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Arista Networks, Inc.
ANET - NYSE - $159.99 ▼ -%3.98
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Earnings
Tue 4 Aug
Note: this preview was published before the 2026-08-04 earnings report. Results have since been released — verify against the latest filings.
Arista opens the
books on Tuesday evening.
9 analysts' median target is $187[FMP target], stock is $160, +16.9% vs the analyst consensus median. After Q1 +7.7% EPS beat[FMP earnings], the stock moved -13.6%.
↓
summary below
Quick Take - in 40 seconds
B
BUY
Council 3/6
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Moonshot 77
B = MoonshotScore 77[multi-pillar formula] + Council 3/6[6-lens rule]. Form 4: 0 transactions[FMP Form 4].
Quick AnswerArista Networks, Inc. (ANET)
Q1 consensus: revenue $2.8B[FMP est], EPS $0.89[FMP est]. 8 consecutive quarters of beat[FMP earnings].
$0.89
EPS Estimate
Last year $0.87 - +22% YoY YoY
-
Cloud and AI Networking Guidance
Previous quarter was 0%
8
Beat Streak
Expectations beaten consecutively for the last 8 quarters
Q1 EPS +7.7% beat[FMP] but the stock -13.6% D+1[FMP D+1].
$2.8 billion
Expectation / Guide
Q2 2026 Guidance
q2_2026_guidance
Arista expects approximately $2.8 billion in revenue for the second quarter of 2026, with a gross margin between 62% and 63%, an operating margin between 46% and 47%, and diluted earnings per share of approximately $0.88.
"More specifically, now our guidance for the second quarter is as follows: now with the added quarterly metric of diluted earnings per share, revenues of approximately $2.8 billion, gross margin between 62% and 63%, operating margin between 46% and 47% and diluted earnings per share of approximately $0.88 with approximately 1.27 billion diluted shares."
- Chantelle Breithaupt, CFO - Q1 FY26 Earnings Call - May 5, 2026
$54.5 million
Risk Indicator
Capex Facility Expansion
capex_facility_expansion
Arista's capital expenditures for Q1 were $54.5 million, with approximately $40 million allocated to the construction of expanded facilities in Santa Clara, projected to reach $180 million in 2026.
"Capital expenditures for the quarter were $54.5 million. We continue the construction work to build expanded facilities in Santa Clara. In Q1, we incurred approximately $40 million in CapEx related to this program and estimate it will reach $180 million in 2026."
- Chantelle Breithaupt, CFO - Q1 FY26 Earnings Call - May 5, 2026
Fy26 Revenue Ai Target Increase
fy26_revenue_ai_target_increase
Arista has increased its fiscal year 2026 revenue growth outlook to 27.7%, aiming for $11.5 billion, and raised its AI sales target to $3.5 billion, more than doubling annual AI sales.
"Nevertheless, it gives us confidence to increase our forecasted growth slightly to 27.7%, aiming now for $11.5 billion for 2026. We also increased our AI target now to $3.5 billion this year, thereby more than doubling our AI sales annually."
- Jayshree Ullal, CEO - Q1 FY26 Earnings Call - May 5, 2026
Q1 Revenue Growth
q1_revenue_growth
Arista reported strong first quarter 2026 results with total revenues of $2.71 billion, up 35.1% year-over-year and exceeding its guidance of $2.6 billion.
"To start off, total revenues in Q1 were $2.71 billion, up 35.1% year-over-year and above our guidance of $2.6 billion. Growth was seen across the customer sectors led by our AI and specialty providers customers within the quarter."
- Chantelle Breithaupt, CFO - Q1 FY26 Earnings Call - May 5, 2026
$8.9 billion
Investor Focus
Purchase Commitments Inventory Increase
purchase_commitments_inventory_increase
Arista's purchase commitments increased to $8.9 billion and inventory rose to $2.38 billion, with these increases viewed as a calculated investment for new products and AI deployments.
"Our purchase commitments at the end of the quarter were $8.9 billion, up from $6.8 billion at the end of Q4. As mentioned in prior quarters, this expected activity mostly represents purchases for chips related to new products and AI deployments. We ended the quarter with $2.38 billion in inventory, up from $2.25 billion last quarter. This marginal increase is a calculated investment in the mix of raw materials to fulfill our growing demand."
- Chantelle Breithaupt, CFO - Q1 FY26 Earnings Call - May 5, 2026
High Speed Switching Market Share
high_speed_switching_market_share
Arista has achieved the #1 market share in high-speed switching for the greater than 10 gigabit Ethernet category in 2025, surpassing many incumbent vendors.
"Arista has experienced significant velocity in all our sectors in Q1 and are now commanding the #1 market share in high-speed switching in the greater than 10 gigabit Ethernet category. With that, we have overtaken many incumbent vendors according to major market analysts for 2025."
- Jayshree Ullal, CEO - Q1 FY26 Earnings Call - May 5, 2026
Stock Expert AI - Methodology
Do our scoring pillars, 7 perspectives, and Munger lens point in the same direction?
MoonshotScore
77 / 100
multi-pillar methodology. Revenue Growth and Cash Runway strong.
How is it calculated? ->
Revenue Growth10.0
Q1 vs Q2: fast growth (+22.9%)
Gross Margin6.0
Q1: high margin (61.9%)
Operating Leverage4.0
op margin very strong (42.7%, scale leverage)
Cash Runway10.0
FCF very strong ($1.6B, 30.1x CapEx)
R&D Intensity7.0
balanced R&D investment (13.5%)
Price Momentum7.0
RSI 48.6 balanced, 50d above
News Sentiment10.0
strong buy consensus (97%)
Council Score
3 / 6 Bullish
6 investor frameworks. 3 bullish (Ray Dalio, Ken Griffin, Buffett), 0 bearish (none), 3 neutral (Jim Simons, Klarman, Munger).
How is it calculated? ->
Ray Dalio macro - target upside +16.9%
Ken Griffin flow - 50d MA above
Jim Simons quant - RSI 49
Klarman value - target upside +16.9%
Buffett quality - ROE score 5/5
Munger valuation - target upside +16.9%
Munger's Mindset character & balance sheet lens
Fairly Valued
Quality business, trading at fair value.
How is it calculated? ->
Interest CoverageAdequate
Technical Levels - Pre-earnings positioning
What levels is the stock being tested at?
RSI(14)
48.6
RSI 48.6 balanced, 50d above
MACD
+0.10
price above 50d - support positive
50d MA
$160
stock 0.1% above - short-term support
200d MA
$143
stock 11.8% above - long-term support
Volume (10d)
+6%
increase - pre-earnings positioning
Resistance
$187
Analyst median target - upgrade trigger if broken
Current
$160
Pre-earnings position
Support
$122
Invalidation - close below this is a technical breakdown
Pattern
Range
$122-$187 band - earnings breakout/breakdown trigger
Past Performance
Arista beat expectations in the last 8 quarters.
BEAT
Q2 FY25
$0.73 vs $0.65 est - +17.5%
BEAT
Q3 FY25
$0.75 vs $0.72 est - -8.6%
BEAT
Q4 FY25
$0.82 vs $0.76 est - +4.8%
BEAT
Q1 FY26
$0.87 vs $0.81 est - -13.6%
Q1 (May 5, 2026): EPS $0.87 vs $0.81 est[FMP], +7.7% beat. D+1 movement: -13.6%[FMP D+1]. Decline despite beat - market reacted to guidance, not numbers.
Three scenarios: what could happen?
EPS < $0.86 (no guidance)
Q1: EPS $0.87 vs $0.81 beat[FMP], stock -13.6% D+1[FMP]. Chantelle Breithaupt Q1 transcript: "More specifically, now our guidance for the second quarter is as follows: now with the added quarterly metric of diluted earnings per share, revenues of approximately $2.8 billion, gross margin between 62% and 63%, operating margin between 46% and 47% and diluted earnings per share of approximately $0.88 with approximately 1.27 billion diluted shares."[Chantelle Breithaupt].
"More specifically, now our guidance for the second quarter is as follows: now with the added quarterly metric of diluted earnings per share, revenues of approximately $2.8 billion, gross margin between 62% and 63%, operating margin between 46% and 47% and diluted earnings per share of approximately $0.88 with approximately 1.27 billion diluted shares."
- Chantelle Breithaupt, CFO - Q1 FY26 Earnings Call - May 5, 2026
Backlog concentration
No RPO/backlog concentration disclosed in Q1 earnings call.
Insider trading signal
Form 4 data is marked in the table - this page does not generate assumptions for this stock.
Our FMP plan does not provide Form 4 insider feed for this stock. This page does not generate assumptions - SEC EDGAR Form 4 can be monitored directly.
CapEx shock
Q1 CapEx $54.5M[FMP cashflow]. Q1 op margin 42.7%[FMP op margin] - this level in Q1 is sensitive to CapEx revision risk.
"Capital expenditures for the quarter were $54.5 million. We continue the construction work to build expanded facilities in Santa Clara. In Q1, we incurred approximately $40 million in CapEx related to this program and estimate it will reach $180 million in 2026."
- Chantelle Breithaupt, CFO - Q1 FY26 Earnings Call - May 5, 2026
Framework - Position discipline
After the data arrives: 3 scenarios, 3 windows
Not advice - a structural framework for earnings night. Decision discipline is yours.
Scenario A - Beat
Q1 EPS > $0.89 + CapEx discipline
Threshold: EPS > $0.89[FMP est].
Target: Break above median target $187[FMP target]; high target $200[FMP] upper bound.
Scenario B - In-Line
EPS approx $0.89 + CapEx < $54.5M
Threshold: EPS approx $0.89[FMP est], Q1 CapEx < $54.5M[FMP].
Target: Consolidation in the band between current $160[FMP] and median $187[FMP].
Scenario C - Miss
EPS < $0.86 or CapEx >= $54.5M
Threshold: EPS < $0.86[FMP estx0.97].
Target: Current $160 below SMA200 $143[FMP], if rejection continues, $122[derived] support activates.
Sizing
Earnings volatility -> max portfolio 1-2%. Waiting for earnings is not a gamble, it's a position entrustment.
Timing
IV crush within 24 hours post-earnings. Waiting for premium decay makes options preferable to spot.
Staging
Don't go all-in at once, divide into 3: initial reaction, 24 hours later, after Friday's close.
Market Outlook
What do 9 analysts say?
Wall Street Consensus
$187
12-month median target price (+16.9% gap to the analyst consensus median)
Risk Management
$122
Invalidation level - critical support threshold
$160 - 50-day MA (above, +0.1%)
$143 - 200-day MA (above, +11.8%)
IV Crush risk (sudden drop in inflated option premiums before earnings): Option premiums are inflated before earnings.
Verdict - ANET Q1 FY27
B
You read it in 5 minutes. When the numbers come out on Tuesday evening - you know what you're looking at.
Data arrives at night. The framework is ready now.
Data arrives on Tuesday evening. The framework is ready on this page: Q1 EPS threshold $0.89[FMP], CapEx threshold "below $54.5M". Two anchors, three scenarios.
Comparison
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Prices as of April 2026. Sources: seekingalpha.com/subscriptions - tipranks.com/pricing - trendspider.com/pricing
Stock Expert AI is free today — no credit card. Council 7-lens analysis + MoonshotScore multi-pillar + Insider tracker + Technical levels - all in one platform, for every stock.
Educational tool, not investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Calendar
Catalyst Calendar - 90-day forward look
Aug 4, 2026EARNINGSQ1 FY27 results (after market close) + earnings call
Aug 5, 2026PRICEFirst trading day after earnings - 200dMA test + IV crush
Sep 18, 2026FILING10-Q deadline - segment breakdown + RPO detail (SEC rule: quarter-end + 45 days)
~Nov 4, 2026EARNINGSQ2 FY27 (next quarter, date not yet scheduled in FMP)
DATA GAP: Events not in the FMP /stable/calendar feed - Investor day, analyst day, product launches, regulatory dates. These require company IR page scraping or manual calendar entry.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the ANET earnings preview cover?
This Arista Networks, Inc. (ANET) earnings preview covers the analyst consensus, key catalysts, and what to watch on the earnings call.
What should investors watch for in ANET earnings?
Arista Networks, Inc. (ANET): Consensus EPS, revenue guidance, segment growth rates, and the tone of management commentary — the full breakdown with sources is on this page.
Where do the numbers on this page come from?
Arista Networks, Inc. (ANET): Figures are sourced from Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) fundamentals and consensus data plus official earnings-call transcripts; derived metrics are labeled with their source next to each figure.
Is this a buy or sell recommendation?
Arista Networks, Inc. (ANET): No. This page is educational research, not investment advice. It summarizes analyst consensus and company data; consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decision.