Gross margin expanded 240 basis points to 21.7% due to higher services mix.
Diluted EPS surged over 100% year-over-year to $0.97.
Company repurchased $75 million of common stock in Q1.
Interest expense increased 51% amid a $1.5 billion total debt load.
The Q1 2026 filing reveals a company in the midst of a high-stakes transition. On one hand, the shift toward a services-led model is yielding tangible margin expansion and higher earnings per share, proving that the 'solutions integrator' strategy can drive profitability. On the other hand, the transition is creating significant friction in the cash conversion cycle and increasing the company's sensitivity to interest rate fluctuations. Investors are now weighing the strength of the AI and cloud adoption tailwinds against a deteriorating cash flow profile and a substantial debt burden. The ability of the new management team to deleverage the balance sheet while maintaining the current pace of margin expansion will be the primary determinant of the stock's long-term trajectory.