National Instruments Reports Record Revenue for a Second Quarter of $319 Million

Net Income up 49% for First Half of 2017

Q2 2017 Highlights

  • Revenue of $319 million, up 4 percent year over year with core revenue up 7 percent year over year
  • GAAP gross margin of 74 percent
  • Non-GAAP gross margin of 75 percent
  • Fully diluted GAAP EPS of $0.19 and fully diluted non-GAAP EPS of $0.27
  • GAAP net income of $25 million
  • Non-GAAP net income of $35 million, a record for a second quarter
  • EBITDA of $46 million
  • Cash and short-term investments of $368 million as of June 30, 2017

AUSTIN, Texas--()--National Instruments (Nasdaq: NATI) today announced Q2 2017 revenue of $319 million, up 4 percent year over year with core revenue up 7 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 the year over year change in GAAP revenue to the year over year change in core revenue is included with this news release.

In Q2 2017, NI received $12 million in orders from its largest customer compared with $18 million in orders from this customer in Q2 2016. Excluding NI’s largest customer, the value of the company’s total orders was up 8 percent year over year for the quarter; orders under $20,000 were flat year over year; orders between $20,000 and $100,000 were up 1 percent year over year; and orders above $100,000 were up 42 percent year over year.

GAAP net income for Q2 was $25 million, with fully diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.19, and non-GAAP net income was $35 million, a record for a second quarter, with non-GAAP fully diluted EPS of $0.27. Included in NI’s GAAP net income for Q2 is $4 million related to restructuring charges. EBITDA, or Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization, was $46 million for Q2.

In Q2, GAAP gross margin was 74 percent and non-GAAP gross margin was 75 percent. Total GAAP operating expenses were $208 million, up 3 percent year over year. Total non-GAAP operating expenses were flat year over year at $194 million. GAAP operating margin was 9 percent in Q2, with GAAP operating income of $29 million, up 5 percent year over year. Non-GAAP operating margin was 14 percent in Q2, with non-GAAP operating income of $44 million, up 15 percent year over year.

I am pleased with our Q2 performance and execution as we continue to drive toward our revenue and profitability goals with record revenue for a second quarter and 26% year over year non-GAAP net income growth for the first half of 2017,” said Alex Davern, NI president and CEO. “We believe alignment of our product and channel investments toward the growth opportunity in 5G communications, semiconductor test, the connected vehicle, and the Industrial Internet of Things continues to move our platform closer to our users’ challenges, which increases our impact within these applications.”

Karen Rapp, NI CFO, said, “We are encouraged by the strong order growth and improved trends in the industrial economy. Our leadership team is focused on executing to the updated leverage model shared at our recent investor day. We are going to do this through deliberate decision making and discipline in managing our expenses. We believe this focus will keep us on the right path as we strive to meet both our growth and profitability goals this year and in 2018.”

Geographic revenue in U.S. dollar terms for Q2 2017 compared with Q2 2016 was up 6 percent in the Americas, down 1 percent in APAC and up 6 percent in EMEIA. Excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange, revenue was up 6 percent in the Americas, flat in APAC and up 10 percent in EMEIA. Historical revenue from these three regions can be found on NI’s investor website at www.ni.com/nati.

As of June 30, 2017, NI had $368 million in cash and short-term investments. During the second quarter, NI paid $27 million in dividends. The NI Board of Directors approved a quarterly dividend of $0.21 per share payable on Sept. 5, 2017, to stockholders of record on Aug. 14, 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, and restructuring charges. Reconciliations of the company’s GAAP and non-GAAP results are included as part of this news release.

Guidance

NI currently expects Q3 revenue to be in the range of $304 million to $334 million, which would be a new Q3 record at the midpoint. Based on current exchange rates, the company expects that the impact of foreign exchange on dollar revenue will be minimal in Q3. The company currently expects that GAAP fully diluted EPS will be in the range of $0.16 to $0.30 for Q3, with non-GAAP fully diluted EPS expected to be in the range of $0.22 to $0.36. Included in the company’s Q3 2017 GAAP EPS guidance is approximately $1 million of restructuring charges. For the full year, NI estimates the restructuring charges impacting net income to be approximately $7 million to $8 million. For 2017, NI estimates its non-GAAP effective tax rate to be approximately 21 percent.

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-month and six-month periods ending June 30, 2017 and 2016, 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, 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-month and six-month periods ending June 30, 2017 and 2016. 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 period ending June 30, 2017. The company believes that including its year over year change in core revenue assists investors in assessing the company’s operational performance. A reconciliation of its year over year change in GAAP revenue to its year over year change in core revenue is included with this news release.

Conference Call Information and Availability of Presentation Materials

Interested parties can listen to the Q2 2017 earnings conference call with NI management today, July 27, at 4:00 p.m. CT at www.ni.com/call. Replay information is available by calling (855) 859-2056, confirmation code 41457332, shortly after the call through July 30 at 11:59 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 driving towards our revenue and profitability goals, belief that alignment of our product and channel investments will move our platform closer to our users’ challenges which increases our impact within these applications, being encouraged by the strong order growth and improved trends in the industrial economy, being focused on executing to the updated leverage model, deliberate decision making and discipline in managing our expenses, that this focus will keep us on the right path as we strive to meet both our growth and profitability goals this year and in 2018, expecting Q3 revenue to be in the range of $304 million to $334 million, that the impact of foreign exchange on dollar revenue will be minimal in Q3, expecting GAAP fully diluted EPS will be in the range of $0.16 to $0.30 for Q3, with non-GAAP fully diluted EPS expected to be in the range of $0.22 to $0.36, expecting about $1 million of restructuring charges in Q3, that restructuring charges impacting net income will be approximately $7 million to $8 million and that non-GAAP effective tax rate to be approximately 21 percent for 2017. 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, 2016, its Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2017 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 platform-based systems 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)
       
June 30, December 31,
2017 2016
(unaudited)
 
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 263,150 $ 285,283
Short-term investments 105,284 73,117
Accounts receivable, net 230,958 228,686
Inventories, net 186,155 193,608
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   52,568         53,953  
Total current assets 838,115 834,647
 
Property and equipment, net 256,761 260,456
Goodwill 261,411 253,197
Intangible assets, net 120,327 108,663
Other long-term assets   28,700         39,601  
Total assets $ 1,505,314       $ 1,496,564  
 
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $ 54,214 $ 48,800
Accrued compensation 36,672 27,743
Deferred revenue - current 120,212 115,577
Accrued expenses and other liabilities 15,341 32,997
Other taxes payable   28,743         34,958  
Total current liabilities 255,182 260,075
 
Long-term debt 25,000 25,000
Deferred income taxes 35,561 45,386
Liability for uncertain tax positions 12,438 11,719
Deferred revenue - long-term 31,665 29,752
Other long-term liabilities   7,420         10,413  
Total liabilities   367,266         382,345  
 
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock - -
Common stock 1,305 1,292
Additional paid-in capital 800,774 771,346
Retained earnings 359,088 376,202
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (23,119 )       (34,621 )
Total stockholders' equity   1,138,048         1,114,219  
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 1,505,314       $ 1,496,564  
 
 
National Instruments
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(in thousands, except per share data, unaudited)
           
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
2017 2016 2017     2016
 
Net sales:
Product $ 289,817 $ 278,530 $ 561,328 $ 537,963
Software maintenance   28,792     27,575     57,386     55,319  
Total net sales 318,609 306,105 618,714 593,282
 
Cost of sales:
Product 79,153 75,194 154,349 149,404
Software maintenance   3,307     2,314     4,635     4,250  
Total cost of sales 82,460 77,508 158,984 153,654
       
Gross profit   236,149     228,597     459,730     439,628  
74 % 75 % 74 % 74 %
Operating expenses:
Sales and marketing 124,414 116,361 241,674 229,568
Research and development 56,913 59,839 115,175 119,179
General and administrative   26,191     25,130     51,933     49,770  
Total operating expenses   207,518     201,330     408,782     398,517  
 
Operating income 28,631 27,267 50,948 41,111
9 % 9 % 8 % 7 %
Other income (expense):
Interest income 509 258 852 511
Net foreign exchange gain (loss) 447 (1,285 ) 529 (711 )
Other (expense) income, net   (235 )   53     197     (2,353 )
 
Income before income taxes 29,352 26,293 52,526 38,558
 
Provision for income taxes   4,197     6,493     9,223     9,460  
 
Net income $ 25,155   $ 19,800   $ 43,303   $ 29,098  
 
Basic earnings per share $ 0.19   $ 0.15   $ 0.33   $ 0.23  
Diluted earnings per share $ 0.19   $ 0.15   $ 0.33   $ 0.23  
 
Weighted average shares outstanding -
basic 130,197 128,282 129,820 127,938
diluted 131,117 128,746 130,619 128,429
 
Dividends declared per share $ 0.21 $ 0.20 $ 0.42 $ 0.40
 
 
National Instruments
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands, unaudited)
    Six Months Ended June 30,
2017     2016
 
Cash flow from operating activities:
Net income $ 43,303 $ 29,098
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 35,915 38,217
Stock-based compensation 13,726 13,497
Tax expense/(benefit) expense from deferred income taxes (875 ) (2,927 )
Net change in operating assets and liabilities   (7,284 )   2,659  
Net cash provided by operating activities   84,785     80,544  
 
Cash flow from investing activities:
Capital expenditures (15,727 ) (20,970 )
Capitalization of internally developed software (24,816 ) (15,406 )
Additions to other intangibles (1,124 ) (689 )
Acquisitions, net of cash received - (549 )
Purchases of short-term investments (52,807 ) (5,008 )
Sales and maturities of short-term investments   21,017     31,734  
Net cash used by investing activities   (73,457 )   (10,888 )
 
Cash flow from financing activities:
Proceeds from revolving line of credit - 15,000
Principal payments on revolving line of credit - (12,000 )
Proceeds from issuance of common stock 15,407 14,830
Repurchase of common stock - (5,635 )
Dividends paid (54,595 ) (51,273 )
Tax benefit from stock option plans   -     -  
Net cash used by financing activities   (39,188 )   (39,078 )
 
Impact of changes in exchange rates on cash 5,727 3,554
 
Net change in cash and cash equivalents (22,133 ) 34,132
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   285,283     251,129  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 263,150   $ 285,261  
 
 

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, restructuring charges, foreign exchange loss on acquisitions and taxes levied on the transfer of acquired intellectual property that were recorded in the line items indicated below (unaudited) (in thousands)

 
    Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
       
2017 2016 2017 2016
Stock-based compensation
Cost of sales $ 650 $ 539 $ 1,226 $ 1,087
Sales and marketing 2,884 2,851 5,509 5,787
Research and development 2,170 2,369 4,224 4,718
General and administrative   1,620     935     2,844     1,843  
Provision for income taxes   (3,344 )   (2,016 )   (5,020 )   (4,110 )
Total $ 3,980   $ 4,678   $ 8,783   $ 9,325  
 
Amortization of acquisition intangibles
Cost of sales $ 1,556 $ 2,980 $ 3,146 $ 6,022
Sales and marketing 486 820 964 1,639
Research and development 267 278 531 539
Other income, net   -     -     -     -  
Provision for income taxes   (556 )   237     (1,110 )   458  
Total $ 1,753   $ 4,315   $ 3,531   $ 8,658  
 
Acquisition transaction costs, restructuring charges, and other
Cost of sales $ 574 $ 74 $ 909 $ 179
Sales and marketing 4,024 42 6,399 99
Research and development 1,182 153 1,581 411
General and administrative 419 190 596 220
Foreign exchange gain (loss) 1 - - - 94
Other income (loss), net2   -     -     -     2,475  
Provision for income taxes   (1,870 )   (160 )   (2,934 )   (1,202 )
Total $ 4,329   $ 299   $ 6,551   $ 2,276  
 
(1) Foreign exchange losses on acquisitions were $0 and $94 for the six month periods ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively
(2) Taxes levied on the transfer of acquired intellectual property were $0 and $2,475 for the six month periods ended June 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively
 
 
National Instruments
Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures
(in thousands, unaudited)
               
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
2017 2016 2017 2016
 
Reconciliation of Gross Profit to Non-GAAP Gross Profit
Gross profit, as reported $ 236,149 $ 228,597 $ 459,730 $ 439,628
Stock-based compensation 650 539 1,226 1,087
Amortization of acquisition intangibles 1,556 2,980 3,146 6,022
Acquisition transaction costs and restructuring charges   574     74     909     179  
Non-GAAP gross profit $ 238,929   $ 232,190   $ 465,011   $ 446,916  
Non-GAAP gross margin 75.0 % 75.9 % 75.2 % 75.3 %
 
Reconciliation of Operating Expenses to Non-GAAP Operating Expenses
Operating expenses, as reported $ 207,518 $ 201,330 $ 408,782 $ 398,517
Stock-based compensation (6,674 ) (6,155 ) (12,577 ) (12,348 )
Amortization of acquisition intangibles (753 ) (1,098 ) (1,495 ) (2,178 )
Acquisition transaction costs and restructuring charges   (5,625 )   (385 )   (8,576 )   (730 )
Non-GAAP operating expenses $ 194,466   $ 193,692   $ 386,134   $ 383,261  
 
Reconciliation of Operating Income to Non-GAAP Operating Income
Operating income, as reported $ 28,631 $ 27,267 $ 50,948 $ 41,111
Stock-based compensation 7,324 6,694 13,803 13,435
Amortization of acquisition intangibles 2,309 4,078 4,641 8,200
Acquisition transaction costs and restructuring charges   6,199     459     9,485     909  
Non-GAAP operating income $ 44,463   $ 38,498   $ 78,877   $ 63,655  
Non-GAAP operating margin 14.0 % 12.6 % 12.7 % 10.7 %
 
Reconciliation of Income before income taxes to Non-GAAP Income before income taxes
Income before income taxes, as reported $ 29,352 $ 26,293 $ 52,526 $ 38,558
Stock-based compensation 7,324 6,694 13,803 13,435
Amortization of acquisition intangibles 2,309 4,078 4,641 8,200
Acquisition transaction costs and restructuring charges 6,199 459 9,485 909
Foreign exchange loss on acquisitions - - - 94
Taxes levied on transfer of acquired intellectual property   -     -     -     2,474  
Non-GAAP income before income taxes $ 45,184   $ 37,524   $ 80,455   $ 63,670  
 
Reconciliation of Provision for income taxes to Non-GAAP Provision for income taxes
Provision for income taxes, as reported $ 4,197 $ 6,493 $ 9,223 $ 9,460
Stock-based compensation 3,344 2,016 5,020 4,110
Amortization of acquisition intangibles 556 (237 ) 1,110 (458 )
Acquisition transaction costs, restructuring charges, and other   1,870     160     2,934     1,202  
Non-GAAP provision for income taxes $ 9,967   $ 8,432   $ 18,287   $ 14,314  
 
 
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 Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
2017 2016 2017 2016
 
Net income, as reported $ 25,155 $ 19,800 $ 43,303 $ 29,098
Adjustments to reconcile net income to non-GAAP net income:
Stock-based compensation, net of tax effect 3,980 4,678 8,783 9,325
Amortization of acquisition intangibles, net of tax effect 1,753 4,315 3,531 8,658

Acquisition transaction costs, restructuring, and other, net of tax effect

  4,329   299   6,551   2,276
Non-GAAP net income

$

35,217

$ 29,092 $ 62,168 $ 49,357
 
Basic EPS, as reported $ 0.19 $ 0.15 $ 0.33 $ 0.23

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

Impact of stock-based compensation, net of tax effect 0.04 0.04 0.07 0.07
Impact of amortization of acquisition intangibles, net of tax effect 0.01 0.03 0.03 0.07
Impact of acquisition transaction costs, restructuring, and other, net of tax effect   0.03   0.01   0.05   0.02
Non-GAAP basic EPS $ 0.27 $ 0.23 $ 0.48 $ 0.39
 
 
Diluted EPS, as reported $ 0.19 $ 0.15 $ 0.33 $ 0.23
Adjustment to reconcile diluted EPS to non-GAAP diluted EPS
Impact of stock-based compensation, net of tax effect 0.04 0.04 0.07 0.07
Impact of amortization of acquisition intangibles, net of tax effect 0.01 0.03 0.03 0.07
Impact of acquisition transaction costs, restructuring, and other, net of tax effect   0.03   0.01   0.05   0.01
Non-GAAP diluted EPS $ 0.27 $ 0.23 $ 0.48 $ 0.38
 
Weighted average shares outstanding -
Basic   130,197   128,282   129,820   127,938
Diluted   131,117   128,746   130,619   128,429
 
 
National Instruments
Reconciliation of Net Income to EBITDA
(in thousands, unaudited)
               
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
June 30, June 30,
2017     2016 2017     2016
Net income, as reported $ 25,155 $ 19,800 $ 43,303 $ 29,098
Adjustments to reconcile net income to EBITDA:
Interest income (313 ) (78 ) (399 ) (141 )
Tax expense 4,197 6,493 9,223 9,460
Depreciation and amortization   17,246     18,785     35,915     38,217  
EBITDA $ 46,285   $ 45,000   $ 88,042   $ 76,634  
Weighted average shares outstanding - Diluted   131,117     128,746     130,619     128,429  
 
 
Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP EPS Guidance
(unaudited)
 
Three months ended
September 30, 2017
 
Low High
GAAP Fully Diluted EPS, guidance $ 0.16 $ 0.30

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 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  
Non-GAAP diluted EPS, guidance

$

0.22

  $ 0.36  
 
 
National Instruments
Reconciliation of GAAP Revenue Growth to Core Revenue Growth
(unaudited)
   
Three Months Ended,
June 30,
2017
YoY GAAP revenue growth, as reported 4.1 %
Effect of excluding our current largest customer 1.5 %
YoY GAAP revenue growth, excluding our largest customer 5.6 %
Effect of excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange 1.4 %
YoY Core revenue growth 7.0 %

Contacts

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

Contacts

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