US IT Hardware Stocks Tumble as Morgan Stanley Flags Slowing Demand

U.S. IT hardware stocks fell sharply after Morgan Stanley downgraded the sector, warning that corporate demand is weakening as companies rein in spending amid economic uncertainty and rising component costs.

The brokerage cut its industry outlook to “cautious,” citing a “perfect storm” of slowing demand, input cost inflation, and elevated valuations. Analysts said technology leaders are dialing back hardware investment plans, adding pressure to a sector already grappling with supply bottlenecks.

Shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Dell Technologies dropped as much as 5%, while HP Inc fell about 2.5%. U.S.-listed shares of Logitech and NetApp slid between 4% and 5.5% after Morgan Stanley cut both to “underweight.”

The sector-wide selloff dragged the U.S. IT hardware index lower, reflecting broader market weakness. Morgan Stanley’s latest survey showed hardware budgets are expected to grow just 1% year-on-year in 2026, the weakest reading outside the COVID period in roughly 15 years.

While artificial intelligence-related spending has supported some hardware demand, uncertainty linked to tariffs under U.S. President Donald Trump and rising memory costs continue to cloud the outlook. Analysts warned that higher costs and price-sensitive demand could lead to further earnings downgrades into 2026.