Computacenter shares rose 4.7% on Wednesday 11 November 2026, closing at 4,928p and finishing as the biggest riser on the FTSE 100, as strong results from US cloud company CoreWeave revived enthusiasm for artificial intelligence and lifted technology stocks on both sides of the Atlantic. The shares gained 220p on the day, ahead of Spirax Group, up 3.6%, and Halma, up 2.7%.

The FTSE 100 closed up 0.78% at 10,835.47, with technology among the strongest sectors. CoreWeave, a provider of cloud infrastructure for AI workloads, reported third-quarter results ahead of guidance after the US market closed on Tuesday, raised its outlook and moved to reassure investors about its financing. Its shares leapt 24%, and the positive mood spread across the sector, with Nvidia up 4.5%, Advanced Micro Devices up 7.1%, Intel up 8.5% and Micron Technology up 12%, according to Morningstar.

Data centre exposure puts Computacenter at the heart of the AI trade

Computacenter, a technology and services provider with a major data centre and IT infrastructure business, was a natural beneficiary of the renewed optimism. The company supplies IT hardware and services to large businesses, including the hyperscale operators building data centres, and its technology sourcing division has been growing strongly on demand from hyperscale and so-called neocloud customers in North America and the UK.

Danni Hewson, head of financial analysis at AJ Bell, said the AI trade was "back to full steam ahead" after a short interruption following higher US inflation figures, adding that CoreWeave's messaging had helped Wall Street get off to a strong start and repair some of the damage from last week's sell-off. Investors, she said, remained pulled in two directions over whether the AI story had run too far, but for now the more optimistic view was holding sway.

Guidance raised after an excellent third quarter

Wednesday's rise follows a strong run for the shares. On Monday, Computacenter lifted its full-year guidance after what it described as an "excellent" third quarter, raising its forecast for adjusted pre-tax profit to at least £425 million, ahead of a company-compiled consensus of £387.1 million and up from previous guidance of no less than £380 million. The new forecast represents growth of at least 56% on the £272.0 million reported for 2025.

The group also reported a record committed product order backlog of £12.6 billion at the end of September, up from £9.3 billion at the end of June, as technology sourcing revenue continued to grow strongly. Professional services growth more than offset a decline in managed services revenue, according to Alliance News. The shares rose 9.91% on Monday to 5,030p on the back of the update, before giving back some of those gains on Tuesday.

FTSE 100's top performer of 2026 keeps climbing

Computacenter has been one of the standout performers in the London market this year, with the shares up by more than two-thirds since the start of 2026 and by about 74% over the past 12 months. Its rise reflects both the strength of its own trading and the wider market appetite for companies exposed to AI infrastructure spending.

Not every technology stock shared in the gains on Wednesday. Sage, the accounting software group, has been under pressure after a broker downgrade earlier in the week, a reminder that investors are becoming more selective about which parts of the technology sector they are willing to back. Computacenter's combination of a raised profit forecast, a record order backlog and direct exposure to data centre spending helped it stand out.

What to watch next for Computacenter

The next test for the shares will be whether the strength in technology sourcing can be sustained into the final quarter, and whether the record order backlog converts into revenue at the margins investors expect. The company will also be watched for any further update on demand from hyperscale customers, whose spending plans are central to the AI infrastructure story.

For now, Wednesday's move confirms Computacenter's position as the London market's clearest proxy for the AI infrastructure boom, and as a stock that investors reach for first when confidence in the technology trade returns.

Frequently asked questions

Why did Computacenter shares rise today? Computacenter shares rose 4.7% to 4,928p on Wednesday 11 November 2026, the FTSE 100's biggest riser, as strong results from CoreWeave revived the AI trade and lifted technology stocks.

What guidance did Computacenter give? On Monday, Computacenter raised full-year adjusted pre-tax profit guidance to at least £425 million, ahead of the £387.1 million consensus, after an excellent third quarter and a record £12.6 billion order backlog.

How much have Computacenter shares risen this year? Computacenter shares are up by more than two-thirds since the start of 2026 and by about 74% over the past 12 months.