Cree Reports Record Quarterly Revenue for the First Quarter of Fiscal Year 2010

Quarterly Revenue Increased 20% Year-Over-Year to $169 Million


DURHAM, N.C., Oct. 20, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cree, Inc. (Nasdaq:CREE), a market leader in LED lighting, today announced record revenue of $169.1 million for its first quarter of fiscal 2010, ended September 27, 2009. This represents a 20% increase compared to revenue of $140.4 million reported for the first fiscal quarter last year and a 14% increase compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009. GAAP net income for the first quarter increased 255% year-over-year to $21.0 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, compared to GAAP net income of $5.9 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2009. On a non-GAAP basis, net income for the first quarter of fiscal 2010 increased 107% year-over-year to $27.4 million, or $0.30 per diluted share, compared to non-GAAP net income for the first quarter of fiscal 2009 of $13.2 million or $0.15 per diluted share. Cree generated $61.2 million of operating cash flow and $40.8 million of free cash flow (cash flow from operations less capital expenditures) during the first quarter.

"We got off to a very good start in Q1, as both revenue and profits exceeded our targets," stated Chuck Swoboda, Cree Chairman and CEO. "We are benefitting from continued LED lighting adoption and high factory utilization and are well positioned for solid growth in Q2. As a result of the recent equity offering, we have the balance sheet to invest in the growth of our business as we look to continue to lead the LED lighting revolution."

Q1 2010 Financial Metrics:



 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       First Quarter
                                      (in thousands,
                                        except per
                                       share amounts)

                                      2010      2009         Change
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
   Net revenue                      $169,130  $140,378  $28,752    20%
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 GAAP
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
   Gross Margin                        43.6%     35.2%
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
   Operating Margin                    15.8%      3.4%
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
   Net Income                       $ 21,026  $  5,919  $15,107   255%
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
   Earnings per diluted share       $   0.23  $   0.07  $  0.16   229%
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 Non-GAAP
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
   Gross Margin                        44.1%     36.1%
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
   Operating Margin                    20.9%     10.1%
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
   Net Income                       $ 27,432  $ 13,249  $14,183   107%
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
   Earnings per diluted share       $   0.30  $   0.15  $  0.15   100%
 ---------------------------------------------------------------------


 -- Cash and investments increased $441.2 million to $888.5 million,
    with cash flow from operations of $61.2 million and free cash
    flow of $40.8 million.

 -- Accounts receivable (net) decreased $10.0 million from Q4 of
    fiscal 2009 to $93.1 million, resulting in days sales
    outstanding of 50, a decrease of 13 days from Q4 of fiscal 2009.

 -- Inventory (net) increased $7.1 million from Q4 of fiscal 2009
    to $86.0 million and represents 81 days of inventory, an
    increase of 2 days from Q4 of fiscal 2009.

Recent Business Highlights:



 -- Lighting for Tomorrow Grand Prize Winner with the LR6-DR1000
    recessed downlight.

 -- Released the XLamp(R) XP-G, the industry's brightest and
    highest-efficiency lighting-class LED.

 -- Announced that Cree offers the most lighting-class LEDs for
    designing Energy Star(R) -compliant LED fixtures.

 -- Completed a common stock offering of 12.65 million shares with
    net proceeds of $434.2 million.

 -- Announced plans to add 575 green jobs in North Carolina by the
    end of 2012.

Business Outlook:

For its second quarter of fiscal 2010 ending December 27, 2009, Cree targets revenue in a range of $180 million to $190 million with GAAP net income of $21 million to $23 million, or $0.20 to $0.22 per diluted share. Non-GAAP net income is targeted to increase quarter-over-quarter to $29 million to $32 million, or $0.28 to $0.30 per diluted share, based on an estimated 105 million diluted weighted average shares, which includes 12.65 million shares issued in our recent equity offering. Targeted non-GAAP earnings exclude expenses related to the amortization of acquired intangibles of $0.02 per diluted share, and stock-based compensation expense of $0.06 per diluted share.

Quarterly Conference Call:

Cree will host a conference call at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time today to review the highlights of the fiscal first quarter 2010 results and the fiscal second quarter 2010 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 3, 2009.

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 27, 2009," 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, and semiconductor solutions for backlighting, wireless and power applications.

Cree's product families include LED fixtures and bulbs, blue and green LED chips, high-brightness LEDs, lighting-class power LEDs, power-switching devices and radio-frequency/wireless devices. Cree solutions are driving improvements in applications such as general illumination, 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

Non-GAAP Financial Measures:

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 which 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.

Forward Looking Statements:

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 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; ongoing uncertainty in global economic conditions that could negatively affect product demand, collectability of receivables and other related matters as consumers and businesses may defer purchases or payments, or default on payments, 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; increasing price competition in key markets; 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 28, 2009, 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 and XLamp are registered trademarks of Cree, Inc. Energy Star is a registered trademark of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.



                               CREE, INC.
              CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                 (in thousands, except per share data)

                                               Three Months Ended
                                           --------------------------
                                          September 27,  September 28,
                                               2009          2008
                                           -----------    -----------
                                                   (Unaudited)

 Revenue, net                              $   169,130    $   140,378

 Cost of revenue, net                           95,352         91,015
                                           -----------    -----------
 Gross profit                                   73,778         49,363
 Gross margin percentage                          43.6%          35.2%

 Operating expenses:
 Research and development                       20,174         17,275
 Sales, general and administrative              23,613         22,918
 Amortization of acquisition related
  intangibles                                    3,045          4,062
 Loss on disposal or impairment of
  long-lived assets                                293            405
                                           -----------    -----------
 Total operating expenses                       47,125         44,660

 Operating income                               26,653          4,703
 Operating income percentage                      15.8%           3.4%

 Non-operating income:
 Gain on sale of investments, net                   --             12
 Interest and other non-operating
  income, net                                    1,761          2,958
                                           -----------    -----------
 Income from operations before
  income taxes                                  28,414          7,673

 Income tax expense                              7,388          1,754
                                           -----------    -----------
 Net income                                $    21,026    $     5,919
                                           ===========    ===========

 Diluted earnings per share:
 Net income                                $      0.23    $      0.07
                                           ===========    ===========

 Weighted average shares of common
  stock outstanding, diluted                    92,730         88,732
                                           ===========    ===========


                             CREE, INC.
                 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                           (in thousands)


                                           September 27,    June 28,
                                              2009            2009
                                           -----------    -----------
                                           (Unaudited)

 Assets:
 Current assets:
 Cash, cash equivalents and short
  term investments                         $   868,277    $   417,653
 Accounts receivable, net                       93,059        103,035
 Inventory, net                                 85,990         78,841
 Income taxes receivable                         1,526          1,526
 Deferred income taxes                          10,007         10,022
 Prepaid expenses and other
  current assets                                19,599         18,359
                                           -----------    -----------
 Total current assets                        1,078,458        629,436

 Property and equipment, net                   333,576        320,110
 Long-term investments                          20,170         29,557
 Intangible assets, net                        111,315        113,328
 Goodwill                                      304,791        304,791
 Other assets                                    5,925          7,345
                                           -----------    -----------
 Total assets                              $ 1,854,235    $ 1,404,567
                                           ===========    ===========

 Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity:
 Current liabilities:
 Accounts payable, trade                   $    55,177    $    38,770
 Accrued salaries and wages                     20,662         16,732
 Income taxes payable                            9,559          8,139
 Deferred income taxes                             379            122
 Other current liabilities                       8,580          7,868
 Contingent payment due related to
  COTCO acquisition                                 --         57,050
                                           -----------    -----------
 Total current liabilities                      94,357        128,681

 Long-term liabilities:
 Deferred income taxes                          42,737         42,752
 Other long-term liabilities                     8,386          8,386
                                           -----------    -----------
 Total long-term liabilities                    51,123         51,138

 Shareholders' Equity:
 Common stock                                      129            112
 Additional paid-in-capital                  1,319,962        857,383
 Accumulated other comprehensive
  income, net of taxes                          11,621         11,236
 Retained earnings                             377,043        356,017
                                           -----------    -----------
 Total shareholders' equity                  1,708,755      1,224,748
                                           -----------    -----------
 Total liabilities and shareholders'
  equity                                   $ 1,854,235    $ 1,404,567
                                           ===========    ===========


                                  Cree, Inc.
                  Non-GAAP Measures of Financial Performance

To supplement the company's consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, Cree uses non-GAAP measures of certain components of financial performance. These non-GAAP measures include non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP earnings per diluted share, non-GAAP gross margin, and free cash flow.

Reconciliation to the nearest GAAP measure of all non-GAAP measures included in this press release can be found in the tables included with this press release.

These non-GAAP measures are not in accordance with or an alternative to measures prepared in accordance with GAAP and may be different from non-GAAP measures used by other companies. In addition, these non-GAAP measures are not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles. Non-GAAP measures have limitations in that they do not reflect all of the amounts associated with Cree's results of operations as determined in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP measures should only be used to evaluate Cree's results of operations in conjunction with the corresponding GAAP measures.

Cree believes that these non-GAAP measures, when shown in conjunction with the corresponding GAAP measures, enhance investors' and management's overall understanding of the company's current financial performance and the company's prospects for the future, including cash flows available to pursue opportunities to enhance shareholder value. In addition, because Cree has historically reported certain non-GAAP results to investors, the company believes the inclusion of non-GAAP measures provides consistency in the company's financial reporting.

For its internal budgeting process, and as discussed further below, Cree's management uses financial statements that do not include stock-based compensation expense or amortization or impairment of acquired intangible assets, and the income taxes associated with the foregoing. Cree's management also uses non-GAAP measures, in addition to the corresponding GAAP measures, in reviewing the company's financial results.

As described above, Cree excludes the following items from one or more of its non-GAAP measures when applicable:

Stock-based compensation expense. This expense consists of expenses for stock options, restricted stock and employee stock purchases through its ESPP. Cree excludes stock-based compensation expenses from its non-GAAP measures primarily because they are non-cash expenses that Cree does not believe are reflective of ongoing operating results.

Amortization or impairment of acquired intangible assets. Cree incurs amortization or impairments of acquired intangible assets in connection with acquisitions. Cree excludes these items because they arise from Cree's prior acquisitions and have no direct correlation to the current operating results of Cree's business.

Income tax effects of the foregoing non-GAAP items. This amount is used to present each of the amounts described above on an after-tax basis consistent with the presentation of non-GAAP net income.

Cree expects to incur stock-based compensation expense and amortization of acquired intangible assets in future periods, including income taxes associated with all of the foregoing.

In addition to the non-GAAP measures discussed above, Cree also uses free cash flow as a measure of operating performance. Free cash flow represents operating cash flows less net purchases of property and equipment. Cree considers free cash flow to be a liquidity measure that provides useful information to management and investors about the amount of cash generated by the business after the purchases of property and equipment, which can then be used to, among other things, invest in Cree's business, make strategic acquisitions, strengthen the balance sheet and repurchase stock. A limitation of the utility of free cash flow as a measure of financial performance is that it does not represent the total increase or decrease in the company's cash balance for the period.



                             CREE, INC.
            Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures
              (in thousands, except per share amounts)
                            (Unaudited)

                                               Three Months Ended
                                           --------------------------
                                          September 27,  September 28,
                                              2009           2008
                                           -----------    -----------

 GAAP Gross Profit                         $    73,778    $    49,363
 GAAP Gross Margin                                43.6%          35.2%
   Adjustment:
     Stock-based compensation expense              825          1,302
                                           -----------    -----------
 Non-GAAP Gross Profit                     $    74,603    $    50,665
 Non-GAAP Gross Margin                            44.1%          36.1%

                                               Three Months Ended
                                           --------------------------
                                          September 27,  September 28,
                                              2009            2008
                                           -----------    -----------

 GAAP operating income                     $    26,653    $     4,703
 GAAP operating income percentage                 15.8%           3.4%
   Adjustments:
     Stock-based compensation expense            5,612          5,433
     Amortization of acquisition-related
      intangible assets                          3,045          4,062
                                           -----------    -----------
     Total adjustments to GAAP operating
      income                                     8,657          9,495
                                           -----------    -----------
 Non-GAAP operating income                      35,310         14,198
 Non-GAAP operating income percentage            20.9%          10.1%

                                               Three Months Ended
                                           --------------------------
                                          September 27,  September 28,
                                              2009           2008
                                           -----------    -----------

 GAAP net income                           $    21,026    $     5,919
   Adjustments:
     Stock-based compensation expense            5,612          5,433
     Amortization of acquisition-related
      intangible assets                          3,045          4,062
                                           -----------    -----------
     Total adjustments to GAAP income
      before provision for income taxes          8,657          9,495
                                           -----------    -----------
     Income tax effect                          (2,251)        (2,165)
                                           -----------    -----------
 Non-GAAP net income                            27,432         13,249
 Diluted net income per share:
 GAAP net income                           $      0.23    $      0.07
                                           -----------    -----------
 Non-GAAP                                  $      0.30    $      0.15
                                           -----------    -----------
 Shares used in diluted net income
  per share calculation:

 GAAP net income                                92,730         88,732
                                           -----------    -----------
 Non-GAAP                                       92,730         88,732
                                           -----------    -----------

                                                Three Months Ended
                                           --------------------------
                                          September 27,  September 28,
                                              2009            2008
                                           -----------    -----------
 Free Cash Flows
     Cash flow from operations             $    61,188    $    43,951
     Less:  PP&E CapEx spending                 20,389         13,700
                                           -----------    -----------
 Total Free Cash Flows                     $    40,799    $    30,251
                                           -----------    -----------


                            CREE, INC.
                 Additional Financial Information
                          (in thousands)
                           (Unaudited)

                                               Three Months Ended
                                           --------------------------
                                          September 27,  September 28,
                                              2009           2008
                                           -----------    -----------
 Stock-Based Compensation Expense
     Cost of sales                         $       825    $     1,302

     Research and development                    1,264          1,446
     Sales, general and administrative           3,523          2,685
                                           -----------    -----------
     Total stock-based compensation in
      operating expense                          4,787          4,131
                                           -----------    -----------
 Total Stock-Based Compensation Expense    $     5,612    $     5,433
                                           -----------    -----------


                                           -----------    -----------
                                          September 27,     June 28,
                                              2009           2009
                                           -----------    -----------
 Cash, Cash Equivalents and Investments
     Cash and cash equivalents             $   695,991    $   290,154
     Short term investments                    172,286        127,499
     Long term investments                      20,170         29,557
                                           -----------    -----------
 Total Cash, Cash Equivalents and
  Investments                              $   888,447    $   447,210
                                           -----------    -----------

            

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