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National Instruments Reports Record Revenue and Record Net Income for a Third Quarter

October 25, 2018 4:02 PM

NI well positioned for long-term growth driven by major market trends

Q3 2018 Highlights

First 9 Months 2018 Highlights

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- National Instruments (Nasdaq: NATI) today announced Q3 2018 revenue of $346 million, up 8 percent year over year.

In Q3 2018, the value of the company's total orders was up 13 percent year over year; orders under $20,000 were up 5 percent year over year; and orders over $20,000 were up 21 percent year over year.

In Q3, GAAP gross margin was 74 percent and non-GAAP gross margin was 77 percent. Total GAAP operating expenses were $211 million, up 6 percent year over year. Total non-GAAP operating expenses were flat year over year at $199 million in Q3. GAAP operating margin was 13 percent in Q3, with GAAP operating income of $46 million, up 23 percent year over year. Non-GAAP operating margin was 20 percent in Q3, with non-GAAP operating income of $68 million, up 50 percent year over year.

For the first three quarters of 2018, GAAP operating income was $111 million, up 26 percent year over year, and non-GAAP operating income was $162 million, up 48 percent year over year.

GAAP net income for Q3 was $43 million, with fully diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.32, and non-GAAP net income was $60 million, with non-GAAP fully diluted EPS of $0.45. EBITDA, or Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization, was $65 million for Q3.

“I expect to achieve our target non-GAAP operating margin for 2018 and I am excited by the multi-year growth opportunities we see in areas like 5G semiconductors and electric and autonomous vehicles,” said Alex Davern, NI CEO. “We will continue to drive aligned execution through sales, marketing, and R&D to accelerate growth - both organically and inorganically - in the target industries where our platform is most highly differentiated.”

“I am proud of our continued progress on growth and profitability. We believe from focus comes growth and with leadership’s implementation of our Core Strategic Vision, we have driven alignment to the top priorities we believe will provide the most opportunities for growth,” said Karen Rapp, NI CFO. “With the entire company focused in one direction, we have increased operational efficiency and delivered a 49 percent year over year increase in non-GAAP net income through the first three quarters of 2018. We also increased backlog equivalent to 4 percent of revenue this quarter, improving our future visibility.”

Geographic revenue in U.S. dollar terms for Q3 2018 compared with Q3 2017 was up 7 percent in the Americas, up 10 percent in APAC and up 7 percent in EMEIA. Excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange, revenue was up 7 percent in the Americas, up 9 percent in APAC and up 6 percent in EMEIA. Historical revenue from these three regions can be found on NI’s investor website at�www.ni.com/nati.

As of September�30, 2018, NI had $482 million in cash and short-term investments. During the third quarter, NI paid $30 million in dividends. The NI Board of Directors approved a quarterly dividend of $0.23 per share payable on December 3, 2018, to stockholders of record on November 12, 2018.

The company’s non-GAAP results exclude the impact of stock-based compensation, amortization of acquisition-related intangibles, acquisition-related transaction costs, restructuring charges, and capitalization and amortization of internally developed software costs, tax reform charges and other. Reconciliations of the company’s GAAP and non-GAAP results are included as part of this news release.

Guidance

NI currently expects Q4 revenue to be in the range of $360 million to $390 million, which would be a new Q4 record at the midpoint. The company currently expects that GAAP fully diluted EPS will be in the range of $0.35 to $0.49 for Q4, with non-GAAP fully diluted EPS expected to be in the range of $0.46 to $0.60.

Non-GAAP Presentation

In the quarter ended June 30, 2018, NI began moving toward more frequent releases for many of its software products. Specifically, for many of its software development projects, NI started applying agile development methodologies, which are characterized by a more dynamic development process with more frequent and iterative revisions to a product releases features and functions as the software is being developed. Due to the shorter development cycle and focus on rapid production associated with agile development, NI expects that for a significant majority of its software development projects the costs incurred subsequent to the achievement of technological feasibility will be immaterial in future periods and it expects to record significantly less capitalized software development costs than under its historical software development approaches. NI also expects amortization of previously capitalized software development costs to steadily decline as previously capitalized software development costs become fully amortized over the next four years.

As a result, beginning with its non-GAAP metrics for the three months ended June 30, 2018, NI has been excluding the net effects of capitalization and amortization of software development costs from its non-GAAP operating results, along with its previously excluded non-GAAP items, and providing a reconciliation of such non-GAAP results to its GAAP results. NI believes these changes are useful to investors as they provide greater comparability between its R&D spend in future periods. NI also makes available on its website its historical non-GAAP results, excluding the effects of software capitalization and amortization together with other applicable non-GAAP adjustments, for the fiscal quarters ended March 31, 2005 through September 30, 2018.

In addition to disclosing results determined in accordance with GAAP, NI discloses certain non-GAAP operating results and non-GAAP information that exclude certain charges. In this news release, the company has presented its gross profit, gross margin, operating expenses, operating income, operating margin, income before income taxes, provision for income taxes, net income and basic and fully diluted EPS for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, on a GAAP and non-GAAP basis. NI is also providing guidance on its non-GAAP fully diluted EPS.

When presenting non-GAAP information, the company includes a reconciliation of the non-GAAP results to the GAAP results. Management believes that including the non-GAAP results assists investors in assessing the company’s operational performance and its performance relative to its competitors. The company presents these non-GAAP results as a complement to results provided in accordance with GAAP, and these results should not be regarded as a substitute for GAAP. Management uses these non-GAAP measures to manage and assess the profitability and performance of its business and does not consider stock-based compensation expense, amortization of acquisition-related intangibles, acquisition-related transaction costs, restructuring charges, capitalization and amortization of internally developed software costs, and tax reform charges in managing its operations. Specifically, management uses non-GAAP measures to plan and forecast future periods; to establish operational goals; to compare with its business plan and individual operating budgets; to measure management performance for the purposes of executive compensation, including payments to be made under bonus plans; to assist the public in measuring the company’s performance relative to the company’s long-term public performance goals; to allocate resources; and, relative to the company’s historical financial performance, to enable comparability between periods. Management also considers such non-GAAP results to be an important supplemental measure of its performance.

This news release discloses the company’s EBITDA for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017. The company believes that including the EBITDA results assists investors in assessing the company’s operational performance relative to its competitors. A reconciliation of EBITDA to GAAP net income is included with this news release.

Conference Call Information and Availability of Presentation Materials

Interested parties can listen to the Q3 2018 earnings conference call with NI management today, October 25, at 4:00 p.m. CT at www.ni.com/call. Replay information is available by calling (855) 212-2361, confirmation code 3644097, shortly after the call through October 28 at 10:00 p.m. CT or by visiting the company’s website at www.ni.com/call. Presentation materials referred to on the conference call can be found at www.ni.com/nati.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains “forward-looking statements” including statements regarding NI well positioned for long-term growth driven by major market trends, expecting to achieve our target non-GAAP operating margin for 2018, being excited by the multi-year growth opportunities we see in areas like 5G semiconductors and electric and autonomous vehicles, we will continue to drive aligned execution through sales, marketing, and R&D to accelerate growth - both organically and inorganically - in the target industries where our platform is most highly differentiated, believing from focus comes growth and with leadership’s implementation of our Core Strategic Vision, we have driven alignment to the top priorities we believe will provide the most opportunities for growth, improving our future visibility, expecting Q4 revenue to be in the range of $360 million to $390 million, expecting that GAAP fully diluted EPS will be in the range of $0.35 to $0.49 for Q4, with non-GAAP fully diluted EPS expected to be in the range of $0.46 to $0.60, that for a significant majority of its software development projects the costs incurred subsequent to the achievement of technological feasibility will be immaterial in future periods, that NI expects to record significantly less capitalized software development costs than under its historical software development approaches and that NI expects amortization of previously capitalized software development costs to steadily decline as previously capitalized software development costs become fully amortized over the next four years. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including the risk of adverse changes or fluctuations in the global economy, foreign exchange fluctuations, fluctuations in demand for NI products including orders from NI’s large customers, component shortages, delays in the release of new products, the company’s ability to effectively manage its operating expenses, manufacturing inefficiencies and the level of capacity utilization, the impact of any recent or future acquisitions by NI, expense overruns, adverse effects of price changes or effective tax rates or the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Actual results may differ materially from the expected results.

The company directs readers to its Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2017, its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June�30, 2018 and the other documents it files with the SEC for other risks associated with the company’s future performance.

About NI

NI (ni.com) empowers engineers and scientists with a software-centric platform that incorporates modular hardware and an expansive ecosystem. This proven approach puts users firmly in control of defining what they need to accelerate their system design within test, measurement and control. NI’s solution helps build high-performance systems that exceed requirements, quickly adapt to change and ultimately improve the world. (NATI-F)

LabVIEW, National Instruments, NI and ni.com are trademarks of National Instruments. Other product and company names listed are trademarks or trade names of their respective companies.

National Instruments
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands)
September 30, December 31,
2018 2017
(unaudited)
Assets

Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 311,381 $ 290,164
Short-term investments 171,028 121,888
Accounts receivable, net 239,468 248,825
Inventories, net 192,412 184,592
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 62,447 48,621
Total current assets 976,736 894,090
Property and equipment, net 245,898 249,715
Goodwill 263,119 266,783
Intangible assets, net 116,061 123,293
Other long-term assets 28,106 32,553
Total assets $ 1,629,920 $ 1,566,434
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses $ 51,321 $ 49,733
Accrued compensation 52,182 43,309
Deferred revenue - current 120,398 120,638
Other current liabilities 17,508 23,782
Other taxes payable 34,654 31,793
Total current liabilities 276,063 269,255
Deferred income taxes 36,638 33,609
Liability for uncertain tax positions 9,045 10,158
Income tax payable - long-term 74,015 81,515
Deferred revenue - long-term 31,762 33,742
Other long-term liabilities 5,488 10,134
Total liabilities 433,011 438,413
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock
Common stock 1,324 1,310
Additional paid-in capital 881,417 829,979
Retained earnings 329,342 313,241
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (15,174 ) (16,509 )
Total stockholders' equity 1,196,909 1,128,021
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 1,629,920 $ 1,566,434
National Instruments
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(in thousands, except per share data, unaudited)
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
September 30, September 30,
2018 2017 2018 2017
Net sales:
Product $ 310,216 $ 291,891 $ 897,355 $ 853,219
Software maintenance 35,911 29,030 101,678 86,416
Total net sales 346,127 320,921 999,033 939,635
Cost of sales:
Product 87,082 81,641 239,205 235,989
Software maintenance 1,933 2,110 6,493 6,744
Total cost of sales 89,015 83,751 245,698 242,733
Gross profit 257,112 237,170 753,335 696,902
74.3 % 73.9 % 75.4 % 74.2 %
Operating expenses:
Sales and marketing 118,220 116,661 365,474 358,335
Research and development 66,170 56,526 194,921 171,701
General and administrative 26,712 26,468 81,882 78,400
Total operating expenses 211,102 199,655 642,277 608,436
Operating income 46,010 37,515 111,058 88,466
13.3 % 11.7 % 11.1 % 9.4 %

Other income (expense):

Interest income 1,539 657 3,845 1,509
Net foreign exchange gain (loss) (956 ) 1,096 (2,082 ) 1,624

Other income (loss), net

1,782 (1,153 ) 169 (957 )
Income before income taxes 48,375 38,115 112,990 90,642
Provision for income taxes 5,181 4,726 14,474 13,949
Net income $ 43,194 $ 33,389 $ 98,516 $ 76,693
Basic earnings per share $ 0.33 $ 0.26 $ 0.75 $ 0.59
Diluted earnings per share $ 0.32 $ 0.25 $ 0.74 $ 0.59
Weighted average shares outstanding -
basic 132,357 130,660 131,792 130,103
diluted 133,197 131,617 133,067 131,050
Dividends declared per share $ 0.23 $ 0.21 $ 0.69 $ 0.63
National Instruments
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands, unaudited)
Nine Months Ended September 30,
2018 2017
Cash flow from operating activities:
Net income $ 98,516 $ 76,693
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 53,735 54,794
Stock-based compensation 27,492 21,272
Deferred income taxes 732 (4,290 )
Net change in operating assets and liabilities 6,862 (1,013 )
Net cash provided by operating activities 187,337 147,456
Cash flow from investing activities:
Capital expenditures (27,373 ) (24,084 )
Capitalization of internally developed software (13,152 ) (34,406 )
Additions to other intangibles (5,165 ) (1,379 )
Purchases of short-term investments (172,462 ) (62,845 )
Sales and maturities of short-term investments 122,726 45,582
Net cash used by investing activities (95,426 ) (77,132 )
Cash flow from financing activities:
Principal payments on revolving line of credit (10,000 )
Proceeds from issuance of common stock 24,424 22,870
Dividends paid (91,034 ) (82,051 )
Net cash used by financing activities (66,610 ) (69,181 )
Impact of changes in exchange rates on cash (4,084 ) 7,768
Net change in cash and cash equivalents 21,217 8,911
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 290,164 285,283
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 311,381 $ 294,194
The following tables provide details with respect to the amount of GAAP charges related to stock-based compensation, amortization of acquisition-related intangibles, acquisition-related transaction costs, capitalization and amortization of internally developed software costs, and restructuring charges that were recorded in the line items indicated below (unaudited) (in thousands)
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
September 30, September 30,
2018 2017 2018 2017
Stock-based compensation
Cost of sales $ 844 $ 689 $ 2,415 $ 1,914
Sales and marketing 3,452 3,014 10,408 8,523
Research and development 3,318 2,328 9,091 6,552
General and administrative 1,942 1,514 5,578 4,358
Provision for income taxes (1,455 ) (2,369 ) (6,115 ) (7,388 )
Total $ 8,101 $ 5,176 $ 21,377 $ 13,959
Amortization of acquisition intangibles
Cost of sales $ 701 $ 1,502 $ 2,448 $ 4,648
Sales and marketing 510 515 1,580 1,479
Research and development 28 283 84 813
Provision for income taxes (149 ) (546 ) (518 ) (1,656 )
Total $ 1,090 $ 1,754 $ 3,594 $ 5,284
Acquisition transaction costs, restructuring charges, and other
Cost of sales $ 1,784 $ 79 $ 1,813 $ 988
Sales and marketing 3,676 1,618 8,354 8,018
Research and development 692 235 1,794 1,816
General and administrative 373 207 1,538 803
Other income (loss), net 709
Provision for income taxes (1,800 ) (720 ) (3,983 ) (3,655 )
Total $ 4,725 $ 1,419 $ 10,225 $ 7,970
Capitalization and amortization of internally developed software costs
Cost of sales $ 6,412 $ 5,332 $ 18,736 $ 15,521
Research and development (1,808 ) (9,590 ) (13,152 ) (34,406 )
Provision for income taxes (967 ) 1,490 (1,173 ) 6,610
Total $ 3,637 $ (2,768 ) $ 4,411 $ (12,275 )
National Instruments
Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures
(in thousands, unaudited)
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
September 30, September 30,
2018 2017 2018 2017
Reconciliation of Gross Profit to Non-GAAP Gross Profit
Gross profit, as reported $ 257,112 $ 237,170 $ 753,335 $ 696,902
Stock-based compensation 844 689 2,415 1,914
Amortization of acquisition intangibles 701 1,502 2,448 4,648
Acquisition transaction costs and restructuring charges 1,784 79 1,813 988
Amortization of internally developed software costs 6,412 5,332 18,736 15,521
Non-GAAP gross profit $ 266,853 $ 244,772 $ 778,747 $ 719,973
Non-GAAP gross margin 77.1 % 76.3 % 78.0 % 76.6 %
Reconciliation of Operating Expenses to Non-GAAP Operating Expenses
Operating expenses, as reported $ 211,102 $ 199,655 $ 642,277 $ 608,436
Stock-based compensation (8,712 ) (6,856 ) (25,077 ) (19,433 )
Amortization of acquisition intangibles (538 ) (798 ) (1,664 ) (2,292 )
Acquisition transaction costs and restructuring charges (4,741 ) (2,060 ) (11,686 ) (10,637 )
Capitalization of internally developed software costs 1,808 9,590 13,152 34,406
Non-GAAP operating expenses $ 198,919 $ 199,531 $ 617,002 $ 610,480
Reconciliation of Operating Income to Non-GAAP Operating Income
Operating income, as reported $ 46,010 $ 37,515 $ 111,058 $ 88,466
Stock-based compensation 9,556 7,545 27,492 21,347
Amortization of acquisition intangibles 1,239 2,300 4,112 6,940
Acquisition transaction costs and restructuring charges 6,525 2,139 13,499 11,625
Net (capitalization) and amortization of internally developed software costs 4,604 (4,258 ) 5,584 (18,885 )
Non-GAAP operating income $ 67,934 $ 45,241 $ 161,745 $ 109,493
Non-GAAP operating margin 19.6 % 14.1 % 16.2 % 11.7 %
Reconciliation of Income before income taxes to Non-GAAP Income before income taxes
Income before income taxes, as reported $ 48,375 $ 38,115 $ 112,990 $ 90,642
Stock-based compensation 9,556 7,545 27,492 21,347
Amortization of acquisition intangibles 1,239 2,300 4,112 6,940
Acquisition transaction costs and restructuring charges 6,525 2,139 14,208 11,625
Net (capitalization) amortization of internally developed software costs 4,604 (4,258 ) 5,584 (18,885 )
Non-GAAP income before income taxes $ 70,299 $ 45,841 $ 164,386 $ 111,669
Reconciliation of Provision for income taxes to Non-GAAP Provision for income taxes
Provision for income taxes, as reported $ 5,181 $ 4,726 $ 14,474 $ 13,949
Stock-based compensation 1,455 2,369 6,115 7,388
Amortization of acquisition intangibles 149 546 518 1,656
Acquisition transaction costs, restructuring charges, and other 1,800 720 3,983 3,655
Net (capitalization) amortization of internally developed software costs 967 (1,490 ) 1,173 (6,610 )
Tax reform charge 1,146 1,146
Non-GAAP provision for income taxes $ 10,698 $ 6,871 $ 27,409 $ 20,038
Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income, Basic EPS and Diluted EPS to Non-GAAP Net Income, Non-GAAP Basic EPS and Non-GAAP Diluted EPS
(in thousands, except per share data, unaudited)
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
September 30, September 30,
2018 2017 2018 2017
Net income, as reported $ 43,194 $ 33,389 $ 98,516 $ 76,693
Adjustments to reconcile net income to non-GAAP net income:
Stock-based compensation, net of tax effect 8,101 5,176 21,377 13,959
Amortization of acquisition intangibles, net of tax effect 1,090 1,754 3,594 5,284
Acquisition transaction costs, restructuring, and other, net of tax effect 4,725 1,419 10,225 7,970
Net (capitalization)/amortization of internally developed software costs, net of tax 3,637 (2,768 ) 4,411 (12,275 )
Tax reform charge (1,146 ) (1,146 )
Non-GAAP net income $ 59,601 $ 38,970 $ 136,977 $ 91,631
Basic EPS, as reported $ 0.33 $ 0.26 $ 0.75 $ 0.59
Adjustment to reconcile basic EPS to non-GAAP
basic EPS:
Impact of stock-based compensation, net of tax effect 0.06 0.04 0.16 0.11
Impact of amortization of acquisition intangibles, net of tax effect 0.01 0.03 0.04
Impact of acquisition transaction costs, restructuring, and other, net of tax effect 0.04 0.01 0.08 0.05
Impact of (capitalization)/amortization of internally developed software costs, net 0.03 (0.02 ) 0.03 (0.09 )
Impact of tax reform charge (0.01 ) (0.01 )
Non-GAAP basic EPS $ 0.45 $ 0.30 $ $$1.04 $ 0.70
Diluted EPS, as reported $ 0.32 $ 0.25 $ 0.74 $ 0.59
Adjustment to reconcile diluted EPS to non-GAAP diluted EPS
Impact of stock-based compensation, net of tax effect 0.06 0.04 0.16 0.11
Impact of amortization of acquisition intangibles, net of tax effect 0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04
Impact of acquisition transaction costs, restructuring, and other, net of tax effect 0.04 0.01 0.08 0.05
Impact of (capitalization)/amortization of internally developed software costs, net of tax effect 0.03 (0.02 ) 0.03 (0.09 )
Impact of tax reform charge (0.01 ) (0.01 )
Non-GAAP diluted EPS $ 0.45 $ 0.30 $ 1.03 $ 0.70
Weighted average shares outstanding -
Basic 132,357 130,660 131,792 130,103
Diluted 133,197 131,617 133,067 131,050
National Instruments
Reconciliation of Net Income to EBITDA
(in thousands, unaudited)
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
September 30, September 30,
2018 2017 2018 2017
Net income, as reported $ 43,194 $ 33,389 $ 98,516 $ 76,693
Adjustments to reconcile net income to EBITDA:
Interest income, net (1,525 ) (464 ) (3,705 ) (863 )
Tax expense 5,181 4,726 14,474 13,949
Depreciation and amortization 18,637 18,879 53,735 54,794
EBITDA $ 65,487 $ 56,530 $ 163,020 $ 144,573
Weighted average shares outstanding - Diluted 133,197 131,617 133,067 131,050
Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP EPS Guidance
(unaudited)
Three Months Ended
December 31, 2018
Low High
GAAP Diluted EPS, guidance $0.35 $0.49
Adjustment to reconcile diluted EPS to non-GAAP
diluted EPS:
Impact of stock-based compensation, net of tax effect 0.06 0.06
Impact of amortization of acquisition intangibles and acquisition accounting adjustments, net of tax effect 0.01 0.01
Impact of acquisition transaction costs, restructuring, and other, net of tax effect 0.01 0.01
Impact of capitalization/amortization of software development costs, net of tax effect 0.03 0.03
Non-GAAP Diluted EPS, guidance $0.46 $0.60

National Instruments

Marissa Vidaurri, 512-683-6873

Investor Relations

Source: National Instruments

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