Business News

HP Reports Fourth Quarter 2009 Results

Tuesday 24. November 2009 - Fourth quarter GAAP diluted EPS of $0.99, up 18% from $0.84 a year earlier; Fourth quarter Non-GAAP diluted EPS of $1.14, up 11% from $1.03 a year earlier; Fourth quarter net revenue of $30.8 billion, down 8% or down 5% in constant currency from the prior year; up 12% sequentially ; Fiscal 2009 net revenue of $114.6 billion, down 3% or up 1% in constant currency; Services margins up nearly 5 points with significant growth in signings; HP claims top spot in U.S. enterprise PC market with double-digit Y/Y share gains; China fourth quarter revenue up more than 20%

HP (NYSE: HPQ) today announced financial results for its fourth fiscal quarter ended Oct. 31, 2009, with net revenue of $30.8 billion, down 8% from a year earlier and down 5% when adjusted for the effects of currency.

In the fourth quarter, GAAP diluted net earnings per share (EPS) were $0.99, compared with $0.84 in the prior-year period. Non-GAAP EPS were $1.14, compared with $1.03 in the prior-year period. Non-GAAP financial information excludes after-tax costs related primarily to the amortization of purchased intangibles, restructuring charges and acquisition-related charges of approximately $0.15 per share and $0.19 per share in the fourth fiscal quarter of 2009 and 2008, respectively.

“HP’s solid performance in Services drove record profit, and the accelerated pace in signings creates strong momentum going into 2010,” said Mark Hurd, chairman and chief executive officer, HP. “Our operational execution and improving cost structure generated strong quarterly and year-end results. We expect to outperform the market due to our significant scale, broad portfolio and market-leading position.”

Q4 FY09 Q4 FY08 Y/Y FY09 FY08 Y/Y
Net revenue ($B) $ 30.8 $ 33.6 -8% $ 114.6 $ 118.4 -3%
GAAP operating margin 10.2% 8.2% 2.0 pts 8.8% 8.8% 0.0 pts
GAAP net earnings ($B) $ 2.4 $ 2.1 14% $ 7.7 $ 8.3 -8%
GAAP diluted EPS $ 0.99 $ 0.84 18% $ 3.14 $ 3.25 -3%
Non-GAAP operating margin 11.8% 10.1% 1.7 pts 11.0% 10.0% 1.0 pts
Non-GAAP net earnings ($B) $ 2.8 $ 2.6 7% $ 9.4 $ 9.3 1%
Non-GAAP diluted EPS $ 1.14 $ 1.03 11% $ 3.85 $ 3.62 6%
Information about HP’s use of non-GAAP financial information is provided under “Use of non-GAAP financial information” below.

Full Year Fiscal 2009

Net revenue for the full fiscal year 2009 was $114.6 billion, down 3% compared with the prior-year period or up 1% when adjusted for the effects of currency. GAAP operating profit was $10.1 billion and GAAP diluted EPS was $3.14, down from $3.25 in the prior year. Non-GAAP operating profit was $12.6 billion, and non-GAAP diluted EPS was $3.85, up from $3.62 in the prior-year period. Non-GAAP financial information excludes $1.7 billion of adjustments on an after-tax basis, or $0.71 per diluted share, related to the amortization of purchased intangible assets, restructuring charges, acquisition-related charges and in-process research and development charges.

“Relentless focus on driving efficiencies across the business has given HP a significant competitive advantage,” said Cathie Lesjak, executive vice president and chief financial officer, HP. “Our skill in executing strong acquisitions and integrating them seamlessly improves the value of our portfolio, strengthens the business and contributes to our ability to expand in key growth markets in the future.”

Fourth quarter revenue declined 3% in the Americas to $13.6 billion. Revenue was down 17% in Europe, the Middle East and Africa and 1% in Asia Pacific to $11.7 billion and $5.4 billion, respectively. When adjusted for the effects of currency, revenue was down 1% in the Americas while declining 10% in Europe, the Middle East and Africa and 1% in Asia Pacific versus the prior-year period. Revenue from outside of the United States in the fourth quarter accounted for 64% of total revenue, with revenue in the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) declining 4% over the prior-year period while accounting for 10% of total HP revenue. China revenue increased more than 20% from the prior year.

Services

Services revenue increased 8% to $8.9 billion. Infrastructure Technology Outsourcing reported revenue of $4.1 billion while Technology Services, Application Services and Business Process Outsourcing posted revenue of $2.5 billion, $1.5 billion and $778 million, respectively. Operating profit was $1.4 billion, or 16.2% of revenue, up from $945 million, or 11.4% of revenue, in the prior-year period. With the EDS integration tracking ahead of plan, services ended the fiscal year with strong momentum in signings and a significant number of new logo wins.

Enterprise Storage and Servers

Enterprise Storage and Servers (ESS) reported total revenue of $4.2 billion, down 17%. Storage revenue declined 20% with the midrange EVA product line down 23%. Industry Standard Server revenue declined 10% and Business Critical Systems revenue declined 33%, while ESS blade revenue was down 8%. Operating profit was $481 million, or 11.4% of revenue, down from $705 million, or 13.9% of revenue, in the prior-year period.

HP Software

HP Software revenue declined 16% to $967 million. Business Technology Optimization revenue declined 16% and Other Software revenue declined 15% over the prior-year period. Operating profit was $234 million, or 24.2% of revenue, up from $211 million, or 18.4% of revenue, in the prior-year period.

Personal Systems Group

Personal Systems Group (PSG) posted an increase of unit shipments of 8% and maintained the leading market share position in PCs worldwide. PSG revenue declined 12% to $9.9 billion. Notebook revenue for the quarter was down 8%, while Desktop revenue declined 16%. Commercial client revenue was down 15%, while Consumer client revenue decreased 8%. Operating profit was $460 million, or 4.7% of revenue, down from $616 million, or 5.5% of revenue, in the prior-year period.

Imaging and Printing Group

Imaging and Printing Group (IPG) revenue declined 15% to $6.5 billion. Supplies revenue was down 8% while Commercial hardware revenue and Consumer hardware revenue declined 32% and 17%, respectively. Printer unit shipments decreased 20%, with Commercial printer hardware units down 38% and Consumer printer hardware units down 14%. Operating profit was $1.2 billion, or 18.1% of revenue, versus $1.2 billion, or 15.3% of revenue, in the prior-year period.

HP Financial Services

HP Financial Services (HPFS) reported revenue of $726 million, up 5% from the prior-year period. Financing volume increased 6%, and net portfolio assets increased 21%. Operating margin was 9.1% of revenue, up from 7.4% in the prior-year period.

Asset management

HP generated $3.4 billion in cash flow from operations for the fourth quarter. Inventory ended the quarter at $6.1 billion, down 4 days. Accounts receivable of $16.5 billion was up 3 days. Accounts payable ended the quarter at $14.8 billion, up 5 days. HP’s dividend payment of $0.08 per share in the fourth quarter resulted in cash usage of $190 million. HP utilized $2.1 billion of cash during the fourth quarter to repurchase approximately 46 million shares of common stock in the open market. HP exited the quarter with $13.4 billion in gross cash.

Outlook

For the first fiscal quarter of 2010, HP estimates revenue of approximately $29.6 billion to $29.9 billion, GAAP diluted EPS in the range of $0.90 to $0.92, and non-GAAP diluted EPS in the range of $1.03 to $1.05. First fiscal quarter 2010 non-GAAP diluted EPS estimates exclude after-tax costs of approximately $0.13 per share, related primarily to the amortization of purchased intangibles, restructuring charges and acquisition-related charges.

HP estimates full fiscal year 2010 revenue will be approximately $118.0 billion to $119.0 billion, up from its previous estimate of $117.0 billion to $118.0 billion. Full fiscal year 2010 GAAP diluted EPS is expected to be in the range of $3.65 to $3.75, up from its previous estimate of $3.60 to $3.70, and non-GAAP diluted EPS is expected to be in the range of $4.25 to $4.35, up from its previous estimate of $4.20 to $4.30. Full fiscal year 2010 non-GAAP diluted EPS estimates exclude after-tax costs of approximately $0.60 per share, related primarily to the amortization of purchased intangibles, restructuring charges and acquisition-related charges. These estimates for both the first fiscal quarter and full fiscal year of 2010 do not reflect the potential impact of the acquisition of 3Com Corporation that HP announced on Nov. 11, 2009.

Adoption of new accounting pronouncements

In the fourth quarter, HP early adopted two recently released accounting standards related to revenue recognition, Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2009-13 and ASU No. 2009-14 for transactions originating or materially modified in fiscal 2009. These accounting changes generally result in earlier revenue recognition than under previous guidance for certain deliverables in multiple-element arrangements. HP adopted these standards as of the beginning of fiscal 2009; therefore the previously reported quarterly results have been restated to reflect the impact of adoption.

Use of non-GAAP financial information

To supplement HP’s consolidated condensed financial statements presented on a GAAP basis, HP provides non-GAAP operating profit, non-GAAP operating margin, non-GAAP net earnings, non-GAAP diluted earnings per share and gross cash. HP also provides forecasts of non-GAAP diluted earnings per share. A reconciliation of the adjustments to GAAP results for this quarter and prior periods is included in the tables below. In addition, an explanation of the ways in which HP management uses these non-GAAP measures to evaluate its business, the substance behind HP management’s decision to use these non-GAAP measures, the material limitations associated with the use of these non-GAAP measures, the manner in which HP management compensates for those limitations, and the substantive reasons why HP management believes that these non-GAAP measures provide useful information to investors is included under “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” after the tables below. This additional non-GAAP financial information is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for operating profit, operating margin, net earnings, diluted earnings per share, or cash and cash equivalents prepared in accordance with GAAP.

EDS acquisition

HP completed its acquisition of Electronic Data Systems Corporation on Aug. 26, 2008. Results of, and comparisons to, the three months ended Oct. 31, 2008 include the results of operations of EDS only for the period from Aug. 26, 2008 through Oct. 31, 2008.