Computacenter PLC (LSE:CCC) shares jumped as much as 7% after the technology group raised its 2026 profit guidance following a record first half, with Peel Hunt pointing to strong AI-related demand and a record order book.
After the initial burst, the stock settled at 5,805p, up 4% in morning trading.
The FTSE 100 tech group now expects adjusted profit before tax for 2026 to be “significantly ahead” of market expectations and no less than £380 million. That is around 11% above consensus and 9% ahead of Peel Hunt’s previous forecast.
Adjusted profit before tax climbed 87% to £152.4 million in the six months to June 30, meaning Computacenter would need to deliver at least £228 million in the second half to reach its new floor.
The committed product order backlog stood at a record £9.3 billion at the half-year, up 29.5% from the end of 2025 in constant currency, providing strong visibility into future growth.
Peel Hunt reiterated its ‘buy’ recommendation and 6,000p price target, saying the backlog should support continued growth into 2027. Its £396 million adjusted profit forecast for next year is around 8% ahead of consensus.
North America remained the key driver, with adjusted operating profit rising 148% in constant currency and the region contributing 62% of group adjusted operating profit before central costs. Growth was fuelled by spending on AI infrastructure alongside enterprise and government projects.
The UK also performed strongly, with gross profit up 31.3%, while Germany was held back by earlier-than-expected efficiency costs.
Peel Hunt said the principal risk remained contract timing, particularly if a major December delivery slipped into January, although it stressed this would represent delayed rather than lost revenue.
