Core Viewpoint - The article discusses potential investment opportunities in NTAP, indicating a possible long position within the next 72 hours [1]. Group 1 - The author has no current stock or derivative positions in the companies mentioned but may initiate a beneficial long position in NTAP [1]. - The article expresses the author's personal opinions and is not receiving compensation for it, aside from Seeking Alpha [1]. - There is an emphasis on the importance of conducting due diligence and research prior to any investment decisions [2]. Group 2 - The article clarifies that past performance is not indicative of future results and does not provide specific investment recommendations [3]. - It highlights that the views expressed may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole, indicating a diversity of opinions among analysts [3]. - The article notes that analysts may include both professional and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified [3].

Company Overview - NetApp provides enterprise storage and data management software and hardware products and services, assisting enterprises in managing multi-cloud environments and adopting next-generation technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and Kubernetes [12]. Investment Ratings - NetApp is currently rated 3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of B, indicating a solid position but not a strong buy [13]. - The company has a Value Style Score of B, supported by attractive valuation metrics such as a forward P/E ratio of 12.64, which may appeal to value investors [13]. Earnings Estimates - One analyst has revised their earnings estimate higher for fiscal 2026, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate increasing by $0.02 to $7.88 per share [13]. - NetApp has demonstrated an average earnings surprise of +2.7%, indicating a potential for positive performance relative to expectations [13]. Investment Considerations - With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, NetApp is suggested to be on investors' short lists for potential investment opportunities [14].

Core Viewpoint - NetApp Inc. is currently considered one of the most undervalued quality stocks, despite mixed analyst ratings and market conditions [1][5]. Group 1: Analyst Ratings - Morgan Stanley downgraded NetApp from Equal Weight to Underweight, reducing the price target from $117 to $89, citing the slowest hardware budget growth in 15 years [1][2]. - Conversely, Goldman Sachs initiated coverage of NetApp with a Buy rating and a price target of $128, highlighting specific high-growth areas within media and data storage categories [3]. Group 2: Market Conditions - A CIO survey indicated a significant slowdown in IT hardware budget growth, leading to a more defensive stance on IT hardware investments [2]. - The broader external storage market is projected to grow modestly at 4% year-over-year in 2025, but NetApp is expected to maintain its leadership in the all-flash storage market [3]. Group 3: Company Overview - NetApp provides a range of enterprise software, systems, and services aimed at transforming data infrastructures across various regions, including the US, Canada, and Europe [5]. - The company operates in two segments: Hybrid Cloud and Public Cloud [5].

Core Viewpoint - NetApp Inc. (NASDAQ:NTAP) is currently priced at $97.36, reflecting a 1.05% increase in the current market session, but has experienced a decline of 8.68% over the past month and 19.81% over the past year, raising questions about whether the stock is undervalued despite the company's performance [1]. Group 1: Past Year's Performance - Over the past year, NetApp's stock has decreased by 19.81% [1]. - The stock price has shown a significant decline, with a notable drop over the past month of 8.68% [1]. Group 2: Valuation Comparison - NetApp has a lower price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio compared to the industry average P/E of 35.69 for the Technology Hardware, Storage & Peripherals sector, suggesting that the stock may be undervalued [6].

Company Performance - NetApp's stock closed at $98.33, down 1.01%, underperforming the S&P 500's loss of 0.13% on the same day [1] - Over the past month, NetApp's stock has decreased by 7.25%, contrasting with the Computer and Technology sector's gain of 1.88% and the S&P 500's gain of 0.78% [1] Upcoming Earnings - NetApp is expected to report an EPS of $2.07, reflecting an increase of 8.38% from the same quarter last year [2] - Revenue is anticipated to reach $1.7 billion, indicating a 3.32% increase compared to the previous year [2] Fiscal Year Estimates - For the entire fiscal year, earnings are projected at $7.88 per share, representing an 8.69% increase year-over-year [3] - Revenue estimates for the fiscal year stand at $6.76 billion, showing a 2.89% rise from the prior year [3] Analyst Estimates - Recent changes to analyst estimates for NetApp are crucial as they reflect the evolving business landscape [4] - Upward revisions in estimates indicate analysts' positive outlook on the company's operations and profit generation capabilities [4] Zacks Rank and Valuation - The Zacks Rank system, which ranges from 1 (Strong Buy) to 5 (Strong Sell), currently rates NetApp at 3 (Hold) [6] - NetApp's Forward P/E ratio is 12.61, which is a discount compared to the industry average Forward P/E of 23.29 [6] PEG Ratio - NetApp has a PEG ratio of 1.77, aligning with the industry average PEG ratio of 1.77 [7] Industry Overview - The Computer-Storage Devices industry is part of the Computer and Technology sector and holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 24, placing it in the top 10% of over 250 industries [8] - Research indicates that industries in the top 50% outperform those in the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1 [8]

Company Overview - NetApp, Inc. is a California-based technology company with a market cap of $18.6 billion, specializing in intelligent data infrastructure and data management solutions for enterprise and cloud environments. Founded in 1992, the company offers products and services for data storage, management, protection, and mobilization across various platforms [1] Earnings Expectations - For fiscal Q3 2026, analysts anticipate NetApp to report a profit of $1.67 per share, reflecting an 8.4% increase from $1.54 per share in the same quarter last year. The company has met or exceeded Wall Street's earnings estimates in three of the last four quarters [2] - For the full fiscal year 2026, analysts expect earnings per share (EPS) to reach $6.34, a 9.5% increase from $5.79 in fiscal 2025. EPS is projected to grow further to $7.06 in fiscal 2027, representing an 11.4% year-over-year growth [3] Stock Performance - Over the past 52 weeks, NetApp's stock has declined by 21.5%, significantly underperforming the S&P 500 Index, which returned 13.7%, and the Technology Select Sector SPDR Fund, which increased by 21.8% during the same period [4] - On January 20, shares of NetApp fell by 7.9% after Morgan Stanley downgraded the stock from "Equal-weight" to "Underweight" and reduced its price target from $117 to $89, citing concerns over optimistic earnings and revenue expectations amid weakening enterprise spending on storage hardware and rising memory costs [5] Analyst Ratings - Wall Street analysts maintain a moderately optimistic outlook on NetApp's stock, with an overall "Moderate Buy" rating. Among 19 analysts, six recommend "Strong Buy," 12 suggest "Hold," and one rates it as "Strong Sell." The mean price target for NetApp is $124.69, indicating a potential upside of 28.4% from current levels [6]

Core Viewpoint - NetApp Inc. (NASDAQ:NTAP) has experienced significant stock price declines following a downgrade from Morgan Stanley, which has raised concerns about future revenue growth due to reduced enterprise budgets and rising memory costs [1][2]. Group 1: Stock Performance - NetApp's stock fell by 9.34% to close at $94.11, marking a continuation of losses for a second consecutive day [1]. - The downgrade from Morgan Stanley has led to a revised price target of $89, down from $117, reflecting a 24% decrease [2]. Group 2: Market Conditions - The downgrade is attributed to reduced enterprise budgets for storage hardware and increasing memory costs, which are expected to slow revenue growth in 2027 [2]. - Despite the potential growth in the artificial intelligence sector, NetApp's 10% revenue exposure to public cloud services is not anticipated to significantly impact results in the near term [3]. Group 3: Company Developments - NetApp has recently appointed Paul Fipps to its board of directors, who brings over 20 years of experience in technology-driven growth and customer transformation [4].

Summary of the Conference Call Transcript Industry Overview - The report covers the **US IT hardware and distributors** sector, with specific focus on companies such as **DELL**, **Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)**, **NetApp (NTAP)**, **TD SYNNEX (SNX)**, **Penguin Solutions (PENG)**, **Super Micro Computer Inc (SMCI)**, and **HP Inc (HPQ)** [1][4]. Core Insights Hardware Demand Environment - General consensus among investors indicates that **neocloud AI infrastructure demand** will remain strong through **2026**. However, there is skepticism regarding the demand outlook for **PCs**, **general servers**, and **storage**, with concerns that these markets may be adversely affected by **memory price hikes** and shortages. The forecast for **PC shipments** in **2026** is projected to decline by **4% year-over-year**, which is more pessimistic than the **IDC's** estimate of a **2% decline** [4][5]. Company-Specific Feedback - **DELL (Buy)**: Investors expressed concerns about potential **margin pressure** due to a deteriorating PC market, demand for core **ISG** (general server, storage), and the sustainability of the **AI server opportunity**. However, DELL is viewed as better positioned than smaller competitors due to its scale and business mix [4][5]. - **HPE (Buy)**: Discussions focused on execution risks in the **Networking** business, particularly regarding the integration of **Juniper's** offerings. While HPE is considered attractively valued, investors are uncertain about near-term catalysts for earnings revisions [4][5]. - **HPQ (Sell)**: Investors largely agree that the current PC market conditions will negatively impact HPQ's **Personal Systems** business, affecting both top-line growth and margins [5]. - **SMCI (Sell)**: There is a consensus that SMCI's margins will be pressured due to its business mix and product transitions. Investors are particularly interested in understanding SMCI's working capital needs against its revenue growth expectations [5]. Least Push Back - There was minimal opposition to the ratings on **HPQ** and **SMCI**, indicating a general agreement on the challenges these companies face [4][5]. Valuation and Key Risks DELL - **Rating**: Buy - **Target Price**: $165, based on a **12.0X** NTM+1Y EPS [6]. - **Key Risks**: Weaker than expected demand in the consumer and commercial PC markets, enterprise IT spending, and pricing pressures due to excess inventory [7]. HPE - **Rating**: Buy - **Target Price**: $31, reflecting **11X** NTM+1Y EPS [8]. - **Key Risks**: Lower corporate IT spending, competition from white box manufacturers, and integration challenges with Juniper [9]. NTAP - **Rating**: Buy - **Target Price**: $128, reflecting **14X** NTM+1 EPS [10]. - **Key Risks**: Supply shortages, demand declines for on-premise storage, and increased competition [11]. SNX - **Rating**: Buy - **Target Price**: $180, based on **11.0X** NTM+1Y EPS [12]. - **Key Risks**: Prolonged lower IT spending and shifts in sales models that bypass distributors [13]. PENG - **Rating**: Buy - **Target Price**: $25, based on a blended valuation methodology [14]. - **Key Risks**: Memory market cyclicality and competition from OEMs [14]. SMCI - **Rating**: Sell - **Target Price**: $26, reflecting **9X** NTM+1 EPS [16]. - **Key Risks**: Demand for AI servers and market share gains [16]. HPQ - **Rating**: Sell - **Target Price**: $21, based on **7.5X** NTM+1 EPS [17]. - **Key Risks**: Better-than-expected PC demand and recovery in office and consumer demand [17]. Additional Considerations - The report emphasizes the importance of understanding the broader market dynamics and individual company strategies in navigating the current challenges in the IT hardware sector [4][5].

Group 1: Stock Market Movements - Logitech (LOGI), NetApp (NTAP), and CDW (CDW) saw declines of 6%, 4%, and 2% respectively after Morgan Stanley downgraded all three, citing a "perfect storm" for IT hardware due to the slowest corporate spending in 15 years outside of COVID-19 [4] - The downgrade was influenced by a 4Q CIO survey indicating softer demand, with resellers expecting 30%-60% of customers to cut budgets for PCs, servers, and storage amid rising component prices [4][5] - The hardware down-cycle is expected to last three to five quarters, with CDW downgraded to Equal-Weight (PT $141), Logitech to Underweight (PT $89), and NetApp to Underweight (PT $89) [5] Group 2: NYSE Developments - The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is developing a platform for 24/7 trading of tokenized U.S.-listed equities and ETFs using blockchain technology [5][6] - This platform aims to enable instant settlement, dollar-sized orders, and stablecoin-based funding, although the launch date has not been disclosed [6] - The initiative is part of Intercontinental Exchange's (ICE) broader digital strategy, which includes enhancing clearing infrastructure for 24/7 trading and supporting tokenized deposits [7][8] Group 3: Tesla and EV Market - Tesla (TSLA) is expected to benefit from Canada's decision to reduce tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles (EVs) from 100% to 6.1%, allowing 49,000 EVs to be imported annually [9][10] - The EV quota may increase to 70,000 within five years, with half reserved for vehicles priced under C$35,000 ($25,192), which does not include Tesla's models [11] - Tesla's largest plant in Shanghai is already equipped to produce a Canada-specific version of its Model Y, which was previously shipped to Canada before the tariff imposition [10]

Group 1: Core Insights - Goldman Sachs has resumed coverage of several companies in the IT hardware and distribution sector, assigning "buy" ratings to Dell Technologies, HPE, SYNNEX, and Penguin Solutions, while giving "sell" ratings to HP and Super Micro Computer, and a "neutral" rating to Insight Enterprises [1] - The IT hardware and distribution industry experienced a modest return of only 4% in 2025, compared to a 16% increase in the S&P 500, with expectations for continued volatility in 2026 due to fluctuating AI market enthusiasm and rising input costs [1][2] Group 2: Investment Themes - Analysts believe that patient investors will be rewarded, as the industry presents stock-picking opportunities, particularly for stocks with upward consensus expectations and attractive performance in three key investor topics: sustainability of AI demand, the stage of upgrade cycles for PCs, servers, storage, and campus networks, and the impact of higher input costs on margins and demand [2] - The rationale for the "buy" ratings on Dell Technologies, HPE, SYNNEX, Penguin Solutions, and NetApp includes Dell's strong earnings growth potential related to AI, HPE's attractive business transformation, NetApp's undervalued high-margin public cloud business, SYNNEX's resilient distribution model, and Penguin Solutions' accelerated profit growth through portfolio transformation [2] Group 3: Market Outlook - In terms of AI infrastructure demand, analysts expect strong growth in new cloud (GPU-as-a-service) demand, despite potential quarterly fluctuations due to product transitions and an expanding XPU ecosystem [3] - For traditional servers and enterprise storage, there is cautious optimism for revenue growth driven by data center modernization trends in 2026, while closely monitoring demand elasticity in an inflationary pricing environment and anticipating that higher DRAM/NAND costs will largely be passed on to customers [3] - The outlook for personal computers in 2026 is expected to be weaker than current market expectations due to diminished upgrade incentives and rising prices, with the impact of rising input costs on margins and demand being a key issue for 2026 [3]