InterDigital Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2021 Financial Results

Rhea-AI Summary

InterDigital (NASDAQ:IDCC) reported strong financial results for Q4 and the full year 2021, driven by a record number of new patent license agreements. Total Q4 revenue reached $111.8 million, up 23% from $90.8 million in Q4 2020. Recurring revenue increased to $101.6 million. Net income for Q4 was $21.9 million, or $0.70 per diluted share, a significant improvement from a net loss in the prior year. The company expects Q1 2022 revenue between $95 million and $100 million, primarily from recurring sources.

Positive

• Q4 2021 revenue increased 23% to $111.8 million.
• Net income in Q4 2021 was $21.9 million, a recovery from a loss of $1.4 million in Q4 2020.
• Full year 2021 total revenue grew 19% to $425.4 million.
• Record 13 new license agreements signed in 2021.

Negative

• Q4 2021 operating expenses included $7.6 million in restructuring costs.
• Total operating expenses for the full year rose to $354.2 million, up from $303.8 million in 2020.

Record number of new license agreements drives strong results

WILMINGTON, Del., Feb. 17, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- InterDigital, Inc. (NASDAQ:IDCC), a mobile and video technology research and development company, today announced results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2021.

“We closed 2021 by signing five license agreements in the fourth quarter, bringing the total number of new license agreements, including renewals, for the year up to a record of 13,” said Liren Chen, President and CEO of InterDigital. “These agreements reflect both our customers’ respect for the strength and value of our innovative technologies as well as our ability to execute across our business.”

Fourth Quarter 2021 Financial Highlights

• Total revenue of $111.8 million increased 23% from $90.8 million in fourth quarter 2020. Recurring revenue was $101.6 million, compared to recurring revenue of $89.1 million in fourth quarter 2020. The increase in both total and recurring revenue was primarily driven by additional revenues from new patent license agreements signed in 2021.
• Operating expenses were $86.2 million, compared to $87.7 million in fourth quarter 2020. Fourth quarter 2021 operating expenses included $7.6 million in restructuring costs.
• Income from operations was $25.6 million, compared to $3.1 million in fourth quarter 2020.
• Net income¹ was $21.9 million, or $0.70 per diluted share compared to net loss¹ of $1.4 million, or $(0.04) per diluted share, in fourth quarter 2020.
• The company generated $71.2 million cash provided by operating activities, compared to $19.3 million in fourth quarter 2020, and $65.3 million of free cash flow², compared to $10.4 million in fourth quarter 2020. These changes were primarily driven by cash collections from new agreements signed in 2021. Cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments totaled $948.6 million on December 31, 2021.
  

Full Year 2021 Financial Highlights

• Total revenue of $425.4 million increased 19% from $359.0 million in full year 2020. Recurring revenue was $351.7 million, compared to recurring revenue of $336.8 million in full year 2020. The increase in both total and recurring revenue was primarily driven by additional revenues from new patent license agreements, partially offset by a reduction in recurring revenue due to a handset manufacturer exiting the business, as previously disclosed.
• Operating expenses were $354.2 million, compared to $303.8 million for full year 2020. The increase was primarily driven by $27.9 million of restructuring charges and a $18.3 million share-based compensation cost increase in 2021, with the remaining increase related to revenue share and litigation, partially offset by one-time costs in 2020.
• Income from operations was $71.2 million, compared to $55.2 million in full year 2020, a 29% increase year-over-year.
• Net income¹ was $55.3 million, or $1.77 per diluted share, compared to $44.8 million, or $1.44 per diluted share, in full year 2020.
• The company generated $130.4 million of cash provided by operating activities, compared to $163.5 million in full year 2020 and $94.5 million of free cash flow², compared to $121.1 million for full year 2020. The decrease was driven by the increase in operating expenses.
  

Near-Term Outlook

The company expects total first quarter 2022 revenue to be between $95 million and $100 million, comprised almost entirely of recurring revenue.

This revenue guidance does not include the potential impact of any new patent license, technology solutions or patent sale agreements that may be signed, or any arbitration or dispute resolutions that may occur, during the balance of first quarter 2022.

Conference Call Information

InterDigital will host a conference call on Thursday, February 17^th, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. ET to discuss its fourth quarter and full year 2021 financial performance and other company matters.

For a live Internet webcast of the conference call, visit http://www.interdigital.com and click on the link to the live webcast on the Investors page. The company encourages participants to take advantage of the Internet option.

For telephone access to the conference call, dial +1 (888) 394-8218 within the United States and Canada or +1 (323) 701-0225 from outside the United States. Please call by 9:50 a.m. ET on February 17^th and give the operator conference ID number 3170663.

An Internet replay of the conference call will be available on InterDigital’s website in the Investors section. In addition, a telephone replay will be available from 1:00 p.m. ET February 17^th through 1:00 p.m. ET February 22^rd. To access the recorded replay call, dial +1 (888) 203-1112 or +1 (719) 457-0820 and use the replay code 3170663.

About InterDigital^®

InterDigital develops mobile and video technologies that are at the core of devices, networks, and services worldwide. We solve many of the industry’s most critical and complex technical challenges, inventing solutions for more efficient broadband networks, better video delivery, and richer multimedia experiences years ahead of market deployment. InterDigital has licenses and strategic relationships with many of the world’s leading technology companies. Founded in 1972, InterDigital is listed on NASDAQ.

InterDigital is a registered trademark of InterDigital, Inc.

For more information, visit the InterDigital website: www.interdigital.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements include information regarding our current beliefs, plans and expectations, including, without limitation, our belief that we will continue to be able to execute strongly on our business during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Words such as “believe,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “forecast,” “goal,” “could,” "would," "should," "if," "may," "might," "future," "target," "trend," "seek to," "will continue," "predict," "likely," "in the event," and variations of any such words or similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are made on the basis of management’s current views and assumptions and are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, and actual events that occur, to differ materially from results contemplated by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: (i) unanticipated delays, difficulties or accelerations in the execution of patent license agreements; (ii) our ability to leverage our strategic relationships and secure new patent license agreements on acceptable terms; (iii) our ability to enter into sales and/or licensing partnering arrangements for certain of our patent assets; (iv) our ability to enter into partnerships with leading inventors and research organizations and identify and acquire technology and patent portfolios that align with our roadmap; (v) our ability to commercialize our technologies and enter into customer agreements; (vi) the failure of the markets for our current or new technologies and products to materialize to the extent or at the rate that we expect; (vii) unexpected delays or difficulties related to the development of our technologies and products; (viii) changes in our interpretations of, and assumptions and calculations with respect to the impact on us of, the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, as well as further guidance that may be issued regarding such act; (ix) risks related to the potential impact of new accounting standards on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows; (x) failure to accurately forecast the impact of our restructuring activities on our financial statements and our business; (xi) the resolution of current legal proceedings, including any awards or judgments relating to such proceedings, additional legal or regulatory proceedings, changes in the schedules or costs associated with legal proceedings or adverse rulings in such proceedings; (xii) the timing and impact of potential administrative and legislative matters; (xiii) changes or inaccuracies in market projections; (xiv) our ability to obtain liquidity though debt and equity financings; (xv) the potential effects that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and/or corresponding macroeconomic uncertainty could have on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows; and (xvi) changes in our business strategy.

We undertake no duty to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statement for any reason, except as otherwise required by law.

Footnotes

¹ Throughout this press release, net income and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) are attributable to InterDigital, Inc. (e.g., after adjustments for non-controlling interests), unless otherwise stated.

² Free cash flow is a supplemental non-GAAP financial measure that InterDigital believes is helpful in evaluating the company’s ability to invest in its business, make strategic acquisitions and fund share repurchases, among other things. A limitation of the utility of free cash flow as a measure of financial performance is that it does not represent the total increase or decrease in the company’s cash balance for the period. InterDigital defines “free cash flow” as net cash used in operating activities less purchases of property and equipment and capitalized patent costs. InterDigital’s computation of free cash flow might not be comparable to free cash flow reported by other companies. The presentation of free cash flow, which is not prepared under any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles, is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of free cash flow to net cash used in operating activities, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, is provided at the end of this press release.

SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(in thousands except per share data)
(unaudited)

	For the Three Months Ended December 31,								For the Twelve Months Ended December 31,
		2021				2020				2021				2020
REVENUES:
Variable patent royalty revenue	$	9,469			$	8,667			$	32,234			$	26,587
Fixed-fee royalty revenue		91,698				77,438				314,585				298,461
Current patent royalties		101,167				86,105				346,819				325,048
Non-current patent royalties		10,234				1,121				73,709				21,582
Total patent royalties		111,401				87,226				420,528				346,630
Patent sales		—				600				—				600
Current technology solutions revenue		414				2,964				4,881				11,761
Total Revenue	$	111,815			$	90,790			$	425,409			$	358,991
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Patent administration and licensing		42,047				51,011				175,741				170,178
Development		22,369				22,891				89,368				84,646
Selling, general and administrative		14,223				13,748				61,217				48,999
Restructuring activities		7,587				—				27,877				—
Total Operating expenses		86,226				87,650				354,203				303,823
Income from operations		25,589				3,140				71,206				55,168
INTEREST EXPENSE		(5,796	)			(9,918	)			(25,225	)			(40,799	)
OTHER INCOME, NET		9,349				3,118				11,575				16,924
Income (loss) before income taxes		29,142				(3,660	)			57,556				31,293
INCOME TAX (PROVISION) BENEFIT		(9,329	)			769				(15,368	)			6,648
NET INCOME (LOSS)	$	19,813			$	(2,891	)		$	42,188			$	37,941
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest		(2,065	)			(1,541	)			(13,107	)			(6,860	)
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO INTERDIGITAL, INC.	$	21,878			$	(1,350	)		$	55,295			$	44,801
NET INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE — BASIC	$	0.71			$	(0.04	)		$	1.80			$	1.46
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING — BASIC		30,682				30,808				30,764				30,776
NET INCOME (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE — DILUTED	$	0.70			$	(0.04	)		$	1.77			$	1.44
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING — DILUTED		31,196				30,808				31,253				31,058
CASH DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER COMMON SHARE	$	0.35			$	0.35			$	1.40			$	1.40

SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)

	For the Three Months Ended December 31,								For the Twelve Months Ended December 31,
		2021				2020				2021				2020
Income (loss) before income taxes	$	29,142			$	(3,660	)		$	57,556			$	31,293
Taxes paid		(13,256	)			(8,022	)			(23,091	)			(26,233	)
Non-cash expenses		24,103				34,900				119,375				111,527
Change in deferred revenue		(80,912	)			(28,669	)			(16,868	)			24,397
Change in operating working capital, deferred charges and other		112,152				24,706				(6,580	)			22,483
Purchases of property and equipment and capitalized patent costs		(5,905	)			(8,807	)			(35,927	)			(42,408	)
FREE CASH FLOW2		65,324				10,448				94,465				121,059
Acquisition of patents		(2,350	)			—				(2,350	)			—
Proceeds from sale of business		—				910				—				910
Long-term investments		2,454				25				1,363				4,285
Net proceeds from exercise of stock options		2,065				100				7,950				1,892
Payments on long-term debt		—				—				—				(94,909	)
Proceeds from noncontrolling interests		100				5,333				100				5,333
Non-controlling interest distribution		(1,403	)			—				(2,512	)			—
Dividends paid		(10,739	)			(10,782	)			(43,058	)			(43,072	)
Taxes withheld upon vesting of restricted stock units		(3,203	)			(216	)			(6,950	)			(1,751	)
Repurchase of common stock		(7,000	)			—				(30,000	)			(349	)
Unrealized gain (loss) on short-term investments		134				153				(1,275	)			1,136
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, RESTRICTED CASH AND SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS	$	45,382			$	5,971			$	17,733			$	(5,466	)

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)

	DECEMBER 31, 2021			DECEMBER 31, 2020
ASSETS
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments	$	941,627		$	926,647
Accounts receivable, net		31,113			16,008
Prepaid and other current assets		77,545			59,894
Property & equipment and patents, net		376,962			434,973
Other long-term assets, net		200,909			178,753
TOTAL ASSETS	$	1,628,156		$	1,616,275
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accounts payable, accrued liabilities, taxes payable & dividends payable		79,888			75,827
Current deferred revenue		291,673			219,935
Long-term deferred revenue		19,463			108,069
Long-term debt & other long-term liabilities		484,215			415,878
TOTAL LIABILITIES		875,239			819,709
TOTAL INTERDIGITAL, INC. SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY		745,239			773,369
Noncontrolling interest		7,678			23,197
TOTAL EQUITY		752,917			796,566
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY	$	1,628,156		$	1,616,275

RECONCILIATION OF FREE CASH FLOW TO NET CASH
PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES

In the summary consolidated cash flows and throughout this release, the company refers to free cash flow. The table below presents a reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to net cash provided by operating activities, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure (in thousands):

		For the Three Months Ended December 31,								For the Twelve Months Ended December 31,
			2021				2020				2021				2020
Net cash provided by operating activities		$	71,229			$	19,255			$	130,392			$	163,467
Purchases of property and equipment			(634	)			(1,918	)			(2,511	)			(11,793	)
Capitalized patent costs			(5,271	)			(6,889	)			(33,416	)			(30,615	)
Free cash flow		$	65,324			$	10,448			$	94,465			$	121,059

CONTACT:	InterDigital, Inc.:
	investor.relations@interdigital.com
	+1 (302) 300-1857

FAQ

What were InterDigital's Q4 2021 earnings results?

InterDigital reported total Q4 revenue of $111.8 million, a net income of $21.9 million, or $0.70 per diluted share.

How did InterDigital's full year 2021 performance compare to 2020?

Full year 2021 total revenue increased 19% to $425.4 million, with a net income of $55.3 million, or $1.77 per diluted share.

What is InterDigital's outlook for Q1 2022?

InterDigital expects total revenue for Q1 2022 to be between $95 million and $100 million, primarily from recurring revenue.

How many new license agreements did InterDigital sign in 2021?

InterDigital signed a record total of 13 new license agreements in 2021.