- Third Quarter Highlights
- Sales of $1.29 billion, up 33 percent year over year
- Gross margin of 42 percent
- GAAP operating income of $181 million
- Adjusted operating income (excludes special items) of $297 million, or 23 percent of sales
- Net income of $0.48 per diluted share
- Adjusted net income of $0.81 per diluted share, up 53 percent year over year
- Cash flow from operations of $257 million, up 128 percent year over year
CommScope Holding Company, Inc. (NASDAQ: COMM), a global leader in infrastructure solutions for communications networks, reported sales of $1.29 billion and net income of $94 million, or $0.48 per diluted share, for the quarter ended September 30, 2016. Sales rose 33 percent year over year driven by incremental sales attributable to the BNS acquisition. Non-GAAP adjusted net income for the third quarter 2016 rose to $159 million, or $0.81 per diluted share. A reconciliation of reported GAAP results to non-GAAP results is attached.
In comparison, for the quarter ended September 30, 2015, CommScope reported sales of $973 million and a net loss of $81 million, or a loss of $0.42 per diluted share. Non-GAAP adjusted net income for the third quarter of 2015 was $103 million, or $0.53 per diluted share.
“We are pleased to deliver year-over-year revenue growth and strong bottom-line results, which exceeded our expectations. Our fiber-to-the-X and wireless technologies were catalysts for this strong performance, especially in North America,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Eddie Edwards. “Service providers continue to densify their wireless networks and push fiber deeper into their high-speed broadband networks. With our broad product portfolio, we are well positioned to enable customers to transition their networks to respond to the ever-growing demand for bandwidth.
“We are also pleased to continue to generate robust cash flow, which enabled us to complete the redemption of our remaining PIK notes during the quarter. In addition, we repriced our term loan due 2022, lowering the interest rate by 50 basis points. We are proud of our low cost of capital and solid foundational capital structure.”
Third Quarter 2016 Overview
Third quarter 2016 sales grew 33 percent year over year to $1.29 billion, which was consistent with guidance. On a pro forma basis for the BNS acquisition, revenue increased 4 percent year over year driven primarily by strong growth in our Connectivity Solutions segment, an extra week of BNS results in the current quarter and an increase in spending by certain domestic operators in the Mobility Solutions segment. Foreign exchange rate changes negatively affected revenue by 1 percent year over year.
GAAP operating income in the third quarter of 2016 was $181 million and adjusted operating income in the quarter, which excludes amortization of purchased intangibles, integration and transaction costs, restructuring costs and other special items, increased 48 percent year over year to $297 million. This increase was driven by higher-margin BNS products, benefits from cost reduction initiatives and favorable geographic and product mix.
GAAP net income for the third quarter of 2016 increased to $94 million. Excluding special items, third quarter adjusted net income increased 55 percent year over year to $159 million. Adjusted earnings were $0.81 per diluted share, up 53 percent year over year.
Third Quarter 2016 Segment Overview
Third quarter Connectivity Solutions segment sales increased 68 percent to $819 million, driven by incremental revenue from the BNS acquisition. On a pro forma basis for the BNS acquisition, Connectivity Solutions segment sales grew 9 percent year over year, driven by strong double-digit fiber growth in outdoor network solutions and an extra week of BNS results in the current quarter. Foreign exchange rate changes negatively affected revenue by approximately 1 percent from the year-ago period. In the quarter, Connectivity Solutions GAAP operating income was $105 million. Adjusted operating income increased 86 percent year over year to $189 million, or 23 percent of segment sales. The more than 230 basis point year-over-year increase in adjusted operating income margin was due primarily to higher-margin BNS products and benefits from cost reduction initiatives.
Mobility Solutions segment sales of $475 million declined 2 percent year over year due to tepid international spending and product rationalization. On a pro forma basis for the BNS acquisition, Mobility Solutions segment sales decreased 4 percent year over year. Higher spending by certain North American wireless operators was more than offset by a decline in other major geographic regions and product rationalization. Foreign exchange rate changes had a negative impact of approximately 1 percent on Mobility Solutions segment sales compared to the year-ago period. Mobility Solutions GAAP operating income was $76 million. Despite the modest revenue decline, adjusted operating income increased 8 percent to $107 million, or 23 percent of segment sales. The more than 200 basis point increase in adjusted operating income margin compared to the prior year was driven by favorable geographic and product mix and benefits from cost reduction initiatives. These increases were partially offset by lower sales volumes and increased R&D spending as we continue to invest in small cell technology.
Term Loan Repricing
In October, the company amended its senior secured term loan due December 2022 to reduce the margin on the interest rate from 3.0 percent to 2.5 percent. The 0.75 percent LIBOR floor remained unchanged.
Outlook
CommScope management provided the following fourth quarter and full year 2016 guidance.
Fourth Quarter 2016 Guidance:
- Revenue of $1.14 billion – $1.19 billion
- Operating income of $111 million – $128 million
- Adjusted operating income of $220 million – $240 million
- Earnings per diluted share of $0.18 – $0.20, based on 197 million weighted average diluted shares
- Adjusted earnings per diluted share of $0.54 – $0.59, up 35 percent year over year at the midpoint
- Adjusted effective tax rate of 34 percent – 35 percent
Full Year 2016 Guidance:
- Revenue of $4.885 billion – $4.935 billion
- Operating income of $566 million – $583 million
- Adjusted operating income of $1.019 billion – $1.039 billion
- Earnings per diluted share of $1.03 – $1.05, based on 196 million weighted average diluted shares
- Adjusted earnings per diluted share of $2.57 – $2.62, up 40 percent year over year at the midpoint
- Adjusted effective tax rate of 34 percent – 35 percent
- Cash flow from operations of more than $550 million
A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP outlook is attached.
Conference Call, Webcast and Investor Presentation
As previously announced, CommScope will host a conference call today at 8:30 a.m. ET in which management will discuss third quarter 2016 results. The conference call also will be webcast.
To participate in the conference call, dial 866-394-7514 (US and Canada only) or +1 706-758-2714. The conference identification number is 95331448. Please plan to dial in 15 minutes before the start of the call to facilitate a timely connection. The live, listen-only audio of the call and corresponding presentation will be available through a link on CommScope's Investor Relations page.
If you are unable to participate and would like to hear a replay, dial 855-859-2056 (US and Canada only) or +1 404-537-3406. The replay identification number is 95331448 and will be available through December 3, 2016. A webcast replay will also be archived on CommScope’s website for a limited period of time following the conference call.
About CommScope
CommScope (NASDAQ: COMM) helps companies around the world design, build and manage their wired and wireless networks. Our vast portfolio of network infrastructure includes some of the world’s most robust and innovative wireless and fiber optic solutions. Our talented and experienced global team is driven to help customers increase bandwidth; maximize existing capacity; improve network performance and availability; increase energy efficiency; and simplify technology migration. You will find our solutions in the largest buildings, venues and outdoor spaces; in data centers and buildings of all shapes, sizes and complexity; at wireless cell sites; in telecom central offices and cable headends; in FTTx deployments; and in airports, trains, and tunnels. Vital networks around the world run on CommScope solutions.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
CommScope management believes that presenting certain non-GAAP financial measures provides meaningful information to investors in understanding operating results and may enhance investors' ability to analyze financial and business trends. Non-GAAP measures are not a substitute for GAAP measures and should be considered together with the GAAP financial measures. As calculated, our non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. In addition, CommScope management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures allow investors to compare period to period more easily by excluding items that could have a disproportionately negative or positive impact on results in any particular period.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release or any other oral or written statements made by us or on our behalf may include forward-looking statements which reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance. These forward-looking statements are generally identified by their use of such terms and phrases as “intend,” “goal,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “projections,” “plans,” “anticipate,” “should,” “could,” “designed to,” “foreseeable future,” “believe,” “think,” “scheduled,” “outlook,” “guidance” and similar expressions although not all forward-looking statements contain such terms. This list of indicative terms and phrases is not intended to be all-inclusive.
These statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside our control, including, without limitation, our ability to integrate the BNS business on a timely and cost-effective manner; our reliance on TE Connectivity for transition services for the BNS business; our ability to realize expected growth opportunities and cost savings from the BNS business; our dependence on customers’ capital spending on communication systems; concentration of sales among a limited number of customers and channel partners; changes in technology; industry competition and the ability to retain customers through product innovation, introduction and marketing; risks associated with our sales through channel partners; product performance issues and associated warranty claims; our ability to maintain effective management information systems and to successfully implement major systems initiatives; cyber-security incidents, including data security breaches or computer viruses; the risk our global manufacturing operations suffer production or shipping delays causing difficulty in meeting customer demands; the risk that internal production capacity and that of contract manufacturers may be insufficient to meet customer demand or quality standards for our products; changes in cost and availability of key raw materials, components and commodities and the potential effect on customer pricing; risks associated with our dependence on a limited number of key suppliers; our ability to fully realize anticipated benefits from prior or future acquisitions or equity investments; potential difficulties in realigning global manufacturing capacity and capabilities among our global manufacturing facilities, including delays or challenges related to removing, transporting or reinstalling equipment, that may affect our ability to meet customer demands for products; possible future restructuring actions; substantial indebtedness and maintaining compliance with debt covenants; our ability to incur additional indebtedness; our ability to generate cash to service our indebtedness; possible future impairment charges for fixed or intangible assets, including goodwill; income tax rate variability and ability to recover amounts recorded as value-added tax receivables; our ability to attract and retain qualified key employees; labor unrest; significant international operations expose us to economic, political and other risks, including the impact of variability in foreign exchange rates; our ability to comply with governmental anti-corruption laws and regulations and export and import controls worldwide; our ability to compete in international markets due to export and import controls to which we may be subject; cost of protecting or defending intellectual property; costs and challenges of compliance with domestic and foreign environmental laws; and other factors beyond our control. These and other factors are discussed in greater detail in our 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Although the information contained in this press release represents our best judgment as of the date of this report based on information currently available and reasonable assumptions, we can give no assurance that the expectations will be attained or that any deviation will not be material. Given these uncertainties, we caution you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. We are not undertaking any duty or obligation to update this information to reflect developments or information obtained after the date of this report, except as otherwise may be required by law.
Source: CommScope
Investor Contact:
Jennifer Crawford, CommScope
+1 828-323-4970
jennifer.crawford@commscope.com
News Media Contact:
Rick Aspan, CommScope
+1 708-236-6568
publicrelations@commscope.com