'This is the biggest backlog we've ever had' - HP CEO on PC demand following strong Q4

Overall revenue dipped but the vendor shipped more computers than ever before

HP's backlog of PC demand in Q4 was the biggest it's ever seen amid pandemic demand and supply constraints, CEO Enrique Lores has revealed.

The chief exec was speaking on an earnings call for the vendor's Q4 results, which saw revenue dip one per cent but beat Wall Street expectations nonetheless.

HP hit record unit shipments of 19 million computers, with sales of desktops and workstations dipping but notebook sales rocketing 18 per cent.

In print, the sale of commercial devices dipped but consumer revenue was up 21 per cent as a result of the shift to remote working.

Lores said supply chain constraints have led to the biggest backlog of PC orders that HP has ever had.

"It's not that the difference between supply and demand is being reduced; it has actually been increased," he said.

"Demand is really driving and continues to grow. We expect that this situation will continue at least through the first half of our fiscal year 2021.

"So it's happening and it's here to stay at least for a couple of quarters."

Lores said that the supply chain problems have also impacted the print business, particularly in supplies.

He said that HP has not been able to provide adequate stock to the channel for large parts of its last financial year, but said that resellers started to replenish stock in Q4.

Supplies revenue was down one per cent year in the quarter.