The Register: Broadcom has won. 70 percent of large VMware customers bought its biggest bundle

Source URL: https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/07/broadcom_q1_fy2025/
Source: The Register
Title: Broadcom has won. 70 percent of large VMware customers bought its biggest bundle

Feedly Summary: Now working with seven hyperscalers for custom AI silicon. Not working on acquiring bits of Intel
Broadcom’s acquisition of VMware appears to be a big success, on the balance sheet at least, after the company announced a big majority of its top 10,000 customers have decided to acquire its Cloud Foundation stack and posted strong growth.…

AI Summary and Description: Yes

Summary: The text details Broadcom’s financial success following its acquisition of VMware, highlighting significant growth in its software and semiconductor revenues, particularly in the AI sector. This is relevant for professionals interested in AI, cloud computing, and infrastructure security due to the implications on AI infrastructure and hardware utilization.

Detailed Description: Broadcom reported a substantial financial performance in its most recent quarter, showcasing the positive impact of acquiring VMware on its revenues and operational efficiencies. Key insights from the text include:

– **Financial Growth**: Broadcom’s revenue for the quarter reached $14.92 billion, marking a 25% increase year-on-year, with net income skyrocketing to $5.5 billion, reflecting a 315% increase from the previous year’s quarter.

– **Integration of VMware**: Post-acquisition, VMware’s revenues are integrated into Broadcom’s software business unit, which achieved $6.7 billion in Q1, significantly up from $4.55 billion the previous year. This indicates Broadcom’s successful upselling strategy, emphasizing subscriptions to bundled VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) products.

– **Upselling Strategy**: The company’s strategy to move away from standalone VMware products to bundled offerings has resulted in increased average customer spend. Approximately 70% of Broadcom’s top 10,000 customers now use VCF, which likely contributes to the elevated revenue figures.

– **Cost Efficiency**: Broadcom’s operational efficiency is evident, with a reported operating margin improvement from 59% last year to 76% this quarter, indicating successful cost management post-acquisition.

– **AI Accelerators**: Broadcom’s engagement with hyperscale data centers in the creation of custom AI accelerators signals its growing commitment to AI technologies. The CEO revealed development of advanced technology with “the industry’s first two nanometer AI XPU” and plans for large-scale clusters, indicating a significant pivot towards AI-related infrastructure.

– **Government Contracts**: The CEO’s comments on engaging the US government to utilize VMware for on-prem private clouds illustrates potential compliance and regulatory implications, highlighting government modernization efforts.

– **Market Positioning**: Despite Broadcom’s positive financial indicators, its share price has seen volatility, reflecting broader market pressures and uncertainty regarding future AI hardware demands and tariff implications.

These points underline the strategic shifts within Broadcom post-VMware acquisition, the focus on AI advancements, and potential engagements in secure cloud infrastructures which are all significant for professionals in security and compliance domains.