National Instruments Reports Q4 2016 Revenue of $329 Million

National Instruments (Nasdaq: NATI) today announced Q4 2016 revenue of $329 million, down 2 percent year over year with core revenue up 3 percent year over year. The company’s definition of core revenue is GAAP revenue excluding the impact of NI’s largest customer and the impact of foreign currency exchange. A reconciliation of GAAP revenue to core revenue is included with this news release.

In Q4 2016, the impact of foreign currency exchange reduced our year-over-year order growth by 2 percent. NI received $2 million in orders from its largest customer compared with $9 million in orders from this customer in Q4 2015. Excluding NI’s largest customer, the company’s total order growth was up 2 percent year over year for the quarter; orders under $20,000 were down 2 percent year over year; orders between $20,000 and $100,000 were up 4 percent year over year; and orders above $100,000 were up 8 percent year over year.

GAAP net income for Q4 was $34 million, with fully diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.26, and non-GAAP net income was $44 million, with non-GAAP fully diluted EPS of $0.34. EBITDA, or Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization, was $65 million.

In Q4, GAAP gross margin was 74.8 percent and non-GAAP gross margin was 75.8 percent. Total GAAP operating expenses were $197 million, down 1 percent year over year. Total non-GAAP operating expenses were flat year over year at $190 million. GAAP operating margin was 15 percent in Q4, with GAAP operating income of $49 million. Non-GAAP operating margin was 18 percent in Q4, with non-GAAP operating income of $60 million.

“As I start in my new role as CEO, I am committed to our vision and to strengthening our relationships with our customers,” said Alex Davern, NI president and CEO. “Looking to 2017, my top priorities will be growing revenue, leveraging our investments in our platform and people, and improving our operating margins.”

John Roiko, NI interim CFO, said, “While we were disappointed that we missed the midpoint of our revenue guidance in Q4, we did deliver three percent core revenue growth, maintained our strong gross margins, and kept our non-GAAP operating expenses and EPS flat year over year. With an increased focus on growing revenue and improving our operating margin, we are budgeting for a low single digit percent decline in headcount for 2017.”

Geographic revenue in U.S. dollar terms for Q4 2016 compared with Q4 2015 was up 2 percent in the Americas, up 1 percent in APAC, and down 7 percent in EMEIA. Excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange, revenue was up 2 percent in the Americas, up 1 percent in APAC, and relatively flat in EMEIA. Historical revenue from these three regions can be found on NI’s investor website at www.ni.com/nati.

As of Dec. 31, 2016, NI had $358 million in cash and short-term investments. During the quarter, NI paid $26 million in dividends. The NI Board of Directors approved a 5 percent increase to the quarterly dividend to $0.21 per share payable on Mar. 6, 2017, to stockholders of record on Feb. 13, 2017.

The company’s non-GAAP results exclude the impact of stock-based compensation, amortization of acquisition-related intangibles, acquisition-related transaction costs, taxes levied on the transfer of acquired intellectual property, foreign exchange loss on acquisitions, acquisition-related fair value adjustments, and restructuring charges. Reconciliations of the company’s GAAP and non-GAAP results are included as part of this news release.

FY 2016 Highlights

  • Revenue of $1.23 billion
  • Core revenue up 3 percent year over year
  • Fully diluted GAAP EPS of $0.68
  • Non-GAAP fully diluted EPS of $0.97
  • GAAP net income of $87 million
  • EBITDA of $188 million
  • Dividends paid of $103 million, or $0.80 per share

Guidance for Q1 2017

NI currently expects Q1 revenue to be in the range of $285 million to $315 million, up 4.5 percent year-over-year at the midpoint. Based on current exchange rates, the company expects that the impact of the strengthening U.S. dollar will reduce the company’s year-over-year dollar revenue growth rate by approximately 1 percent in Q1. For 2017, NI estimates its non-GAAP effective tax rate to be approximately 21 percent. The company currently expects that GAAP fully diluted EPS will be in the range of $0.05 to $0.19 for Q1, with non-GAAP fully diluted EPS expected to be in the range of $0.11 to $0.25.

Non-GAAP Presentation

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 year-over-year change in core revenue, 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 twelve-month periods ending Dec. 31, 2016 and 2015, on a GAAP and non-GAAP basis. NI is also providing guidance on its non-GAAP fully diluted EPS and expected effective tax rate. The company is not able to provide guidance on its GAAP tax rate or a related reconciliation without unreasonable efforts since its future GAAP tax rate depends on its future stock price and related information that is not currently available.

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, taxes levied on the transfer of acquired intellectual property, foreign exchange loss on acquisitions, acquisition-related fair value adjustments, and restructuring 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 twelve-month periods ending Dec. 31, 2016 and 2015. 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. This news release also discloses the year-over-year change in the company's core revenue for the three-month and 12-month periods ending Dec. 31, 2016. The company believes that including its core revenue assists investors in assessing the company’s operational performance. A reconciliation of GAAP revenue to core revenue is included with this news release.

Conference Call Information and Availability of Presentation Materials

Interested parties can listen to the Q4 2016 earnings conference call with NI management today, Jan. 26, at 4:00 p.m. CT at www.ni.com/call. Replay information is available by calling (855) 859-2361, confirmation code 42870302, shortly after the call through Jan. 29 at 11:00 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 being committed to our vision and to strengthening our relationships with our customers, top priorities will be growing revenue, leveraging our investments in our platform and people, and improving our operating margins, being encouraged by growth in bookings, increased focus on growing revenue and improving our operating margin, budgeting for a headcount reduction in 2017, expecting Q1 revenue to be in the range of $285 million to $315 million, up 4.5 percent year over year at the midpoint, that the impact of the strengthening of the U.S. dollar will reduce the company’s year-over-year dollar revenue growth rate by approximately 1 percent in Q1, expecting non-GAAP effective tax rate to be approximately 21 percent for 2017, and our guidance for GAAP fully diluted EPS and non-GAAP fully diluted EPS for Q1. 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 largest customer, 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. Actual results may differ materially from the expected results.

The company directs readers to its Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2015, its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2016, and the other documents it files with the SEC for other risks associated with the company’s future performance.

About NI

Since 1976, NI (www.ni.com) has made it possible for engineers and scientists to solve the world’s greatest engineering challenges with powerful, flexible technology solutions that accelerate productivity and drive rapid innovation. Customers from a wide variety of industries – from healthcare to automotive and from consumer electronics to particle physics – use NI’s integrated hardware and software platform to improve the world we live in. (NATI-F)

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)
December 31,December 31,
20162015
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 285,283 $ 251,129
Short-term investments 73,117 81,789
Accounts receivable, net 228,686 216,244
Inventories, net 193,608 185,197
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 54,056 65,381
Total current assets 834,750 799,740
Property and equipment, net 260,456 257,853
Goodwill 253,197 257,718
Intangible assets, net 108,663 108,196
Other long-term assets 39,601 30,349
Total assets $ 1,496,667 $ 1,453,856
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $ 48,800 $ 50,970
Accrued compensation 27,743 27,956
Deferred revenue - current 115,577 112,283
Accrued expenses and other liabilities 32,289 11,756
Other taxes payable 34,958 37,250
Total current liabilities 259,367 240,215
Long-term debt 25,000 37,000
Deferred income taxes 41,733 44,673
Liability for uncertain tax positions 11,719 11,974
Deferred revenue - long-term 29,752 27,708
Other long-term liabilities 10,413 10,565
Total liabilities 377,984 372,135
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock - -
Common stock 1,292 1,275
Additional paid-in capital 771,346 717,705
Retained earnings 380,883 400,831
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (34,838 ) (38,090 )
Total stockholders' equity 1,118,683 1,081,721
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 1,496,667 $ 1,453,856

National Instruments

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(in thousands, except per share data, unaudited)
Three Months EndedYears Ended
December 31,December 31,
2016201520162015
Net sales:
Product $ 300,218 $ 306,350 $ 1,116,703 $ 1,113,590
Software maintenance 28,314 27,989 111,476 111,866
Total net sales 328,532 334,339 1,228,179 1,225,456
Cost of sales:
Product 81,468 85,575 306,730 311,226
Software maintenance 1,264 1,200 6,391 5,730
Total cost of sales 82,732 86,775 313,121 316,956
Gross profit 245,800 247,564 915,058 908,500
74.8 % 74.0 % 74.5 % 74.1 %
Operating expenses:
Sales and marketing 115,006 116,348 461,236 452,262
Research and development 57,461 56,670 235,706 225,131
General and administrative 24,082 24,544 98,390 93,935
Total operating expenses 196,549 197,562 795,332 771,328
Operating income 49,251 50,002 119,726 137,172
Other income (expense):
Interest income 335 314 1,122 1,403
Net foreign exchange loss (3,162 ) (5,110 ) (4,632 ) (7,075 )
Other income (expense), net 471 (1,014 ) (1,581 ) (221 )
Income before income taxes 46,895 44,192 114,635 131,279
Provision for income taxes 13,065 12,058 27,220 36,017
Net income $ 33,830 $ 32,134 $ 87,415 $ 95,262
Basic earnings per share $ 0.26 $ 0.25 $ 0.68 $ 0.74
Diluted earnings per share $ 0.26 $ 0.25 $ 0.68 $ 0.74
Weighted average shares outstanding -
basic 129,108 127,341 128,453 127,997
diluted 129,503 127,798 129,008 128,668
Dividends declared per share $ 0.20 $ 0.19 $ 0.80 $ 0.76

National Instruments

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(in thousands, unaudited)

Years Ended December 31,
20162015
Cash flow from operating activities:
Net income $ 87,415 $ 95,262
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 73,390 73,329
Stock-based compensation 25,832 25,489
Tax expense/(benefit) expense from deferred income taxes (22,751 ) 11,019
Tax benefit from stock option plans (442 ) (967 )
Acquisition-related fair value adjustments 1,585 -
Net change in operating assets and liabilities 30,811 (41,495 )
Net cash provided by operating activities 195,840 162,637
Cash flow from investing activities:
Capital expenditures (44,425 ) (33,987 )
Capitalization of internally developed software (31,859 ) (31,356 )
Additions to other intangibles (2,342 ) (2,811 )
Acquisitions, net of cash received (549 ) (125,612 )
Purchases of short-term investments (39,097 ) (36,063 )
Sales and maturities of short-term investments 47,769 151,437
Net cash used by investing activities (70,503 ) (78,392 )
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from revolving line of credit 15,000 54,000
Principal payments on revolving line of credit (27,000 ) (17,000 )
Proceeds from issuance of common stock 28,907 27,785
Repurchase of common stock (5,635 ) (75,255 )
Dividends paid (102,897 ) (97,643 )
Tax benefit from stock option plans 442 967
Net cash used by financing activities (91,183 ) (107,146 )
Net change in cash and cash equivalents 34,154 (22,901 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 251,129 274,030
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year $ 285,283 $ 251,129

The following tables provide details with respect to the amount of GAAP charges related to stock-based compensation, amortization of acquisition intangibles, acquisition related transaction costs, restructuring charges, foreign exchange loss on acquisitions, taxes levied on the transfer of acquired intellectual property, and acquisition-related fair value adjustments that were recorded in the line items indicated below (in thousands, unaudited)

Three Months EndedYears Ended
December 31,December 31,
2016201520162015
Stock-based compensation
Cost of sales $ 568 $ 509 $ 2,210 $ 1,936
Sales and marketing 2,636 2,701 11,057 11,003
Research and development 2,131 2,240 8,876 9,004
General and administrative 859 888 3,623 3,544
Provision for income taxes (1,125 ) (1,870 ) (7,322 ) (7,289 )
Total $ 5,069 $ 4,468 $ 18,444 $ 18,198
Amortization of acquisition intangibles
Cost of sales $ 1,725 $ 3,080 $ 9,346 $ 10,938
Sales and marketing 497 740 2,638 2,039
Research and development 273 316 1,088 1,299
Other income, net - 93 - 542
Provision for income taxes 855 (1,398 ) 2,162 (4,867 )
Total $ 3,350 $ 2,831 $ 15,234 $ 9,951
Acquisition transaction costs, restructuring charges, and other
Cost of sales $ 74 $ 296 $ 327 $ 1,269
Sales and marketing 42 123 183 123
Research and development 170 198 818 198
General and administrative 50 593 367 1,035

Foreign exchange loss1

- 3,111 94 3,111
Other income (loss), net2 - 1,000 2,475 1,000
Provision for income taxes (94 ) (1,453 ) (1,452 ) (1,843 )
Total

$

242

$

3,868

$

2,812 $ 4,893
(1) Foreign exchange losses on acquisitions were $94 and $3,111 for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively
(2) Taxes levied on the transfer of acquired intellectual property were $2,475 and $0 for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Impairment charges recognized on a cost-method investment were $0 and $1,000 for the years ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 respectively.
Acquisition-related fair value adjustments
Net sales1 $ 904 $ -

$

904

$ -
Cost of sales1 681 -

681

-
Provision for income taxes (567 ) -

(567

)

-
Total $ 1,018 $ -

$

1,018

$ -

(1) Acquisition-related fair value adjustments include effects of our finalization of the business combination accounting for our Micropross acquisition including reduction in revenue and increase in cost of sales due to the respective write-down of acquired deferred revenue and step-up of acquired inventory

National Instruments
Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures
(in thousands, unaudited)
Three Months EndedYears Ended
December 31,December 31,
2016201520162015
Reconciliation of Net Sales to Non-GAAP Net Sales

Net sales, as reported

$

328,532

$

334,339

$ 1,228,179 $ 1,225,456

Acquisition-related fair value adjustments

904 - 904 -
Non-GAAP net sales $ 329,436 $ 334,339 $ 1,229,083 $ 1,225,456
Reconciliation of Gross Profit to Non-GAAP Gross Profit
Gross profit, as reported $ 245,800 $ 247,564 $ 915,058 $ 908,500
Stock-based compensation 568 509 2,210 1,936
Amortization of acquisition intangibles 1,725 3,080 9,346 10,938
Acquisition transaction costs and restructuring charges 74 296 327 1,269
Acquisition-related fair value adjustments 1,585 - 1,585 -
Non-GAAP gross profit $ 249,752 $ 251,449 $ 928,526 $ 922,643
Non-GAAP gross margin 75.8 % 75.2 % 75.5 % 75.3 %
Reconciliation of Operating Expenses to Non-GAAP Operating Expenses
Operating expenses, as reported $ 196,549 $ 197,562 $ 795,332 $ 771,328
Stock-based compensation (5,626 ) (5,829 ) (23,556 ) (23,551 )
Amortization of acquisition intangibles (770 ) (1,056 ) (3,726 ) (3,338 )
Acquisition transaction costs and restructuring charges (262 ) (914 ) (1,368 ) (1,356 )
Non-GAAP operating expenses $ 189,891 $ 189,763 $ 766,682 $ 743,083
Reconciliation of Operating Income to Non-GAAP Operating Income
Operating income, as reported $ 49,251 $ 50,002 $ 119,726 $ 137,172
Stock-based compensation 6,194 6,338 25,766 25,487
Amortization of acquisition intangibles 2,495 4,136 13,072 14,276
Acquisition transaction costs and restructuring charges 336 1,210 1,695 2,625
Acquisition-related fair value adjustments 1,585 - 1,585 -
Non-GAAP operating income $ 59,861 $ 61,686 $ 161,844 $ 179,560
Non-GAAP operating margin 18.2 % 18.5 % 13.2 % 14.7 %
Reconciliation of Income before income taxes to Non-GAAP Income before income taxes
Income before income taxes, as reported $ 46,895 $ 44,192 $ 114,635 $ 131,279
Stock-based compensation 6,194 6,338 25,766 25,487
Amortization of acquisition intangibles 2,495 4,229 13,072 14,818
Acquisition transaction costs and restructuring charges 336 5,321 1,695 6,736
Acquisition-related fair value adjustments 1,585 - 1,585 -
Foreign exchange loss on acquisitions - - 94 -
Taxes levied on transfer of acquired intellectual property - - 2,475 -
Non-GAAP income before income taxes $ 57,505 $ 60,080 $ 159,322 $ 178,320
Reconciliation of Provision for income taxes to Non-GAAP Provision for income taxes
Provision for income taxes, as reported $ 13,065 $ 12,058 $ 27,220 $ 36,017
Stock-based compensation 1,125 1,870 7,322 7,289
Amortization of acquisition intangibles (855 ) 1,398 (2,162 ) 4,867
Acquisition transaction costs, restructuring charges, and other 94 1,453 1,452 1,843
Acquisition-related fair value adjustments 567 - 567 -
Non-GAAP provision for income taxes $ 13,996 $ 16,779 $ 34,399 $ 50,016

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 EndedYears Ended
December 31,December 31,
2016201520162015
Net income, as reported $ 33,830 $ 32,134 $ 87,415 $ 95,262
Adjustments to reconcile net income to non-GAAP net income:
Stock-based compensation, net of tax effect 5,069 4,468 18,444 18,198
Amortization of acquisition intangibles, net of tax effect 3,350 2,831 15,234 9,951
Acquisition transaction costs, restructuring, and other, net of tax effect 242 3,868 2,812 4,893
Acquisition-related fair value adjustments, net of tax effect 1,018 - 1,018 -
Non-GAAP net income $ 43,509 $ 43,301 $ 124,923 $ 128,304
Basic EPS, as reported $ 0.26 $ 0.25 $ 0.68 $ 0.74

Adjustment to reconcile basic EPS to non-GAAP basic EPS:

Impact of stock-based compensation, net of tax effect 0.04 0.04 0.14 0.14
Impact of amortization of acquisition intangibles, net of tax effect 0.03 0.02 0.12 0.08
Impact of acquisition transaction costs, restructuring, and other, net of tax effect 0.00 0.03 0.02 0.04
Impact of acquisition-related fair value adjustments, net of tax effect 0.01 - 0.01 -
Non-GAAP basic EPS $ 0.34 $ 0.34 $ 0.97 $ 1.00
Diluted EPS, as reported $ 0.26 $ 0.25 $ 0.68 $ 0.74
Adjustment to reconcile diluted EPS to non-GAAP diluted EPS
Impact of stock-based compensation, net of tax effect $ 0.04

$

0.04

$

0.14

$

0.14
Impact of amortization of acquisition intangibles, net of tax effect 0.03 0.02 0.12 0.08
Impact of acquisition transaction costs, restructuring, and other, net of tax effect 0.00 0.03 0.02 0.04
Impact of acquisition-related fair value adjustments, net of tax effect 0.01 - 0.01 -
Non-GAAP diluted EPS $ 0.34 $ 0.34 $ 0.97 $ 1.00
Weighted average shares outstanding -
Basic 129,108 127,341 128,453 127,997
Diluted 129,503 127,798 129,008 128,668
National Instruments
Reconciliation of Net Income to EBITDA
(in thousands, unaudited)
Three Months EndedYears Ended
December 31,December 31,
2016201520162015
Net income, as reported $ 33,830 $ 32,134 $ 87,415 $ 95,262
Adjustments to reconcile net income to EBITDA:
Interest income, net (155 ) (167 ) (349 ) (1,099 )
Tax expense 13,065 12,058 27,220 36,016
Depreciation and amortization 18,226 18,933 73,390 73,329
EBITDA $ 64,966 $ 62,958 $ 187,676 $ 203,508
Weighted average shares outstanding - Diluted 129,503 127,798 129,008 128,668

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP EPS Guidance

(unaudited)

Three Months Ended
March 31, 2017
LowHigh
GAAP Fully Diluted EPS, guidance $ 0.05 $ 0.19

Adjustment to reconcile diluted EPS to non-GAAP diluted EPS:

Impact of stock-based compensation, net of tax effect 0.04 0.04
Impact of amortization of acquisition intangibles, net of tax effect 0.02 0.02
Non-GAAP diluted EPS, guidance $ 0.11 $ 0.25
National Instruments
Reconciliation of GAAP Revenue Growth to Core Revenue Growth
(unaudited)
Three Months Ended,
December 31,
2016
YoY GAAP revenue growth, as reported $ -2.0 %
Effect of excluding our current largest customer 2.0 %
YoY GAAP revenue growth, excluding our largest customer 0.0 %
Effect of excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange 3.0 %
YoY Core revenue growth $ 3.0 %
Year Ended,
December 31,
2016
YoY GAAP revenue growth, as reported $ 0.0 %
Effect of excluding our current largest customer 0.0 %
YoY GAAP revenue growth, excluding our largest customer 0.0 %
Effect of excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange 3.0 %
YoY Core revenue growth $ 3.0 %
National Instruments
Reconciliation of GAAP Revenue Growth Guidance to Core Revenue Growth Guidance
(unaudited)
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2017
Estimated YoY GAAP revenue growth, as reported $ 5.0 %
Estimated effect of excluding our current largest customer 2.0 %
Estimated YoY GAAP revenue growth, excluding our largest customer 7.0 %
Estimated effect of excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange 1.0 %
Estimated YoY Core revenue growth $ 8.0 %

Contacts:

National Instruments
Marissa Vidaurri, 512-683-6873
Investor Relations

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