F5 Delivers 10% Revenue Growth in its First Quarter Fiscal Year 2021

Rhea-AI Summary

F5 Networks announced Q1 fiscal 2021 results, with GAAP revenue reaching $625 million, a 10% increase from $569 million in Q1 fiscal 2020. Software revenue surged 70%, driving overall growth, while GAAP net income was $88 million or $1.41 per diluted share, down from $99 million or $1.62 last year. Non-GAAP net income was $161 million, up from $155 million. For Q2 2021, revenue is projected between $625 million and $645 million, with non-GAAP earnings anticipated between $2.32 and $2.44 per share.

Positive

• 10% revenue growth year-over-year
• Non-GAAP net income increased to $161 million
• Software revenue grew by 70%, indicating strong demand
• Positive guidance for Q2 revenue between $625 million and $645 million

Negative

• GAAP net income decreased to $88 million from $99 million
• GAAP earnings per share declined to $1.41 from $1.62

F5 Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: FFIV) today announced financial results for its fiscal first quarter ended December 31, 2020.

“Our customers depend on F5’s application security and delivery solutions to safely and reliably deliver the digital experiences that enable consumers everywhere to order groceries, conduct online banking, or stream videos from their phones, laptops, or tablets,” said François Locoh-Donou, F5’s President and CEO. “Our investments over the last several years have fueled innovation, enhancing our strategic position with customers at a time when they are experiencing explosive application growth, and contributing to our 10% revenue growth in the first quarter.”

First Quarter Performance Summary

First quarter fiscal 2021 GAAP revenue was $625 million, up from $569 million in the first quarter of fiscal year 2020. Non-GAAP revenue for the first quarter of fiscal year 2021 was $626 million, up from $569 million in the year ago period. Both GAAP and non-GAAP revenue for the first quarter of fiscal year 2021 reflect 10% growth compared to the first quarter of fiscal year 2020. Fiscal year 2021 first quarter revenue growth was driven by 70% software revenue growth, 5% systems revenue growth, and 1% global services revenue growth compared to the year ago period.

GAAP net income for the first quarter of fiscal year 2021 was $88 million, or $1.41 per diluted share compared to first quarter fiscal year 2020 GAAP net income of $99 million, or $1.62 per diluted share.

Non-GAAP net income for the first quarter of fiscal year 2021 was $161 million, or $2.59 per diluted share, compared to $155 million, or $2.55 per diluted share, in the first quarter of fiscal year 2020. Non-GAAP net income for the first quarter of fiscal year 2021 excludes $58 million in stock-based compensation, $18 million in acquisition-related charges, $11 million in amortization of purchased intangible assets, and $1 million in facility-exit costs.

A reconciliation of revenue, net income, earnings per share, and other measures on a GAAP to non-GAAP basis is included in the attached Consolidated Income Statements. Additional information about non-GAAP financial information is included in this release.

Business Outlook

For the second quarter of fiscal year 2021 ending March 31, 2021, F5 expects to deliver revenue in the range of $625 million to $645 million with non-GAAP earnings in the range of $2.32 to $2.44 per diluted share.

All forward-looking non-GAAP measures included in the outlook exclude estimates for amortization of intangible assets, share-based compensation expenses, significant effects of tax legislation and judicial or administrative interpretation of tax regulations (including the impact of income tax reform), non-recurring income tax adjustments, valuation allowance on deferred tax assets, and the income tax effect of non-GAAP exclusions, and do not include the impact of any future acquisitions or divestitures, acquisition-related charges and write-downs, restructuring charges, facility exit costs, or other non-recurring charges that may occur in the period. F5 is unable to provide a reconciliation of non-GAAP earnings guidance measures to corresponding U.S. generally accepted accounting principles or GAAP measures on a forward-looking basis without unreasonable effort due to the overall high variability and low visibility of most of the foregoing items that have been excluded. Material changes to any one of these items could have a significant effect on our guidance and future GAAP results. Certain exclusions, such as amortization of intangible assets and share-based compensation expenses, are generally incurred each quarter, but the amounts have historically varied and may continue to vary significantly from quarter to quarter.

Live Webcast and Conference Call

F5 will host a live webcast and conference call to review its financial results and outlook today, January 26, 2021, at 4:30 pm ET. The live webcast can be accessed from the investor relations portion of F5.com. To participate in the live call via telephone in the U.S. and Canada, dial (833) 714-0927. Outside the U.S. and Canada, dial +1 (778) 560-2886. Reference Meeting ID 5227009. Please call at least 5 minutes prior to the call start time. The webcast replay will be archived on the investor relations portion of F5’s website.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements including, among other things, statements regarding the continuing strength and momentum of F5’s business, past and future financial performance including revenue, operating targets, earnings and earnings per share ranges, demand for application security and delivery services, SaaS, and software products, expectations regarding future services and products, expectations regarding future customers, markets and the benefits of products, and other statements that are not historical facts and which are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to the safe harbor provisions created by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of certain risk factors. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions and other factors that, if they do not fully materialize or prove correct, could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: customer acceptance of offerings; potential disruptions to F5’s business and distraction of management as F5 integrates Volterra’s or other acquired businesses’, teams and technologies; F5’s ability to successfully integrate Volterra’s or other acquired businesses’ products with F5 technologies; the ability of F5’s sales professionals and distribution partners to sell Volterra’s or other acquired businesses’ product and service offerings; the timely development, introduction and acceptance of additional new products and features by F5 or its competitors; competitive factors, including but not limited to pricing pressures, industry consolidation, entry of new competitors into F5’s markets, and new product and marketing initiatives by our competitors; increased sales discounts; the business impact of the acquisition of Volterra and potential adverse reactions or changes to business or employee relationships, including those resulting from the announcement of completion of the acquisition; uncertain global economic conditions which may result in reduced customer demand for our products and services and changes in customer payment patterns; global economic conditions and uncertainties in the geopolitical environment; overall information technology spending; litigation involving patents, intellectual property, shareholder and other matters, and governmental investigations; potential security flaws in the Company’s networks, products or services; cybersecurity attacks on its networks, products or services; natural catastrophic events; a pandemic or epidemic; F5’s ability to sustain, develop and effectively utilize distribution relationships; F5’s ability to attract, train and retain qualified product development, marketing, sales, professional services and customer support personnel; F5’s ability to expand in international markets; the unpredictability of F5’s sales cycle; the ability of F5 to execute on its share repurchase program including the timing of any repurchases; future prices of F5’s common stock; and other risks and uncertainties described more fully in our documents filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K and other documents that we may file or furnish from time to time, which could cause actual results to vary from expectations. The financial information contained in this release should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in F5’s most recent reports on Forms 10-Q and 10-K as each may be amended from time to time. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available as of the date hereof and qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. F5 assumes no obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements.

GAAP to non-GAAP Reconciliation

F5’s management evaluates and makes operating decisions using various operating measures. These measures are generally based on the revenues of its products, services operations, and certain costs of those operations, such as cost of revenues, research and development, sales and marketing and general and administrative expenses. One such measure is GAAP net income excluding, as applicable, stock-based compensation, amortization of purchased intangible assets, acquisition-related charges, net of taxes, restructuring charges, facility-exit costs, significant litigation and other contingencies and certain non-recurring tax expenses and benefits, which is a non-GAAP financial measure under Section 101 of Regulation G under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. This measure of non-GAAP net income is adjusted by the amount of additional taxes or tax benefit that the company would accrue if it used non-GAAP results instead of GAAP results to calculate the company’s tax liability.

The non-GAAP adjustments, and F5's basis for excluding them from non-GAAP financial measures, are outlined below:

Acquisition-related write-downs of assumed deferred revenue. Included in its GAAP financial statements, F5 records acquisition-related write-downs of assumed deferred revenue to fair value, which results in lower recognized revenue over the term of the contract. F5 includes revenue associated with acquisition-related write-downs of assumed deferred revenue in its non-GAAP financial measures as management believes it provides a more accurate depiction of revenue arising from our strategic acquisitions.

Stock-based compensation. Stock-based compensation consists of expense for stock options, restricted stock, and employee stock purchases through the company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Although stock-based compensation is an important aspect of the compensation of F5’s employees and executives, management believes it is useful to exclude stock-based compensation expenses to better understand the long-term performance of the company’s core business and to facilitate comparison of the company’s results to those of peer companies.

Amortization of purchased intangible assets. Purchased intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives and generally cannot be changed or influenced by management after the acquisition. Management does not believe these charges accurately reflect the performance of the company’s ongoing operations, therefore, they are not considered by management in making operating decisions. However, investors should note that the use of intangible assets contributed to F5’s revenues earned during the periods presented and will contribute to F5’s future period revenues as well.

Facility-exit costs. In fiscal year 2019, F5 relocated its headquarters in Seattle, Washington, and recorded charges in connection with this facility exit as well as other non-recurring lease activity. These charges are not representative of ongoing costs to the business and are not expected to recur. As a result, these charges are being excluded to provide investors with a more comparable measure of costs associated with ongoing operations.

Acquisition-related charges, net. F5 does not acquire businesses on a predictable cycle and the terms and scope of each transaction can vary significantly and are unique to each transaction. F5 excludes acquisition-related charges from its non-GAAP financial measures to provide a useful comparison of the company’s operating results to prior periods and to its peer companies. Acquisition-related charges consist of planning, execution and integration costs incurred directly as a result of an acquisition.

Restructuring charges. F5 has incurred restructuring charges that are included in its GAAP financial statements, primarily related to workforce reductions and costs associated with exiting facility-lease commitments. F5 excludes these items from its non-GAAP financial measures when evaluating its continuing business performance as such items vary significantly based on the magnitude of the restructuring action and do not reflect expected future operating expenses. In addition, these charges do not necessarily provide meaningful insight into the fundamentals of current or past operations of its business.

Management believes that non-GAAP net income per share provides useful supplemental information to management and investors regarding the performance of the company’s core business operations and facilitates comparisons to the company’s historical operating results. Although F5’s management finds this non-GAAP measure to be useful in evaluating the performance of the core business, management’s reliance on this measure is limited because items excluded from such measures could have a material effect on F5’s earnings and earnings per share calculated in accordance with GAAP. Therefore, F5’s management will use its non-GAAP earnings and earnings per share measures, in conjunction with GAAP earnings and earnings per share measures, to address these limitations when evaluating the performance of the company’s core business. Investors should consider these non-GAAP measures in addition to, and not as a substitute for, financial performance measures in accordance with GAAP.

F5 believes that presenting its non-GAAP measures of earnings and earnings per share provides investors with an additional tool for evaluating the performance of the company’s core business and is used by management in its own evaluation of the company’s performance. Investors are encouraged to look at GAAP results as the best measure of financial performance. However, while the GAAP results are more complete, the company provides investors these supplemental measures since, with reconciliation to GAAP, it may provide additional insight into the company’s operational performance and financial results.

For reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, please see the section in our attached Condensed Consolidated Income Statements entitled “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

About F5

F5 (NASDAQ: FFIV) is a multi-cloud application security and delivery company that enables our customers—which include the world’s largest enterprises, financial institutions, service providers, and governments—to bring extraordinary digital experiences to life. For more information, go to f5.com. You can also follow @F5 on Twitter or visit us on LinkedIn and Facebook for more information about F5, its partners, and technologies.

F5 is a trademark, service mark, or tradename of F5 Networks, Inc., in the U.S. and other countries. All other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Source: F5 Networks

F5 Networks, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(unaudited, in thousands)
	December 31,				September 30,
		2020				2020
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,026,829			$	849,556
Short-term investments		346,515				360,333
Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $3,356 and $3,105		346,670				296,183
Inventories		26,455				27,898
Other current assets		283,341				259,506
Total current assets		2,029,810				1,793,476
Property and equipment, net		215,649				229,239
Operating lease right-of-use assets		286,044				300,680
Long-term investments		88,753				102,939
Deferred tax assets		47,236				45,173
Goodwill		1,863,892				1,858,966
Other assets, net		367,955				347,447
Total assets	$	4,899,339			$	4,677,920
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Current liabilities
Accounts payable	$	57,542			$	64,472
Accrued liabilities		305,792				321,398
Deferred revenue		936,640				883,134
Current portion of long-term debt		19,275				19,275
Total current liabilities		1,319,249				1,288,279
Deferred tax liabilities		1,965				602
Deferred revenue, long-term		422,185				389,498
Operating lease liabilities, long-term		328,468				338,715
Long-term debt		364,229				369,047
Other long-term liabilities		61,653				59,511
Total long-term liabilities		1,178,500				1,157,373
Commitments and contingencies
Shareholders’ equity
Preferred stock, no par value; 10,000 shares authorized, no shares outstanding		-				-
Common stock, no par value; 200,000 shares authorized, 61,632 and 61,099
shares issued and outstanding		386,236				305,453
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(17,855	)			(18,716	)
Retained earnings		2,033,209				1,945,531
Total shareholders' equity		2,401,590				2,232,268
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$	4,899,339			$	4,677,920

F5 Networks, Inc.
Consolidated Income Statements
(unaudited, in thousands, except per share amounts)
	Three Months Ended
	December 31,
		2020				2019
Net revenues
Products (1)	$	288,045			$	234,536
Services		336,572				334,769
Total		624,617				569,305
Cost of net revenues (2)(3)(4)(5)
Products		67,038				42,118
Services		47,941				46,524
Total		114,979				88,642
Gross profit		509,638				480,663
Operating expenses (2)(3)(4)(5)
Sales and marketing		214,546				195,519
Research and development		114,191				96,005
General and administrative		63,153				59,004
Restructuring charges		-				7,800
Total		391,890				358,328
Income from operations		117,748				122,335
Other income, net		(683	)			5,220
Income before income taxes		117,065				127,555
Provision for income taxes		29,387				29,028
Net income	$	87,678			$	98,527
Net income per share - basic	$	1.43			$	1.62
Weighted average shares - basic		61,440				60,649
Net income per share - diluted	$	1.41			$	1.62
Weighted average shares - diluted		62,282				60,815
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Net income as reported	$	87,678			$	98,527
Acquisition-related write-downs of assumed deferred revenue		1,283				-
Stock-based compensation expense		58,069				47,661
Amortization of purchased intangible assets		10,706				4,588
Facility-exit costs		1,336				1,757
Acquisiton-related charges		17,665				8,266
Restructuring charges		-				7,800
Tax effects related to above items		(15,273	)			(13,234	)
Net income excluding acquisition-related write-downs of assumed deferred revenue, stock-based
compensation expense, amortization of purchased intangible assets, facility-exit
costs, acquisition-related charges and restructuring charges (non-GAAP) - diluted	$	161,464			$	155,365
Net income per share excluding acquisition-related write-downs of assumed deferred revenue,
stock-based compensation expense, amortization of purchased intangible assets, facility-exit costs,
acquisition-related charges and restructuring charges (non-GAAP) - diluted	$	2.59			$	2.55
Weighted average shares - diluted		62,282				60,815
(1) GAAP net product revenues	$	288,045			$	234,536
Acquisition-related write-downs of assumed deferred revenue		1,283				-
Non-GAAP net product revenues		289,328				234,536
GAAP net service revenues		336,572				334,769
Acquisition-related write-downs of assumed deferred revenue		-				-
Non-GAAP net service revenues		336,572				334,769
Total non-GAAP net revenues	$	625,900			$	569,305
(2) Includes stock-based compensation expense as follows:
Cost of net revenues	$	7,342			$	5,489
Sales and marketing		25,243				21,766
Research and development		14,987				11,202
General and administrative		10,497				9,204
	$	58,069			$	47,661
(3) Includes amortization of purchased intangible assets as follows:
Cost of net revenues	$	7,382			$	3,097
Sales and marketing		2,749				961
General and administrative		575				530
	$	10,706			$	4,588
(4) Includes facility-exit costs as follows:
Cost of net revenues	$	172			$	321
Sales and marketing		406				686
Research and development		334				745
General and administrative		424				5
	$	1,336			$	1,757
(5) Includes acquisition-related charges as follows:
Cost of net revenues	$	2,490			$	-
Sales and marketing		4,771				409
Research and development		4,393				34
General and administrative		6,011				7,823
	$	17,665			$	8,266

F5 Networks, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(unaudited, in thousands)
	Three Months Ended
	December 31,
		2020				2019
Operating activities
Net income	$	87,678			$	98,527
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Stock-based compensation		58,069				47,661
Depreciation and amortization		27,660				18,979
Non-cash operating lease costs		9,698				8,703
Deferred income taxes		(694	)			(1,714	)
Impairment of assets		6,873				-
Other		307				(31	)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities (excluding effects of the acquisition of businesses):
Accounts receivable		(54,416	)			(32,683	)
Inventories		1,443				2,020
Other current assets		(23,250	)			(5,494	)
Other assets		(26,654	)			2,011
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		(23,925	)			(23,606	)
Deferred revenue		86,193				39,856
Lease liabilities		(11,619	)			(10,217	)
Net cash provided by operating activities		137,363				144,012
Investing activities
Purchases of investments		(42,765	)			(180,557	)
Maturities of investments		69,352				150,697
Sales of investments		-				22,764
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired		(1,247	)			-
Purchases of property and equipment		(4,697	)			(22,304	)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		20,643				(29,400	)
Financing activities
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and
purchases of stock under employee stock purchase plan		27,196				20,959
Payments on term debt agreement		(5,000	)			-
Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards		(4,481	)			-
Net cash provided by financing activities		17,715				20,959
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		175,721				135,571
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		1,655				820
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period		852,826				602,254
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period	$	1,030,202			$	738,645
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities	$	15,032			$	12,707
Cash paid for interest on long-term debt		1,370				-
Supplemental disclosures of non-cash activities
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations	$	1,614			$	394,315

 

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FAQ

What were F5's earnings for Q1 fiscal 2021?

F5 reported Q1 fiscal 2021 GAAP revenue of $625 million and non-GAAP revenue of $626 million.

How did F5's software revenue perform in Q1 fiscal 2021?

F5's software revenue grew by 70% year-over-year in Q1 fiscal 2021.

What is F5's projected revenue for Q2 fiscal 2021?

F5 expects Q2 fiscal 2021 revenue to be between $625 million and $645 million.

What was F5's non-GAAP net income in Q1 fiscal 2021?

F5's non-GAAP net income for Q1 fiscal 2021 was $161 million.

What were the earnings per share for F5 in Q1 fiscal 2021?

GAAP earnings per share for Q1 fiscal 2021 were $1.41, while non-GAAP earnings per share were $2.59.