AVGO · US
AVGO.US: Q3'26 — AI semis $16.7B, FY27 $115B target
Broadcom FY Q3 (to 2026-08-02) revenue $29.6B (+86%), AI semis $16.7B (+221%), delivering the Q3 step-up. Q4 guide ~$34.8B / AI ~$21.7B; FY26 AI raised to $58B, FY27/28 ~$115B/~$230B. Print beat, tape cool. See NVDA.
Cite a section with a deep link, e.g. /en/r/avgo-us-research#thesis
Snapshot
- Price (2026-09-03)
- USD 357.16
- Mkt cap (approx.)
- USD 1702.0B
- TTM revenue
- USD 89.1B
- Q3 AI semis
- USD 16.7B
As-of 2026-09-25 (weekly refresh; equities aligned to §A. Missing series are N/A/null. Not investment advice.)
Thesis
Broadcom FY Q3 (ended 2026-08-02) delivered the step-up it guided last quarter: revenue $29.591B (+86% YoY / +33% QoQ), a slight beat vs the ~$29.4B company guide and ~$29.3B Street; AI semiconductors $16.7B (+221% YoY / +54% QoQ) vs the ~$16B guide. Non-GAAP EPS $3.32 (+96%), GAAP diluted EPS $2.68 (+215%); FCF $13.7B (46% of sales).
The tape was cooler: $367.24 on 9/2, $357.16 on 9/3 (~−2.7%). The market is not debating whether AI demand exists; it is pricing Q4 revenue guide ~$34.8B a hair below ~$35.0B Street, Non-GAAP GM at 75% (−210 bps QoQ on XPU/HBM mix), and $115B/$230B long-dated targets that explicitly cap on supply plus customer concentration.
Versus NVDA, AVGO is the custom-XPU + AI Ethernet complement, not a GPU substitute. Near-term anchor: Q4 AI semis ~$21.7B and FY26 AI $58B (raised from $56B). Medium-term: management’s FY27 ~$115B / FY28 ~$230B AI outlook, framed as secured supply — and they said they will not refresh that long-term figure every quarter.
Business
Model: semiconductor solutions (custom ASIC/XPU + Ethernet switching) plus infrastructure software (VMware subscriptions). Q3 mix: semis 70% ($20.839B, +127%), software 30% ($8.752B, +29%).
Flagships:
- Custom AI accelerators (XPUs) — co-designed with Google TPU, Anthropic, OpenAI, Meta and others; the core of Q3’s $16.7B AI semi print.
- AI networking silicon — Tomahawk/Jericho Ethernet; management expects both XPUs and AI networking to roughly triple YoY in Q4.
- VMware Cloud Foundation — subscription private cloud / AI private cloud; software operating margin ~84% is the profit and cash ballast.
Edge: multi-year hyperscaler co-design plus attaching Ethernet to the same XPU wallet.
Strategy (12–24m): FY26 AI $58B → FY27 ~$115B → FY28 ~$230B as a supply-locked path; Singapore substrate capacity to ease a bottleneck.
Entity: Broadcom Inc. (Nasdaq: AVGO), Palo Alto; VMware is fully consolidated.
Strategy pillars
| Pillar | What | Implication |
|---|---|---|
| Custom ASIC (XPU) | Google TPU, Anthropic, OpenAI, Meta + two more; six XPU customers | Core AI growth engine; extreme concentration |
| AI networking | Tomahawk / Jericho Ethernet; rack-scale attach to XPUs | Competes with NVDA Spectrum / ANET fabrics |
| VMware software | Subscription VCF / AI private cloud | Cash and margin ballast; growth << semis |
| Supply lock | Leading-edge wafers, substrates, HBM; Singapore substrate fab | FY27 $115B / FY28 $230B framed as supply-capped |
| Manufacturing | TSMC leading-edge / CoWoS outsourced | Allocation and geopolitics risk |
Value chain
Position: mid-stack AI cluster silicon (custom design + switching); manufacturing is outsourced.
Upstream: TSMC leading-edge / CoWoS, substrates, HBM. Management says the binding constraints are silicon, substrates and memory — not vanished orders.
Downstream: six XPU customers (including Google, Anthropic, OpenAI, Meta); software sells into enterprise IT / private cloud.
Concentration: AI semis are a single-digit customer franchise (CEO: “glad we have only six”). That is both the moat and the core operating risk.
Supply risks: (1) substrate / CoWoS / HBM allocation; (2) power and data-center readiness delaying deployments. Both echo in #risks.
Valuation
Price $357.16 (2026-09-03, Yahoo), market cap about $1.70T (~4.77B basic shares). TTM GAAP NI ~$38.3B → PE ~46x; book equity $99.7B → PB ~17x; $0.65 quarterly dividend → yield ~0.73%. The 52-week high is $495, so the stock has already retraced, but the absolute multiple is still rich: the market is paying for a multi-year custom-AI plus networking supply curve, with limited tolerance for guide slope or mix-driven GM.
Valuation snapshot (multi-lens)
| Metric | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| P/E (TTM GAAP) | ~46x | Price $357.16 / TTM GAAP NI ~$38.3B |
| P/E (TTM Non-GAAP, approx.) | ~35x | TTM Non-GAAP NI ~$48.3B (Q4'25–Q3'26) |
| P/B | ~17x | Equity $99.7B at 2026-08-02 |
| Earnings yield (GAAP) | ~2.2% | 1/PE approx. |
| Dividend yield | ~0.73% | $0.65 quarterly / $357.16 |
| Spot read | $357.16 | Yahoo close 2026-09-03; 52w high $495 |
~3y valuation/return series (TTM GAAP PE; PE null where TTM is too distorted to reconstruct cleanly; PB only where a balance-sheet equity print exists):
Valuation & return · ~3y
Interactive chart available in the reader.
~3y price (Yahoo 3-month bar closes, split-adjusted):
Share price · ~3y
Interactive chart available in the reader.
Financial trend (~24 months)
Last 8 fiscal quarters (2024-Q4…2026-Q3 are Broadcom fiscal labels; Q1 is ~Nov–Jan, not calendar quarters). Revenue and GAAP NI from 8-Ks. Margin chart uses GAAP GM to match the income statement; the call’s Non-GAAP GM is 75% (−210 bps QoQ).
Revenue · last 8 fiscal quarters
Interactive chart available in the reader.
GAAP gross margin · last 8 fiscal quarters
Interactive chart available in the reader.
GAAP net income · last 8 fiscal quarters
Interactive chart available in the reader.
Financial health (§A.7)
Q3 OCF $14.2B, capex $0.5B, FCF $13.7B. Cash $24.0B; ST debt $2.3B + LT debt $57.2B ≈ $59.4B interest-bearing, net debt ~$35.4B. Current assets $52.2B / current liabilities $20.8B → current ratio ~2.5x. $5.6B of debt repaid in-quarter (plus $1.5B after quarter-end). FY2025 10-K: unqualified opinion; this quarter is unaudited.
Financial health (OCF / debt / liquidity / audit)
| Item | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | Strong cash conversion; net debt falling | AI mix expanding but FCF 46% of sales |
| Operating cash flow (Q3) | $14.2B | +98% YoY; capex $0.5B |
| Free cash flow (Q3) | $13.7B | 46% of revenue; +95% YoY |
| Interest-bearing debt vs cash | $59.4B vs $24.0B cash | Net debt ~$35.4B; $5.6B repaid in Q3 |
| Liquidity | Current ratio ~2.5x | CA $52.2B / CL $20.8B |
| Audit / going concern | Unqualified (FY2025 10-K) | Q3 FY26 unaudited; no going-concern emphasis |
Operations
Q3: semis $20.839B (+127%), of which AI $16.7B and non-AI semis ~$4.2B (+5% YoY, flat QoQ); software $8.752B (+29%). Non-GAAP operating income $20.1B, operating margin a record ~67.9%. Both total revenue and AI beat the June Q3 guide.
Q3 FY26 key points
| Item | Value | YoY | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q3 revenue | $29.591B | +86% | FY Q3 ended 2026-08-02; vs ~$29.4B guide |
| AI semiconductors | $16.7B | +221% | +54% QoQ; vs ~$16B guide |
| Semiconductor solutions | $20.839B | +127% | 70% of sales; non-AI ~$4.2B |
| Infrastructure software | $8.752B | +29% | VMware; ~84% op. margin |
| Non-GAAP EPS / GAAP EPS | $3.32 / $2.68 | +96% / +215% | Non-GAAP NI $16.4B |
| Non-GAAP GM / op. margin | 75% / 67.9% | GM −210bps QoQ | XPU/HBM mix; OP record |
| FCF | $13.7B | +95% | 46% of revenue; OCF $14.2B |
Q4 FY26 guide
- Q4 revenue guide
- USD 34.8B
- Q4 revenue YoY
- 1
- Q4 AI semis
- USD 21.7B
- FY27 AI target
- ~$115B
Q4 FY26 guide and medium-term targets
| Item | Guide | Read |
|---|---|---|
| Q4 revenue | ~$34.8B | +93% YoY; a hair below ~$35.0B Street |
| Q4 semiconductors | ~$26.1B | +136% YoY (call) |
| Q4 AI semiconductors | ~$21.7B | +236% YoY; next print to watch |
| Q4 infrastructure software | ~$8.7B | +25% YoY |
| Q4 Non-GAAP op. margin | ~66% | Flat YoY; Q3 print was 67.9% |
| FY26 AI revenue | $58B | Raised from $56B; +186% YoY |
| FY27 / FY28 AI | ~$115B / ~$230B | Secured-supply outlook; not a quarterly refresh |
Q4 guide: revenue ~$34.8B (+93%), semis ~$26.1B, AI semis $21.7B (+236%), software ~$8.7B (+25%); Non-GAAP operating margin ~66% (flat YoY). FY26 AI outlook raised to $58B (+186%).
Competition
Peers: NVIDIA (merchant GPU), AMD (MI accelerators), Arista (AI Ethernet), Marvell (custom/optics). Strengths: XPU co-design depth plus switching attach. Weaknesses: extreme customer concentration, no CUDA stack, GM dilution from HBM/XPU mix, and GPUs still dominate AI-accelerator dollars.
Two charts, two definitions: share_trend is AVGO AI semis / company revenue (disclosed mix, not TAM share). peer_share is the mix of disclosed AI/DC-related revenue in adjacent windows (NVDA Q2 FY27 DC $85.6B + AVGO Q3 AI $16.7B + AMD Q2 DC $6.72B) — a scale check, not a third-party census.
Peer comparison
| Company | Position | Margin | Strength | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broadcom | Custom XPU + AI Ethernet | Non-GAAP GM 75% | Hyperscaler co-design; switching attach | ~6 XPU customers; mix-diluted GM |
| NVIDIA | Merchant GPU platform | GAAP GM ~75% | CUDA + systems stack | Less captive ASIC; export controls |
| AMD | MI accelerators / Helios | Non-GAAP GM ~56% | Second-source GPU narrative | Scale vs NVDA/AVGO AI |
| Arista | AI Ethernet systems | GM ~64% | EOS software | No XPU franchise |
| Marvell | Custom / optics / DSP | ~60% range | Custom silicon + optics | Scale vs AVGO |
Management
Core management (24m)
| Role | Name | Since | 24m change |
|---|---|---|---|
| CEO / President | Hock Tan | 2006 | No change |
| CFO | Amie Thuener | 2026-06-12 | Succeeded Kirsten Spears (retired); ex-Alphabet CAO |
| Chair | Henry Samueli | 2018 | No change |
Stability: Hock Tan has been CEO since 2006. CFO changed: Kirsten Spears retired 2026-06-12; Amie Thuener (former Alphabet CAO) succeeded her (announced 2026-04-02; Spears stays as advisor for nine months). Q3 is one of Thuener’s first prints — a planned handoff, not a shock.
Outlook
Near term: Q4 ~$34.8B / AI ~$21.7B / 66% Non-GAAP operating margin, and whether mix pushes GM another step down. Medium term: the FY26 AI $58B path and whether FY27 $115B stays a supply cap rather than a demand cut. Software: VMware subscriptions and AI private cloud holding ~25% growth.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Condition | Implication |
|---|---|---|
| Bull | Q4 AI ≥$21.7B and GM stabilizes; FY27 $115B backed by both orders and supply | Multiple can digest growth; catch-up rally |
| Base | Guide delivered; Non-GAAP GM oscillates 73–75%; high-beta hold | Own the execution, do not underwrite quarterly beats |
| Bear | Hyperscaler capex/power slips, substrate bottleneck, Q4 or FY27 cut | Growth and multiple compress together |
Risks
| Risk | Severity | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Customer concentration (~6 XPU names) | High | One hyperscaler slip moves the guide |
| Rich multiple vs guide slope | High | Q3 beat still sold off on a slightly light Q4 guide |
| Supply (substrates / CoWoS / HBM / power) | High | $115B/$230B is explicitly supply-capped |
| XPU mix dilutes GM | Medium | Non-GAAP GM 75%, −210 bps QoQ |
| GPU platforms and second-source ASICs | Medium | vs NVDA CUDA; customers can dual-source |
| Export controls / geopolitics | Medium | Advanced packaging and China policy |
| VMware growth deceleration | Low | Still the profit ballast; growth << semis |
| CFO transition | Low | Planned retirement + 9-month advisor period |
Tracking list
- Q4 AI semis vs ~$21.7B (XPU vs networking split)
- Non-GAAP GM / operating margin vs guide (~73% GM, ~66% OP)
- FY26 AI $58B and FY27 $115B — any supply or customer-timing cut
- Whether the six XPU customers expand or add a second source (Google TPU / Anthropic / OpenAI)
- VMware software still ~+25% with high-80s margins
- Net-debt paydown and FCF conversion (Q3 FCF 46% of sales)
References
- Broadcom Q3 FY2026 release (ended 2026-08-02, issued 2026-09-02): https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/broadcom-inc-announces-third-quarter-fiscal-year-2026-financial-results-and-quarterly-dividend-302868129.html
- Broadcom IR: https://investors.broadcom.com/
- Q2 FY2026 release (Q3 guide $29.4B / AI ~$16B): https://investors.broadcom.com/news-releases/news-release-details/broadcom-inc-announces-second-quarter-fiscal-year-2026-financial
- Q1 FY2026 8-K (AI $8.4B): https://investors.broadcom.com/static-files/67eebac0-2b23-4009-bc75-0eec53840922
- Q4 FY2025 8-K (revenue $18.015B, AI $6.5B, GAAP NI $8.518B): https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1730168/000173016825000116/avgo-11022025x8kxex99.htm
- Q3 FY2025 8-K: https://investors.broadcom.com/static-files/9836683a-9b92-4bec-9035-27942f21d42e
- CFO transition (2026-04-02; Thuener effective 2026-06-12): https://investors.broadcom.com/news-releases/news-release-details/broadcom-announces-planned-chief-financial-officer-transition
- Call takeaways (AI $16.7B, Q4 AI $21.7B, FY26 $58B / FY27 $115B / FY28 $230B): https://www.investing.com/news/transcripts/earnings-call-transcript-broadcom-tops-q3-2026-estimates-as-ai-sales-surge-93CH-4886849
- Price: Yahoo Finance AVGO, 2026-09-03 close $357.16
- See also: NVDA, AMD, ANET, TSMC, CRDO
Not investment advice; defer to latest SEC/IR disclosures. Long-term AI figures are management outlooks and are explicitly supply-constrained.
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