Symantec: Fiscal 3Q10 Financial Results

Storage and Server Management Group

Symantec Corp. reported the results of its third quarter of fiscal year 2010, ended Jan. 1, 2010. GAAP revenue for the fiscal third quarter was $1.548 billion. Non-GAAP revenue was $1.551 billion, up 1 percent over the comparable period a year ago (down 3 percent after adjusting for currency).

"Our consumer business, with its market-leading solutions and diverse go-to-market channels, continued to show strong momentum," said Enrique Salem, president and chief executive officer, Symantec. "Our Security and Compliance business contributed to the better than expected results, driven by our ability to sell multiple security products to our customers. In addition, our hosted services, data loss prevention and compliance solutions performed well."

"We are encouraged by the improving trends in our license revenue and by the sequential stabilization of our maintenance revenues. This led to better than expected sequential and year-over-year growth in both revenue and deferred revenue," said James Beer, executive vice president and chief financial officer. "Our business continues to deliver strong cash flow from operations, generating approximately $1 billion over the last three quarters."

GAAP Results: GAAP operating margin for the third quarter of fiscal year 2010 was 17.9 percent. GAAP net income for the fiscal third quarter was $300 million compared with a $6.82 billion loss for the same quarter last year. GAAP diluted earnings per share were $0.37 compared with a loss per share of $8.25 for the same quarter last year.

Symantec realized a one-time benefit of $78.5 million to GAAP net income, or a $0.10 benefit to GAAP earnings per share in the December 2009 quarter as a result of the favorable ruling by the U.S. Tax Court regarding the Veritas Software tax assessment for 2000 and 2001. The company realized this one-time benefit because the previous accrual exceeded Symantec’s revised estimated incremental tax liability. The GAAP net loss for the year-ago quarter includes a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of approximately $7 billion.

GAAP deferred revenue as of Jan. 1, 2010, was $3.05 billion compared with $2.92 billion as of Jan. 2, 2009, up 4 percent. After adjusting for currency, GAAP deferred revenue increased 3 percent year-over-year.

Cash flow from operating activities for the third quarter of fiscal year 2010 was $393 million. Symantec ended the quarter with cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $2.61 billion.

Non-GAAP Results: Non-GAAP operating margin for the third quarter of fiscal year 2010 was 28.3 percent. Non-GAAP net income for the fiscal third quarter was $326 million compared with $352 million for the year-ago period. Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share were $0.40 compared with earnings per share of $0.42 for the year-ago quarter.

Symantec realized a one-time benefit of $16.5 million to non-GAAP net income, or a $0.02 benefit to non-GAAP earnings per share in the December 2009 quarter as a result of the previously mentioned favorable ruling by the U.S. Tax Court. The company realized this one-time benefit after releasing the accrual related to interest on the original tax assessment recorded since the Veritas acquisition.

Non-GAAP deferred revenue as of Jan. 1, 2010, was $3.07 billion compared with $2.96 billion as of Jan. 2, 2009, up 3 percent. After adjusting for currency, non-GAAP deferred revenue increased 2 percent year-over-year.

During the third quarter of fiscal year 2010, Symantec repurchased 6.8 million shares for $121 million at an average price of $17.76 per share.

Business Segment and Geographic Highlights
For the quarter, Symantec’s Consumer segment represented 31 percent of total non-GAAP revenue and increased 7 percent year-over-year (increased 3 percent after adjusting for currency). The Security and Compliance segment represented 24 percent of total non-GAAP revenue and increased 3 percent year-over-year (declined 2 percent adjusting for currency). The Storage and Server Management segment represented 38 percent of total non-GAAP revenue and declined 4 percent year-over-year (declined 8 percent after adjusting for currency). Services represented 7 percent of total non-GAAP revenue, flat year-over-year (declined 5 percent after adjusting for currency).

International revenue represented 51 percent of total non-GAAP revenue in the third quarter of fiscal year 2010 and increased 3 percent year-over-year (declined 5 percent after adjusting for currency). The Europe, Middle East and Africa region represented 32 percent of total non-GAAP revenue for the quarter and increased 1 percent year-over-year (declined 9 percent after adjusting for currency). The Asia Pacific/Japan revenue for the quarter represented 15 percent of total non-GAAP revenue and increased 11 percent year-over-year (increased 5 percent after adjusting for currency). The Americas, including the United States, Latin America and Canada, represented 53 percent of total non-GAAP revenue and declined 2 percent both before and after adjusting for currency.

Fourth Quarter Fiscal Year 2010 Guidance
Guidance assumes an exchange rate of $1.40 per Euro for the March 2010 quarter versus the actual weighted average rate of $1.30 per Euro for the March 2009 quarter, equivalent to an approximately 8 percent currency benefit. The end of period rate for the March 2009 quarter was $1.34, representing an approximately 4 percent currency benefit versus the $1.40 per Euro assumption for the March 2010 quarter.

For the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2010, ending April 2, 2010, GAAP revenue is estimated between $1.507 billion and $1.522 billion. GAAP diluted earnings per share are estimated between $0.16 and $0.17. GAAP deferred revenue is expected to be in the range of $3.162 billion and $3.192 billion.

Non-GAAP revenue for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2010 is estimated between $1.510 billion and $1.525 billion. Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share are estimated between $0.36 and $0.37. Non-GAAP deferred revenue is expected to be in the range of $3.175 billion and $3.205 billion.