


15,904


10 %

Gross margin

4,806

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5,018


(4) %

Operating expenses:






Selling, general, and administrative

3,123

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3,261


(4) %

Research and development

763


688

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11 %

Total operating expenses

3,886


3,949


(2) %

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Operating income

920


1,069


(14) %

Interest and other, net

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(373)


(364)


(2) %

Income before income taxes

547

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705


(22) %

Income tax expense (benefit)

(408)


127

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(421) %

Net income

955


578


65 %

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Net income attributable to Dell Technologies Inc.

$          960


$          583


65 %







Percentage of Total Net Revenue:

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Gross margin

21.6 %


24.0 %



Selling, general, and administrative

14.1 %

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15.6 %



Research and development

3.4 %


3.3 %



Operating expenses

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17.5 %


18.9 %



Operating income

4.1 %


5.1 %

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Income before income taxes

2.5 %


3.4 %



Net income

4.3 %

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2.8 %



Income tax rate

(74.6) %


18.0 %




Amounts are based on underlying data and may not visually foot due to rounding.

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DELL TECHNOLOGIES INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position

(in millions; unaudited)



May 3, 2024


February 2, 2024

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ASSETS

Current assets:




Cash and cash equivalents

$                           5,830


$                           7,366

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Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $66 and $71

8,563


9,343

Short-term financing receivables, net of allowance of $86 and $79

4,660

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4,643

Inventories

4,782


3,622

Other current assets

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10,792


10,973

Total current assets

34,627


35,947

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Property, plant, and equipment, net

6,237


6,432

Long-term investments

1,293

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1,316

Long-term financing receivables, net of allowance of $109 and $91

5,941


5,877

Goodwill

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19,640


19,700

Intangible assets, net

5,538


5,701

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Other non-current assets

6,914


7,116

Total assets

$                         80,190

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$                         82,089





LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Current liabilities:




Short-term debt

$                           6,098

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$                           6,982

Accounts payable

20,586


19,389

Accrued and other

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6,016


6,805

Short-term deferred revenue

15,034


15,318

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Total current liabilities

47,734


48,494

Long-term debt

19,382

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19,012

Long-term deferred revenue

13,116


13,827

Other non-current liabilities

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2,681


3,065

Total liabilities

82,913


84,398

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Stockholders’ equity (deficit):




Total Dell Technologies Inc. stockholders’ equity (deficit)

(2,822)


(2,404)

Non-controlling interests

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99


95

Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)

(2,723)


(2,309)

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Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$                         80,190


$                         82,089

DELL TECHNOLOGIES INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

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(in millions; unaudited)



Three Months Ended


May 3, 2024


May 5, 2023

Cash flows from operating activities:

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Net income

$                  955


$                  578

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

88

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1,199

Change in cash from operating activities

1,043


1,777

Cash flows from investing activities:

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Purchases of investments

(39)


(15)

Maturities and sales of investments

119

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19

Capital expenditures and capitalized software development costs

(596)


(701)

Other

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60


13

Change in cash from investing activities

(456)


(684)

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Cash flows from financing activities:




Proceeds from the issuance of common stock


2

Repurchases of common stock

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(700)


(240)

Repurchases of common stock for employee tax withholdings

(521)


(306)

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Payments of dividends and dividend equivalents

(336)


(276)

Proceeds from debt

2,992

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2,521

Repayments of debt

(3,477)


(3,698)

Debt-related costs and other, net

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(35)


(5)

Change in cash from financing activities

(2,077)


(2,002)

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Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash

(55)


(58)

Change in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash

(1,545)

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(967)

Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of the period

7,507


8,894

Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of the period

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$               5,962


$               7,927

DELL TECHNOLOGIES INC.

Segment Information

(in millions, except percentages; unaudited; continued on next page)

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Three Months Ended




May 3, 2024


May 5, 2023


Change

Infrastructure Solutions Group (ISG):

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Net revenue:






Servers and networking

$      5,466


$      3,837


42 %

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Storage

3,761


3,756


— %

Total ISG net revenue

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$      9,227


$      7,593


22 %







Operating Income:






ISG operating income

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$         736


$         740


(1) %

% of ISG net revenue

8.0 %

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9.7 %



% of total reportable segment operating income

50 %


45 %









Client Solutions Group (CSG):

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Net revenue:






Commercial

$   10,154


$      9,862


3 %

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Consumer

1,813


2,121


(15) %

Total CSG net revenue

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$   11,967


$    11,983


— %







Operating Income:






CSG operating income

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$         732


$         892


(18) %

% of CSG net revenue

6.1 %

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7.4 %



% of total reportable segment operating income

50 %


55 %




Amounts are based on underlying data and may not visually foot due to rounding.

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DELL TECHNOLOGIES INC.

Segment Information

(in millions, except percentages; unaudited; continued)



Three Months Ended


May 3, 2024

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May 5, 2023

Reconciliation to consolidated net revenue:



Reportable segment net revenue

$              21,194


$              19,576

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Other businesses (a)

1,049


1,343

Unallocated transactions (b)

1

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3

Total consolidated net revenue

$              22,244


$              20,922





Reconciliation to consolidated operating income:

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Reportable segment operating income

$                 1,468


$                 1,632

Other businesses (a)

6

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(36)

Unallocated transactions (b)


2

Amortization of intangibles (c)

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(168)


(203)

Stock-based compensation expense (d)

(210)


(225)

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Other corporate expenses (e)

(176)


(101)

Total consolidated operating income

$                    920

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$                 1,069

_________________

(a)   

Other businesses consists of: 1) Dell’s resale of standalone VMware, Inc. products and services, “VMware Resale,” 2) Secureworks, and 3) Virtustream, and do not meet the requirements for a reportable segment, either individually or collectively.

(b) 

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Unallocated transactions includes other corporate items that are not allocated to Dell Technologies’ reportable segments.

(c)

Amortization of intangibles includes non-cash purchase accounting adjustments that are primarily related to the EMC merger transaction.

(d) 

Stock-based compensation expense consists of equity awards granted based on the estimated fair value of those awards at grant date.

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(e)   

Other corporate expenses consist primarily of severance expenses, payroll taxes associated with stock-based compensation, facility action costs, transaction-related expenses, impairment charges, and incentive charges related to equity investments. 

SUPPLEMENTAL SELECTED NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

These tables present information about the Company’s non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP operating expenses, non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP net income attributable to Dell Technologies Inc., non-GAAP earnings per share attributable to Dell Technologies Inc. – diluted, free cash flow and adjusted free cash flow, all of which are non-GAAP financial measures provided as a supplement to the results provided in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”). A detailed discussion of Dell Technologies’ reasons for including these non-GAAP financial measures, the limitations associated with these measures, the items excluded from these measures, and our reason for excluding those items are presented in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Non-GAAP Financial Measures” in our periodic reports filed with the SEC. Dell Technologies encourages investors to review the non-GAAP discussion in these reports in conjunction with the presentation of non-GAAP financial measures.

DELL TECHNOLOGIES INC.

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Selected Financial Measures

(in millions, except per share amounts and percentages; unaudited)



Three Months Ended




May 3, 2024


May 5, 2023

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% Change

Net revenue

$   22,244


$    20,922


6 %

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Non-GAAP gross margin

$     4,947


$      5,164


(4) %

% of net revenue

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22.2 %


24.7 %



Non-GAAP operating expenses

$      3,473


$      3,566

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(3) %

% of net revenue

15.6 %


17.1 %



Non-GAAP operating income

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$      1,474


$      1,598


(8) %

% of net revenue

6.6 %

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7.6 %



Non-GAAP net income

$         923


$         963


(4) %

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% of net revenue

4.1 %


4.6 %



Non-GAAP earnings per share – diluted

$        1.27

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$        1.31


(3) %


Amounts are based on underlying data and may not visually foot due to rounding.

DELL TECHNOLOGIES INC.

Reconciliation of Selected Non-GAAP Financial Measures

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(in millions, except percentages; unaudited; continued on next page)



Three Months Ended




May 3, 2024


May 5, 2023


% Change

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Gross margin

$         4,806


$         5,018


(4) %

Non-GAAP adjustments:

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Amortization of intangibles

60


79



Stock-based compensation expense

38

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38



Other corporate expenses

43


29



Non-GAAP gross margin

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$         4,947


$         5,164


(4) %







Operating expenses

$         3,886

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$         3,949


(2) %

Non-GAAP adjustments:






Amortization of intangibles

(108)

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(124)



Stock-based compensation expense

(172)


(187)



Other corporate expenses

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(133)


(72)



Non-GAAP operating expenses

$         3,473


$         3,566

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(3) %







Operating income

$            920


$         1,069


(14) %

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Non-GAAP adjustments:






Amortization of intangibles

168


203



Stock-based compensation expense

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210


225



Other corporate expenses

176


101

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Non-GAAP operating income

$         1,474


$         1,598


(8) %







Net income

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$            955


$            578


65 %

Non-GAAP adjustments:






Amortization of intangibles

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168


203



Stock-based compensation expense

210


225

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Other corporate expenses

170


98



Fair value adjustments on equity investments

30

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15



Aggregate adjustment for income taxes (a)

(610)


(156)



Non-GAAP net income

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$            923


$            963


(4) %

____________________

(a) 

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Beginning in Fiscal 2025, our non-GAAP income tax is calculated using a fixed estimated annual tax rate.

DELL TECHNOLOGIES INC.

Reconciliation of Selected Non-GAAP Financial Measures

(unaudited; continued)



Three Months Ended

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May 3, 2024


May 5, 2023


% Change

Earnings per share attributable to Dell Technologies, Inc. — diluted

$           1.32

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$           0.79


67 %

Non-GAAP adjustments:






Amortization of intangibles

0.23

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0.28



Stock-based compensation expense

0.29


0.30



Other corporate expenses

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0.24


0.13



Fair value adjustments on equity investments

0.04


0.02

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Aggregate adjustment for income taxes (a)

(0.84)


(0.21)



Total non-GAAP adjustments attributable to non-controlling interests

(0.01)

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Non-GAAP earnings per share attributable to Dell Technologies, Inc. — diluted

$           1.27


$           1.31


(3) %

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____________________

(a)

Beginning in Fiscal 2025, our non-GAAP income tax is calculated using a fixed estimated annual tax rate.

DELL TECHNOLOGIES INC.

Reconciliation of Selected Non-GAAP Financial Measures

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(in millions, except percentages; unaudited; continued)




Three Months Ended





May 3, 2024


May 5, 2023


% Change

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Cash flow from operations


$        1,043


$        1,777


(41) %

Non-GAAP adjustments:

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Capital expenditures and capitalized software development costs, net (a)


(586)


(698)



Free cash flow


$            457

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$        1,079


(58) %








Free cash flow


$            457


$        1,079

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(58) %

Non-GAAP adjustments:







Financing receivables (b)


165


(367)

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Equipment under operating leases (c)


1


(25)



Adjusted free cash flow


$            623

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$            687


(9) %

____________________

(a) 

Capital expenditures and capitalized software development costs is net of proceeds from sales of facilities, land, and other assets.

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(b)

Financing receivables represent the operating cash flow impact from the change in DFS financing receivables.

(c)

Equipment under operating leases represents the net change of capital expenditures and depreciation expense for DFS leases and contractually embedded leases identified within flexible consumption arrangements.

SOURCE Dell Technologies

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Finance

Paramount ally RedBird says using Middle East money to help buy Warner Bros. could be a good idea

Published

on

Paramount ally RedBird says using Middle East money to help buy Warner Bros. could be a good idea

  • Last year, Paramount said it would use $24 billion in funding from Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar to help buy WBD.
  • Now that Paramount has won that deal, it won’t say whether that’s still the plan.
  • A key Paramount backer suggests that Gulf money would be a good thing for this deal.

We still don’t know if Paramount intends to use billions of dollars from Gulf states like Saudi Arabia to help it buy Warner Bros. Discovery.

But if Paramount does end up doing that, it wouldn’t be a bad thing, says a key Paramount backer.

That update comes via Gerry Cardinale, who heads up RedBird Capital Partners, the private equity company that helped finance Larry and David Ellison’s acquisition of Paramount last year and is doing the same with their WBD deal now.

In a podcast with Puck’s Matt Belloni published Wednesday night, Cardinale wouldn’t comment directly on Paramount’s previously disclosed plans to use $24 billion from sovereign wealth funds controlled by Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar to help buy WBD.

Instead, he reiterated Paramount’s current messaging on the deal’s financing: The $47 billion in equity Paramount will use to buy WBD will be “backstopped” by the Ellison family and RedBird — meaning they are ultimately on the hook to pay up. The rest of the $81 billion deal will be financed with debt.

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Cardinale also acknowledged what Paramount has disclosed in its current disclosure documents: It intends to sell portions of that $47 billion commitment to other investors: “We haven’t syndicated anything at this time,” he said. “We do expect to syndicate with strategic, domestic, and foreign investors. But at the end of the day, that alchemy shouldn’t matter because it’ll be done in the right way.”

And when asked about concerns about Middle Eastern countries owning part of a media conglomerate that includes assets like CNN, Cardinale suggested that could be a plus.

“I think we want to be a global company,” he said. “You look at what’s going on right now geopolitically. What’s going on right now geopolitically out of the Middle East wouldn’t be, the positives of that would not be happening without some of those sovereigns that you’re referring to.”

He continued:

“The world is changing. We can stick our head in the sand and pretend it’s not, or we can embrace globalization and the derivative benefits both geopolitically and otherwise that come from that. Content generation coming out of Hollywood is one of America’s greatest exports.
I firmly embrace the global nature and orientation that we bring to this from a capital standpoint, from a footprint standpoint, etc. At the end of the day, I do understand some of the concerns that you’ve raised, but that will work itself out between signing and closing because at the end of the day, worst-case scenario, Ellison and RedBird are 100% of this thing.”

All of which suggests to me that Paramount still intends to use money from Gulf-based sovereign wealth funds to buy WBD.

What I don’t understand is why the company won’t say that out loud. Does that mean it’s still negotiating with potential investors? Or that it’s reticent to disclose outside investors, for whatever reason, until it has to? A Paramount rep declined to comment.

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Crypto bill hits new impasse, raising doubts over its future

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Crypto bill hits new impasse, raising doubts over its future
Talks on landmark crypto legislation have hit a new impasse after banks said they could not back a compromise pushed by the White House, a development that cast doubt on whether the bill will pass this year and sparked criticism from President Donald Trump ​who accused lenders of trying to undermine it.
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Stamford Finance Students Wow Judges, Take Home Trophy in Regional CFA Competition – UConn Today

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Stamford Finance Students Wow Judges, Take Home Trophy in Regional CFA Competition – UConn Today

A tenacious team of finance majors, who sacrificed most of their winter break to prepare for the CFA Institute Research Challenge, took first place in that regional competition last week.

Students Hunter Baillargeon, Dylan Fischetto, Richard Opper, Philip Ochocinski and Rushit Chauhan were tasked with researching and analyzing a major utility company, and then producing a 10-page report about whether to buy, hold, or sell its stock. They chose to sell.

One of the CFA judges said both the team’s report and presentation were among the best he had seen in many years.

“As a team, we were thrilled our hard work paid off and our many hours of work allowed us to achieve what we did,’’ Baillargeon said. “What we accomplished couldn’t have been done without working with such a cohesive and collective unit.’’

“From a technical perspective, I realize how valuable true analysis is and the importance of looking where others don’t for a differentiated approach,’’ Baillargeon said.

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The first round of competition featured 24 college teams from the Stamford-Hartford-Providence region. The Stamford team, composed of seniors all of whom all participate in UConn’s Student Managed Fund program, received its first-place award Feb. 26 in a ceremony in Hartford. The team will advance to the East Coast competition later this month.

Stamford Finance Program is Robust

“The Stamford team’s advancement in this competition reflects not only the students’ exceptional talent and work ethic, but also the rigor and applied focus of the UConn finance curriculum,’’ said professor Yiming Qian, head of the Finance Department.

“Our Stamford campus hosts approximately 200 financial management majors. The Stamford program is a vital part of the School and continues to demonstrate outstanding strength,” she said.

Professors Steve Wilson and Jeff Bianchi, who combined have 75 years of experience in the investment industry, were the team’s advisers and were supported by academic director Katherine Pancak.

Wilson said the task of analyzing a utility is particularly complex because of the company’s structure and the regulatory environment in which it operates.

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“I believe the Stamford team stood out because of the depth of their research, and willingness to take a bold stand, including the decision to ‘go out on a limb’ and recommend selling the stock,’’ he said. “They didn’t ‘play it safe.’’’

“This clean-sweep was a true team effort. They were tireless throughout, and sleepless too often, but they never wavered from their desire to always dig deeper and uncover any information that would strengthen our investment case,’’ he said. “What a phenomenal job they did!’’

Competition in Hong Kong Is Ultimate Goal

The Stamford team will compete against Loyola, Canisius, Sacred Heart; Seton Hall, Villanova, St. Michaels, Western New England, University of Maine, Fordham and Penn State next. In total, some 8,000 students are expected to participate in various competitions worldwide, culminating in a championship round in Hong Kong in May.

Wilson said the financial industry is always welcoming of new talent. And when one of the judges told him that the Stamford team produced some of the best work that he’d seen in years, Wilson felt tremendous pride for the students.

“Finance is an open playing field. In investments, the best idea wins,’’ he said.

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Baillargeon said he will always appreciate the whole team’s dedication.

“What I’ll remember most is the help of our advisers and our cohesive, close-knit team where everyone pulled their weight,’’ Baillargeon said. “We put in long hours, did a tremendous amount of research, and collaborated well together. I hope when I enter the workforce I get to work with a team as committed as this one is.’’

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