First Quarter Fiscal Year 2027
Filed Aug 4, 2026ePlus Reports First Quarter Fiscal Year 2027 Financial Results; Managed Services Delivers Strong Performance and Increases Recurring Revenue; Reiterates Fiscal 2027 Guidance
Net sales and gross billings increased, led by managed services, but gross profit, gross margin, operating income, continuing-operations earnings, adjusted EBITDA, and diluted EPS declined year over year. The company reiterated fiscal 2027 guidance for mid-single-digit growth in net sales, gross profit, and adjusted EBITDA.
Key metrics
as reported| Metric | Value | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net salesGAAP | $649.1 million | – | increased 1.0% |
| Services revenuesGAAP | $119.4 million | – | increased 2.6% |
| Gross billingsother | $957.1 million | – | increased 0.5% |
| Gross profitGAAP | $151.3 million | – | decreased 1.5% |
| Gross profit marginGAAP | 23.3% | – | – |
| Operating expensesGAAP | $112.5 million | – | up 1.6% |
| Operating incomeGAAP | $38.8 million | – | decreased 9.6% |
| Other income, netGAAP | $3.1 million | – | – |
| Earnings from continuing operations before taxesGAAP | $42.0 million | – | decreased 3.7% |
| Effective tax rateGAAP | 27.8% | – | – |
| Net earnings from continuing operationsGAAP | $30.3 million | – | decreased 5.4% |
| Adjusted EBITDAnon-GAAP | $47.8 million | – | decreased 9.2% |
| Net earnings from continuing operations per common share-dilutedGAAP | $1.16 | – | decreased 4.1% |
| Non-GAAP net earnings from continuing operations per common share - dilutednon-GAAP | $1.28 | – | decreased 9.2% |
| Net earningsGAAP | $30.3 million | – | – |
| Net earnings from discontinued operations per common share - dilutedGAAP | . | – | – |
| Total shares outstandingother | 26.1 million | – | – |
Segments
| Segment | Revenue | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product segmentIncreases in revenue from networking, security, and collaboration products were offset by a decrease in cloud products. Product segment gross profit margin was 21.0%, down from 21.3% last year due to a shift in product mix and a lower proportion of sales that were sales of third-party maintenance and subscriptions which are recorded on a net basis. | $529.6 million | – | increased 0.6% |
| Professional services segmentRevenue declined primarily due to decreases in revenues from project services and staff augmentation. Gross profit margin decreased to 36.9% from 39.2% due to a shift in services mix. | $68.1 million | – | decreased 5.1% year over year |
| Managed services segmentGrowth was primarily due to additional revenue from cloud managed services. Gross profit increased 11.3% from last year, while gross profit margin decreased to 29.4% from 30.4% in the prior year quarter. | $51.3 million | – | increased 15.1% |
fiscal year 2027 outlook
- Revenueyear over year growth in the mid-single digits for net sales
- Noteyear over year growth in the mid-single digits for gross profit
- Noteyear over year growth in the mid-single digits for adjusted EBITDA
- NoteThis guidance does not factor in recessionary conditions, or other unexpected developments.
Capital returns
- Quarterly cash dividend of $0.27 per common share, payable on September 16, 2026, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on August 25, 2026.
- Board authorized repurchases of up to 1,500,000 shares of ePlus’ outstanding common stock over a 12-month period commencing August 11, 2026.
- The current repurchase plan expires on August 10, 2026.
What drove it
- Net sales increased due to higher product sales and higher service revenue.
- Managed services delivered its first $50 million revenue quarter.
- Product revenue growth reflected networking, security, and collaboration products, partly offset by cloud products.
- Managed services revenue growth was primarily driven by additional revenue from cloud managed services.
- Other income, net increased due to higher interest income and lower foreign currency transaction losses.
- Management cited a significant increase in booked and open orders.
Concerns
- Gross profit decreased 1.5% and consolidated gross profit margin declined to 23.3% from 23.9%.
- Gross profit margin declined in all three segments.
- Professional services revenue decreased 5.1%, with declines in project services and staff augmentation.
- Operating expenses increased 1.6%, while operating income decreased 9.6%.
- The effective tax rate increased to 27.8% from 26.5% due to higher state income taxes and non-deductible expenses.
- Management reported product shipment delays and extended lead times from the ongoing memory chip shortage.
- Accounts receivable—trade, net increased 14.8% from March 31, 2026.
What to watch
- Whether booked and open orders support the management expectation for a strong second half.
- The impact of the ongoing memory chip shortage on product shipment delays and lead times.
- Managed services growth and its gross profit margin, which decreased to 29.4% from 30.4%.
- Recovery in professional services revenue and gross profit margin.
- Execution against reiterated fiscal 2027 mid-single-digit growth guidance for net sales, gross profit, and adjusted EBITDA.
- Implementation of the new repurchase authorization commencing August 11, 2026.
Balance sheet and cash flow
- Cash and cash equivalents were $448.9 million as of June 30, 2026, up from $410.8 million as of March 31, 2026.
- Inventory decreased 27.3% to $146.0 million as of June 30, 2026 compared with $200.9 million as of March 31, 2026 due to a reduction of projects in process.
- Accounts receivable—trade, net increased 14.8% to $746.0 million as of June 30, 2026 from $650.0 million as of March 31, 2026.
- Total stockholders’ equity was $1,072.0 million as of June 30, 2026, compared with $1,069.0 million as of March 31, 2026.
Analysis
ePlus delivered modest top-line growth in the first quarter of fiscal 2027, with net sales increasing 1.0% to $649.1 million and gross billings increasing 0.5% to $957.1 million. The sales mix was uneven. Product sales increased 0.6%, professional services revenue decreased 5.1%, and managed services revenue increased 15.1% to $51.3 million. Management highlighted managed services as its first $50 million revenue quarter and cited additional cloud managed-services revenue as the primary growth driver.
Profitability declined despite higher sales. Gross profit decreased 1.5% to $151.3 million and consolidated gross profit margin fell to 23.3% from 23.9%, with lower gross profit margins across product, professional services, and managed services. Product margin fell to 21.0% from 21.3% because of product mix and a lower proportion of third-party maintenance and subscriptions recorded on a net basis. Professional services margin declined to 36.9% from 39.2%, while managed services margin declined to 29.4% from 30.4%.
Operating expenses increased 1.6% to $112.5 million, primarily due to general and administrative expenses and salary and benefits. As a result, operating income decreased 9.6% to $38.8 million and adjusted EBITDA decreased 9.2% to $47.8 million. Other income, net rose to $3.1 million from $0.6 million, reflecting higher interest income and lower foreign currency transaction losses, but this did not offset the operating-profit decline. Net earnings from continuing operations decreased 5.4% to $30.3 million, and GAAP diluted earnings from continuing operations declined to $1.16 from $1.21.
The balance sheet showed cash and cash equivalents of $448.9 million as of June 30, 2026, while inventory declined to $146.0 million due to a reduction of projects in process. Accounts receivable—trade, net increased to $746.0 million from $650.0 million as of March 31, 2026. Capital allocation actions included a quarterly cash dividend of $0.27 per common share and a new authorization to repurchase up to 1,500,000 shares over a 12-month period commencing August 11, 2026.
Management reiterated fiscal 2027 guidance for year-over-year growth in the mid-single digits for net sales, gross profit, and adjusted EBITDA. The guide is supported by management's cited increase in booked and open orders, but the reported quarter also included shipment delays and extended lead times related to the ongoing memory chip shortage. The central operating issue is whether growth in managed services and demand in security, networking, and collaboration can overcome professional-services weakness, product-mix pressure, and lower gross margins.
Management, verbatim
The first quarter reflected strong execution against a challenging year over year comparison. We had record sales and saw a significant increase in booked and open orders which we believe positions us for a strong second half. During the quarter, we saw product shipment delays and lead times extended by the ongoing memory chip shortage.
Mark Marron, President and CEO of ePlus
We continued to see strong growth in security, managed services, and within our mid-market customer base overall. Managed services delivered its first $50 million revenue quarter and provides a reliable revenue stream which affirms our services-led, value-add approach for customers.
Mark Marron, President and CEO of ePlus
We ended the quarter with $449 million of cash on our balance sheet. This strong cash position provides us with the financial flexibility to continue investing in our business, pursue M&A and return value to shareholders via dividends and share repurchases. As we look ahead, we remain focused on executing our strategic priorities and are confident in our ability to deliver sustainable long-term value for our shareholders.
Mark Marron, President and CEO of ePlus
Not in the filing
stated, not guessed- Prior-quarter comparisons for net sales, services revenues, gross billings, gross profit, gross profit margin, operating expenses, operating income, other income, earnings from continuing operations before taxes, effective tax rate, net earnings from continuing operations, adjusted EBITDA, and diluted EPS.
- Prior-year operating income, earnings from continuing operations before taxes, and net earnings from discontinued operations.
- Operating cash flow.
- Free cash flow.
- Debt.
- Actual shares repurchased or dollar amount spent on repurchases during the reported quarter.
- Absolute gross profit for the product, professional services, and managed services segments.
- Full-year fiscal 2027 numerical guidance for net sales, gross profit, adjusted EBITDA, gross margin, operating expenses, and tax rate.
- Prior fiscal-year outlook required to compare actual reported results with prior guidance.
AlphaAI analysis generated from the company’s SEC earnings filing (Form 8-K Item 2.02, or Form 6-K for a foreign private issuer). Every figure was cross-checked against the filing text; consensus estimates, price targets and share-price reactions are not shown because they are not in the filing. AI-generated research, not investment advice.