BlackBerry reported an unexpected profit for its fiscal first quarter on Friday, but it wasn’t enough to rally Wall Street behind the software and services company.
Shares of BlackBerry’s fell 6 percent in premarket trading following its earnings report, which revealed sales that came in below analysts’ expectations.
BlackBerry reported revenue of $244 million for the period. Analysts had estimated $264.4 million, according to Thomson Reuters. Enterprise software and services revenue — something analysts who follow the company have been monitoring more closely — declined to $101 million, from $106 million one year ago.
Further, BlackBerry said it received 3,000 orders from enterprise customers in the first quarter, below the 3,500 orders in the fourth quarter.
Profit came in slightly above expectations, however. The company posted first-quarter earnings per share of 2 cents, adjusted, topping a Thomson Reuters consensus forecast of 0 cents.
A surprise for many, the company managed to swing to a net profit of $671 million, or $1.23 per share, in the first quarter, from a loss of $670 million, or $1.28 a share, in the year-earlier period.
“In Q1, we made great progress strengthening our strategic position in emerging growth markets, most notably in cybersecurity and the Enterprise of Things,” CEO John Chen.
“We secured key design wins in high growth segments of automotive technology, including advanced driver assist, digital instrument cluster and our hypervisor solution. Our ecosystem is growing with Qualcomm and NVIDIA adopting BlackBerry technology for their automotive platforms. … Our financial foundation is solid.”
The company has maintained its outlook for fiscal 2018, a period in which BlackBerry expects to be profitable on an adjusted basis and generate positive free cash flow.
“Our financial foundation is solid,” continued Chen. “We reported non-GAAP profitability for the third consecutive quarter, and our balance sheet continues to strengthen. More importantly, we are better positioned to invest in our strategic areas of focus to drive long-term sustainable growth, while returning capital through share repurchases to further enhance shareholder value.”
“Our outlook for fiscal 2018 is unchanged. We expect growth at or above the overall market in software and services. We also expect to be profitable on a non-GAAP basis and to generate positive free cash flow for the full year, excluding the benefit of the Qualcomm arbitration award.”
Non-GAAP revenue for the first quarter of fiscal 2018 was $244 million with GAAP revenue of $235 million. Approximately 79% of first quarter software and services revenue (excluding IP licensing and professional services) was recurring. BlackBerry had over 3,000 enterprise customer orders in the quarter.
Non-GAAP operating income was $14 million, and non-GAAP earnings per share was $0.02. GAAP operating income was $536 million. GAAP net income for the quarter was $671 million, or $1.23 per fully diluted share. GAAP net income includes $25 million in amortization of acquired intangibles, $17 million in restructuring charges, $218 million of fair value adjustment related to the debentures, $815 million in expense recovery and $139 million in investment income related to the positive outcome of the Qualcomm arbitration, and other amounts as summarized in a table below.
Total cash, cash equivalents, short-term and long-term investments increased by $855 million to approximately $2.6 billion as of May 31, 2017. This reflects free cash flow of $860 million, which includes cash flow from operations of $863 million. Excluding $605 million in the face value of the Company’s debt, the net cash balance at the end of the quarter was approximately $1.9 billion. There were no purchase orders with contract manufacturers at the end of the first quarter, or at the end of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, down from $150 million a year ago.
Q1 Fiscal 2018 Non-GAAP Adjustments For the Three Months Ended May 31, 2017 (in millions) Income statement location Revenue Gross margin (before taxes) Gross margin % (before taxes) Income before income taxes Net income Basic earnings per share As reported $ 235 $ 150 63.8 % $ 672 $ 671 $ 1.26 Debentures fair value adjustment (2) Debentures fair value adjustment – – – % 218 218 RAP charges (3) Cost of sales – 3 1.3 % 3 3 RAP charges (3) Research and development – – – % 3 3 RAP charges (3) Selling, marketing and administration – – – % 11 11 Software deferred revenue acquired (4) Revenue 9 9 1.3 % 9 9 Stock compensation expense (5) Cost of sales – 1 0.3 % 1 1 Stock compensation expense (5) Research and development – – – % 4 4 Stock compensation expense (5) Selling, marketing and administration – – – % 8 8 Acquired intangibles amortization (6) Amortization – – – % 25 25 Business acquisition and integration costs (7) Selling, marketing and administration – – – % 11 11 Qualcomm arbitration award (8) Qualcomm arbitration award – – – % (815 ) (815 ) Qualcomm arbitration award (8) Investment income – – – % (139 ) (139 ) $ 244 $ 163 66.8 % $ 11 $ 10 $ 0.02Note: Non-GAAP revenue, non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP gross margin percentage, non-GAAP income before income taxes, non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP income per share do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and thus are not comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other issuers. The Company believes that the presentation of these non-GAAP measures enables the Company and its shareholders to better assess the Company’s operating results relative to its operating results in prior periods and improves the comparability of the information presented. Investors should consider these non-GAAP measures in the context of the Company’s GAAP results.
(1) During the first quarter of fiscal 2018, the Company reported GAAP gross margin of $150 million or 63.8% of revenue. Excluding the impact of the resource alignment program (“RAP”) charges and stock compensation expense included in cost of sales and software deferred revenue acquired included in revenue, the non-GAAP gross margin was $163 million, or 66.8% of revenue. (2) During the first quarter of fiscal 2018, the Company recorded the Q1 Fiscal 2018 Debentures Fair Value Adjustment of $218 million. This adjustment was presented on a separate line in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. (3) During the first quarter of fiscal 2018, the Company incurred charges related to the RAP of approximately $17 million, of which $3 million was included in cost of sales, $3 million was included in research and development expense and $11 million was included in selling, marketing and administration expense. (4) During the first quarter of fiscal 2018, the Company recorded software deferred revenue acquired but not recognized due to business combination accounting rules of $9 million, which was included in enterprise software and services revenue. (5) During the first quarter of fiscal 2018, the Company recorded stock compensation expense of $13 million, of which $1 million was included in cost of sales, $4 million was included in research and development, and $8 million was included in selling, marketing and administration expenses. (6) During the first quarter of fiscal 2018, the Company recorded amortization of intangible assets acquired through business combinations of $25 million, which was included in amortization expense. (7) During the first quarter of fiscal 2018, the Company recorded business acquisition and integration costs incurred through business combinations of $11 million, which was included in selling, marketing and administration expenses. (8) During the first quarter of fiscal 2018, the Company recorded the Qualcomm arbitration award of $954 million, of which $815 million was presented on a separate line in the Consolidated Statements of Operations, and $139 million was included in investment income.Supplementary Geographic Revenue Breakdown
For the quarters ended May 31, 2017 February 28, 2017 November 30, 2016 August 31, 2016 May 31, 2016 North America $ 127 54.0 % $ 166 58.0 % $ 167 57.8 % $ 190 56.9 % $ 177 44.3 % Europe, Middle East and Africa 70 29.8 % 83 29.0 % 87 30.1 % 100 29.9 % 166 41.5 % Latin America 4 1.7 % 5 1.8 % 7 2.4 % 13 3.9 % 10 2.5 % Asia Pacific 34 14.5 % 32 11.2 % 28 9.7 % 31 9.3 % 47 11.8 % Total $ 235 100.0 % $ 286 100.0 % $ 289 100.0 % $ 334 100.0 % $ 400 100.0 %Supplementary Revenue by Product and Service Type Breakdown
US GAAP Adjustments Non-GAAP Three months ended Three months ended Three months ended May 31, 2017 May 31, 2016 May 31, 2017 May 31, 2016 May 31, 2017 May 31, 2016 Enterprise software and services $ 92 $ 82 $ 9 $ 24 $ 101 $ 106 BlackBerry Technology Solutions 36 35 – – 36 35 Licensing, IP and other 32 25 – – 32 25 Handheld devices 37 152 – – 37 152 SAF 38 106 – – 38 106 Total $ 235 $ 400 $ 9 $ 24 $ 244 $ 424Conference Call and Webcast
A conference call and live webcast will be held beginning at 8 a.m. ET, which can be accessed by dialing 1-844-309-0607 or by logging on here. A replay of the conference call will also be available at approximately 11 a.m. ET by dialing 1-855-859-2056 or 1-404-537-3406 and entering Conference ID #23915085 or by clicking the link above.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
For the three months ended May 31, 2017 February 28, 2017 May 31, 2016 Revenue $ 235 $ 286 $ 400 Cost of sales 85 114 246 Gross margin 150 172 154 Gross margin % 63.8 % 60.1 % 38.5 % Operating expenses Research and development 61 57 89 Selling, marketing and administration 110 143 132 Amortization 40 45 54 Impairment of goodwill – – 57 Impairment of long-lived assets – – 501 Debentures fair value adjustment 218 (16 ) (24 ) Qualcomm arbitration award (815 ) – – (386 ) 229 809 Operating income (loss) 536 (57 ) (655 ) Investment income (loss), net 136 8 (15 ) Income (loss) before income taxes 672 (49 ) (670 ) Provision for (recovery of) income taxes 1 (2 ) – Net income (loss) $ 671 $ (47 ) $ (670 ) Loss per share Basic $ 1.26 $ (0.09 ) $ (1.28 ) Diluted $ 1.23 $ (0.10 ) $ (1.28 ) Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding (000’s) Basic 531,096 530,352 521,905 Diluted 544,077 590,852 521,905 Total common shares outstanding (000’s) 531,476 530,497 522,517Consolidated Balance Sheets
As at May 31, 2017 February 28, 2017 Assets Current Cash and cash equivalents $ 933 $ 734 Short-term investments 1,278 644 Accounts receivable, net 152 181 Other receivables 30 34 Inventories 11 26 Income taxes receivable 12 17 Other current assets 48 55 2,464 1,691 Long-term investments 294 269 Restricted cash and cash equivalents 48 51 Property, plant and equipment, net 81 91 Goodwill 563 559 Intangible assets, net 569 602 Deferred income tax asset – – $ 4,019 $ 3,263 Liabilities Current Accounts payable $ 48 $ 103 Accrued liabilities 204 258 Deferred revenue 211 245 463 606 Long-term debt 809 591 Deferred income tax liability 9 9 1,281 1,206 Shareholders’ equity Capital stock and additional paid-in capital 2,528 2,512 Retained earnings (deficit) 227 (438 ) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (17 ) (17 ) 2,738 2,057 $ 4,019 $ 3,263Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
For the three months ended May 31, 2017 May 31, 2016 Cash flows from operating activities Net income (loss) $ 671 $ (670 ) Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: Amortization 51 72 Deferred income taxes – 32 Stock-based compensation 13 12 Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment – 1 Impairment of goodwill – 57 Impairment of long-lived assets – 501 Other-than-temporary impairment on cost-based investments – 7 Debentures fair value adjustment 218 (24 ) Other 1 3 Net changes in working capital items: Accounts receivable, net 29 73 Other receivables 4 (4 ) Inventories 15 16 Income taxes receivable (1 ) (25 ) Other current assets 6 8 Accounts payable (55 ) 8 Income taxes payable – (9 ) Accrued liabilities (55 ) (53 ) Deferred revenue (34 ) (66 ) Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 863 (61 ) Cash flows from investing activities Acquisition of long-term investments (25 ) (163 ) Proceeds on sale or maturity of long-term investments – 32 Acquisition of property, plant and equipment (3 ) (4 ) Proceeds on sale of property, plant and equipment 1 – Acquisition of intangible assets (7 ) (9 ) Acquisition of short-term investments (1,015 ) (389 ) Proceeds on sale or maturity of short-term investments 378 875 Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities (671 ) 342 Cash flows from financing activities Issuance of common shares 3 3 Payment of contingent consideration from business acquisitions – (15 ) Effect of foreign exchange loss on restricted cash and cash equivalents – (3 ) Transfer from restricted cash 3 – Net cash used in financing activities 6 (15 ) Effect of foreign exchange gain on cash and cash equivalents 1 2 Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents during the period 199 268 Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 734 957 Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 933 $ 1,225 As at May 31, 2017 February 28, 2017 Cash and cash equivalents $ 933 $ 734 Short-term investments 1,278 644 Long-term investments 294 269 Restricted cash 48 51 $ 2,553 $ 1,698BlackBerry also announced Friday it would buy back up to 31 million shares, or 6.4 percent of its outstanding public float. The buyback is designed to offset some of the expected dilution from BlackBerry’s equity incentive plan, the company said.
BlackBerry’s total cash balance has now increased to $2.6 billion as of the end of its fiscal first quarter.
