MaxLinear, Inc. Announces Second Quarter 2016 Financial Results

Company Delivers Second Quarter 2016 Revenue of $101.7 Million, 
Operating Cash Flow of $32.3 Million and GAAP Diluted Earnings per Share of $0.33

CARLSBAD, Calif., Aug. 08, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MaxLinear, Inc. (NYSE:MXL), a leading provider of radio frequency (RF) and mixed-signal integrated circuits for cable and satellite broadband communications, the connected home, and for data center, metro, and long-haul fiber networks, and wireless infrastructure, today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2016.

Management Commentary

“We are pleased to announce strong second quarter 2016 revenue of $101.7 million, consistent with prior guidance, representing a decrease of approximately 1 percent sequentially, and an increase of 44 percent year-over-year. The continued strength in revenues were accompanied by sequential expansion in both GAAP and non-GAAP gross margins to 61.9 percent and 63.8 percent, respectively. There was sequential expansion in both GAAP and non-GAAP operating margins to 22 percent and 34 percent, respectively. We had another strong quarter of operating cash flow, one in which we generated approximately $32.3 million. The strong financial results were achieved through a combination of continued tight operating expense management, sustained momentum in the ramp of our high-speed optical interconnect solutions and stronger than expected seasonal strength in our cable CPE markets. These positive revenue growth drivers were offset by anticipated softness in our legacy video SoC shipments and softness in satellite analog channel stacking outdoor units,” commented Kishore Seendripu, Ph.D., Chairman and CEO.

“With the completion of the acquisitions on April 28, 2016 and July 1, 2016 of Microsemi Corporation’s wireless infrastructure access line business and Broadcom’s wireless infrastructure backhaul business, we are excited by the increasing scale and diversification of our strategic wireless infrastructure footprint. We are not only aggressively increasing our analog and mixed-signal content in our broadband access and connectivity platforms addressing broadband service provider markets, but we are also accelerating our expansion into the large wired and wireless infrastructure markets,” continued Kishore Seendripu, Ph.D., Chairman and CEO.

Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) Results

Net revenue for the second quarter 2016 was $101.7 million, a decrease of 1 percent compared to the first quarter 2016, and an increase of 44 percent compared to the second quarter 2015. Gross margin for the second quarter 2016 was 61.9 percent of revenue, compared to 59.6 percent for the first quarter 2016, and 38.0 percent for the second quarter 2015.

Operating expenses were $40.5 million, $39.5 million and $59.0 million for the second quarter 2016, first quarter 2016 and second quarter 2015, respectively.  Operating expenses increased 3 percent compared to the first quarter 2016, and decreased 31 percent compared to the second quarter 2015. Operating expenses as a percentage of revenue were 40 percent for the second quarter 2016, 38 percent for the first quarter 2016 and 83 percent for the second quarter 2015.  Operating margins were 22 percent, 21 percent and (45) percent for the second quarter 2016, first quarter 2016 and second quarter 2015, respectively.

Net income for the second quarter 2016 was $22.6 million, or $0.33 per share (diluted). These results compare to net income of $20.7 million, or $0.31 per share (diluted), for the first quarter 2016, and net loss of $30.6 million, or net loss of $0.58 per share (diluted), for the second quarter 2015.  

Gross margin, operating margin and net loss for the second quarter 2015 includes a non-recurring charge of $13.3 million for amortization of step-up of inventory to fair value related to our acquisition of Entropic in April 2015.

Cash flow provided by operations for the second quarter 2016 totaled $32.3 million, compared to cash provided by operations of $39.0 million for the first quarter 2016, and cash provided by operations of $4.6 million for the second quarter 2015.  The $6.6 million sequential quarterly decrease in cash flow provided by operations is primarily attributable to greater revenue linearity in the current quarter versus the prior quarter.

Cash, cash equivalents and investments totaled $176.5 million at June 30, 2016, compared to $166.8 million at March 31, 2016, and $82.1 million at June 30, 2015.  The $176.5 million at June 30, 2016 reflects $21.0 million of cash paid for our acquisition of wireless infrastructure access line business in April 2016.

Non-GAAP Results

Non-GAAP gross margin for the second quarter 2016 was 63.8 percent of revenue, compared to 61.3 percent for the first quarter 2016, and 58.4 percent for the second quarter 2015.

Non-GAAP operating expenses were $30.6 million, $29.4 million and $29.3 million for the second quarter 2016, first quarter 2016 and second quarter 2015, respectively. Non-GAAP operating expenses increased 4 percent when compared to the first quarter 2016, and increased 4 percent when compared to second quarter 2015. Non-GAAP operating expenses as a percentage of revenue were 30 percent, 29 percent and 41 percent for the second quarter 2016, first quarter 2016 and second quarter 2015, respectively. Non-GAAP operating margins were 34 percent, 33 percent and 17 percent for the second quarter 2016, first quarter 2016 and second quarter 2015, respectively.

Non-GAAP net income for the second quarter 2016 was $33.9 million, or $0.50 per share (diluted), compared to $32.7 million, or $0.49 per share (diluted), for the first quarter 2016, and $11.9 million, or $0.22 per share (diluted), for the second quarter 2015.

Third Quarter 2016 Revenue and Gross Margin Guidance

We expect revenue in the third quarter 2016 to be between $94 million and $98 million, GAAP gross margin to be approximately 58.5 percent to 60 percent of revenue, and non-GAAP gross margin to be 63 percent to 64 percent of revenue. Our estimates of forward-looking non-GAAP gross margins exclude estimates for stock-based compensation expense, bonus accruals, acquisition related expenses, and restructuring changes, each of which is described in more detail below under the caption “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”  The timing and amounts of these material amounts needed to estimate non-GAAP financial measures are inherently unpredictable or outside our control to predict.  Accordingly, we cannot provide a quantitative reconciliation of non-GAAP gross margin without unreasonable effort.  Material changes to any of these items could have a significant effect on our guidance and future GAAP results.

Conference Call Details

MaxLinear will host its second quarter financial results conference call today, August 8, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time (4:30 p.m. Eastern Time). To access this call, dial US toll free: 1-855-629-3857 / International: 1-661-378-9892 with conference ID: 50359443. A live webcast of the conference call will be accessible from the investor relations section of the MaxLinear website at http://investors.maxlinear.com, and will be archived and available after the call at http://investors.maxlinear.com until August 22, 2016. A replay of the conference call will also be available until August 22, 2016 by dialing toll free: 1-855-859-2056 and referencing passcode: 50359443.

Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements concerning our future financial performance (including our current guidance for third quarter 2016 revenue and gross margin). These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current, preliminary expectations and are subject to various risks and uncertainties. The closing of recent acquisitions of wireless infrastructure assets from Microsemi and Broadcom present particular risks associated with our ability to integrate the acquired businesses, and maintain relationships with employees, customers, and vendors.  In addition, our current expectations with respect to the size of the available market and growth opportunities in future years are subject to substantial management assumptions that are themselves subject to material risks and uncertainties.   Additional risks and uncertainties that could affect our assumptions and expectations with respect to the completed acquisitions that also generally affect our business, operating results, financial condition, and stock price, include, intense competition in our industry; our dependence on a limited number of customers for a substantial portion of our revenues; uncertainties concerning how end user markets for our products will develop; potential uncertainties arising from continued consolidation among cable television and satellite operators in our target markets and continued consolidation among competitors within the semiconductor industry generally; our ability to develop and introduce new and enhanced products on a timely basis and achieve market acceptance of those products, particularly as we seek to expand outside of our historic markets; potential decreases in average selling prices for our products; risks relating to intellectual property protection and the prevalence of intellectual property litigation in our industry, including pending litigation against us by a third party in the United States District Court in Delaware; our reliance on a limited number of third party manufacturers; and our lack of long-term supply contracts and dependence on limited sources of supply. In addition to these risks and uncertainties, investors should review the risks and uncertainties contained in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 as amended by Amendment No. 1 filed with the SEC on April 28, 2016; our subsequent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2016 and for the quarter ended June 30, 2016, which expect to file shortly; and our Current Reports on Form 8-K. In addition, when available, investors should review the information to be set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” in MaxLinear’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. All forward-looking statements are based on the estimates, projections and assumptions of management as of August 8, 2016, and MaxLinear is under no obligation (and expressly disclaims any such obligation) to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement our unaudited consolidated financial statements presented on a basis consistent with GAAP, we disclose certain non-GAAP financial measures, including non-GAAP net income, gross margin, operating expenses, operating expenses as a percentage of revenue, operating margins and earnings per share. These supplemental measures exclude the effects of (i) stock-based compensation expense and its related tax effect, if any; (ii) an accrual related to our performance based bonus plan for 2016, which we currently intend to settle in shares of our class A common stock; (iii) an accrual related to our performance based bonus plan for 2015, which we settled in shares of our class A common stock in 2015 and 2016; (iv) an accrual related to our performance based bonus plan for 2014, which we settled in stock in May 2015; (v) amortization of purchased intangible assets; (vi)  severance charges related to our acquisition of Entropic in 2015; (vii) restricted merger proceeds and contingent consideration and incentive award; (viii) acquisition and integration costs related to our recently completed acquisitions; (ix) professional fees and settlement costs related to our previously disclosed IP litigation matters; (x) restructuring charges related to our acquisition of Entropic; and (xi) release of valuation allowance due to net deferred tax liability acquired. These non-GAAP measures are not in accordance with and do not serve as an alternative for GAAP. We believe that these non-GAAP measures have limitations in that they do not reflect all of the amounts associated with our GAAP results of operations. These non-GAAP measures should only be viewed in conjunction with corresponding GAAP measures. We compensate for the limitations of non-GAAP financial measures by relying upon GAAP results to gain a complete picture of our performance.

We believe that non-GAAP financial measures can provide useful information to both management and investors by excluding certain non-cash and other one-time expenses that are not indicative of our core operating results. Among other uses, our management uses non-GAAP measures to compare our performance relative to forecasts and strategic plans and to benchmark our performance externally against competitors. In addition, management’s incentive compensation will be determined in part using these non-GAAP measures because we believe non-GAAP measures better reflect our core operating performance.

The following are explanations of each type of adjustment that we incorporate into non-GAAP financial measures:

Stock-based compensation expense relates to equity incentive awards granted to our employees, directors, and consultants. Our equity incentive plans are important components of our employee incentive compensation arrangements and are reflected as expenses in our GAAP results. Stock-based compensation expense has been and will continue to be a significant recurring expense for MaxLinear.

Bonuses under our executive and non-executive bonus programs have been excluded from our non-GAAP net income for all periods reported. Bonus payments for the first and second half of the 2015 performance periods were settled through the issuance of shares of Class A common stock under our equity incentive plans in August 2015 and May 2016, and we currently expect that bonus payments under our 2016 programs for the first half of 2016 will also be settled in Class A common stock in August 2016. While we include the dilutive impact of equity awards in weighted average shares outstanding, the expense associated with stock-based awards reflects a non-cash charge that we exclude from non-GAAP net income.

Restricted stock units granted under our equity incentive plan to Physpeed continuing employees if certain 2015 and 2016 revenue targets are met contingent upon continued employment reflect a non-cash charge that we exclude from non-GAAP net income.

Expenses incurred in relation to acquisitions include amortization of purchased intangible assets, acquisition and integration costs primarily consisting of professional and consulting fees, restricted merger proceeds which represent merger proceeds held back from the former principal shareholders of Physpeed which will be paid on a quarterly basis through October 31, 2016 and the change in fair value of contingent consideration.

Restructuring charges incurred are related to our restructuring plan which addresses issues primarily relating to the integration of the Company and Entropic businesses. Severance charges incurred relate primarily to our exit of research and development activities in Shanghai, China, and other non-recurring charges related to the termination of employees and transitional employees from the Entropic acquisition in 2015.

Expenses incurred in relation to our intellectual property litigation include professional fees incurred.

The acquisitions of Entropic and Physpeed resulted in a net deferred tax liability, which led to the release of valuation allowance and a benefit (provision) for income taxes.

The tax impact of total non-GAAP measures at the effective tax rate that would be in effect considering the non-GAAP measures is included in non-GAAP income tax expense and non-GAAP net income.  The amounts presented for non-GAAP income tax expense, non-GAAP net income, and non-GAAP basic and diluted earnings per share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015 and for the three months ended March 31, 2016 have been adjusted to conform with current period presentation.

Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures for the historic periods disclosed in this press release appear below. Because of the inherent uncertainty associated with our ability to project future charges, particularly related to stock-based compensation and its related tax effects as well as potential impairments, we have not provided a reconciliation for non-GAAP guidance provided for the third quarter 2016.

About MaxLinear, Inc.

MaxLinear, Inc. (NYSE:MXL) is a leading provider of radio frequency (RF) and mixed-signal integrated circuits for cable and satellite broadband communications, the connected home, data center, metro, long-haul fiber networks, and wireless infrastructure markets.  MaxLinear is headquartered in Carlsbad, California. For more information, please visit www.maxlinear.com.

MXL is MaxLinear’s registered trademark. Other trademarks appearing herein are the property of their respective owners.

⁽¹⁾ We adopted ASU No. 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting in the second quarter of 2016, and included excess tax benefits in the provision for income taxes instead of in additional paid-in capital. As a result, when computing diluted EPS using the treasury stock method, fewer hypothetical shares can be repurchased resulting in a greater number of incremental shares being issued upon the exercise of share-based payment awards. The impact of adoption for the three months ended June 30, 2016 was a reduction to the provision for income taxes and increase to net income of $3.5 million and increase to basic earnings per share of $0.06 and diluted earnings per share of $0.04.  Diluted earnings per share for the three months ended June 30, 2016 was also impacted by an increase of 910,000 shares in the number of incremental shares used in computing diluted EPS.

⁽²⁾ The adoption of ASU No. 2016-09 also resulted in the following changes to previously reported amounts for the three months ended March 31, 2016:

⁽³⁾ Includes two months of Entropic operations.

⁽¹⁾ We adopted ASU No. 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting in the second quarter of 2016, and included excess tax benefits in the provision for income taxes instead of additional paid-in capital.  As a result, when computing diluted EPS using the treasury stock method, fewer hypothetical shares can be repurchased resulting in a greater number of incremental shares being issued upon the exercise of share-based payment awards. The impact of adoption for the six months ended June 30, 2016 was a reduction to the provision for income taxes and increase to net income of $5.1 million and increase to basic earnings per share of $0.08 and diluted earnings per share of $0.06.  Diluted earnings per share for the six months ended June 30, 2016 was also impacted by an increase of 868,000 shares in the number of incremental shares used in computing diluted EPS.

⁽²⁾ Includes two months of Entropic operations.

⁽¹⁾ Includes two months of Entropic cash flows.