Computacenter shares jump 6.3% after fourth profit outlook upgrade in 2026
Key Facts
Computacenter raised its annual profit outlook for the fourth time in 2026, with sustained demand from AI data center customers the main driver of the update, Reuters said. Reuters reported that the shares rose 6.3% after the announcement on 26 October. EL7 data show the shares closed at 4948 that day. The update followed half-year results showing increases in adjusted profit before tax and revenue compared with the same period in 2025. According to the company’s disclosure, the upgrade applies only to adjusted profit before tax; the disclosure did not announce an upgrade to revenue forecasts.
Adjusted profit before tax was 152.4 million pounds sterling in the first half of 2026, versus 81.5 million in the first half of 2025, an annual increase of 87.0%, according to the company’s results. Over the same period, revenue rose to 6,845.2 million pounds sterling from 3,988.8 million, a rise of 71.6%. These figures provide financial context for the new update, but cover the first half and do not represent full-year forecasts. A July trading update had indicated that first-half profit would be about twice the relatively weak year-earlier comparison. The company then put first-half 2025 profit at 81.5 million pounds sterling, the figure later reported in the comparative results.
On operating cash flow, the company recorded a net cash outflow from operating activities of 82.6 million pounds sterling in the first half of 2026. The outflow had been 165.8 million pounds sterling in the corresponding period of 2025. This cash trend offers a parallel picture to the growth in profit and revenue recorded in the first half. In its latest disclosure, Reuters linked the outlook upgrade to sustained demand from AI data center customers. Reuters identified North America and the UK among the markets driving that demand.
Reuters noted that the company’s shares had risen 56.7% year to date through Friday’s close before the 26 October announcement. The 6.3% jump after the update added to those accumulated gains, according to the same report. Reuters described the announcement as the fourth annual outlook upgrade of the year, supported by demand from data center customers. EL7 data confirm the shares closed at 4948 on 26 October, but do not establish the session’s high. The available facts do not include a date for the company’s next update or further details on its annual forecasts.