Computacenter plc raised its 2026 adjusted pretax profit forecast Monday after third-quarter technology sourcing growth and a record committed product order backlog strengthened the UK technology services company’s outlook.
Computacenter now expects at least £425 million in adjusted pretax profit, compared with the £380 million minimum it set in September. The new forecast also exceeds the £387.1 million analyst consensus compiled by the company.
The backlog stood at £12.6 billion at Sept. 30, up from £9.3 billion at the end of June. It represents outstanding purchase orders placed with technology vendors to fulfill customer sales orders that cannot be canceled and are due for delivery within 12 months. Computacenter measures the total on a gross invoiced income basis.
In the third quarter, sales to hyperscale and neocloud customers in the UK and North America chiefly fueled technology sourcing revenue growth. Computacenter sources and deploys IT infrastructure, including hardware and software, for business customers.
Total services revenue also rose from a year earlier. Growth in professional services more than offset a decline in managed services, the company said.
Higher sourcing volume has affected profitability per sale. In the first half ended June 30, Computacenter’s gross margin fell to 9.6% from 12.6% a year earlier. The company linked the decline to its mix of work: high-volume technology sourcing in North America and the UK carries lower margins.
Computacenter shares were up 6.3% at the time Reuters reported on the update Monday.
At a Nov. 24 investor event, Computacenter plans to discuss its North American business and European data center capability. Its next trading update is scheduled for Jan. 28, 2027.
