HP stock falls over 4% as traders fret about declining PC shipments and margin pressure
HP Inc. (HPQ) slipped 4.18% after traders reacted to concerns over declining PC shipments and margin pressure, even as the company reported record third quarter revenue and raised its full-year outlook. The move contradicts strong underlying technicals, with HP trading above its 20-day, 50-day, and 200-day moving averages.
Highlights
- HP Inc. posted third quarter 2026 revenue of $15.7 billion, up 13%, and raised its full-year EPS and free cash flow outlook.
- Earnings benefited from higher pricing and tariff refunds but PC shipments fell and margin pressure from commodity costs persisted.
- HP stock trades with bullish technical momentum and is projected to range from $26.66 to $30.5 over the next five sessions.
Earnings beat and outlook lift offset by PC shipment decline
HP Inc. reported fiscal third quarter 2026 revenue of $15.7 billion, marking a 13% rise from the previous year and raised its full-year earnings per share and free cash flow outlook. The company attributed the positive results to higher prices and tariff refunds, including a $0.19 EPS benefit from the latter. Still, the earnings release was accompanied by a drop in PC shipments and ongoing margin headwinds from commodity costs, though price action has remained under broader selling pressure.
Bullish momentum persists as technical support faces overbought risk
HP trades above its 20-day, 50-day, and 200-day moving averages at $29.17, $26.13, and $22.64 respectively, indicating bullish momentum across all timeframes. The Ichimoku Kijun at $28.22 serves as support, with the next near-term ceiling at $30.5 and the floor at $29.17. Momentum signals remain positive, with the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) and Average Directional Index (ADX) both confirming strong buying pressure. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) sits at 61.1 with a Buy bias and Commodity Channel Index (CCI) reinforces this with its own Buy signal, although Bull/Bear Power (BBP) at 1.4 warns conditions are overbought with buyers firmly dominating intraday trade. Daily performance shows HP slipping $1.275 or 4.18% after a downside gap of roughly $2.67 (8.75%) at the open. The current price is near the daily high, volatility is elevated at 6.68%, and the stock shows renewed buying strength after the initial bearish open, in line with underlying momentum signals.
Earlier, analysts noted that HP Inc. maintained a broadly bullish technical structure despite short-term volatility and selling pressure. The latest results and trading action strengthen this outlook, with current conditions highlighting the importance of a close above $30.5 as the key signal for a renewed upward breakout.