Insight Enterprises, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter And Full Year 2016 Results

TEMPE, Ariz., Feb. 08, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Insight Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq:NSIT) (the “Company”) today reported results of operations for the quarter and full year ended December 31, 2016. 

• Net sales up 6% to $1.47 billion for the fourth quarter.
• Earnings from operations up 33% to $40.7 million for the fourth quarter.

In the fourth quarter of 2016, consolidated net sales were $1.47 billion, up 6% year over year.  This improvement was driven by solid top-line growth in each of the Company’s geographic operating segments, including organic growth in hardware, software and services on a global basis.  Consolidated net sales for the full year 2016 were $5.49 billion, up 2% year over year.  Excluding the effects of fluctuating foreign currency exchange rates, consolidated net sales for the full year 2016 increased 4%, with growth of 4% reported by each of North America and EMEA, while APAC’s net sales were flat year over year.

“Our fourth quarter top-line results reflect solid sales execution in our core business as well as the validation of our strategy to expand our value-added services offerings globally, as evidenced by the double-digit organic growth reported in this important category,” stated Ken Lamneck, President and Chief Executive Officer.  “With the acquisition of Ignia in the third quarter of 2016 and Datalink in January of 2017, our portfolio of offerings for 2017 is stronger than ever, with deep technical and consulting capabilities around data center, hybrid Cloud, application development and workforce enablement,” stated Lamneck.

Consolidated earnings from operations in the fourth quarter of 2016 increased 33% year over year to $40.7 million and diluted earnings per share increased to $0.59 compared to $0.50 for the fourth quarter of 2015.  Consolidated earnings from operations for the full year increased 18% year over year to $148.8 million and diluted earnings per share increased 17% to $2.32 compared to $1.98 for 2015.  Adjusted diluted earnings per share was $0.72 in the fourth quarter of 2016 compared to $0.57 reported in the fourth quarter of last year.  Adjusted diluted earnings per share for the full year 2016 was $2.52 compared to $2.11 reported in 2015.*

“I am pleased with our team’s execution in 2016.  We delivered top-line growth overall, gaining market share in key categories in North America and EMEA.  Just as important, our focus on profitability and tight cost management discipline allowed us to deliver double-digit earnings from operations growth for the full year 2016,” stated Lamneck.  “As we head into 2017, we believe that our strong foundation, built on strategic and operational discipline, combined with Datalink’s deep technical talent and complementary offerings, will position us well to deliver value to our clients, partners and shareholders in 2017.”

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

Results for the Quarter:

• Consolidated net sales of $1.5 billion for the fourth quarter of 2016 increased 6% compared to the fourth quarter of 2015.
  • Net sales in North America of $1.1 billion were up 6% year over year;
  • Net sales in EMEA of $361.8 million increased 6% year over year; and
  • Net sales in APAC of $48.5 million increased 7% year over year.
     
• Excluding the effects of fluctuating foreign currency exchange rates, consolidated net sales increased 8% year over year, with net sales growth in North America, EMEA and APAC of 6%, 17% and 5%, respectively, year over year.
   
• Consolidated gross profit of $191.0 million increased 6% compared to the fourth quarter of 2015, with consolidated gross margin remaining flat at 13.0% of net sales.
  • Gross profit in North America of $133.6 million (12.6% gross margin) increased 6% year over year;
  • Gross profit in EMEA of $48.9 million (13.5% gross margin) increased 2% year over year; and
  • Gross profit in APAC of $8.5 million (17.6% gross margin) increased 17% year over year.
     
• Excluding the effects of fluctuating foreign currency exchange rates, consolidated gross profit increased 9% year over year, and gross profit in North America, EMEA and APAC increased 6%, 14% and 15%, respectively, year over year.
   
• Consolidated earnings from operations increased 33% compared to the fourth quarter of 2015 to $40.7 million, or 2.8% of net sales. 
  • Earnings from operations in North America increased 20% year over year to $29.2 million, or 2.8% of net sales;
  • Earnings from operations in EMEA increased 114% year over year to $9.3 million, or 2.6% of net sales; and
  • Earnings from operations in APAC increased 11% year over year to $2.2 million, or 4.6% of net sales.
     
• Excluding the effects of fluctuating foreign currency exchange rates, consolidated earnings from operations increased 37% year over year, and earnings from operations in North America, EMEA and APAC increased 20%, 162% and 11%, respectively, year over year.
   
• Adjusted consolidated earnings from operations increased 37% year over year to $45.9 million, or 3.1% of net sales for the fourth quarter of 2016.*
   
• Consolidated net earnings and diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2016 were $21.1 million and $0.59, respectively, at an effective tax rate of 45.7%, which reflects the effect of a change in tax law that was enacted in December 2016 related to the taxation of foreign currency translation gains or losses arising from qualified business units and the effect of non-deductible acquisition-related expenses incurred during the fourth quarter of 2016.
   
• Adjusted consolidated net earnings and diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2016 were $26.0 million and $0.72, respectively.*

Results for the Year: 

• Consolidated net sales of $5.5 billion for 2016 increased 2% compared to 2015.
  
  • Net sales in North America of $4.0 billion were up 4% year over year;
  • Net sales in EMEA of $1.3 billion decreased 2% year to year; and
  • Net sales in APAC of $175.1 million decreased 2% year to year.
    
    
• Excluding the effects of fluctuating foreign currency exchange rates, consolidated net sales increased 4% year over year, with net sales growth in each of North America and EMEA of 4% year over year, while net sales in APAC remained flat year over year.
  
  
• Consolidated gross profit of $743.1 million increased 4% compared to 2015, with consolidated gross margin increasing approximately 20 basis points to 13.5% of net sales.
  
  • Gross profit in North America of $525.5 million (13.2% gross margin) increased 5% year over year;
  • Gross profit in EMEA of $185.7 million (13.9% gross margin) was flat year over year; and
  • Gross profit in APAC of $31.9 million (18.2% gross margin) increased 12% year over year.
    
    
• Excluding the effects of fluctuating foreign currency exchange rates, consolidated gross profit increased 6% year over year, and gross profit in North America, EMEA and APAC increased 5%, 7% and 14%, respectively, year over year.
  
  
• Consolidated earnings from operations increased 18% compared to 2015 to $148.8 million, or 2.7% of net sales.  
  
  • Earnings from operations in North America increased 13% year over year to $116.9 million, or 2.9% of net sales;
  • Earnings from operations in EMEA increased 44% year over year to $23.9 million, or 1.8% of net sales; and
  • Earnings from operations in APAC increased 32% year over year to $8.0 million, or 4.6% of net sales. 
    
    
• Excluding the effects of fluctuating foreign currency exchange rates, consolidated earnings from operations increased 20% year over year, and earnings from operations in North America, EMEA and APAC increased 13%, 60% and 33%, respectively, year over year.
  
  
• Adjusted consolidated earnings from operations increased 19% year over year to $157.5 million, or 2.9% of net sales, for 2016.*
  
  
• Consolidated net earnings and diluted earnings per share for 2016 were $84.7 million and $2.32, respectively, at an effective tax rate of 39.3%, which reflects the tax law change and non-deductible acquisition-related expenses incurred during the fourth quarter of 2016 noted previously.
  
  
• Adjusted consolidated net earnings and diluted earnings per share for 2016 were $92.0 million and $2.52, respectively.* 

* In discussing financial results for the three months and years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 in this press release, the Company refers to certain financial measures that are not prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”).  When referring to non-GAAP measures, the Company refers to such measures as “Adjusted.”  Adjusted measures exclude (i) severance and restructuring expenses recorded in all periods, (ii) certain acquisition-related expenses and the gain recorded on an asset held for sale during 2016, (iii) a non-cash real estate impairment recorded during 2015 on real estate that was sold in 2016 and (iv) the tax effects of each of these items.  See “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for additional information.  A tabular reconciliation of financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP to the non-GAAP financial measures is included at the end of this press release.

The Company refers to changes in net sales, gross profit and earnings from operations on a consolidated basis and in North America, EMEA and APAC excluding the effects of fluctuating foreign currency exchange rates.  In computing these changes and percentages, the Company compares the current year amount as translated into U.S. dollars under the applicable accounting standards to the prior year amount in local currency translated into U.S. dollars utilizing the weighted average translation rate for the current period.

The tax effect of Adjusted amounts referenced herein were computed using the statutory tax rate for the taxing jurisdictions in the operating segment in which the related expenses were recorded, adjusted for the effects of valuation allowances on net operating losses in certain jurisdictions.

GUIDANCE

For the full year 2017, with the addition of Datalink, which the Company acquired on January 6, 2017, the Company expects its business to deliver sales growth of 12% to 15% compared to 2016.  The Company also expects Adjusted diluted earnings per share for the full year 2017 to be between $2.80 and $2.90. 

This outlook for 2017 assumes:

• amortization expense associated with acquired intangible assets of $16.7 million;
• an effective tax rate of approximately 37%; and
• capital expenditures of $15 to $20 million.

This outlook does not assume any severance and restructuring or acquisition-related expenses.  Due to the inherent difficulty of forecasting these types of expenses, which impact net earnings and diluted earnings per share, the Company is unable to reasonably estimate the related impact of such expenses, if any, to net earnings and diluted earnings per share.  Accordingly, the Company is unable to provide a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP diluted earnings per share for the full year 2017 forecast. 

CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST

The Company will host a conference call and live web cast today at 5:00 p.m. ET to discuss fourth quarter and full year 2016 results of operations.  A live web cast of the conference call (in listen-only mode) will be available on the Company’s web site at http://nsit.client.shareholder.com/events.cfm, and a replay of the web cast will be available on the Company’s web site for a limited time following the call.  To listen to the live web cast by telephone, call 1-877-402-8904 if located in the U.S., 678-809-1029 for international callers, and enter the access code 62071750. NSIT-F

USE OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

The non-GAAP financial measures (referred to as Adjusted consolidated earnings from operations, Adjusted consolidated net earnings and Adjusted diluted earnings per share) exclude (i) severance and restructuring expenses recorded in all periods, (ii) certain acquisition-related expenses and the gain recorded on an asset held for sale during 2016, (iii) a non-cash real estate impairment recorded during 2015 on real estate that was sold in 2016 and (iv) the tax effects of each of these items.  The Company excludes these items when internally evaluating earnings from operations, tax expense, net earnings and diluted earnings per share for the Company and earnings from operations for each of the Company’s operating segments.  These non-GAAP measures are used to evaluate financial performance against budgeted amounts, to calculate incentive compensation, to assist in forecasting future performance and to compare the Company’s results to those of the Company’s competitors.  The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors because they allow for greater transparency, facilitate comparisons to prior periods and the Company’s competitors’ results and assist in forecasting performance for future periods.  These non-GAAP financial measures are not prepared in accordance with GAAP and may be different from non-GAAP financial measures presented by other companies.  Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.

*    Percentage change not considered meaningful.  

* Represents growth/decline in category net sales on a U.S. dollar basis and does not exclude the effects of fluctuating foreign currency exchange rates.

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Certain statements in this release and the related conference call and web cast are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Forward-looking statements, including the Company’s expected 2017 financial results, including sales growth rates and diluted earnings per share, and the assumptions relating thereto, including the Company’s amortization expense associated with acquired intangible assets, effective tax rate and capital expenditures for 2017, the strength of the Company’s offerings and capabilities, the Company’s integration of Datalink Corporation (“Datalink”) and the Company’s ability to deliver value to its clients, partners and shareholders are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified.  Future events and actual results could differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or underlying the forward-looking statements.  There can be no assurances that the results discussed by the forward-looking statements will be achieved, and actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.  Some of the important factors that could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements, include, but are not limited to, the following, which are discussed in “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and in other of the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission:      

• risks associated with the acquisition and integration of Datalink into the Company's operations, processes and systems, including:
  • the Company may be unable to achieve expected synergies and operating efficiencies in connection with the acquisition within the expected time frames or at all and to successfully integrate Datalink's operations into those of the Company;
  • such integration may be more difficult, time consuming or costly than expected and may disrupt the Company's current plans and operations;
  • revenues following the transaction may be lower than expected;
  • operating costs, customer loss and business disruption (including, without limitation, difficulties in maintaining relationships with employees, customers, clients or suppliers) may be greater than expected following the transaction;
  • Datalink and/or the Company may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; and
  • the Company may not be able to retain the key employees of Datalink;
• actions of the Company’s competitors, including manufacturers and publishers of products the Company sells;
• the Company’s reliance on partners for product availability, competitive products to sell and related marketing funds and purchasing incentives;
• changes in the IT industry and/or rapid changes in technology;
• possible significant fluctuations in the Company’s future operating results;
• general economic conditions;
• the risks associated with the Company’s international operations;
• the security of the Company’s electronic and other confidential information;
• disruptions in the Company’s IT systems and voice and data networks;
• failure to comply with the terms and conditions of the Company’s commercial and public sector contracts;
• the Company’s reliance on commercial delivery services;
• the Company’s dependence on certain personnel;
• exposure to changes in, interpretations of, or enforcement trends related to tax rules and regulations; and
• intellectual property infringement claims and challenges to the Company’s registered trademarks and trade names.

Additionally, there may be other risks that are otherwise described from time to time in the reports that the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Any forward-looking statements in this release should be considered in light of various important factors, including the risks and uncertainties listed above, as well as others.  The Company assumes no obligation to update, and, except as may be required by law, does not intend to update, any forward-looking statements.  The Company does not endorse any projections regarding future performance that may be made by third parties.