Computacenter reaps rewards of huge AI growth underpinning artificial intelligence

By the Editorial Team · Friday, July 10, 2026

Computacenter nearly doubled its first-half profit for 2026 compared to 2025, driven by increased demand for AI infrastructure and strong growth in its U.S. and U.K. markets. This surge has boosted its full-year profit forecasts and positioned it as the best-performing FTSE 100 stock, with order backlogs reaching record levels.

Computacenter, a leading technology services provider, has reported a near doubling of its first-half profit compared to the previous year, driven by increased demand for infrastructure supporting artificial intelligence. In a trading update covering the six months ended June 30, the company highlighted strong performance in both the first and second quarters, attributing its growth to robust investment in AI-related technology.

The company now expects adjusted profit before tax for the first half of 2026 to be approximately double the £81.5 million reported in the first half of 2025. This positive momentum helped lift its shares by 7.2 percent to £44.34 at the close of trading, positioning Computacenter as the best-performing stock on the FTSE 100 index. Shares have gained over 50 percent so far this year.

Computacenter serves a diverse client base that includes large organizations across the United Kingdom, as well as major hyperscale data center operators in the United States, many of whom are significantly increasing their investments in AI infrastructure. The company’s services span technology sourcing, infrastructure build, and operational support, covering products from laptops to large-scale data centers.

Despite noting that the second half of 2026 faces tougher year-on-year comparisons, Computacenter remains confident it will exceed market expectations for the full year. Consensus analyst forecasts compiled by the company suggest adjusted pre-tax profit could reach around £313.7 million for 2026, up from an earlier estimate of £291.3 million in April. For context, the company reported £272 million in adjusted pre-tax profit in 2025.

At the end of June, Computacenter’s product order backlog stood significantly higher than the £7.1 billion reported at the end of 2025. This backlog represents the total value of customer orders placed with the company’s technology vendors and reflects non-cancellable sales commitments.

Regionally, the United States operations delivered stronger-than-expected growth, largely driven by increased spending by large data center operators and hyperscalers. The United Kingdom saw excellent growth in technology sourcing activities, including AI-focused projects, while Germany experienced steady growth in technology sourcing, although its professional services segment remained subdued.

Jefferies analysts noted that Computacenter’s exposure to the U.S. market is a strategic advantage, given the aggressive AI investments by American hyperscale companies.

In contrast, Bytes Technology, a competitor with a focus on software solutions, reported double-digit year-on-year growth in gross invoiced income during the first four months of its financial year. Bytes confirmed that its trading is in line with company guidance.

Sam Mudd, Computacenter’s chief executive, attributed the company’s strong performance to “deep vendor partnerships, strong customer relationships, and ongoing investment in employees,” reinforcing confidence in achieving its strategic objectives for the year.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.