Dell expects PC backlog to balloon in Q1 amid supply chain snarls

A pandemic-fueled demand for PCs helped the company draw in billions of dollars in sales over the past year.

Dell Technologies Inc said on Thursday it expects PC backlog to balloon in the first quarter due to supply chain constraints and reported a quarterly profit miss, sending its shares down 7% in extended trading.

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A pandemic-fueled demand for PCs helped the company draw in billions of dollars in sales over the past year. However, an ongoing global chip shortage and supply chain issues are pinching Dell as longer lead times and parts shortages have led to higher component and freight costs.

The company earned $1.72 per share on an adjusted basis, below Wall Street's estimate of $1.95, according to IBES data from Refinitiv.

Shares of Texas-based Dell closed down 1% on Thursday. They were trading at $51.89 in extended trading.

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"We expect opex (operating expense) as a percentage of revenue to be slightly higher than FY22 as we invest in the business," finance chief Tom Sweet said.