Computacenter Shares Hit 52-Week High After Raising Profit Forecast

Computacenter Plc (CCC.L) shares surged to a new 52-week high on Friday after the technology services group reported a sharp rise in first-half profit and substantially increased its full-year earnings guidance, driven by accelerating demand for AI-related infrastructure.

Stellar First-Half Performance

In its H1 2026 interim results, Computacenter announced a significant outperformance, fueled by its Technology Sourcing division. The company reported:

• Revenue of £6.85 billion, a year-over-year increase of 71.6%.
• Adjusted profit before tax of £152.4 million, up 87% from £81.5 million in the same period a year earlier.

This growth was primarily powered by a near-doubling of revenue from technology sourcing, as hyperscale and data-center clients in North America ramped up spending on AI infrastructure. The North American segment was the standout performer, accounting for over 60% of the group's adjusted operating profit.

Upgraded Outlook and Analyst Confidence

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Following the strong first half, Computacenter raised its full-year 2026 profit guidance to no less than £380 million. This new forecast is comfortably above the company-compiled analyst consensus of £340.9 million and signals strong momentum for the remainder of the year. Reinforcing this positive outlook, the company increased its interim dividend by 14.8% to 27.1 pence per share.

The robust results and upgraded forecast prompted a fresh wave of positive analyst reassessments. JPMorgan raised its price target on the stock to £60 from £50, maintaining an Overweight rating and citing conviction in earnings upside from AI capital expenditure. This follows recent target increases from UBS and Peel Hunt, building on growing market confidence.

Market Impact

Investors reacted positively to the news, sending Computacenter shares up 3.4% to a new 52-week high of 6,045 pence during the session. The company's committed product backlog also grew to £9.3 billion, providing strong revenue visibility.

The stock's rally occurred against a largely flat market backdrop, with the FTSE 100 trading near unchanged, underscoring that the move was driven by company-specific catalysts rather than a broader market tailwind. The combination of a major earnings beat, raised guidance, and analyst upgrades has cemented Computacenter's position as a key beneficiary of the global AI infrastructure build-out.