DURHAM, N.C., Oct. 21, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cree, Inc. (Nasdaq:CREE), a market leader in LED lighting, today announced revenue of $140.4 million for its first quarter of fiscal 2009, ended September 28, 2008. This represents a 24% increase compared to revenue of $113.4 million reported for the first fiscal quarter last year and a 3% increase compared to the fiscal fourth quarter of 2008. GAAP net income for the first quarter was $5.9 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, compared to net income of $12.7 million or $0.15 per diluted share for the first quarter of fiscal 2008. Net income for the first quarter of fiscal 2008 benefited from a realized gain on investment of $10.8 million or $0.13 per diluted share.
The remainder of this press release highlights the company's financial results on both a GAAP and a non-GAAP basis. The GAAP results include certain costs, charges, gains and losses that are excluded from non-GAAP results. By publishing the non-GAAP measures, management intends to provide investors with additional information to further analyze the company's performance, core results and underlying trends. Cree's management evaluates results and makes operating decisions using both GAAP and non-GAAP measures included in this press release. Non-GAAP results are not prepared in accordance with GAAP, and non-GAAP information should be considered a supplement to, and not a substitute for, financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. Investors and potential investors are encouraged to review the reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP measures attached to this press release.
GAAP EPS of $0.07 per diluted share for the first quarter of fiscal 2009 includes expenses totaling $7.3 million, net of tax, or $0.08 per diluted share related to amortization of acquired intangibles and stock-based compensation expense. On a non-GAAP basis, adjusted to exclude these items, net income for the first quarter of fiscal 2009 was $13.2 million, or $0.15 per diluted share. On a non-GAAP basis, adjusted to exclude similar items as well as a realized gain on investment and property tax expense adjustments, net income for the first quarter of fiscal 2008 was $8.8 million, or $0.10 per diluted share.
"Financial results were at the high end of our targeted range in Q1 due to strong LED revenue growth and better margins," stated Chuck Swoboda, Cree chairman and CEO. "Additionally, the recently announced strategic agreement with Zumtobel signals an important step for Cree and is targeted to accelerate the LED lighting revolution across Europe. While the current economic uncertainty has made forecasting the business more challenging, we continue to target growth driven by increased demand for our XLamp(r) LED and LED lighting solution products."
Recent Business Highlights:
* Announced commercial availability of the XLamp MC-E LED. The multi-chip XLamp MC-E retains the same 7mm x 9mm footprint as Cree's existing XLamp XR family LEDs while providing four times the light output of the existing XR-E, the highest lumen output commercially available for a package of this size. * Entered into a long-term strategic agreement with Zumtobel Group, a global market leader in the professional lighting industry, to supply LED downlights to the European market. This agreement accelerates the business relationship, which is anticipated to expand into other high-volume lighting categories in 2009. * Welcomed Welland, Ontario, Canada, into the LED City(R) program. The city has converted many of its lighting applications to LEDs, including streetlights and traffic signals, and has additional projects underway. * The Cree LR4 recessed architectural LED downlight won the top prize for recessed downlights in the 2008 Lighting for Tomorrow solid-state lighting (SSL) competition, and was praised for "superior energy efficiency and color quality." The Cree LR24, a 24-inch square recessed LED light, was honored for superior efficacy in the "Other Applications" category. * Named Steve Kelley as executive vice president and chief operating officer. Kelley comes to Cree after five years at Texas Instruments where he served as vice president and general manager of the Standard Linear and Logic Group.
Q1 2009 Financial Metrics:
* GAAP gross margin improved to 35% of revenue compared to 31% in Q1 of FY08, and non-GAAP gross margin was 36%. * Accounts receivable decreased $6.9 million from Q4 to $103.4 million, resulting in days sales outstanding of 66, a decrease of 7 days from Q4. * Inventory decreased $0.9 million from Q4 to $79.2 million and represents 78 days of inventory, a decrease of 2 days from Q4. * Cash and investments were $339.1 million with cash flow from operations of $42.1 million and free cash flow (cash flow from operations less capital expenditures) of $30.3 million.
Business Outlook:
Current uncertainty in global economic conditions makes it particularly difficult to predict demand and makes it more likely that Cree's actual results could differ materially from expectations. For its second quarter of fiscal 2009 ending December 28, 2008, Cree targets revenue in a range of $142 million to $146 million with GAAP earnings of $0.07 to $0.08 per diluted share and non-GAAP earnings of $0.15 to $0.16 per diluted share, based on an estimated 89 million diluted weighted average shares. Targeted non-GAAP earnings exclude expenses related to the amortization of acquired intangibles of $0.04 per diluted share and stock-based compensation expense of $0.04 per diluted share.
Cree will host a conference call at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time today to review the highlights of the fiscal first quarter 2009 results and the fiscal second quarter 2009 business outlook, including significant factors and assumptions underlying the targets noted above. The conference call will be available to the public through a live audio web broadcast via the Internet. Log on to Cree's website at www.cree.com and go to "Investor Relations - Overview" for webcast details. The call will be archived and available on the website through November 4, 2008.
Supplemental financial information, including the non-GAAP reconciliation attached to this press release, is available in the "Investor Relations" section of Cree's website, under "Financial Metrics," "Quarter ending September 28, 2008," at www.cree.com.
About Cree, Inc.
Cree is leading the LED lighting revolution and setting the stage to obsolete the incandescent light bulb through the use of energy-efficient, environmentally friendly LED lighting. Cree is a market-leading innovator of lighting-class LEDs, LED lighting solutions, and semiconductor solutions for wireless and power applications.
Cree's product families include recessed LED down lights, lighting-class power LEDs, high-brightness LEDs, blue and green LED chips, power-switching devices and radio-frequency/wireless devices. Cree solutions are driving improvements in applications such as general illumination, backlighting, electronic signs and signals, variable-speed motors and wireless communications.
For additional product and company information, please refer to www.cree.com.
The Cree, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=3529
The schedules attached to this release are an integral part of the release. This press release contains forward-looking statements involving risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated. Actual results, including with respect to our targets and prospects, could differ materially due to a number of factors, including current uncertainty in global economic conditions that could negatively affect product demand and other related matters as consumers and businesses may defer purchases in response to tighter credit and negative financial news; our ability to complete development and commercialization of products under development, such as our pipeline of brighter LED chips, LED components and LED lighting retrofit solutions; our ability to lower costs; potential changes in demand; increasing price competition in key markets; the risk that, due to the complexity of our manufacturing processes and transition of production to larger wafers, we may experience production delays that preclude us from shipping sufficient quantities to meet customer orders or that result in higher production costs and lower margins; risks associated with the ramp-up of our production for our new products, as well as production at our Huizhou facility and subcontractors; risks resulting from the concentration of our business among few customers, including the risk that customers may reduce or cancel orders or fail to honor purchase commitments; the rapid development of new technology and competing products that may impair demand or render our products obsolete; the potential lack of customer acceptance for our products; risks associated with our recent acquisitions; risks associated with ongoing litigation; and other factors discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including our report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 29, 2008, and subsequent reports filed with the SEC. Except as required under the U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the SEC, Cree disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date of this release, whether as a result of new information, future events, developments, changes in assumptions or otherwise.
Cree, the Cree logo, XLamp and LED City are registered trademarks of Cree, Inc.
CREE, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(in thousands, except per share data)
Three Months Ended
---------------------------
September 28, September 23,
2008 2007
----------- -----------
(Unaudited)
Product revenue $ 134,693 $ 105,963
Contract revenue 5,685 7,423
----------- -----------
Total revenue 140,378 113,386
Cost of product revenue 86,644 72,580
Cost of contract revenue 4,371 6,066
----------- -----------
Total cost of revenue 91,015 78,646
Gross margin 49,363 34,740
Gross margin percentage 35.2% 30.6%
Operating expenses:
Research and development 17,275 12,777
Sales, general and administrative 22,918 18,164
Amortization of
acquisition-related intangibles 4,062 4,048
Loss on disposal and impairment of
long-lived assets 405 734
----------- -----------
Total operating expenses 44,660 35,723
Operating income (loss) 4,703 (983)
Operating income percentage 3.4% -0.9%
Non-operating income:
Gain on sale of investments, net 12 14,117
Interest and other non-operating
income, net 2,977 3,727
----------- -----------
Income from continuing operations before
income taxes 7,692 16,861
Income tax expense 1,754 3,994
----------- -----------
Net income from continuing operations 5,938 12,867
Loss from discontinued operations, net
of related tax effect (19) (154)
----------- -----------
Net income $ 5,919 $ 12,713
=========== ===========
Diluted earnings per share:
Income from continuing operations $ 0.07 $ 0.15
Loss from discontinued operations $ (0.00) $ (0.00)
----------- -----------
Net income $ 0.07 $ 0.15
=========== ===========
Weighted average shares of common
stock outstanding, basic 87,851 84,683
Weighted average shares of common
stock outstanding, diluted 88,732 86,566
CREE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)
September 28, June 29,
2008 2008
----------- -----------
(Unaudited)
Assets:
Current assets:
Cash, cash equivalents and
short-term investments $ 286,498 $ 312,428
Accounts receivable, net 103,430 110,376
Inventory, net 79,216 80,161
Income taxes receivable 9,938 9,825
Deferred income taxes 5,032 4,578
Prepaid expenses and other
current assets 13,167 13,000
Assets of discontinued operations 2,658 2,600
----------- -----------
Total current assets 499,939 532,968
Property and equipment, net 342,059 348,013
Long-term investments 52,566 58,604
Intangible assets, net 121,975 125,037
Goodwill 244,003 244,003
Other assets 6,344 4,782
----------- -----------
Total assets $ 1,266,886 $ 1,313,407
=========== ===========
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity:
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable, trade $ 40,765 $ 37,402
Accrued salaries and wages 16,191 13,471
Income taxes payable 7,290 5,314
Other current liabilities 3,462 7,938
Contingent payment due related to
COTCO acquisition -- 60,000
Liabilities of discontinued operations 480 550
----------- -----------
Total current liabilities 68,188 124,675
Long-term liabilities:
Deferred income taxes 37,035 38,048
Other long-term liabilities 4,199 4,199
Long-term liabilities of
discontinued operations 745 745
----------- -----------
Total long-term liabilities 41,979 42,992
Shareholders' Equity:
Common stock 110 110
Additional paid-in-capital 816,392 811,015
Accumulated other comprehensive income 8,606 8,923
Retained earnings 331,611 325,692
----------- -----------
Total shareholders' equity 1,156,719 1,145,740
----------- -----------
Total liabilities and
shareholders' equity $ 1,266,886 $ 1,313,407
=========== ===========
The following is a reconciliation showing how Cree, Inc.'s first quarter income statements for fiscal 2009 and 2008 would appear if they were adjusted for the items noted below.
CREE, INC.
Reconciling Items to Q1 2009 & 2008 Financial Statements -
GAAP to Non-GAAP
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
September 28, 2008
---------------------------------
GAAP Adjustments Non-GAAP
--------------------- --------
Product revenue $134,693 $ -- $134,693
Contract revenue 5,685 -- 5,685
--------------------- --------
Total revenue 140,378 -- 140,378
Cost of product revenue 86,644 (1,302)(a) 85,342
Cost of contract revenue 4,371 -- 4,371
--------------------- --------
Total cost of sales 91,015 (1,302) 89,713
Gross margin 49,363 1,302 50,665
Gross margin percentage 35.2% 36.1%
Operating expenses:
Research and development 17,275 (1,446)(a) 15,829
Sales, general and administrative 22,918 (2,685)(a) 20,233
Amortization of
acquisition-related intangibles 4,062 (4,062)(b) --
Gain on disposal of assets 405 -- 405
--------------------- --------
Total operating expenses 44,660 (8,193) 36,467
Operating income 4,703 9,495 14,198
Operating income percentage 3.4% 10.1%
Non-operating income:
Gain (loss) on investments
in securities 12 -- 12
Interest and other non-operating
income, net 2,977 -- 2,977
--------------------- --------
Income from continuing operations
before income taxes 7,692 9,495 17,187
Income tax expense (benefit) 1,754 2,165(c) 3,919
--------------------- --------
Net income from
continuing operations 5,938 7,330 13,268
Gain (loss) from discontinued
operations, net of related tax (19) -- (19)
--------------------- --------
Net income $ 5,919 $ 7,330 $ 13,249
===================== ========
Earnings per diluted share:
From continuing operations $ 0.07 $ 0.08 $ 0.15
From discontinued operations $ (0.00) $ -- $ (0.00)
--------------------- --------
From net income $ 0.07 $ 0.08 $ 0.15
===================== ========
Weighted average shares of
common stock outstanding, basic 87,851 -- 87,851
Weighted average shares of
common stock outstanding,
diluted 88,732 -- 88,732
Three Months Ended
September 23, 2007
---------------------------------
GAAP Adjustments Non-GAAP
--------------------- --------
Product revenue $105,963 $ -- $105,963
Contract revenue 7,423 -- 7,423
-------------------- --------
Total revenue 113,386 -- 113,386
Cost of product revenue 72,580 (914)(a) 71,666
Cost of contract revenue 6,066 -- 6,066
-------------------- --------
Total cost of sales 78,646 (914) 77,732
Gross margin 34,740 914 35,654
Gross margin percentage 30.6% 31.4%
Operating expenses:
Research and development 12,777 (897)(a) 11,880
Sales, general and administrative 18,164 (3,164)(a,e) 15,000
Amortization of
acquisition-related intangibles 4,048 (4,048)(b) --
Gain on disposal of assets 734 -- 734
-------------------- --------
Total operating expenses 35,723 (8,109) 27,614
Operating income (983) 9,023 8,040
Operating income percentage -0.9% 7.1%
Non-operating income:
Gain (loss) on investments
in securities 14,117 (14,117)(d) --
Interest and other non-operating
income, net 3,727 -- 3,727
-------------------- --------
Income from continuing operations
before income taxes 16,861 (5,094) 11,767
Income tax expense (benefit) 3,994 (1,206)(f) 2,788
-------------------- --------
Net income from
continuing operations 12,867 (3,888) 8,979
Gain (loss) from discontinued
operations, net of related tax (154) -- (154)
-------------------- --------
Net income $ 12,713 $ (3,888) $ 8,825
==================== ========
Earnings per diluted share:
From continuing operations $ 0.15 $ (0.05) $ 0.10
From discontinued operations $ (0.00) $ -- $ (0.00)
-------------------- --------
From net income $ 0.15 $ (0.05) $ 0.10
==================== ========
Weighted average shares of
common stock outstanding, basic 84,683 -- 84,683
Weighted average shares of
common stock outstanding,
diluted 86,566 -- 86,566
(a) Non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $1,302 in costs of
product revenue, $1,446 in research and development and $2,685 in
sales, general and administrative for the three months ended
September 28, 2008, and $914 in costs of product revenue, $897 in
research and development and $1,400 in sales, general and
administrative for the three months ended September 23, 2007.
(b) Amortization expense of $4,062 for the three months ended
September 28, 2008, and $4,048 for the three months ended
September 23, 2007, recognized on intangible assets resulting
from acquisitions.
(c) Tax effects of non-cash stock-based compensation expense and
amortization related to acquisition-related intangible assets.
(d) Gain on the sale of 500,000 shares of Color Kinetics Corporation
common stock.
(e) Personal property assessment of $1.7 million related to the audit
of our 2002 through 2007 property tax returns.
(f) Tax effects of non-cash stock-based compensation, amortization
related to acquisitions, gain on the sale of Color Kinetics
common stock and the personal property assessment related to the
audit of our 2002 through 2007 personal property tax returns.