** Hewlett Packard Enterprise HPE.N shares soar ~29% in premarket trading after the co reported record Q2 results and lifted its long-term financial goals on robust AI demand

** Co reported Q2 rev of $10.68 bln and adj EPS of 79 cents, beating LSEG-compiled analysts' average estimate of $9.79 bln and 53 cents, respectively

** This is the "Year of Refresh" that is causing a rising tide to lift all boats, and while HPE is seeing this tidal wave, we prefer to be in 'other boats' given exposures, Piper Sandler analysts said

** HPE raised its fiscal 2026 revenue growth outlook to 29%-33%, up from 17%-22%, and now expects annual adj EPS of $3.35-$3.45, ahead of prior targets for fiscal 2028

** The stock has surged about 95.7% YTD, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's .SPX 11.0% rise