Nokia raises profit outlook as AI and cloud demand boost results

Nokia reported a stronger-than-expected rise in second-quarter comparable operating profit on Thursday, supported by growing demand from artificial intelligence and cloud customers.

The Finnish telecom equipment maker also raised its full-year comparable operating profit guidance range, signalling confidence that the current growth momentum will continue.

The company reported comparable operating profit of 434 million euros ($496.11 million) for the second quarter of 2026.

The figure represented an 18% increase from the same period and exceeded the average analyst estimate of 382 million euros, according to analysts polled by LSEG.

Nokia's results come as the company continues to shift its focus towards supplying fibre-optic equipment to large technology companies building AI data centres.

The strategy has helped the company benefit from rising investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure and increasing demand from cloud customers.

AI and Cloud demand drives new orders

Nokia said comparable net sales reached 4.82 billion euros during the quarter, also exceeding market estimates.

The company reported particularly strong growth among its AI and cloud customers.

Net sales from these customers doubled during the quarter to 446 million euros.

Nokia also said it booked 2.8 billion euros in new orders during the period.

The increase in orders highlights continued demand for infrastructure supporting AI and cloud operations.

CEO Justin Hotard said demand remained strong, while supply constraints continued to affect the wider industry.

"Demand remains strong, while supply continues to be the main industry constraint, prompting our customers to place longer-term orders," Hotard said in a statement.

The comments point to continued pressure across the telecom equipment industry as companies seek to manage supply challenges while responding to growing demand linked to AI infrastructure.

Nokia faces rising memory chip costs

Despite the stronger demand environment, Nokia has not been immune to rising costs linked to memory chips.

The rapid expansion of AI has contributed to a sudden increase in memory chip prices.

AI companies have been cornering the market for memory chips, creating pressure for telecom equipment makers and raising concerns about the impact on industry margins.

Nokia's Swedish rival Ericsson warned last week that rising memory chip costs, driven by surging AI demand, were putting pressure on the company.

The warning increased investor concerns that higher costs could affect margins and contributed to a sharp decline in Ericsson's shares.

Nokia's latest results suggest that the company is benefiting from the same AI-driven demand trend while continuing to navigate the supply constraints and cost pressures affecting the broader telecom equipment sector.

Hotard focuses on data centre growth

Since joining Nokia last year, Hotard has focused on expanding the company's data centre business.

Before joining the Finnish group, he led Intel's Data Center & AI Group.

Under his leadership, Nokia has placed greater emphasis on opportunities created by the growth of AI and data centre infrastructure.

The company has also entered into a billion-dollar deal with chipmaker Nvidia as part of its efforts to expand its position in the data centre market.

The strategy has coincided with a sharp increase in revenue from AI and cloud customers.

Nokia's latest results show that the business is becoming an increasingly important contributor to the company's overall performance.

Nokia raises full-year profit guidance

Nokia also raised its full-year comparable operating profit guidance range following the stronger quarterly performance.

The company now expects full-year comparable operating profit to be between 2.1 billion euros and 2.6 billion euros.

This compares with its previous guidance range of 2 billion euros to 2.5 billion euros.

The upgraded outlook reflects Nokia's stronger second-quarter performance and its expectations for continued growth from AI and cloud customers.

The company, however, continues to operate in an industry facing supply constraints and higher memory chip costs.

While AI-related demand is creating new opportunities, the rising cost of memory chips remains a challenge for telecom equipment manufacturers.

For Nokia, the latest results indicate that its increased focus on AI infrastructure and data centre customers is helping support growth.

The company will continue to balance that demand with supply constraints and cost pressures across the wider industry.