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CDW (CDW)
NASDAQ:CDW

CDW (CDW) AI Stock Analysis

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CDW

CDW

(NASDAQ:CDW)

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Neutral 65 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:65Neutral
Price Target:
$134.00
▲(7.51% Upside)
CDW scores as a steady, cash-generative business with reasonable valuation, supported by earnings-call guidance for modest EPS growth and continued capital returns. The score is held back by leverage and margin/expense pressures, plus mixed technicals with weaker longer-term trend signals and near-term demand unevenness risks.
Positive Factors
Strong free cash flow generation
CDW’s free cash flow converts at roughly 80–90% of non‑GAAP net income with adjusted FCF ~ $1.09B in 2025. This durable cash conversion underpins repeated dividends, opportunistic buybacks, targeted M&A and debt paydown, preserving strategic optionality over the medium term.
Mix shift to higher‑margin software, cloud and services
Sustained double‑digit growth in software, cloud and managed services increases recurring and higher margin revenue. That structural mix shift supported gross margin expansion and provides a more resilient profit base, improving long‑term margin sustainability versus hardware‑centric sales.
Diversified end markets and multi‑channel model
CDW’s exposure across small business, education, state & local government, healthcare and international channels reduces single‑market concentration. Coupled with direct, e‑commerce and vendor partnerships, this durable diversification smooths revenue cycles and supports steadier demand across economic swings.
Negative Factors
Meaningful leverage on balance sheet
CDW is noticeably levered with net debt around $5B and leverage metrics above ideal levels. While liquidity and targeted leverage range provide flexibility, elevated debt increases financial vulnerability to slower cash flow, raises interest exposure, and constrains capital allocation under stress.
Elevated SG&A and operating‑cost pressure
Rising performance‑based pay and commissions have materially increased SG&A, compressing operating margins despite gross margin gains. If elevated compensation and selling costs persist, they can structurally limit operating leverage and earnings elasticity as revenue growth normalizes.
Demand and supply visibility risks (memory, federal spending)
Volatile component pricing, pull‑forward effects and federal spending uncertainty create ongoing unpredictability in product demand and margins. These structural supply/demand risks make revenue timing and profitability harder to forecast and can produce sustained quarter‑to‑quarter unevenness.

CDW (CDW) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

CDW Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionCDW Corporation provides information technology (IT) solutions in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. It operates through three segments: Corporate, Small Business, and Public. The company offers discrete hardware and software products and services, as well as integrated IT solutions, including on-premise, hybrid, and cloud capabilities across data center and networking, digital workspace, and security. Its hardware products comprise notebooks/mobile devices, network communications, desktop computers, video monitors, enterprise and data storage, and others; and software products consists of application suites, security, virtualization, operating systems, and network management. The company also provides advisory and design, software development, implementation, managed, professional, configuration, and telecom services, as well as warranties; mission critical software, systems, and network solutions; and implementation and installation, and repair services to its customers through various third-party service providers. It serves government, education, and healthcare customers; and small, medium, and large business customers. The company was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Vernon Hills, Illinois.
How the Company Makes MoneyCDW generates revenue primarily through the sale of technology products and services. Its key revenue streams include direct sales of hardware and software, which account for a significant portion of its revenues, as well as recurring revenue from managed services and cloud solutions. The company benefits from strategic partnerships with leading technology vendors, allowing it to offer a broad portfolio of products while leveraging vendor marketing and sales programs. Additionally, CDW's extensive customer base, ranging from small businesses to large enterprises and government agencies, provides a steady demand for its offerings, contributing to its overall financial performance.

CDW Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Revenue by Geography
Revenue by Geography
Breaks down revenue across different regions, revealing where the company is strongest and where it may face risk or growth potential due to local economic conditions or market share shifts.
Chart InsightsCDW's U.S. revenue shows a recovery in 2025, driven by strategic investments in AI and infrastructure, despite previous volatility. The Rest of World segment, particularly the U.K. and Canada, also sees growth, aligning with the earnings call's highlight of a 12% increase in these regions. Challenges in the federal and education sectors persist, impacting overall growth. However, CDW's diversified portfolio and focus on services and cloud solutions are expected to help it outpace the U.S. IT market growth, despite macroeconomic uncertainties.
Data provided by:The Fly

CDW Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Feb 04, 2026
(Q4-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:May 06, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
The call reflected solid operational and financial performance with record full‑year EPS, strong cash generation, and outsized growth in higher‑margin software, cloud, and services—supported by notable wins in small business, education, and state & local government. However, near‑term risks and cost dynamics temper the outlook: elevated SG&A, operating margin pressure, memory price and supply volatility that produced pull‑forward demand, and federal spending disruptions create unevenness, particularly in Q1 and potentially in the back half of the year. Management expects modest gross profit and mid‑single‑digit EPS growth for 2026 and reiterated disciplined capital allocation.
Q4-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Quarterly Revenue and Profit Growth
Q4 net sales of $5.5B, up ~5% year-over-year; Q4 non-GAAP gross profit reported at ~$1.3B (management commentary ranged $1.25B–$1.3B), up ~8.6%–9% YoY; Q4 non-GAAP operating income ~ $502–503M, roughly flat to up ~0.6%–1% YoY; Q4 non-GAAP EPS of $2.57, up ~3.8%–4% YoY.
Strong Full-Year Results and Record EPS
Full year 2025 net sales over $22B, up ~7% YoY; full-year gross profit nearly $5B, up ~6%; non-GAAP operating income nearly $2B, up ~3%; record full-year non-GAAP EPS of $10.02, up ~5% YoY.
Cash Generation and Capital Return
Adjusted free cash flow of ~$1.09B for 2025 (Q4 $418M), converting ~82% of non-GAAP net income to cash; returned nearly $1B to shareholders (~90% of adjusted free cash flow) via dividends and share repurchases; Q4 buybacks $153M and dividends $82M.
Strong Growth in Higher‑Margin Offerings
Double-digit growth across software, cloud, and professional & managed services; cloud contributed roughly half of the quarter's gross profit growth; software top line +12% YoY with gross profit growing faster.
Outperformance in Key End Markets
Small business top line growth of 18% in Q4; education up ~13% (K‑12 project wins including NYC Chromebook rollout); government overall +4% with state & local double-digit strength; health care +5% YoY.
Improving Margins and Mix
Q4 gross margin of 22.8%, +50 basis points YoY and +90 basis points sequentially, reflecting higher mix of netted revenues and improved product margins.
Prudent Balance Sheet and Liquidity
Net debt of ~$5.0B at period end (down ~$165M QoQ); net leverage ~2.4x within targeted 2–3x range; cash + revolver availability ~ $2.5B; three-month average cash conversion cycle ~16 days.
Capital Allocation Priorities and Dividend Increase
12th consecutive annual dividend increase to $2.52 (up 1%); target to return 50%–75% of adjusted free cash flow to shareholders; continued focus on M&A and opportunistic buybacks.
Strategic Progress on AI and Solutions
Management highlights growing AI momentum across end markets, with scalable AI offerings spanning strategy, data modernization, GenAI integration and automation; cited large enterprise accelerated compute deployment with potential ~90-day payback and SMB AI virtual agent use case.
Operational Wins and M&A
Acquisition of select assets of Lexicon Tech Solutions to bolster lifecycle capabilities for education; international (UK & Canada) delivered high single-digit growth and combined 2025 sales of $2.7B.
Negative Updates
Elevated SG&A and Expense Volatility
Q4 non-GAAP SG&A totaled $752M, up 14.6% YoY driven by higher commissions and performance-based expenses; expense timing created asymmetry vs. 2024 and compressed operating margin dynamics.
Operating Margin Pressure
Q4 non-GAAP operating income margin of ~9.1%, down ~50 basis points YoY despite gross margin improvement due to higher SG&A and performance-based compensation variability.
Government/Federal Headwinds
Extended federal government shutdown created expected federal spending weakness; overall government growth (+4%) was driven by state & local while federal was a headwind and Q1 expected to see slow federal rebuild.
Memory‑Related Pricing and Supply Risk
Management cited memory-related price increases that caused modest pull‑forward (~$50M net sales in Q4) and expects similar Q1 pull-forward; warned that memory pricing/supply volatility could introduce choppiness and impact H2 visibility.
Hardware and Storage Weakness in Parts
Hardware was mixed: servers and notebooks grew double digits but storage declined; corporate channel top line relatively flat (down ~1%) as slowing hardware demand and moderation in Windows 11 refresh weighed.
Near‑Term Sequential Softness
Guidance indicates Q1 gross profit to decline mid-single digits sequentially and first-quarter operating margin to be the year's lowest; company expects a slower start to federal demand in Q1.
Workforce and Cost Base Trends
Coworker count ended Q4 at ~14,800 (customer-facing ~10,500), both down slightly YoY/QoQ, and management noted 2025 as a 'baseline' for SG&A comparisons, implying near-term limited expense leverage.
Visibility and Second‑Half Uncertainty
Management repeatedly cited limited visibility into the back half of 2026 due to geopolitical, tariff, memory pricing, and public spending risks—potentially damping the pace of the expected gross profit recovery.
Company Guidance
CDW guided 2026 as a low‑single‑digit US IT market year with CDW targeting 200–300 basis points of outperformance; full‑year gross profit growth is expected in the low single digits with second‑half gross profit slightly above the first half and gross margin modestly higher than 2025 (2025 full‑year gross margin ~21.7%, Q4 22.8%); full‑year non‑GAAP diluted EPS is expected to grow mid‑single digits and currency is expected to be neutral to reported growth. For Q1 they expect sequential gross profit to decline mid‑single digits but still post mid‑single‑digit year‑over‑year growth (with a modest pull‑forward into Q1 roughly in line with or slightly above the ~$50M seen in Q4), Q1 operating expenses down on a dollar basis with the lowest quarterly operating margin of the year, and Q1 non‑GAAP EPS up mid‑single digits. Capital allocation targets remain returning 50–75% of adjusted free cash flow to shareholders (they returned ~90% in 2025), a roughly 25% dividend payout ratio of non‑GAAP net income, opportunistic buybacks, a target net leverage range of 2.0–3.0x (ended Q4 at ~2.4x), liquidity of about $2.5B (cash + revolver availability), and a stated adjusted‑FCF conversion rule of thumb of 80–90% of non‑GAAP net income.

CDW Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Profitability and free-cash-flow conversion are solid (FCF ~90% of net income), supporting shareholder returns and flexibility. Offsetting this, revenue growth has been uneven with recent margin softness, and the balance sheet remains meaningfully levered (debt-to-equity ~1.5x), which raises financial risk.
Income Statement
72
Positive
CDW shows solid profitability with stable gross margins (~20–22%) and consistent operating profitability, though margins eased modestly from 2023/2024 into TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) (net margin ~4.8% vs ~5.1% in 2023–2024). Growth has been choppy: revenue declined in 2023 and 2024, then returned to modest growth in TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months). Overall, it’s a steady earner, but not a strong top-line grower and recent margin pressure is a watch item.
Balance Sheet
58
Neutral
Leverage remains meaningful, with debt running above equity (debt-to-equity ~1.5x in TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months), and higher in prior years), which increases financial risk. That said, equity has improved notably versus 2021–2023, and returns on equity are very high—helped by leverage and a relatively small equity base. Balance sheet quality is improving, but it still screens more levered than ideal.
Cash Flow
70
Positive
Cash generation is a core strength: free cash flow is strong and tracks net income closely (free cash flow at ~90% of net income across periods, including TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months)). Free cash flow growth turned positive in TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) after a down year in 2024, supporting flexibility for debt paydown and shareholder returns. A weaker spot is that operating cash flow is a relatively small share of revenue in TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) versus 2022–2024, suggesting some working-capital drag or timing effects.
BreakdownDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue22.42B21.00B21.38B23.75B20.82B
Gross Profit4.87B4.60B4.65B4.69B3.57B
EBITDA1.66B1.93B1.95B2.01B1.64B
Net Income1.07B1.08B1.10B1.11B988.60M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets16.03B14.68B13.28B13.13B13.20B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments618.70M717.70M588.70M315.20M258.10M
Total Debt6.30B5.99B5.81B6.10B7.35B
Total Liabilities12.18B12.33B11.24B11.53B12.49B
Stockholders Equity2.61B2.35B2.04B1.60B705.70M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow1.09B1.15B1.45B1.21B684.60M
Operating Cash Flow1.21B1.28B1.60B1.34B784.60M
Investing Cash Flow70.20M-659.20M-229.60M-164.50M-2.77B
Financing Cash Flow-1.18B-686.90M-1.10B-1.10B832.80M

CDW Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price124.64
Price Trends
50DMA
134.90
Negative
100DMA
142.15
Negative
200DMA
157.23
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-1.79
Positive
RSI
37.70
Neutral
STOCH
17.56
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For CDW, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 124.64 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 130.37, below the 50-day MA of 134.90, and below the 200-day MA of 157.23, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -1.79 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 37.70 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 17.56 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for CDW.

CDW Risk Analysis

CDW disclosed 30 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. CDW reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

CDW Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
72
Outperform
$21.68B15.4031.05%0.87%6.48%22.17%
71
Outperform
$31.95B14.6515.16%1.46%7.44%-4.57%
68
Neutral
$9.26B20.6710.34%14.26%-15.49%
66
Neutral
$24.40B15.8115.82%2.78%-1.97%48.61%
65
Neutral
$16.18B15.3843.02%1.81%6.09%-3.84%
61
Neutral
$37.18B12.37-10.20%1.83%8.50%-7.62%
61
Neutral
$11.36B16.2686.85%5.24%-16.05%
* Technology Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
CDW
CDW
124.64
-59.09
-32.16%
CTSH
Cognizant
65.03
-18.35
-22.01%
EPAM
Epam Systems
138.85
-69.99
-33.51%
IT
Gartner
153.73
-334.17
-68.49%
WIT
Wipro
2.26
-1.08
-32.38%
LDOS
Leidos Holdings
173.50
47.96
38.20%

CDW Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyStock BuybackDividendsFinancial Disclosures
CDW posts strong Q4 2025 results, raises dividend
Positive
Feb 4, 2026

On February 4, 2026, CDW reported its fourth quarter and full-year 2025 results, highlighting solid top-line growth despite ongoing economic and geopolitical uncertainty. Fourth-quarter 2025 net sales rose 6.3% year-on-year to $5.51 billion, with average daily sales up 4.6% and strength in software, notebooks and mobile devices, and services, while gross profit increased 8.6% to $1.25 billion and margin improved to 22.8% on higher contribution from netted-down revenue. Segment performance was mixed but generally positive, with corporate sales slightly lower, small business revenue surging 18.4%, public segment sales up 7.0% driven by double-digit growth in education and mid-single-digit gains in healthcare and government, and UK/Canada sales up 8.4%. Operating income for the quarter grew 5.4% to $431 million, while net income increased 5.8% to $280 million and diluted EPS rose to $2.14, supported by lower state taxes and disciplined capital management, even as selling and administrative expenses climbed on higher performance-based pay and coworker costs. For the full year 2025, CDW delivered 6.8% net sales growth to $22.42 billion and maintained strong cash generation that enabled both M&A activity and the return of approximately $982 million to shareholders via dividends and share repurchases; the board reinforced this shareholder-return strategy by declaring a quarterly cash dividend of $0.63 per share payable on March 10, 2026 to stockholders of record on February 25, 2026.

The most recent analyst rating on (CDW) stock is a Hold with a $132.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on CDW stock, see the CDW Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board ChangesPrivate Placements and Financing
CDW Expands Credit Facility and Renews Executive Protections
Positive
Dec 23, 2025

On December 17, 2025, CDW LLC entered into a new five-year $2.88 billion senior unsecured credit facility, comprising a $634.5 million term loan and a $2.25 billion multi-currency revolving credit facility, to refinance existing debt, fund working capital, and support general corporate purposes. The agreement consolidates and replaces CDW’s prior term and revolving loan arrangements, introduces updated market terms and flexible incremental capacity of up to $1 billion, and maintains a maximum leverage covenant with provisions allowing temporary higher leverage following qualified acquisitions, collectively enhancing the company’s financial flexibility and access to liquidity. On December 19, 2025, CDW Corporation also renewed and extended compensation protection agreements for four named executive officers through January 1, 2029, modifying bonus-related severance calculations and reaffirming restrictive covenants such as non-competition, which signals continued focus on leadership retention and governance stability.

The most recent analyst rating on (CDW) stock is a Buy with a $177.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on CDW stock, see the CDW Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Feb 05, 2026