Waters Corporation (NYSE: WAT) Reports Third Quarter 2020 Financial Results

Rhea-AI Summary

Waters Corporation (NYSE: WAT) reported third quarter 2020 sales of $594 million, a 3% increase from $577 million in Q3 2019, benefiting from foreign currency translation by about 1%. Diluted EPS fell to $2.03 on a GAAP basis, but rose to $2.16 on a non-GAAP basis. For the first nine months, sales totaled $1,579 million, a 7% decline from $1,690 million in 2019. Operating cash flow was up to $523 million. Q3 sales grew in pharmaceuticals and industrial markets but declined in academic/government sectors. CEO Udit Batra aims to enhance commercial execution and product development.

Positive

• Q3 2020 sales increased by 3% to $594 million.
• Non-GAAP EPS rose to $2.16 from $2.13 YOY.
• Net cash provided by operating activities increased to $173 million in Q3 2020.
• Adjusted free cash flow improved to $190 million in Q3 2020.

Negative

• GAAP EPS decreased to $2.03 from $2.07 YOY.
• Sales for the first nine months of 2020 declined 7% to $1,579 million.
• Q3 sales into the academic and governmental markets dropped 8% YOY.
• Sales in Asia declined by 1% in Q3 2020.

MILFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Waters Corporation (NYSE: WAT) today announced third quarter 2020 sales of $594 million, a 3% increase as reported, compared to sales of $577 million for the third quarter of 2019. Foreign currency translation benefitted sales growth by approximately 1% for the quarter.

On a GAAP basis, diluted earnings per share (EPS) for the third quarter of 2020 decreased to $2.03, compared to $2.07 for the third quarter of 2019. On a non-GAAP basis, EPS increased to $2.16, compared to $2.13 in the third quarter of 2019. A description and reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results appear in the tables below and can be found on the Company’s website at http://www.waters.com under the caption “Investors.”

On a GAAP basis, net cash provided by operating activities was $173 million for the third quarter of 2020, compared to $148 million for the third quarter of 2019. On a non-GAAP basis, adjusted free cash flow for the third quarter of 2020 was $190 million versus $124 million for the third quarter of 2019.

For the first nine months of 2020, the Company’s sales were $1,579 million, a decrease of 7% as reported, compared to sales of $1,690 million for the first nine months of 2019. Foreign currency translation negatively impacted sales growth by approximately 1% for the first nine months of 2020.

On a GAAP basis, EPS for the first nine months of 2020 decreased to $4.86, compared to $5.63 for the first nine months of 2019. On a non-GAAP basis, EPS decreased to $5.41, compared to $5.85 in the first nine months of 2019. The decrease in both GAAP and non-GAAP EPS can be primarily attributed to the decline in sales volumes.

On a GAAP basis, net cash provided by operating activities was $523 million for the first nine months of 2020, compared to $451 million for the first nine months of 2019. On a non-GAAP basis, adjusted free cash flow for the first nine months of 2020 was $486 million versus $418 million for the first nine months of 2019.

“We are pleased with our solid financial results in the third quarter, which were driven by growth across geographies, while we remain cognizant of the ongoing variability we expect to face in our end markets during the fourth quarter," commented Udit Batra, President and Chief Executive Officer of Waters Corporation. “Since joining the Company, I have been working diligently to assess Waters’ overall positioning and to identify key areas in need of improvement. I believe that Waters has established a solid foundation for growth and that we must now turn our focus to improving the consistency of our commercial execution and product development efforts. We will move swiftly, but deliberately, to reinvigorate our business and address those areas in which Waters has underperformed.”

Unless otherwise noted, sales growth and decline percentages are presented on an as-reported basis and are the same as the sales growth and decline percentages presented on a constant-currency basis as compared with the same period in the prior year, each of which is detailed in the reconciliation of sales growth rates to constant-currency growth rates in the tables below.

During the third quarter of 2020, sales into the pharmaceutical market increased 5% as reported and 4% in constant currency, sales into the industrial market increased 5% as reported and 3% in constant currency and sales into the academic and governmental markets declined 8% as reported and 7% in constant currency. For the first nine months of 2020, sales into the pharmaceutical market declined 5% as reported and 4% in constant currency, sales into the industrial market declined 6% as reported and in constant currency and sales into the academic and governmental markets declined 17% as reported and 16% in constant currency.

During the third quarter, recurring revenues, which represent the combination of service and precision chemistries revenues, increased 6% as reported and 5% in constant currency, while instrument system sales declined 1% as reported and in constant currency. For the first nine months of 2020, recurring revenues were flat as reported and increased 1% in constant currency, while instrument system sales declined 15% as reported and 14% in constant currency.

Geographically, sales in Asia during the quarter declined 1% as reported and were flat in constant currency, sales in the Americas increased 2% (with U.S. sales growing 5%) and sales in Europe increased 11% as reported and 5% in constant currency. For the first nine months of 2020, sales in Asia declined 11% as reported and 10% in constant currency, sales in the Americas declined 7% (with U.S. sales declining 5%) and sales in Europe were flat as reported and in constant currency.

Conference Call

Waters Corporation will webcast its third quarter 2020 financial results conference call today, October 27, 2020 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time. To listen to the call, please visit www.waters.com, choose “Investors” and click on the “Live Webcast.” A replay will be available through November 3, 2020 at midnight Eastern Time on the same website by webcast and also by phone at 800-395-6236.

About Waters Corporation

Waters Corporation (NYSE: WAT), the “world's” leading specialty measurement company, has pioneered chromatography, mass spectrometry and thermal analysis innovations serving the life, materials and food sciences for more than 60 years. With more than 7,000 employees worldwide, Waters operates directly in 35 countries, including 15 manufacturing facilities, and with products available in more than 100 countries. For more information, visit www.waters.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release contains financial measures, such as constant-currency growth rate, adjusted operating income, adjusted net income, adjusted earnings per diluted share and free cash flow, among others, which are considered “non-GAAP” financial measures under applicable U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rules and regulations. These non-GAAP financial measures should be considered supplemental to, and not a substitute for, financial information prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The Company’s definitions of these non-GAAP measures may differ from similarly titled measures used by others. The non-GAAP financial measures used in this press release adjust for specified items that can be highly variable or difficult to predict. The Company generally uses these non-GAAP financial measures to facilitate management’s financial and operational decision-making, including evaluation of the Company’s historical operating results, comparison to competitors’ operating results and determination of management incentive compensation. These non-GAAP financial measures reflect an additional way of viewing aspects of the Company’s operations that, when viewed with GAAP results and the reconciliations to corresponding GAAP financial measures, may provide a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting the Company’s business. Because non-GAAP financial measures exclude the effect of items that will increase or decrease the Company’s reported results of operations, management strongly encourages investors to review the Company’s consolidated financial statements and publicly filed reports in their entirety. Reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are included in the tables accompanying this release.

Cautionary Statement

This release contains “forward-looking” statements regarding future results and events. For this purpose, any statements that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, the words “feels”, “believes”, “anticipates”, “plans”, “expects”, “intends”, “suggests”, “appears”, “estimates”, “projects” and similar expressions, whether in the negative or affirmative, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The Company’s actual future results may differ significantly from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements within this release for a variety of reasons, including and without limitation, risks related to the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects, including: portions of our global workforce being unable to work fully and/or effectively due to working remotely, illness, quarantines, government actions, facility closures or other reasons related to the pandemic, increased risks of cyber attacks resulting from our temporary remote working model, disruptions in our manufacturing capabilities or to our supply chain, volatility and uncertainty in global capital markets limiting our ability to access capital, customers being unable to make timely payments for purchases and volatility in demand for our products; foreign exchange rate fluctuations potentially affecting translation of the Company’s future non-U.S. operating results; the impact on demand for the Company’s products among the Company’s various market sectors or geographies from economic, sovereign and political uncertainties, particularly regarding the effect of new or proposed tariff or trade regulations or changes in the interpretation or enforcement of existing regulations; the effect on the Company’s financial results from the United Kingdom exiting the European Union; fluctuations in expenditures by the Company’s customers, in particular large pharmaceutical companies; introduction of competing products by other companies and loss of market share; pressures on prices from competitors and/or customers; regulatory, economic and competitive obstacles to new product introductions; other changes in demand for the Company’s products from the effect of mergers and acquisitions by the Company’s customers; increased regulatory burdens as the Company’s business evolves, especially with respect to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, among others; shifts in taxable income in jurisdictions with different effective tax rates; the outcome of tax examinations or changes in respective country legislation affecting the Company’s effective tax rate; the effect of the adoption of new accounting standards; the ability to access capital, maintain liquidity and service the Company’s debt in volatile market conditions, particularly in the U.S., as a large portion of the Company’s cash is held and operating cash flows are generated outside the U.S.; environmental and logistical obstacles affecting the distribution of products and risks associated with lawsuits and other legal actions, particularly involving claims for infringement of patents and other intellectual property rights. Such factors and others are discussed more fully in the sections entitled “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” of the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, as well as in the sections entitled “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” of the Company’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 28, 2020 and June 27, 2020, each as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), which discussions are incorporated by reference in this release, as updated by the Company’s future filings with the SEC. The forward-looking statements included in this release represent the Company’s estimates or views as of the date of this release and should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s estimates or views as of any date subsequent to the date of this release. Except as required by law, the Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Waters Corporation and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
	Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
	September 26, 2020				September 28, 2019				September 26, 2020				September 28, 2019
Net sales	$	593,784			$	577,278			$	1,578,707			$	1,690,302
Costs and operating expenses:
Cost of sales		262,342				241,055				686,120				711,632
Selling and administrative expenses		135,430				126,036				400,614				393,583
Research and development expenses		34,971				34,333				101,115				105,883
Purchased intangibles amortization		2,657				2,619				7,900				7,164
Litigation provision		-				-				1,180				-
Operating income		158,384				173,235				381,778				472,040
Other expense		(1,039	)			(496	)			(2,149	)			(1,363	)
Interest expense, net		(6,908	)			(8,001	)			(25,966	)			(16,826	)
Income from operations before income taxes		150,437				164,738				353,663				453,851
Provision for income taxes(1)		23,668				26,605				50,403				62,322
Net income	$	126,769			$	138,133			$	303,260			$	391,529
Net income per basic common share	$	2.04			$	2.09			$	4.89			$	5.68
Weighted-average number of basic common shares		62,002				66,226				62,057				68,952
Net income per diluted common share	$	2.03			$	2.07			$	4.86			$	5.63
Weighted-average number of diluted common shares and equivalents		62,303				66,768				62,371				69,533

(1) The provision for income taxes for the nine months ended September 28, 2019 included a $3 million benefit related to the tax on the change in foreign currency exchange rates on the earnings taxed in December 31, 2017 under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the subsequent finalization of the tax regulations during the first quarter of 2019. The difference is due to the change from the foreign currency exchange rates required by the U.S. Department of the Treasury on December 31, 2017 to the foreign currency exchange rates on either the date of distribution of assets into the U.S. or the foreign currency exchange rates as of September 28, 2019.

 

Waters Corporation and Subsidiaries
Reconciliation of GAAP to Adjusted Non-GAAP
Net Sales by Operating Segment, Products & Services, Geography and Markets
Three Months Ended September 26, 2020 and September 28, 2019
(In thousands)
															Current
															Period				Constant
					Three Months Ended						Percent				Currency				Currency
					September 26, 2020			September 28, 2019			Change				Impact				Growth Rate (a)
NET SALES - OPERATING SEGMENT
Waters					$	533,466		$	512,146			4	%		$	4,759				3	%
TA						60,318			65,132			(7	%)			532				(8	%)
Total					$	593,784		$	577,278			3	%		$	5,291				2	%
NET SALES - PRODUCTS & SERVICES
Instruments					$	268,064		$	270,317			(1	%)		$	1,692				(1	%)
Service						217,545			206,705			5	%			2,230				4	%
Chemistry						108,175			100,256			8	%			1,369				7	%
Total Recurring						325,720			306,961			6	%			3,599				5	%
Total					$	593,784		$	577,278			3	%		$	5,291				2	%
NET SALES - GEOGRAPHY
Asia					$	236,182		$	237,775			(1	%)		$	(2,254	)			-
Americas						199,447			196,458			2	%			(106	)			2	%
Europe						158,155			143,045			11	%			7,651				5	%
Total					$	593,784		$	577,278			3	%		$	5,291				2	%
NET SALES - MARKETS
Pharmaceutical					$	343,001		$	328,227			5	%		$	2,537				4	%
Industrial						179,128			171,352			5	%			3,345				3	%
Academic & Governmental						71,655			77,699			(8	%)			(591	)			(7	%)
Total					$	593,784		$	577,278			3	%		$	5,291				2	%
NET SALES - EXCLUDING CHINA
Total Net Sales					$	593,784		$	577,278			3	%		$	5,291				2	%
China Net Sales						115,666			111,657			4	%			951				3	%
Total Net Sales Excluding China					$	478,118		$	465,621			3	%		$	4,340				2	%

(a)

The Company believes that referring to comparable constant-currency growth rates is a useful way to evaluate the underlying performance of Waters Corporation's net sales. Constant-currency growth rate, a non-GAAP financial measure, measures the change in net sales between current and prior year periods, ignoring the impact of foreign currency exchange rates during the current period. See description of non-GAAP financial measures contained in this release.

Waters Corporation and Subsidiaries
Reconciliation of GAAP to Adjusted Non-GAAP
Net Sales by Operating Segment, Products & Services, Geography and Markets
Nine Months Ended September 26, 2020 and September 28, 2019
(In thousands)
															Current
															Period				Constant
					Nine Months Ended						Percent				Currency				Currency
					September 26, 2020			September 28, 2019			Change				Impact				Growth Rate (a)
NET SALES - OPERATING SEGMENT
Waters					$	1,413,386		$	1,503,177			(6	%)		$	(5,001	)			(6	%)
TA						165,321			187,125			(12	%)			(613	)			(11	%)
Total					$	1,578,707		$	1,690,302			(7	%)		$	(5,614	)			(6	%)
NET SALES - PRODUCTS & SERVICES
Instruments					$	664,817		$	778,540			(15	%)		$	(2,187	)			(14	%)
Service						613,365			611,961			-				(2,916	)			1	%
Chemistry						300,525			299,801			-				(511	)			-
Total Recurring						913,890			911,762			-				(3,427	)			1	%
Total					$	1,578,707		$	1,690,302			(7	%)		$	(5,614	)			(6	%)
NET SALES - GEOGRAPHY
Asia					$	603,471		$	677,122			(11	%)		$	(6,801	)			(10	%)
Americas						546,405			585,101			(7	%)			(35	)			(7	%)
Europe						428,831			428,079			-				1,222				-
Total					$	1,578,707		$	1,690,302			(7	%)		$	(5,614	)			(6	%)
NET SALES - MARKETS
Pharmaceutical					$	926,582		$	972,884			(5	%)		$	(4,937	)			(4	%)
Industrial						474,592			502,679			(6	%)			1,410				(6	%)
Academic & Governmental						177,533			214,739			(17	%)			(2,087	)			(16	%)
Total					$	1,578,707		$	1,690,302			(7	%)		$	(5,614	)			(6	%)
NET SALES - EXCLUDING CHINA
Total Net Sales					$	1,578,707		$	1,690,302			(7	%)		$	(5,614	)			(6	%)
China Net Sales						252,713			314,544			(20	%)			(1,897	)			(19	%)
Total Net Sales Excluding China					$	1,325,994		$	1,375,758			(4	%)		$	(3,717	)			(3	%)

(a)

The Company believes that referring to comparable constant-currency growth rates is a useful way to evaluate the underlying performance of Waters Corporation's net sales. Constant-currency growth rate, a non-GAAP financial measure, measures the change in net sales between current and prior year periods, ignoring the impact of foreign currency exchange rates during the current period. See description of non-GAAP financial measures contained in this release.

Waters Corporation and Subsidiaries
Reconciliation of GAAP to Adjusted Non-GAAP Financials
Three & Nine Months Ended September 26, 2020 and September 28, 2019
(In thousands, except per share data)
																				Income from
																				Operations
				Selling &								Operating								before			Provision for								Diluted
				Administrative					Operating			Income				Other				Income			Income				Net				Earnings
				Expenses(a)					Income			Percentage				Expense				Taxes			Taxes				Income				per Share
Quarter Ended September 26, 2020
GAAP			$	138,087				$	158,384			26.7	%		$	(1,039	)		$	150,437		$	23,668			$	126,769			$	2.03
Adjustments:
Purchased intangibles amortization (b)				(2,657	)				2,657			0.4	%			-				2,657			524				2,133				0.03
Restructuring costs and certain other items (c)				(6,771	)				6,771			1.1	%			-				6,771			1,692				5,079				0.08
Certain income tax items (d)				-					-			-				-				-			(685	)			685				0.01
Adjusted Non-GAAP			$	128,659				$	167,812			28.3	%		$	(1,039	)		$	159,865		$	25,199			$	134,666			$	2.16
Quarter Ended September 28, 2019
GAAP			$	128,655				$	173,235			30.0	%		$	(496	)		$	164,738		$	26,605			$	138,133			$	2.07
Adjustments:
Purchased intangibles amortization (b)				(2,619	)				2,619			0.5	%			-				2,619			535				2,084				0.03
Restructuring costs and certain other items (c)				(1,596	)				1,596			0.3	%			-				1,596			350				1,246				0.02
Certain income tax items (d)				-					-			-				-				-			(600	)			600				0.01
Adjusted Non-GAAP			$	124,440				$	177,450			30.7	%		$	(496	)		$	168,953		$	26,890			$	142,063			$	2.13
Nine Months Ended September 26, 2020
GAAP			$	409,694				$	381,778			24.2	%		$	(2,149	)		$	353,663		$	50,403			$	303,260			$	4.86
Adjustments:
Purchased intangibles amortization (b)				(7,900	)				7,900			0.5	%			-				7,900			1,561				6,339				0.10
Restructuring costs and certain other items (c)				(33,054	)				33,054			2.1	%			(461	)			32,593			7,373				25,220				0.40
Litigation provisions (e)				(1,180	)				1,180			0.1	%			-				1,180			283				897				0.01
Certain income tax items (d)				-					-			-				-				-			(1,567	)			1,567				0.03
Adjusted Non-GAAP			$	367,560				$	423,912			26.9	%		$	(2,610	)		$	395,336		$	58,053			$	337,283			$	5.41
Nine Months Ended September 28, 2019
GAAP			$	400,747				$	472,040			27.9	%		$	(1,363	)		$	453,851		$	62,322			$	391,529			$	5.63
Adjustments:
Purchased intangibles amortization (b)				(7,164	)				7,164			0.4	%			-				7,164			1,520				5,644				0.08
Restructuring costs and certain other items (c)				(14,382	)				14,382			0.9	%			-				14,382			3,623				10,759				0.15
Tax reform (f)				-					-			-				-				-			3,229				(3,229	)			(0.05	)
Certain income tax items (d)				-					-			-				-				-			(1,908	)			1,908				0.03
Adjusted Non-GAAP			$	379,201				$	493,586			29.2	%		$	(1,363	)		$	475,397		$	68,786			$	406,611			$	5.85

(a)

Selling & administrative expenses include purchased intangibles amortization and litigation provisions.

(b)

The purchased intangibles amortization, a non-cash expense, was excluded to be consistent with how management evaluates the performance of its core business against historical operating results and the operating results of competitors over periods of time.

(c)

Restructuring costs and certain other items were excluded as the Company believes that the cost to consolidate operations and reduce overhead and certain other income or expense items are not normal and do not represent future ongoing business expenses of a specific function or geographic location of the Company.

(d)

Certain income tax items were excluded as these non-cash expenses and benefits represent updates in management's assessment of ongoing examinations or other tax items that are not indicative of the Company’s normal or future income tax expense.

(e)

Litigation provisions were excluded as these items are isolated, unpredictable and not expected to recur regularly.

(f)

The provision for income taxes for nine months ended September 28, 2019 included a $3 million benefit related to the tax on the change in foreign currency exchange rates on the earnings taxed in December 31, 2017 under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and the subsequent finalization of the tax regulations during the first quarter of 2019. The difference is due to the change from the foreign currency exchange rates required by the U.S. Department of the Treasury on December 31, 2017 to the foreign currency exchange rates on either the date of distribution of assets into the U.S. or the foreign currency exchange rates as of September 28, 2019.

Waters Corporation and Subsidiaries
Preliminary Condensed Unclassified Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands and unaudited)
					September 26, 2020				December 31, 2019
Cash, cash equivalents and investments					$	397,070			$	337,144
Accounts receivable						494,432				587,734
Inventories						326,946				320,551
Property, plant and equipment, net						469,721				417,342
Intangible assets, net						255,168				240,203
Goodwill						431,078				356,128
Other assets						304,871				297,953
Total assets					$	2,679,286			$	2,557,055
Notes payable and debt					$	1,571,337			$	1,681,163
Other liabilities						1,149,530				1,092,173
Total liabilities						2,720,867				2,773,336
Total stockholders' deficit						(41,581	)			(216,281	)
Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit					$	2,679,286			$	2,557,055

Waters Corporation and Subsidiaries
Preliminary Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Three and Nine Months Ended September 26, 2020 and September 28, 2019
(In thousands and unaudited)
	Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
	September 26, 2020				September 28, 2019				September 26, 2020				September 28, 2019
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	126,769			$	138,133			$	303,260			$	391,529
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
cash provided by operating activities:
Stock-based compensation		9,593				9,662				27,715				28,917
Depreciation and amortization		30,888				26,704				91,091				80,319
Change in operating assets and liabilities, net		5,329				(26,110	)			100,959				(49,573	)
Net cash provided by operating activities		172,579				148,389				523,025				451,192
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant, equipment
and software capitalization		(28,311	)			(45,017	)			(125,340	)			(110,205	)
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired		-				-				(76,664	)			-
Investment in unaffiliated companies		(500	)			(2,500	)			(3,850	)			(7,250	)
Net change in investments		(5,415	)			87,895				(20,707	)			942,896
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities		(34,226	)			40,378				(226,561	)			825,441
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net change in debt		(125,000	)			206,830				(110,366	)			206,948
Proceeds from stock plans		13,682				4,182				28,421				34,311
Purchases of treasury shares		(56	)			(580,065	)			(196,353	)			(1,909,700	)
Other cash flow from financing activities, net		2,772				2,246				10,330				6,900
Net cash used in financing activities		(108,602	)			(366,807	)			(267,968	)			(1,661,541	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		6,147				(5,309	)			10,723				(6,723	)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		35,898				(183,349	)			39,219				(391,631	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		339,036				587,998				335,715				796,280
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	374,934			$	404,649			$	374,934			$	404,649
Reconciliation of GAAP Cash Flows from Operating Activities to Free Cash Flow (a)
Net cash provided by operating activities - GAAP	$	172,579			$	148,389			$	523,025			$	451,192
Adjustments:
Additions to property, plant, equipment
and software capitalization		(28,311	)			(45,017	)			(125,340	)			(110,205	)
Tax reform payments		38,454				-				38,454				29,109
Major facility renovations		7,253				21,073				50,320				48,348
Free Cash Flow - Adjusted Non-GAAP	$	189,975			$	124,445			$	486,459			$	418,444

(a) The Company defines free cash flow as net cash flow from operations accounted for under GAAP less capital expenditures and software capitalizations plus or minus any unusual and non recurring items. Free cash flow is not a GAAP measurement and may not be comparable to free cash flow reported by other companies.