Nokia Q3 Sales Jump 9%
The Finnish telecoms giant saw a 9% growth in Q3 sales, driven by AI-related infrastructure demand, and raised its restructuring costs, with shares gaining 48% so far in 2026
Nokia reported a 9% growth in Q3 sales, driven by demand for AI-related infrastructure and cloud networking equipment. The company's comparable operating profit rose to 605 million euros in the third quarter of 2026, up from 448 million euros in the same period last year.
The growth in sales was largely driven by demand from AI and cloud customers, which surged 118% year-on-year to 1.5 billion euros in the third quarter. Nokia's comparable net sales increased 10% to 5.15 billion euros during the quarter, exceeding the consensus estimate of 5.05 billion euros.
Nokia's Chief Executive Officer, Justin Hotard, expects the company's optical and IP networks businesses to continue expanding rapidly, with combined growth of 25% to 30% in 2027. The company's shares have gained 48% so far in 2026, reflecting investor optimism around its growth prospects.
Nokia's Q3 revenue topped estimates, with the company's earnings beating estimates by $0.03. The company's strong performance in the third quarter is a testament to its growing presence in the AI and cloud markets.
## What's Next The company's raised restructuring costs and strong growth prospects have set a positive tone for the future. With the demand for AI-related infrastructure and cloud networking equipment expected to continue growing, Nokia is well-positioned to capitalize on this trend.
The company's strong performance in the third quarter has also led to increased investor optimism, with shares gaining 48% so far in 2026. As the company continues to expand its presence in the AI and cloud markets, it will be interesting to see how it performs in the coming quarters.
## Why it Matters Nokia's strong performance in the third quarter is a significant development in the telecoms industry. The company's growing presence in the AI and cloud markets is a testament to its ability to adapt to changing market trends. As the demand for AI-related infrastructure and cloud networking equipment continues to grow, Nokia is well-positioned to capitalize on this trend and drive growth in the coming quarters.
The company's raised restructuring costs and strong growth prospects have also set a positive tone for the future. With the company's shares gaining 48% so far in 2026, investors are optimistic about its growth prospects. As the company continues to expand its presence in the AI and cloud markets, it will be interesting to see how it performs in the coming quarters.
