Lam Research Corporation Reports Financial Results for the Quarter Ended December 24, 2017


FREMONT, Calif., Jan. 24, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lam Research Corp. (Nasdaq:LRCX) today announced financial results for the quarter ended December 24, 2017 (the “December 2017 quarter”).

Highlights for the December 2017 quarter were as follows:

  • Shipments of $2.63 billion and revenue of $2.58 billion.

  • U.S. GAAP gross margin of 46.7%, U.S. GAAP operating margin of 28.6%, and U.S. GAAP diluted EPS of $(0.06).

  • Non-GAAP gross margin of 47.6%, non-GAAP operating margin of 30.2%, and non-GAAP diluted EPS of $4.34.


Key Financial Data for the Quarters Ended
December 24, 2017 and September 24, 2017
(in thousands, except per-share data, percentages, and basis points)

U.S. GAAP
  December 2017 September 2017 Change Q/Q
Shipments $2,631,723  $2,381,565  11%
Revenue $2,580,815  $2,478,140  + 4%
Gross margin as percentage of revenue 46.7% 46.4% + 30 bps
Operating margin as percentage of revenue 28.6% 28.0% + 60 bps
Diluted EPS $(0.06) $3.21  - 102%
 
Non-GAAP
  December 2017 September 2017 Change Q/Q
Shipments $2,631,723  $2,381,565  11%
Revenue $2,580,815  $2,478,140  + 4%
Gross margin as percentage of revenue 47.6% 47.2% + 40 bps
Operating margin as percentage of revenue 30.2% 29.6% + 60 bps
Diluted EPS $4.34  $3.46  + 25%

U.S. GAAP Financial Results

For the December 2017 quarter, revenue was $2,581 million, gross margin was $1,206 million, or 46.7% of revenue, operating expenses were $468 million, operating margin was 28.6% of revenue, and net loss was $(10) million, or $(0.06) per diluted share on a U.S. GAAP basis. This compares to revenue of $2,478 million, gross margin of $1,149 million, or 46.4% of revenue, operating expenses of $456 million, operating margin of 28.0% of revenue, and net income of $591 million, or $3.21 per diluted share, for the quarter ended September 24, 2017 (the “September 2017 quarter”). The December 2017 results were negatively impacted by a one-time provisional charge of $757 million associated with the recently enacted U.S. tax reform, which the Company will continue to evaluate during the measurement period.

Non-GAAP Financial Results

For the December 2017 quarter, non-GAAP gross margin was $1,228 million or 47.6% of revenue, non-GAAP operating expenses were $449 million, non-GAAP operating margin was 30.2% of revenue, and non-GAAP net income was $788 million, or $4.34 per diluted share. This compares to non-GAAP gross margin of $1,171 million or 47.2% of revenue, non-GAAP operating expenses of $438 million, non-GAAP operating margin of 29.6% of revenue, and non-GAAP net income of $628 million, or $3.46 per diluted share for the September 2017 quarter.

“Lam delivered another record quarter to conclude an extraordinary calendar year where we reached new milestones including nearly ten billion dollars in shipments and over thirteen dollars in non-GAAP earnings per share,” said Martin Anstice, Lam Research’s Chief Executive Officer. “Semiconductor innovation is contributing increased value in a data-driven economy and we believe that trend is quite fundamental, exciting and sustainable: in 2018 we expect record levels of customer equipment spending and another year of outperformance opportunity for the company.”

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Results

Cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, and restricted cash and investments balances decreased to $6.0 billion at the end of the December 2017 quarter compared to $6.4 billion at the end of the September 2017 quarter. Cash flow from operating activities during the December 2017 quarter total $29 million. Uses of cash during the quarter included: approximately $1,111 million of share repurchases, including net share settlement on employee stock-based compensation; approximately $206 million of purchases of available-for-sale securities, approximately $85 million of capital expenditures, and approximately $73 million of dividends paid to stockholders; partially offset by approximately $799 million of net proceeds on short-term borrowings.

Deferred revenue at the end of the December 2017 quarter increased to $1.1 billion as compared to $938 million at the end of the September 2017 quarter. Deferred profit at the end of the December 2017 quarter increased to $749 million as compared to $598 million at the end of the September 2017 quarter. Lam’s deferred revenue balance does not include shipments to Japanese customers, to whom title does not transfer until customer acceptance. Shipments to Japanese customers are classified as inventory at cost until the time of acceptance. The estimated future revenue from shipments to Japanese customers was approximately $289 million as of December 24, 2017 and $344 million as of September 24, 2017.

Geographic Distribution

The geographic distribution of shipments and revenue during the December 2017 quarter is shown in the following table:

RegionShipments Revenue
Korea32% 30%
Taiwan15% 15%
Japan14% 16%
China14% 11%
United States10% 11%
Southeast Asia10% 11%
Europe5% 6%


Outlook

For the March 2018 quarter, Lam is providing the following guidance:

 U.S. GAAP Reconciling Items Non-GAAP
Shipments$3.175 Billion+/- $125 Million  $3.175 Billion+/- $125 Million
Revenue$2.850 Billion+/- $125 Million  $2.850 Billion+/- $125 Million
Gross margin 45.2%+/- 1% $22 Million  46.0%+/- 1%
Operating margin 27.6%+/- 1% $39 Million  29.0%+/- 1%
Net income per diluted share$4.10 +/-$0.15  $37 Million $4.35 +/-$0.15 
Diluted share count183 Million Million 181 Million

The information provided above is only an estimate of what the Company believes is realizable as of the date of this release, and does not incorporate the potential impact of any business combinations, asset acquisitions, divestitures, balance sheet valuation adjustments, financing arrangements, other investments, measurement period adjustments associated with U.S. tax reform, or other significant transactions that may be completed after the date of this release. U.S. GAAP to non-GAAP reconciling items provided include only those items that are known and can be estimated as of the date of this release. Actual results will vary from this model and the variations may be material. Reconciling items included above are as follows:

  • Gross margin - amortization related to intangible assets acquired through business combinations, $22 million.

  • Operating margin - amortization related to intangible assets acquired through business combinations, $39 million.

  • Earnings per share - amortization related to intangible assets acquired though business combinations, $39 million; amortization of note discounts, $3 million; and associated tax benefit for non-GAAP items ($5 million); totaling $37 million.

  • Diluted share count - impact of a note hedge issued contemporaneously with the convertible notes due 2018, 2 million shares.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Results

In addition to U.S. GAAP results, this press release also contains non-GAAP financial results. The Company’s non-GAAP results for both the December 2017 and September 2017 quarters exclude amortization related to intangible assets acquired through business combinations, costs associated with business process reengineering, acquisition and integration costs associated with a business combination, the amortization of note discounts, and tax benefit of non-GAAP items. Additionally, the December 2017 quarter results exclude estimated income tax expense associated with U.S. tax reform and the September 2017 quarter non-GAAP results exclude income tax benefit on the conclusion of tax matters related to a prior business combination.

Management uses non-GAAP gross margin, operating expense, operating income, operating margin, net income, and net income per diluted share to evaluate the Company’s operating and financial results. The Company believes the presentation of non-GAAP results is useful to investors for analyzing business trends and comparing performance to prior periods, along with enhancing investors’ ability to view the Company’s results from management’s perspective. Tables presenting reconciliations of non-GAAP results to U.S. GAAP results are included at the end of this press release and on the Company’s website at http://investor.lamresearch.com.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Statements made in this press release that are not of historical fact are forward-looking statements and are subject to the safe harbor provisions created by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements relate to, but are not limited to; the estimated future revenue from shipments to Japanese customers; our revenue, industry, performance and general outlooks, and their drivers; our future strategic relevance to customers; our vision of the Company's future; technology demand trends; the legal and business factors that may affect our future tax rate; and our guidance for shipments, revenue, gross margin, operating margin, net income or earnings per diluted share, provisional tax estimate, and diluted share count. Some factors that may affect these forward-looking statements include: business conditions in the consumer electronics industry, the semiconductor industry and the overall economy may deteriorate or change; and the actions of our customers and competitors may be inconsistent with our expectations, as well as the other risks and uncertainties that are described in the documents filed or furnished by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including specifically the Risk Factors described in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 25, 2017 and our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 24, 2017. These uncertainties and changes could materially affect the forward looking statements and cause actual results to vary from expectations in a material way. The Company undertakes no obligation to update the information or statements made in this release.

About Lam Research

Lam Research Corp. is a global supplier of innovative wafer fabrication equipment and services to the semiconductor industry. As a trusted, collaborative partner to the world’s leading semiconductor companies, we combine superior systems engineering capability, technology leadership, and unwavering commitment to customer success to accelerate innovation through enhanced device performance. In fact, today, nearly every advanced chip is built with Lam technology. Lam Research (Nasdaq:LRCX) is a FORTUNE 500® company headquartered in Fremont, Calif., with operations around the globe. Learn more at www.lamresearch.com. (LRCX-F)

Consolidated Financial Tables Follow.


LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share data and percentages)
(unaudited)

 Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
 December 24,
2017
 September 24,
2017
 December 25,
2016
 December 24,
2017
 December 25,
2016
Revenue$2,580,815  $2,478,140  $1,882,299  $5,058,955  $3,514,718 
Cost of goods sold1,375,248  1,328,797  1,035,502  2,704,045  1,951,724 
           Gross margin1,205,567  1,149,343  846,797  2,354,910  1,562,994 
           Gross margin as a percent of revenue46.7% 46.4% 45.0% 46.5% 44.5%
Research and development281,311  275,078  246,804  556,389  482,044 
Selling, general and administrative186,885  181,043  160,165  367,928  325,175 
           Total operating expenses468,196  456,121  406,969  924,317  807,219 
           Operating income737,371  693,222  439,828  1,430,593  755,775 
           Operating income as a percent of revenue28.6% 28.0% 23.4% 28.3% 21.5%
Other expense, net(3,152) (5,502) (55,023) (8,654) (78,177)
           Income before income taxes734,219  687,720  384,805  1,421,939  677,598 
Income tax expense(744,174) (97,030) (52,014) (841,204) (80,972)
           Net (loss) income$(9,955) $590,690  $332,791  $580,735  $596,626 
Net (loss) income per share:         
Basic$(0.06) $3.64  $2.05  $3.59  $3.69 
Diluted$(0.06) $3.21  $1.81  $3.16  $3.28 
Number of shares used in per share calculations:         
Basic161,135  162,141  162,659  161,638  161,633 
Diluted161,135  183,880  183,543  183,958  181,780 
Cash dividend declared per common share$0.50  $0.45  $0.45  $0.95  $0.75 


LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)

 December 24,
2017
 September 24,
2017
 June 25,
2017
 (unaudited) (unaudited) (1)
ASSETS     
Cash and cash equivalents$1,745,173  $2,406,462  $2,377,534 
Investments3,954,526  3,775,925  3,663,628 
Accounts receivable, net2,279,044  1,530,762  1,673,398 
Inventories1,507,435  1,328,297  1,232,916 
Other current assets179,944  187,334  195,022 
Total current assets9,666,122  9,228,780  9,142,498 
Property and equipment, net807,340  745,600  685,595 
Restricted cash and investments255,984  256,045  256,205 
Goodwill and intangible assets1,866,159  1,904,389  1,796,668 
Other assets316,660  263,812  241,799 
         Total assets$12,912,265  $12,398,626  $12,122,765 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY     
Current portion of debt and capital leases$1,401,660  $639,907  $908,439 
Other current liabilities2,510,035  2,148,724  2,041,676 
Total current liabilities3,911,695  2,788,631  2,950,115 
Long-term debt and capital leases1,789,958  1,793,477  1,784,974 
Income taxes payable818,880  129,611  120,178 
Other long-term liabilities118,177  278,733  280,186 
Total liabilities6,638,710  4,990,452  5,135,453 
Temporary equity, convertible notes130,424  136,996  169,861 
Stockholders’ equity (2)6,143,131  7,271,178  6,817,451 
       Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity$12,912,265  $12,398,626  $12,122,765 


(1)Derived from audited financial statements.
(2)Common shares issued and outstanding were 159,451 as of December 24, 2017, 162,144 as of September 24, 2017, and 161,723 as of June 25, 2017.


LAM RESEARCH CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands,  unaudited)

 Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
 December 24,
2017
 September 24,
2017
 December 25,
2016
 December 24,
2017
 December 25,
2016
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:         
Net (loss) income$(9,955) $590,690  $332,791  $580,735  $596,626 
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:         
Depreciation and amortization79,898  79,142  77,065  159,040  151,627 
Deferred income taxes(271,478) 43,204  34,615  (228,274) 42,248 
Equity-based compensation expense42,124  41,783  32,255  83,907  70,850 
Loss on extinguishment of debt    36,325    36,325 
Amortization of note discounts and issuance costs4,539  4,588  6,202  9,127  13,032 
Other, net(1,108) 6,569  (1,292) 5,461  15,515 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities184,684  92,330  (113,863) 277,014  (48,901)
   Net cash provided by operating activities28,704  858,306  404,098  887,010  877,322 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:         
Capital expenditures and intangible assets(84,693) (60,064) (36,513) (144,757) (78,492)
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired(84) (115,613)   (115,697)  
Net purchase of available-for-sale securities(205,701) (117,774) (1,990,928) (323,475) (1,559,178)
Transfers of restricted cash and investments61  160  465  221  (4,754)
Other, net(4,396) (10,600) (241) (14,996) (8,041)
   Net cash used for investing activities(294,813) (303,891) (2,027,217) (598,704) (1,650,465)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:         
Principal payments on long-term debt and capital lease obligations and payments for debt issuance costs(47,522) (301,727) (1,616,270) (349,249) (1,616,641)
Net proceeds from commercial paper798,947      798,947   
Proceeds from borrowings on revolving credit facility750,000      750,000   
Repayments of borrowings on revolving credit facility(750,000)     (750,000)  
Treasury stock purchases(1,111,450) (155,385) (67,668) (1,266,835) (69,522)
Dividends paid(73,127) (72,738) (48,397) (145,865) (96,449)
Reissuance of treasury stock related to employee stock purchase plan34,057      34,057  19,320 
Proceeds from issuance of common stock3,073  1,042  3,121  4,115  4,580 
Other, net  4  (44) 4  (54)
      Net cash used for financing activities(396,022) (528,804) (1,729,258) (924,826) (1,758,766)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents842  3,317  (5,364) 4,159  (3,453)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents(661,289) 28,928  (3,357,741) (632,361) (2,535,362)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period2,406,462  2,377,534  5,861,701  2,377,534  5,039,322 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period$1,745,173  $2,406,462  $2,503,960  $1,745,173  $2,503,960 


Non-GAAP Financial Summary
(in thousands, except percentages and per share data)
(unaudited)

 Three Months Ended
 December 24,
2017
 September 24,
2017
Revenue$2,580,815  $2,478,140 
Gross margin$1,227,961  $1,170,905 
Gross margin as percentage of revenue47.6% 47.2%
Operating expenses$448,667  $438,056 
Operating income$779,294  $732,849 
Operating margin as a percentage of revenue30.2% 29.6%
Net income$787,863  $627,754 
Net income per diluted share$4.34  $3.46 
Shares used in per share calculation - diluted181,655  181,412 


Reconciliation of U.S. GAAP Net (Loss) Income to Non-GAAP Net Income and U.S. GAAP number of dilutive shares to Non-GAAP number of dilutive shares
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)

 Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended
 December 24,
2017
 September 24,
2017
 June 25,
2017
 March 26,
2017
 December 24,
2017
U.S. GAAP net (loss) income$(9,955) $590,690  $526,424  $574,713  $1,681,872 
Pre-tax non-GAAP items:         
Amortization related to intangible assets acquired through certain business combinations - cost of goods sold22,394  21,562  21,250  21,250  86,456 
Amortization related to intangible assets acquired through certain business combinations - selling, general and administrative17,074  16,413  16,083  16,083  65,653 
Costs associated with business process reengineering - selling, general and administrative1,362  716  4,813  2,674  9,565 
Business combination acquisition and integration related costs - selling, general and administrative1,093  936      2,029 
Amortization of note discounts - other expense, net3,410  4,104  5,631  5,654  18,799 
Net income tax benefit on non-GAAP items(4,404) (6,114) (5,697) (6,418) (22,633)
Income tax expense associated with U.S. tax reform756,889        756,889 
Income tax benefit on conclusion of certain tax matters  (553) (2,986) (106,205) (109,744)
Non-GAAP net income$787,863  $627,754  $565,518  $507,751  $2,488,886 
Non-GAAP net income per diluted share$4.34  $3.46  $3.11  $2.80  $13.70 
GAAP net (loss) income per diluted share$(0.06) $3.21  $2.82  $3.10  $9.10 
U.S. GAAP number of shares used for per diluted share calculation161,135  183,880  186,427  185,094  184,859 
Effect of potentially dilutive securities:         
Employee stock plans2,757         
Convertible notes15,423         
Warrants4,721         
Effect of convertible note hedge(2,381) (2,468) (4,334) (3,555) (3,184)
Non-GAAP number of shares used for per diluted share calculation181,655  181,412  182,093  181,539  181,675 


Reconciliation of U.S. GAAP Gross Margin, Operating Expenses and Operating Income to Non-GAAP Gross Margin, Operating Expenses and Operating Income
(in thousands, except percentages)
(unaudited)

 Three Months Ended
 December 24,
2017
 September 24,
2017
U.S. GAAP gross margin$1,205,567  $1,149,343 
Pre-tax non-GAAP items:   
Amortization related to intangible assets acquired through certain business combinations22,394  21,562 
Non-GAAP gross margin$1,227,961  $1,170,905 
U.S. GAAP gross margin as a percentage of revenue46.7% 46.4%
Non-GAAP gross margin as a percentage of revenue47.6% 47.2%
U.S. GAAP operating expenses$468,196  $456,121 
Pre-tax non-GAAP items:   
Amortization related to intangible assets acquired through certain business combinations(17,074) (16,413)
Costs associated with business process reengineering(1,362) (716)
Business combination acquisition and integration related costs(1,093) (936)
Non-GAAP operating expenses$448,667  $438,056 
Non-GAAP operating income$779,294  $732,849 
U.S. GAAP operating margin as percent of revenue28.6% 28.0%
Non-GAAP operating margin as a percent of revenue30.2% 29.6%

Lam Research Corporation Contact:

Satya Kumar, Investor Relations, phone: 510-572-1615, e-mail: investor.relations@lamresearch.com