Business News

HP Reports First Quarter 2008 Results

Thursday 21. February 2008 - -- First quarter net revenue up 13%, or $3.4 billion, from a year earlier to $28.5 billion -- First quarter GAAP operating profit up 42% to $2.6 billion; $0.80 earnings per share, up from $0.55 a year earlier -- First quarter non-GAAP operating profit up 31% to $2.8 billion; $0.86 earnings per share, up from $0.65 a year earlier -- Cash flow from operations of $3.2 billion -- $3.3 billion of share repurchases

HP (NYSE:HPQ) today announced financial results for its first fiscal quarter ended Jan. 31, 2008, with net revenue of $28.5 billion, up 13% from a year earlier and up 8% when adjusted for the effects of currency.

In the first quarter, GAAP operating profit was $2.6 billion and GAAP diluted earnings per share (EPS) was $0.80, up from $0.55 in the prior-year period. Non-GAAP operating profit was $2.8 billion, with non-GAAP diluted EPS of $0.86 up from $0.65 in the prior-year period. Non-GAAP financial information excludes $158 million of adjustments on an after-tax basis, or $0.06 per diluted share, related primarily to amortization of purchased intangibles.

“We are raising our guidance yet again, reflecting our confidence in anticipated cost reductions and share gains in key markets,” said Mark Hurd, HP chairman and chief executive officer. “We added more than 2,000 sales positions in the past year through acquisitions and hiring. HP remains well positioned for profitable growth as we continue to focus on our numerous cost initiatives and improve our market coverage.”

Q1 FY08 Q1 FY07 Y/Y
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Net revenue ($B) $ 28.5 $ 25.1 13%
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GAAP operating margin 9.2% 7.3% 1.9 pts
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GAAP net earnings ($B) $ 2.1 $ 1.5 38%
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GAAP diluted EPS $ 0.80 $ 0.55 45%
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Non-GAAP operating margin 9.9% 8.6% 1.3 pts
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Non-GAAP net earnings ($B) $ 2.3 $ 1.8 25%
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Non-GAAP diluted EPS $ 0.86 $ 0.65 32%
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Information about HP’s use of non-GAAP financial information is provided under “Use of non-GAAP financial information” below.

Revenue in the Americas grew 8% on a year-over-year basis to $11.2 billion. Revenue grew 15% in Europe, the Middle East and Africa to $12.3 billion. Revenue grew 22% in Asia Pacific to $4.9 billion. When adjusted for the effects of currency, revenue in the Americas grew 7%, revenue in Europe, the Middle East and Africa grew 7%, and revenue in Asia Pacific grew 16%. Revenue from outside of the United States in the first quarter was 69%, with revenue in the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) growing 35% over the prior-year period and accounting for 9% of total revenue.

Personal Systems Group

Personal Systems Group (PSG) revenue grew 24% year over year to $10.8 billion, with unit shipments up 27% on a year-over-year basis. Notebook revenue for the quarter grew 37% over the prior-year period, while desktop revenue grew 15%. Commercial client revenue grew 22% year over year, while Consumer client revenue increased 29%. Operating profit was $628 million, or 5.8% of revenue, up from $414 million, or 4.7% of revenue, in the prior-year period.

Imaging and Printing Group

Imaging and Printing Group (IPG) revenue grew 4% year over year to $7.3 billion. On a year-over-year basis, supplies revenue grew 6%, Commercial hardware revenue grew 7% and Consumer hardware revenue declined 5%. Printer unit shipments increased 1% year over year, with Consumer printer hardware units down 2% and Commercial printer hardware units up 13%. Momentum in key growth initiatives continued, with solid growth in both the Graphic Arts and the Enterprise businesses. Operating profit was $1.2 billion, or 15.7% of revenue, up from $1.1 billion, or 15.3% of revenue, in the prior-year period.

Enterprise Storage and Servers

Enterprise Storage and Servers (ESS) reported revenue of $4.8 billion, up 9% over the prior-year period fueled by ESS blades, which grew 81%. On a year-over-year basis, industry-standard server revenue increased 11%. Storage revenue grew 10%, with revenue growth of 14% in the midrange EVA line. Business critical systems revenue increased 1%, with Integrity systems growth of 37% offset by declines in PA-RISC and Alpha. Operating profit was $673 million, or 14.0% of revenue, up from $453 million, or 10.2% of revenue, in the prior-year period.

HP Services

HP Services (HPS) revenue increased 11% year over year to $4.4 billion. Revenue in Outsourcing Services grew 15%, followed by Consulting and Integration and Technology Services, which grew 13% and 9%, respectively, over the prior-year period. Operating profit was $489 million, or 11.2% of revenue, up from $406 million, or 10.3% of revenue, in the prior-year period.

HP Software

HP Software revenue grew 11% over the prior-year period to $666 million, led by 19% growth in the Business Technology Optimization portfolio. Operating profit was $51 million, or 7.7% of revenue, up from $18 million, or 3.0% of revenue, in the prior-year period.

Financial Services

HP Financial Services (HPFS) reported revenue of $642 million, an increase of 17% year over year. Financing volume and net portfolio assets increased 5% and 14%, respectively, over the prior-year period. Operating margin was 6.7% of revenue, up from 5.9% in the comparable period last year.

Asset management

HP generated $3.2 billion in cash flow from operations for the quarter. Inventory ended the quarter at $7.9 billion, down 6 days over the prior year. Accounts receivable of $12.4 billion were up 2 days over the prior-year period. Accounts payable ended the quarter at $11.2 billion down 6 days from the prior-year period. HP’s dividend payment of $0.08 per share in the first quarter resulted in cash usage of $206 million. HP utilized $3.3 billion of cash during the first quarter to repurchase approximately 72 million shares of common stock from the open market. HP exited the quarter with $10.1 billion in gross cash, which includes cash and cash equivalents of $9.9 billion, short-term investments of $73 million, and certain long-term investments of $116 million.

Outlook

HP estimates Q2 FY08 revenue will be approximately $27.7 billion to $27.9 billion.

Second quarter FY08 GAAP diluted EPS is expected to be approximately $0.77 to $0.78 and non-GAAP diluted EPS is expected to be approximately $0.83 to $0.84. Second quarter FY08 non-GAAP diluted EPS estimates exclude after-tax costs of approximately $0.06 per share, related primarily to the amortization of purchased intangibles.

HP estimates FY08 revenue will be approximately $113.5 billion to $114.0 billion.

FY08 GAAP diluted EPS is expected to be in the range of $3.26 to $3.30, and FY08 non-GAAP diluted EPS is expected to be in the range of $3.50 to $3.54. FY08 non-GAAP diluted EPS estimates exclude after-tax costs of approximately $0.24 per share, related primarily to the amortization of purchased intangibles.