Penguin Solutions (NASDAQ: PENG) reported Q4 FY2026 net sales of $566.7 million for the quarter ended August 28, 2026, up 68% from $337.9 million a year earlier, while GAAP diluted EPS rose to $1.29 from $0.11. Integrated Memory contributed most of the revenue increase, and operating leverage lifted GAAP operating income to $69.5 million, although a $57.6 million tax benefit materially boosted reported net income. The company also raised its FY2027 sales and non-GAAP EPS outlook.
Core Earnings Data
AI-driven data center demand supported the quarter’s acceleration. Management said growth improved from relatively flat sales in the first half of FY2026 to 48% in Q3 and 68% in Q4 following the launch of the AI Factory Platform and a greater focus on data center customers.
Gross profit grew more slowly than revenue, reducing GAAP gross margin by approximately 1.1 percentage points. However, operating expenses increased only about 3%, allowing operating income to rise much faster than sales.
| Metric | Q4 FY2026 | Q4 FY2025 | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net sales | $566.7 million | $337.9 million | +68% |
| GAAP gross profit | $155.9 million | $96.7 million | About +61% |
| GAAP gross margin | About 27.5% | About 28.6% | About -1.1 pp |
| GAAP operating income | $69.5 million | $12.4 million | +458% |
| Non-GAAP operating income | $89.8 million | $39.2 million | +129% |
| Net income attributable to Penguin Solutions | $93.2 million | $9.4 million | +888% |
| GAAP diluted EPS | $1.29 | $0.11 | +1,073% |
| Non-GAAP diluted EPS | $1.00 | $0.43 | +133% |
| Adjusted EBITDA | $93 million | — | +115% |
For full-year FY2026, net sales increased 26% to $1.73 billion. GAAP diluted EPS rose to $2.60 from $0.28, while non-GAAP diluted EPS increased to $2.87 from $1.90.
Business and Segment Performance
Integrated Memory was the main reported growth engine. Its sales increased by $208.6 million and accounted for approximately 91% of the company’s total year-over-year revenue increase in the quarter. The segment represented about 60% of Q4 net sales.
| Segment | Q4 FY2026 Sales | Q4 FY2025 Sales | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Computing | $154.0 million | $138.3 million | About +11% |
| Integrated Memory | $340.8 million | $132.2 million | About +158% |
| Optimized LED | $71.9 million | $67.4 million | About +7% |
The quarterly improvement in Advanced Computing did not offset its earlier weakness: full-year segment sales were $558.8 million, down from $648.4 million in FY2025. By contrast, full-year Integrated Memory sales nearly doubled to $924.0 million from $464.2 million.
Penguin added six AI Infrastructure data center customers during Q4, including four neocloud providers. Across FY2026, it added 17 customers and expanded business with 12 existing customers. The announced engagements included the deployment and operation of a 36,000-GPU AI factory in Norway, although the release did not quantify the timing of revenue recognition from these wins.
The company also added AI infrastructure and memory supply relationships intended to improve component availability. Separately, it closed a $750 million offering of 0% convertible senior notes due in 2031.
Operating Leverage Improved, but a Tax Benefit Amplified GAAP EPS
GAAP gross profit increased about 61% while total operating expenses rose from $84.3 million to $86.4 million. This cost behavior allowed operating income to increase more than fivefold even though gross margin declined. The release did not identify a specific cause for the margin compression, so the effect of the quarter’s heavier Integrated Memory sales mix cannot be isolated from the disclosed figures.
Below the operating line, Penguin recorded $32.0 million of total non-operating expense, reducing pre-tax income to $37.4 million from operating income of $69.5 million. A $57.6 million income tax benefit then lifted consolidated net income to $95.0 million and net income attributable to Penguin Solutions to $93.2 million. Consequently, the 1,073% increase in GAAP diluted EPS was not solely the result of operating growth. The company also cautioned that its GAAP effective tax rate can vary significantly between quarters.
FY2027 Guidance
Penguin raised its FY2027 outlook from the preliminary view issued with its Q3 results. The net sales midpoint increased by approximately $260 million to $2.43 billion, while the expected non-GAAP EPS growth rate rose to about 55% from the previous preliminary view of approximately 30%.
| Metric | Latest FY2027 Guidance | Previous Preliminary View | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net sales | About $2.43 billion midpoint; growth of 40% ± 10 pp | $2.17 billion midpoint; about 30% growth | Midpoint raised about $260 million |
| GAAP gross margin | 27% ± 2 pp | — | — |
| Non-GAAP gross margin | 28% ± 2 pp | — | — |
| GAAP operating expenses | $329 million ± $10 million | — | — |
| Non-GAAP operating expenses | $275 million ± $10 million | — | — |
| GAAP diluted EPS | $3.50 ± $0.70; about 35% growth | — | — |
| Non-GAAP diluted EPS | $4.45 ± $0.70; about 55% growth | About 30% growth | Growth outlook raised about 25 pp |
The outlook assumes 63 million diluted shares. Management attributed the increase primarily to continued strength in memory and further acceleration in AI Infrastructure, while expecting operating leverage across the business.
Recent Insider Transactions
Over the reported six-month period, insiders purchased 16,040 shares in two transactions and sold 94,186 shares in 15 transactions, resulting in net sales of 78,146 shares. Total insider holdings were listed at approximately 1.76 million shares, with net purchases and sales equal to -4.30%.
The 10 most recent reported transactions consisted of eight sales with a combined reported value of approximately $2.44 million and two stock awards reported at zero value. All were listed as direct holdings; these transactions alone do not establish insiders’ views on the company’s outlook.
| Date | Insider and Role | Action | Price per Share | Reported Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep. 29, 2026 | FREY ANTHONY GEORGE, Officer | Stock award | $0.00 | $0 |
| Aug. 24, 2026 | KUYKENDALL ANNE, Officer | Sale | $49.62–$51.34 | $202,301 |
| Jul. 23, 2026 | CLARK JOSEPH GATES, Officer | Sale | $57.47 | $76,263 |
| Jul. 22, 2026 | KUYKENDALL ANNE, Officer | Sale | $56.12 | $41,473 |
| Jun. 15, 2026 | KUYKENDALL ANNE, Officer | Sale | $62.51–$65.63 | $257,501 |
| Jun. 1, 2026 | CLARK JOSEPH GATES, Officer | Sale | $55.53–$60.76 | $609,413 |
| May 26, 2026 | KUYKENDALL ANNE, Officer | Sale | $52.58–$54.98 | $217,794 |
| May 18, 2026 | HEARD DAVID W., Director | Stock award | $0.00 | $0 |
| May 14, 2026 | STRAUB MAXIMILIANE C, Director | Sale | $49.00 | $147,000 |
| May 12, 2026 | NAYYAR SANDEEP, Director | Sale | $43.48–$45.09 | $890,346 |
Risks Investors Need to Watch
- Reliance on Integrated Memory growth: The segment generated about 60% of Q4 sales and approximately 91% of the year-over-year revenue increase. A slowdown in AI-driven memory demand or volatile memory pricing could therefore have an outsized effect on company results.
- Gross margin pressure: GAAP gross margin declined by approximately 1.1 percentage points despite the rapid sales increase. FY2027 GAAP gross margin guidance of 27% plus or minus two percentage points also leaves a relatively wide range of possible outcomes.
- Large AI deployment execution: Penguin is taking on complex projects, including a 36,000-GPU deployment and round-the-clock operating services. Deployment timing, customer orders and renewals can affect when revenue is recognized.
- Component and supplier availability: The company established additional AI infrastructure and memory supply arrangements to support demand. Limitations in component availability or changes in material costs could constrain growth or profitability.
- Tax-related earnings volatility: The $57.6 million tax benefit significantly increased Q4 GAAP net income. Because management says the GAAP tax rate can vary materially by quarter, this contribution may not be repeatable.
Summary
Penguin Solutions’ Q4 FY2026 acceleration was led by Integrated Memory and supported by growing AI data center activity, while limited operating-expense growth produced substantial operating leverage. The raised FY2027 outlook points to continued momentum, particularly in AI Infrastructure, but investors should distinguish underlying operating improvement from the tax benefit that amplified GAAP EPS and monitor whether revenue growth can translate into more stable gross margins.
Find out more