Tracking Market Conditions

Lenovo’s Positive AI PC Momentum: Key Considerations for ITADs

I am impressed with Lenovo’s latest earnings results as it seems to be leading the charge in the AI PC sector, showcasing strong performance. Dell and HP are expected to release their earnings results at the end of the month and we should see whether the Lenovo story is a broad-based market trend or unique to the Chinese company. Lenovo’s latest earnings report highlights strong growth, characterized by a 20% increase in sales, with net income up even more. Continue reading below.

Number of readers who accessed this analysis : 647

I believe Lenovo is the first company to signal positive momentum in the AI PC sector on the front end. Most of the positive news about AI PCs has come from companies that are behind the scenes, like AMD, Nvidia, and others, who are primarily involved in building the technology inside the PC and on the cloud. In fact, Intel spoiled the party with its latest earnings showing negative performance after making so much noise about AI PC is going to be everywhere this year. And so on the PC side, Lenovo seems to be the first one to show some really good news.

My understanding of their earnings presentation [I could not find their earnings transcript anywhere, so I had to go through a full hour of financial presentation without the soda and popcorn, a bit tedious], suggests that the first contingent of AI PCs that saw positive acceptance happened in China. It is likely that the China market was the main driver of Lenovo’s solid performance, confirming what component vendors like Arrow and Avnet reported about Asia being strong.

This analysis is reserved for clients subscribing to the Pulse Service.

Already a subscriber? Please log in here.

Not a Pulse subscriber? Click here to subscribe
Book a 90-minute Premium Analyst Presentation on this Topic

Book Analyst

Author: David Daoud | Principal Analyst

David Daoud has researched the mainstream IT hardware market since 1996 and expanded into hardware disposition research in 2003. He has spearheaded the creation of IDC’s GRADE certification. Since then, David has been providing consulting and expert advice to companies looking to establish best practice in their IT equipment decommissioning and helped leading ITAD service providers assess demand, understand competition, and forecast what’s to come. David is currently the Principal Analyst at Compliance Standards, which focuses entirely on the end-of-life of IT equipment. He can be reached at 508-981-6937 or at ddaoud@compliance-standards.com

Event: Invitation to Two Strategy
Sessions at EScrap 2025

[Grapevine, TX., Oct. 2025]

MORE ANALYSES:

Crypto Mining and the Secondary IT Hardware Market: A Volatile Force with Outsized Impact

Jun 15, 2025

In this special report, we analyze one of the most overlooked yet increasingly disruptive forces in the global secondary IT hardware market: cryptocurrency mining. The sector boasts a vast ecosystem of miner, ranging from individual hobbyists to industrial-scale data...

AI PCs vs. Refurbished Systems: Diverging Trajectories in a Saturated Market

Jun 10, 2025

Despite big leaps in technology—AI chips, smarter performance, better battery life—consumers remain distant from AI PCs. Sales from major brands like Dell and HP continue to stall, and it’s becoming clear that the average buyer isn’t convinced the latest features are...

Corporate Sustainability Brief: Samsung Electronics

Jun 3, 2025

I recently moderated a session at REMA 2025 in San Diego with Samsung Electronics' sustainability leaders, Daniel Araujo and Jenni Chun. It was a great conversation about what one of the world’s biggest technology companies is doing to make sustainability real—not...

Sustainability in Practice: Reviewing Hitachi Digital Services’ Strategy

Jun 3, 2025

So I spent some time researching how Hitachi Digital Services runs its business—specifically through the lens of sustainability—and I have to say, I came away impressed with what the company does and how it does it. Sustainability shows up in the work itself: in the...

Research: Hyperscaler Data Center Decommissioning — The Magnificent Seven and the Lesser-Known Massive ITAD Opportunity

May 30, 2025

By David Daoud: The rise of hyperscale data centers has redrawn the boundaries of the ITAD industry. For companies in the business of decommissioning, reselling, and recycling retired IT hardware, the most important clients are no longer Fortune 1000 banks,...

Rethinking Data Security in the New Generation of Enterprise AI Devices

Apr 16, 2025

By David Daoud: We spent some time looking at the latest generation of computing devices and how the embedding of AI could drastically reshape the risk profile of corporate IT departments. The new systems that are about to replace the PCs, systems that we’ve known for...

Tariffs, Tech, and Turmoil: How the New Trade War Is Reshaping IT and ITAD

Apr 16, 2025

The effects of the new U.S. tariffs on imported technology have been felt immediately with the stock market negatively reacting to sweeping tariffs that many expect would result in a global downturn. Almost all media outlets and economists agree that the tariffs will...

How Tariffs Are Threatening PC Industry Recovery, But ITAD May Be Entering New Phase of Strategic Relevance

Apr 15, 2025

Tariffs are creating a new crisis that’s throwing the PC industry into disarray. While OEMs are halting shipments, we spoke to CIOs who are slashing budgets, and in our discussions with ITADs, the secondary market is also flooded with uncertainty. But setting aside the normal reaction we are seeing, in this chaos lies opportunity. With the right playbook, OEMs can stabilize operations, CIOs can shield their transformation agendas, and more than ever before, ITAD firms can absolutely emerge as strategic enablers in a reshaped hardware landscape.

AI PCs: 10 Things ITADs and Recyclers Should Expect Four Years from Now, Setting Aside Tariff Drama

Apr 8, 2025

Setting aside the unfolding tariff war drama and its impact on a large swaths of industries, including ITAD, a new generation of AI-capable laptops, desktops, workstations, and servers will hit the market this year, albeit at a slower pace than expected, promising to...

Analysis: What the Latest Devices Tell Us About the Future of Enterprise IT and ITAD

Apr 1, 2025

Enterprise hardware is undergoing a major transformation. The latest systems released in March 2025 reveal that AI capabilities are now embedded by default, shifting performance to the edge with NPUs and AI-accelerated workflows. At Compliance Standards, we’re tracking this shift — from sustainability and energy use to lifecycle impacts — and it’s clear: the next generation of enterprise PCs isn’t just faster, it’s fundamentally different.

ITAD Shake-Up: Mergers, Exits, and Bankruptcies: Who Will Survive the Industry’s Ongoing Transformation?

Mar 20, 2025

The ITAD industry is undergoing a seismic shift—bankruptcies, mergers, and market exits are reshaping the landscape. The days of ‘two men and a truck’ operations are over as larger, well-funded players consolidate power. Smome companies are doubling down on ITAD, while others are retreating. The question now is: Who will survive, and who will be left behind?

Ingram Micro’s ITAD and Lifecycle Business: Straddling the Line

Mar 18, 2025

Summary: Ingram Micro’s latest 4Q2024 earnings call confirms the company’s focus on higher-margin businesses like cloud, digital solutions, and AI-powered automation. And while it continues to offer ITAD services, we are not likely to see an aggressive push in ITAD....

SOME PREMIUM SERVICES:

OUR PRODUCTS & SERVICES

1. OFF-THE SHELF SERVICES



Analyst-on-Retainer

Gain flexible, on-demand access to our specialized industry analysts with the Analyst-on-Retainer plan. This service provides your organization with dedicated expert time each month to validate strategy, research competitors, and get direct input on critical trends in ITAD, sustainability, and AI. Empower your entire team—from sales to leadership—to make informed, data-driven decisions without the cost and commitment of a full-scale consulting project. This is the entry level service that provides you with full analyst focus and attention. To learn more and/or subscribe, follow this link.



Sector Pulse

Published research on the mega trends and factors affecting ITAD, sustainability and circular IT, from ESG, AI and IT decommissioning to plant technology and economics. To learn more and/or subscribe follow this link.



Risk Advisory

We provide comprehensive risk management and compliance solutions to safeguard your organization. Our expert services deliver assurance through formal reports like SOC 2, ISO 27001, and HIPAA readiness assessments. We also strengthen your internal controls with IT SOX audits and manage your third-party vendor risks, ensuring your operations are secure, compliant, and resilient from every angle. This service is best suited for vendors who must upgrade their ISMS practices and companies on the end-user side looking to incorporate ISMS in their vendor selection and procurement requirements. Learn more here.

2. CUSTOM ENGAGEMENTS



Marketing Content

We produce unique content that clients can leverage in their marketing campaigns. With unique data from CS, clients can transform themselves into thought leaders. We do the work behind the scenes, helping customers improve their image, attract attention and win new customers. CONTACT US TO INQUIRE.



GtM Support

There are two sections in this offerings. First is the consulting service to help you plan your go-to-market, sales, marketing and PR Strategies. We provide you with support to understand your prospective clients and competition. Then there is the execution with sessions to reach prospective clients. We leverage our relationships with media giants to reach an audience of IT services buyers and promote you with marketing and leads generations. CONTACT US TO INQUIRE.



Competition Check

In our competitive anlyses, we assess the reputation of ITAD vendors from the perspective of their clients and employees. This service is best suited for end-user companies doing due diligence on their current or potential vendors, investment stakeholders and even ITAD executives interested in a different perspective on competition. CONTACT US TO INQUIRE.



Industry Surveys

We conduct industry surveys to assess where the sector is headed. These surveys are typically multi-client sponsored. We welcome companies interested in sponsoring these surveys. We also conduct ITAD-specific surveys, engaging with ITAD leaders to gauge the health of the sector and outlook. Contact us to learn more. CONTACT US TO INQUIRE.