Press release

 F5 Delivers Second Consecutive Quarter of Double-Digit Revenue Growth with 19% GAAP and 18% Non-GAAP Product Revenue Growth

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F5 Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: FFIV) today announced financial results for its fiscal second quarter ended March 31, 2021.

“The transformation we have worked persistently to achieve has put F5 at the center of applications, both traditional and modern, with a differentiated multi-cloud approach. As a result, we are benefiting from strong and sustainable macro growth drivers, which are ultimately powered by escalating application growth,” said François Locoh-Donou, F5’s President and CEO.

“Business and consumers’ increasing reliance on applications has accelerated all prior expectations about the pace of digital transformation and our customers across the globe are scaling their digital assets faster, resulting in growing demand for F5’s application security and delivery solutions,” concluded Locoh-Donou.

Second Quarter Performance Summary

Second quarter fiscal 2021 GAAP revenue was $645 million, up 11% from GAAP revenue of $583 million and up 10% from non-GAAP revenue of $586 million in the second quarter of fiscal year 2020. Fiscal year 2021 second quarter non-GAAP revenue growth was driven by 18% product revenue growth and 4% global services revenue growth over the prior year. Non-GAAP product revenue growth was fueled by 20% software revenue growth and 17% systems revenue growth compared to the year ago period.

GAAP net income for the second quarter of fiscal year 2021 was $43 million, or $0.70 per diluted share compared to second quarter fiscal year 2020 GAAP net income of $61 million, or $1.00 per diluted share.

Non-GAAP net income for the second quarter of fiscal year 2021 was $155 million, or $2.50 per diluted share, compared to $136 million, or $2.23 per diluted share, in the second quarter of fiscal year 2020. Non-GAAP net income for the second quarter of fiscal year 2021 excludes $63 million in stock-based compensation, impairment charges of $34 million, $28 million in acquisition-related charges, $12 million in amortization of purchased intangible assets, and $5 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 third quarter of fiscal year 2021 ending June 30, 2021, F5 expects to deliver revenue in the range of $620 million to $650 million, with non-GAAP earnings in the range of $2.36 to $2.54 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, April 27, 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 3461547. 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 acquired businesses’, teams and technologies; F5’s ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses’ products with F5 technologies; the ability of F5’s sales professionals and distribution partners to sell 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; potential disruptions to the global supply chain resulting in inability to source required parts for F5’s products or the ability to only do so at greatly increased prices thereby impacting our revenues and/or margins; 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.

Impairment charges. In fiscal year 2021, F5 recorded impairment charges related to the permanent exit of certain floors at its Seattle headquarters. 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.

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)
 

March 31,

September 30,

2021

2020

 
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents

$

532,166

 

$

849,556

 

Short-term investments

 

111,105

 

 

360,333

 

Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $3420 and $3105

 

374,404

 

 

296,183

 

Inventories

 

24,571

 

 

27,898

 

Other current assets

 

293,402

 

 

259,506

 

Total current assets

 

1,335,648

 

 

1,793,476

 

 
Property and equipment, net

 

207,599

 

 

229,239

 

Operating lease right-of-use assets

 

260,389

 

 

300,680

 

Long-term investments

 

19,078

 

 

102,939

 

Deferred tax assets

 

68,624

 

 

45,173

 

Goodwill

 

2,209,639

 

 

1,858,966

 

Other assets, net

 

418,215

 

 

347,447

 

Total assets

$

4,519,192

 

$

4,677,920

 

 
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Current liabilities
Accounts payable

$

53,567

 

$

64,472

 

Accrued liabilities

 

324,865

 

 

321,398

 

Deferred revenue

 

929,397

 

 

883,134

 

Current portion of long-term debt

 

19,275

 

 

19,275

 

Total current liabilities

 

1,327,104

 

 

1,288,279

 

 
Deferred tax liabilities

 

1,888

 

 

602

 

Deferred revenue, long-term

 

437,506

 

 

389,498

 

Operating lease liabilities, long-term

 

320,132

 

 

338,715

 

Long-term debt

 

359,410

 

 

369,047

 

Other long-term liabilities

 

65,333

 

 

59,511

 

Total long-term liabilities

 

1,184,269

 

 

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, 60,052 and 61,099 shares issued and outstanding 39,507 305,453
Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(19,194

)

 

(18,716

)

Retained earnings

 

1,987,506

 

 

1,945,531

 

Total shareholders’ equity

 

2,007,819

 

 

2,232,268

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

$

4,519,192

 

$

4,677,920

 

F5 Networks, Inc.
Consolidated Income Statements
(unaudited, in thousands, except per share amounts)
 

Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

March 31,

March 31,

2021

2020

2021

2020

 
Net revenues
Products (1)

$

309,189

 

$

259,538

 

$

597,234

 

$

494,074

 

Services

 

336,098

 

 

323,911

 

 

672,670

 

 

658,680

 

Total

 

645,287

 

 

583,449

 

 

1,269,904

 

 

1,152,754

 

 
Cost of net revenues (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)
Products

 

73,289

 

 

53,086

 

 

140,327

 

 

95,204

 

Services

 

55,296

 

 

48,152

 

 

103,237

 

 

94,676

 

Total

 

128,585

 

 

101,238

 

 

243,564

 

 

189,880

 

Gross profit

 

516,702

 

 

482,211

 

 

1,026,340

 

 

962,874

 

 
Operating expenses (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)
Sales and marketing

 

244,908

 

 

215,472

 

 

459,454

 

 

410,991

 

Research and development

 

140,453

 

 

109,028

 

 

254,644

 

 

205,033

 

General and administrative

 

77,840

 

 

74,013

 

 

140,993

 

 

133,017

 

Restructuring charges

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,800

 

Total

 

463,201

 

 

398,513

 

 

855,091

 

 

756,841

 

 
Income from operations

 

53,501

 

 

83,698

 

 

171,249

 

 

206,033

 

Other income, net

 

(1,377

)

 

(141

)

 

(2,060

)

 

5,079

 

Income before income taxes

 

52,124

 

 

83,557

 

 

169,189

 

 

211,112

 

Provision for income taxes

 

8,883

 

 

22,178

 

 

38,270

 

 

51,206

 

Net income

$

43,241

 

$

61,379

 

$

130,919

 

$

159,906

 

 
 
Net income per share – basic

$

0.71

 

$

1.01

 

$

2.14

 

$

2.63

 

Weighted average shares – basic

 

60,667

 

 

60,869

 

 

61,058

 

 

60,758

 

 
Net income per share – diluted

$

0.70

 

$

1.00

 

$

2.10

 

$

2.62

 

Weighted average shares – diluted

 

62,158

 

 

61,084

 

 

62,292

 

 

61,017

 

 
 
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
 
Net income as reported

$

43,241

 

$

61,379

 

$

130,919

 

$

159,906

 

Acquisition-related write-downs of assumed deferred revenue.

 

 

 

2,191

 

 

1,283

 

 

2,191

 

Stock-based compensation expense..

 

63,220

 

 

51,222

 

 

121,289

 

 

98,883

 

Amortization of purchased intangible assets.

 

12,206

 

 

8,620

 

 

22,912

 

 

13,208

 

Facility-exit costs.

 

5,065

 

 

1,254

 

 

6,401

 

 

3,011

 

Acquisiton-related charges.

 

27,978

 

 

23,453

 

 

45,643

 

 

31,719

 

Impairment charges.

 

33,825

 

 

 

 

33,825

 

 

 

Restructuring charges.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7,800

 

Tax effects related to above items

 

(30,388

)

 

(12,172

)

 

(45,661

)

 

(25,406

)

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, impairment charges and restructuring charges (non-GAAP) – diluted $ 155,147 $ 135,947 $ 316,611 $ 291,312
 
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, impairment charges and restructuring charges (non-GAAP) – diluted $ 2.50 $ 2.23 $ 5.08 $ 4.77
 
Weighted average shares – diluted

 

62,158

 

 

61,084

 

 

62,292

 

 

61,017

 

 
(1) GAAP net product revenues

$

309,189

 

$

259,538

 

$

597,234

 

$

494,074

 

Acquisition-related write-downs of assumed deferred revenue

 

 

 

2,191

 

 

1,283

 

 

2,191

 

Non-GAAP net product revenues

 

309,189

 

 

261,729

 

 

598,517

 

 

496,265

 

GAAP net service revenues

 

336,098

 

 

323,911

 

 

672,670

 

 

658,680

 

Acquisition-related write-downs of assumed deferred revenue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-GAAP net service revenues

 

336,098

 

 

323,911

 

 

672,670

 

 

658,680

 

Total non-GAAP net revenues

$

645,287

 

$

585,640

 

$

1,271,187

 

$

1,154,945

 

 
(2) Includes stock-based compensation expense as follows:
Cost of net revenues

$

7,352

 

$

6,434

 

$

14,694

 

$

11,923

 

Sales and marketing

 

27,040

 

 

22,638

 

 

52,283

 

 

44,404

 

Research and development

 

17,717

 

 

12,557

 

 

32,704

 

 

23,759

 

General and administrative

 

11,111

 

 

9,593

 

 

21,608

 

 

18,797

 

$

63,220

 

$

51,222

 

$

121,289

 

$

98,883

 

 
(3) Includes amortization of purchased intangible assets as follows:
Cost of net revenues

$

8,799

 

$

5,953

 

$

16,181

 

$

9,050

 

Sales and marketing

 

2,832

 

 

2,153

 

 

5,581

 

 

3,114

 

General and administrative

 

575

 

 

514

 

 

1,150

 

 

1,044

 

$

12,206

 

$

8,620

 

$

22,912

 

$

13,208

 

 
(4) Includes facility-exit costs as follows:
Cost of net revenues

$

984

 

$

180

 

$

1,156

 

$

501

 

Sales and marketing

 

1,457

 

 

391

 

 

1,863

 

 

1,077

 

Research and development

 

1,544

 

 

408

 

 

1,878

 

 

1,153

 

General and administrative

 

1,080

 

 

275

 

 

1,504

 

 

280

 

$

5,065

 

$

1,254

 

$

6,401

 

$

3,011

 

 
(5) Includes acquisition-related charges as follows:
Cost of net revenues

$

32

 

$

13

 

$

2,522

 

$

13

 

Sales and marketing

 

9,917

 

 

3,364

 

 

14,688

 

 

3,773

 

Research and development

 

9,046

 

 

746

 

 

13,439

 

 

780

 

General and administrative

 

8,983

 

 

19,330

 

 

14,994

 

 

27,153

 

$

27,978

 

$

23,453

 

$

45,643

 

$

31,719

 

 
(6) Includes impairment charges as follows:
Cost of net revenues

$

4,388

 

$

 

$

4,388

 

$

 

Sales and marketing

 

10,256

 

 

 

 

10,256

 

 

 

Research and development

 

9,845

 

 

 

 

9,845

 

 

 

General and administrative

 

9,336

 

 

 

 

9,336

 

 

 

$

33,825

 

$

 

$

33,825

 

$

 

F5 Networks, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(unaudited, in thousands)
 

Six Months Ended

March 31,

2021

2020

 
Operating activities
Net income

$

130,919

 

$

159,906

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Stock-based compensation

 

121,289

 

 

98,447

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

56,185

 

 

43,112

 

Non-cash operating lease costs

 

19,415

 

 

18,970

 

Deferred income taxes

 

(17,962

)

 

5,353

 

Impairment of assets

 

40,698

 

 

 

Non-cash provisions for exit costs

 

 

 

 

Other

 

105

 

 

54

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable

 

(79,649

)

 

4,317

 

Inventories

 

3,327

 

 

3,459

 

Other current assets

 

(32,939

)

 

(19,603

)

Other assets

 

(29,066

)

 

(4,298

)

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

(14,529

)

 

(1,936

)

Deferred revenue

 

93,493

 

 

43,987

 

Lease liabilities

 

(25,447

)

 

(25,948

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

265,839

 

 

325,820

 

 
Investing activities
Purchases of investments

 

(65,725

)

 

(195,123

)

Maturities of investments

 

126,711

 

 

237,892

 

Sales of investments

 

269,986

 

 

232,255

 

Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired

 

(411,319

)

 

(955,574

)

Purchases of property and equipment

 

(14,090

)

 

(35,463

)

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(94,437

)

 

(716,013

)

 
Financing activities
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and purchases of stock under employee stock purchase plan

 

28,687

 

 

21,443

 

Repurchase of common stock

 

(500,000

)

 

(50,009

)

Proceeds from term debt agreement

 

 

 

400,000

 

Payments on term debt agreement

 

(10,000

)

 

 

Payments for debt issuance costs

 

 

 

(3,040

)

Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards

 

(7,928

)

 

 

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

 

(489,241

)

 

368,394

 

 
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

 

(317,839

)

 

(21,799

)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

 

494

 

 

(1,090

)

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period

 

852,826

 

 

602,254

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period

$

535,481

 

$

579,365

 

 
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities

$

30,809

 

$

30,067

 

Cash paid for interest on long-term debt

 

2,724

 

$

2,089

 

Supplemental disclosures of non-cash activities
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations

$

9,523

 

$

399,203