Brocade: Fiscal 1Q13 Financial Results

Brocade Communications Systems, Inc. reported financial results for its first fiscal quarter ended January 26, 2013.

It reported record first quarter revenue of $588.7 million, representing an increase of 5% year-over-year and 2% quarter-over-quarter. The company reported a GAAP loss per share of $(0.05), down from a profit of $0.12 per diluted share in Q1 2012. The Q1 2013 net loss was principally due to a non-cash tax charge, which reduced the company’s deferred tax assets as a result of a recent change in the California tax code. On a comparative basis, non-GAAP diluted EPS was $0.21, up from $0.20 in Q1 2012.

"Brocade achieved record revenue in Q1 based on strong performances in both our storage and IP networking businesses," said Lloyd Carney, CEO of Brocade. "As the new CEO, it is my top priority to ensure that the company continues to execute well in our core businesses to drive growth and shareholder value. Looking forward, I see new opportunities emerging in the networking industry due to disruptive IT market trends that are challenging the capabilities of today’s networks. It is clear that customers are looking for new technologies and approaches in networking to meet these challenges. I am excited and honored to navigate the company forward, delivering on these customer requirements in a way that drives top-line revenue through both innovation and operational efficiency."

Summary of Q1 2013 results:
SAN business revenue, including products and services, was a record $416.9 million, up 3% year-over-year and up 6% sequentially. SAN product revenue increased 3% year-over-year and increased 7% sequentially, led by higher switch and director product sales, in a seasonally strong quarter for the company. Gen 5 (16Gbps) FC products represented approximately 42% of director and switch revenue in the quarter. Q1 2013 total SAN port shipments were approximately 1.2 million.

IP Networking business revenue, including products and services, was $171.8 million, up 11% year-over-year and down 7% quarter-over-quarter. The year-over-year growth was driven by solid performances across all three IP Networking product groups and led by Ethernet switch revenue, which was up 18% year-over-year. Routing revenue was up 5% year-over-year and other IP Networking revenue was up 25% year-over-year driven by higher sales of the Brocade ADX Series of application delivery products. The sequential decline in IP Networking revenue was principally due to lower Ethernet switch sales into the U.S. federal government, which is typical in the company’s first fiscal quarter.

GAAP gross margin was 63.5% and non-GAAP gross margin was 66.0% in Q1 2013, compared to 61.5% and 64.8% in Q1 2012, respectively. The year-over-year improvement in gross margin was due in part to higher overall revenue and a more favorable Ethernet product mix. The sequential improvement in gross margin was due in part to higher overall revenue, with a more favorable revenue mix to SAN products, and lower manufacturing overhead spending.

GAAP operating margin was 15.8% and non-GAAP operating margin was 23.5% in Q1 2013, compared to 12.4% and 21.5% in Q1 2012, respectively. The year-over-year improvement in operating margin was due to higher revenue, expanded gross margin, and lower operating expenses as a percentage of revenue in Q1 2013. Operating margin improved quarter-over-quarter due to higher revenue and improved gross margin.

Operating cash flow was $59.5 million in Q1 2013. During the quarter, the company completed its acquisition of Vyatta, Inc. and refinanced $300.0 million of senior secured notes, extending the maturity date of the notes from 2018 to 2023 and reducing the annual cash interest rate from 6.625% to 4.625%.

GAAP loss per share was $(0.05) in Q1 2013, and non-GAAP diluted EPS of $0.21 was up 7% year-over-year. The GAAP loss per share included a non-cash tax charge of $78.2 million, or $(0.17) per share, due to the passage of Proposition 39 by the voters of California and the related reduction in the company’s deferred tax assets, which was previously disclosed in November 2012. The company also took a one-time charge of $15.3 million, or $(0.02) per share after tax impact, related to the unamortized original issuance costs and call premium on the 2018 notes that were refinanced during the quarter.

Average diluted shares outstanding for Q1 2013 were 466.3 million shares, down slightly year-over-year. The company repurchased 8.7 million shares ($47.5 million) during Q1 2013.