Stock Market Today, Aug. 27: HP Slips 3% on Weak PC Shipments Despite Fiscal Q3 Beat

HP (NYSE:HPQ) experienced a 2.93% decline to $29.62 on August 27, 2021, as the personal computers and printing hardware company grappled with weak PC shipment trends and margin pressure due to higher memory and commodity costs. Investor attention was drawn to component costs and PC demand, with trading volume surging to 38.4 million shares, nearly 118% higher than its three-month average of 17.6 million shares.

The S&P 500 (SNPINDEX:^GSPC) and the Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX:^IXIC) both closed higher, with the S&P 500 at 7,730, up 0.71%, and the Nasdaq Composite at 26,541, up 1.57%. Within the personal computers, printers, and related technology hardware sector, Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL) closed at $471.80, up 1.72%, while Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) finished at $314.58, up 0.36%, suggesting a more robust performance for sector peers despite HP's decline.

HP's Q3 reported sales and adjusted EPS growth of 13% and 11%, surpassing Wall Street estimates. However, the stock still fell 3% today, even after accounting for a tariff benefit and raising guidance to achieve approximately $3.1 billion in free cash flow for the year. HP's sales growth primarily stemmed from price increases aimed at offsetting rising input costs, yet the PC shipment decline of 16% and margin contraction weighed heavily on the stock's value.