By Sohaib Shams
Computacenter has increased its annual profit outlook following a record-high backlog of orders fueled by rising demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure. Following the update to investors, shares in the FTSE 100-listed technology provider rose by approximately 7% on Monday morning.
Record order backlog
The company reported that its order backlog reached a record £12.6 billion at the end of September, a significant increase from the £9.3 billion recorded at the end of June. This growth is supported by a strong pipeline of upcoming opportunities and robust performance in its technology sourcing division.
Upgraded profit expectations
As a result of the strong financial performance, management now expects to report an adjusted pre-tax profit for the year of at least £425 million. This figure exceeds the £387 million previously forecasted by analysts. The company's third-quarter performance surpassed initial expectations.
Driving force of AI infrastructure
The improved performance was primarily driven by hyperscale and neocloud customers in North America and the United Kingdom. These clients are focusing on large-scale infrastructure projects, including massive data centers and AI cloud computing. The shift in customer spending toward AI projects has increased demand for essential components, while existing supply shortages have contributed to higher prices.
Hyperscalers, which operate massive data centers such as Google, Meta, and Amazon, have been primary drivers of this component demand. Computacenter specializes in designing, sourcing, and deploying IT infrastructure, including hardware, software, data storage, and connectivity, for companies globally.
