Business News
Xerox Reports Fourth-Quarter 2008 Results
Friday 23. January 2009 - Xerox Corporation (NYSE: XRX) announced today fourth-quarter 2008 financial performance that, including previously disclosed restructuring charges, resulted in break-even earnings per share and adjusted earnings per share of 30 cents.
Adjustments include a restructuring charge of 27 cents per share as well as an equipment write-off of 3 cents per share.
The companys full-year 2008 net income was $230 million, including a previously announced litigation charge. Excluding charges, adjusted net income was $985 million for the year. Total revenue was $17.6 billion, a 2 percent increase from full- year 2007. The company generated $939 million of operating cash flow. Adjusted core cash flow for the year was $1.7 billion.
“In the fourth quarter, the continued weakening economy and rapid shift in exchange rates put pressure on the business,” said Anne Mulcahy, chairman and chief executive officer. “Despite this challenging marketplace, we delivered $265 million in adjusted net income for the quarter and $985 million for the year.”
“We continue to prioritize cash and productivity to give us flexibility in this uncertain environment,” she added. “Our fourth-quarter restructuring will deliver $200 million in savings this year. And, last year we generated $1.7 billion in adjusted cash from core operations. We believe our strong balance sheet and disciplined approach to cost reductions strengthen our ability to effectively manage through these tough economic times.”
In the fourth quarter, Xerox generated $1 billion in adjusted cash from core operations, excluding net litigation payments of $615 million. The company closed the year with $1.2 billion in cash and cash equivalents.
Total revenue of $4.4 billion declined 10 percent in the quarter, including a 5 point negative impact from currency. Post-sale and financing revenue was down 8 percent or 3 percent in constant currency, largely due to distributors holding lower inventory levels. Equipment sale revenue declined 15 percent or 11 percent in constant currency, reflecting weakened economic conditions around the world.
Revenue from the companys developing markets, which delivered 17 percent revenue growth through the third quarter of 2008, was down 14 percent in the fourth quarter largely due to the decline in developing markets exchange rates and the rapid weakening of Russian and eastern European economies.
Fourth-quarter revenue from color was down 6 percent or flat in constant currency. Color pages were up 23 percent and now represent 18 percent of total pages printed on Xerox technology. Color results exclude the benefit from Global Imaging Systems. Xerox services help businesses simplify work processes, manage office technology and in-house print shops, digitize paper files, create digital archives and much more. During 2008, Xerox Global Services generated $3.5 billion in annuity revenue, a 3 percent increase over 2007.
“We remain confident that the value we bring to our customers can help them through this economy. Much of what we do is aimed squarely at helping our customers reduce costs and operate more efficiently and effectively. Our services business continues to grow and were prioritizing investments to build on this momentum in 2009,” added Mulcahy. “Discussions with customers about saving up to 30 percent on their document costs get attention. Its a powerful value proposition in any economy.”
Xeroxs production business provides commercial printers and document-intensive industries with high-speed digital printing and services that enable on-demand, personalized printing. The weakening economy resulted in a 13 percent decline in total production revenue, including a 7 point negative impact from currency. Installs of production black-and-white systems declined 11 percent. Installs of production color devices were up 4 percent in the quarter driven by strong demand for the companys new production systems, the Xerox iGen4 Press and the Xerox 700 Digital Color Press, both of which were available worldwide beginning in September.
In Xeroxs office business, which provides the industrys broadest portfolio of printers, copiers, and multifunction systems through a global network of sales channels, the number of installs of color multifunction systems was up 9 percent in the fourth quarter. Installs of the companys black-and-white multifunction devices decreased 18 percent. Total office revenue was down 9 percent in the fourth quarter including a 4 point negative impact from currency.
Gross margin was 37.9 percent. Excluding the equipment write-off, adjusted gross margin was 38.8 percent, down 1.7 points from the fourth quarter of 2007. This decline was almost entirely due to increased product costs driven by the rapid strengthening of the Yen. Selling, administrative and general expenses were 25.2 percent of revenue, up about 1 point from fourth-quarter 2007.
Xerox expects first-quarter 2009 earnings in the range of 16 cents to 20 cents per share.