Western Digital Announces Financial Results for First Quarter Fiscal Year 2020

 

SAN JOSE, Calif.--()--Western Digital Corp. (Nasdaq: WDC) today reported revenue of $4.0 billion for its first fiscal quarter ended October 4, 2019. The operating loss was $129 million with a net loss of $276 million, or ($0.93) per share. Excluding certain non-GAAP adjustments, the company achieved non-GAAP operating income of $235 million and non-GAAP net income of $101 million, or $0.34 per share.

In the year-ago quarter, the company reported revenue of $5.0 billion, operating income of $686 million and net income of $511 million, or $1.71 per share. Non-GAAP operating income in the year-ago quarter was $1.1 billion and non-GAAP net income was $906 million, or $3.04 per share. The company's first fiscal quarter of 2020 was a 14-week fiscal quarter, compared to a 13-week fiscal quarter for the year-ago quarter.

The company generated $253 million in cash from operations during the first fiscal quarter of 2020, and ended the quarter with $3.2 billion of total cash and cash equivalents. The company returned $147 million to shareholders through dividends and used $319 million to reduce debt. On August 7, 2019, the company declared a cash dividend of $0.50 per share of its common stock, which was paid to shareholders on October 22, 2019.

“Fiscal year 2020 is off to a good start. The continued success of our capacity enterprise drives for the data center was the primary driver of the upside we experienced in the fiscal first quarter,” said Steve Milligan, chief executive officer, Western Digital. “The overall demand environment remains solid. We continue to believe the flash industry has passed a cyclical trough, with improving trends across our flash product portfolio. With a broad and growing product portfolio, Western Digital remains well positioned to benefit from the long-term drivers of the growth and value of data.”

Business Outlook for Second Fiscal Quarter of 2020

 

 

Three Months Ending

January 3, 2020

 

GAAP(1)

 

Non-GAAP(1)

Revenue ($ in billions)

$4.1 - $4.3

 

$4.1 - $4.3

Gross margin

~ 21% - 22%

 

~ 25% - 26%

Operating expenses ($ in millions)

$880 - $900

 

$750 - $770

Interest and other expense, net ($ in millions)

~ $90

 

~ $85

Tax rate

N/A

 

~ 24% - 28% (2)

Diluted earnings per share

N/A

 

$0.45 - $0.65

Diluted shares outstanding (in millions)

~ 302

 

~ 302

(1) Non-GAAP gross margin guidance excludes amortization of acquired intangible assets, stock-based compensation expense, and charges related to cost saving initiatives totaling approximately $170 million to $190 million. The company’s non-GAAP operating expenses guidance excludes amortization of acquired intangible assets; stock-based compensation expense; employee termination, asset impairment and other charges; and charges related to cost saving initiatives totaling approximately $120 million to $140 million. The company's non-GAAP interest and other expense guidance excludes approximately $5 million of convertible debt activity. In the aggregate, non-GAAP diluted earnings per share guidance excludes these items totaling $295 million to $335 million. The timing and amount of these charges excluded from non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP operating expenses, non-GAAP interest and other expense, net and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share cannot be further allocated or quantified with certainty. Additionally, the timing and amount of additional charges the company excludes from its non-GAAP tax rate and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share are dependent on the timing and determination of certain actions and cannot be reasonably predicted. Accordingly, full reconciliations of non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP operating expenses, non-GAAP interest and other expense, non-GAAP tax rate and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures (gross margin, operating expenses, interest and other expense, tax rate and diluted earnings per share, respectively) are not available without unreasonable effort.

(2) The non-GAAP tax rates provided are based on a percentage of non-GAAP pre-tax income.

Investor Communications

The investment community conference call to discuss these results and the company’s guidance for the first fiscal quarter of 2020 will be broadcast live online today at 1:30 p.m. Pacific/4:30 p.m. Eastern. The live and archived conference call/webcast and the earnings presentation can be accessed online at investor.wdc.com.

About Western Digital

Western Digital, a leader in data infrastructure, creates environments for data to thrive. The company is driving the innovation needed to help customers capture, preserve, access and transform an ever-increasing diversity of data. Everywhere data lives, from advanced data centers to mobile sensors to personal devices, the company's industry-leading solutions deliver the possibilities of data. Western Digital data-centric solutions are comprised of the Western Digital®, G-Technology™, SanDisk® and WD® brands. Financial and investor information is available on the company's Investor Relations website at investor.wdc.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements concerning the company’s preliminary financial results for its first fiscal quarter ended October 4, 2019; the company’s financial guidance for the second fiscal quarter of 2020 and expectations for financial results in fiscal year 2020; expectations regarding market conditions; the company's product portfolio; and market positioning. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. The preliminary financial results for the company’s first fiscal quarter ended October 4, 2019 included in this press release represent the most current information available to management. The company’s actual results when disclosed in its Form 10-Q may differ from these preliminary results as a result of the completion of the company’s financial closing procedures; final adjustments; completion of the review by the company’s independent registered accounting firm; and other developments that may arise between now and the disclosure of the final results. Other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements include: volatility in global economic conditions; business conditions and growth in the storage ecosystem; impact of restructuring activities and cost saving initiatives; impact of competitive products and pricing; market acceptance and cost of commodity materials and specialized product components; actions by competitors; unexpected advances in competing technologies; our development and introduction of products based on new technologies and expansion into new data storage markets; risks associated with acquisitions, mergers and joint ventures; difficulties or delays in manufacturing; the outcome of legal proceedings; and other risks and uncertainties listed in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including the company’s Form 10-K filed with the SEC on August 27, 2019, to which your attention is directed. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof, and the company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect new information or events.

Western Digital, the Western Digital logo, G-Technology, SanDisk and WD are registered trademarks or trademarks of Western Digital Corporation or its affiliates in the US and/or other countries.

WESTERN DIGITAL CORPORATION

PRELIMINARY CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in millions; unaudited; on a US GAAP basis)

 

 

October 4,
2019

 

June 28,
2019

ASSETS

Current assets:

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

$

3,248

 

 

$

3,455

 

Accounts receivable, net

1,448

 

 

1,204

 

Inventories

3,287

 

 

3,283

 

Other current assets

517

 

 

535

 

Total current assets

8,500

 

 

8,477

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

2,796

 

 

2,843

 

Notes receivable and investments in Flash Ventures

2,629

 

 

2,791

 

Goodwill

10,090

 

 

10,076

 

Other intangible assets, net

1,514

 

 

1,711

 

Other non-current assets

751

 

 

472

 

Total assets

$

26,280

 

 

$

26,370

 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

Accounts payable

$

1,724

 

 

$

1,567

 

Accounts payable to related parties

507

 

 

331

 

Accrued expenses

1,374

 

 

1,296

 

Accrued compensation

432

 

 

347

 

Current portion of long-term debt

251

 

 

276

 

Total current liabilities

4,288

 

 

3,817

 

Long-term debt

9,961

 

 

10,246

 

Other liabilities

2,465

 

 

2,340

 

Total liabilities

16,714

 

 

16,403

 

Total shareholders’ equity

9,566

 

 

9,967

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

$

26,280

 

 

$

26,370

 

WESTERN DIGITAL CORPORATION

PRELIMINARY CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in millions, except per share amounts; unaudited; on a US GAAP basis)

 

Three Months Ended

 

October 4,
2019

 

September 28,
2018

Revenue, net

$

4,040

 

 

$

5,028

 

Cost of revenue

3,282

 

 

3,364

 

Gross profit

758

 

 

1,664

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

Research and development

574

 

 

576

 

Selling, general and administrative

305

 

 

356

 

Employee termination, asset impairment and other charges

8

 

 

46

 

Total operating expenses

887

 

 

978

 

Operating income (loss)

(129

)

 

686

 

Interest and other expense, net

(108

)

 

(103

)

Income (loss) before taxes

(237

)

 

583

 

Income tax expense

39

 

 

72

 

Net income (loss)

$

(276

)

 

$

511

 

 

 

 

 

Income (loss) per common share

 

 

 

Basic

$

(0.93

)

 

$

1.75

 

Diluted

$

(0.93

)

 

$

1.71

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average shares outstanding:

 

 

 

Basic

296

 

 

292

 

Diluted

296

 

 

298

 

WESTERN DIGITAL CORPORATION

PRELIMINARY CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in millions; unaudited; on a US GAAP basis)

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

October 4,
2019

 

September 28,
2018

Operating Activities

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

$

(276

)

 

$

511

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operations:

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

406

 

 

480

 

Stock-based compensation

77

 

 

79

 

Deferred income taxes

(27

)

 

201

 

Loss on disposal of assets

2

 

 

2

 

Write-off of issuance costs and amortization of debt discounts

10

 

 

9

 

Other non-cash operating activities, net

(21

)

 

20

 

Changes in:

 

 

 

Accounts receivable, net

(243

)

 

(22

)

Inventories

(5

)

 

(175

)

Accounts payable

155

 

 

(77

)

Accounts payable to related parties

176

 

 

27

 

Accrued expenses

100

 

 

34

 

Accrued compensation

75

 

 

20

 

Other assets and liabilities, net

(176

)

 

(404

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

253

 

 

705

 

Investing Activities

 

 

 

Purchases of property, plant and equipment, net

(145

)

 

(277

)

Activity related to Flash Ventures, net

186

 

 

29

 

Acquisitions, net of cash acquired

(22

)

 

 

Investment activity, net

 

 

(2

)

Strategic Investments and Other, net

15

 

 

(9

)

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

34

 

 

(259

)

Financing Activities

 

 

 

Employee stock plans, net

(26

)

 

(58

)

Repurchases of common stock

 

 

(563

)

Dividends paid to shareholders

(147

)

 

(148

)

Repayment of debt

(319

)

 

(38

)

Net cash used in financing activities

(492

)

 

(807

)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

(2

)

 

2

 

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

(207

)

 

(359

)

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

3,455

 

 

5,005

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

$

3,248

 

 

$

4,646

 

WESTERN DIGITAL CORPORATION

PRELIMINARY RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

(in millions; unaudited)

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

October 4,
2019

 

September 28,
2018

GAAP cost of revenue

$

3,282

 

 

$

3,364

 

Amortization of acquired intangible assets

(164

)

 

(235

)

Stock-based compensation expense

(12

)

 

(11

)

Charges related to cost saving initiatives

 

 

(1

)

Power outage charges

(68

)

 

 

Non-GAAP cost of revenue

$

3,038

 

 

$

3,117

 

 

 

 

 

GAAP gross profit

$

758

 

 

$

1,664

 

Amortization of acquired intangible assets

164

 

 

235

 

Stock-based compensation expense

12

 

 

11

 

Charges related to cost saving initiatives

 

 

1

 

Power outage charges

68

 

 

 

Non-GAAP gross profit

$

1,002

 

 

$

1,911

 

 

 

 

 

GAAP operating expenses

$

887

 

 

$

978

 

Amortization of acquired intangible assets

(41

)

 

(41

)

Stock-based compensation expense

(65

)

 

(68

)

Employee termination, asset impairment and other charges

(8

)

 

(46

)

Charges related to acquisitions and dispositions

(5

)

 

 

Charges related to cost saving initiatives

(1

)

 

(3

)

Non-GAAP operating expenses

$

767

 

 

$

820

 

 

 

 

 

GAAP operating income (loss)

$

(129

)

 

$

686

 

Cost of revenue adjustments

244

 

 

247

 

Operating expense adjustments

120

 

 

158

 

Non-GAAP operating income

$

235

 

 

$

1,091

 

 

 

 

 

GAAP interest and other expense, net

$

(108

)

 

$

(103

)

Convertible debt activity

7

 

 

7

 

Other

2

 

 

(3

)

Non-GAAP interest and other expense, net

$

(99

)

 

$

(99

)

 

 

 

 

GAAP income tax expense

$

39

 

 

$

72

 

Income tax adjustments

(4

)

 

14

 

Non-GAAP income tax expense

$

35

 

 

$

86

 

WESTERN DIGITAL CORPORATION

PRELIMINARY RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

(in millions, except per share amounts; unaudited)

 

Three Months Ended

 

October 4,
2019

 

September 28,
2018

GAAP net income (loss)

$

(276

)

 

$

511

 

Amortization of acquired intangible assets

205

 

 

276

 

Stock-based compensation expense

77

 

 

79

 

Employee termination, asset impairment and other charges

8

 

 

46

 

Charges related to acquisitions and dispositions

5

 

 

 

Charges related to cost saving initiatives

1

 

 

4

 

Power outage charges

68

 

 

 

Convertible debt activity

7

 

 

7

 

Other

2

 

 

(3

)

Income tax adjustments

4

 

 

(14

)

Non-GAAP net income

$

101

 

 

$

906

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted income (loss) per common share

 

 

 

GAAP

$

(0.93

)

 

$

1.71

 

Non-GAAP

$

0.34

 

 

$

3.04

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding:

 

 

 

GAAP

296

 

 

298

 

Non-GAAP

300

 

 

298

 

To supplement the condensed consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), the table above sets forth non-GAAP cost of revenue; non-GAAP gross profit; non-GAAP operating expenses; non-GAAP operating income; non-GAAP interest and other expense, net; non-GAAP income tax expense; non-GAAP net income; and non-GAAP diluted income per common share (“Non-GAAP measures”). These Non-GAAP measures are not in accordance with, or an alternative for, measures prepared in accordance with GAAP and may be different from Non-GAAP measures used by other companies. The company believes the presentation of these Non-GAAP measures, when shown in conjunction with the corresponding GAAP measures, provides useful information to investors for measuring the company’s earnings performance and comparing it against prior periods. Specifically, the company believes these Non-GAAP measures provide useful information to both management and investors as they exclude certain expenses, gains and losses that the company believes are not indicative of its core operating results or because they are consistent with the financial models and estimates published by many analysts who follow the company and its peers. As discussed further below, these Non-GAAP measures exclude the amortization of acquired intangible assets, stock-based compensation expense, employee termination, asset impairment and other charges, charges related to acquisitions and dispositions, charges related to cost saving initiatives, power outage charges, convertible debt activity, other adjustments, and income tax adjustments, and the company believes these measures along with the related reconciliations to the GAAP measures provide additional detail and comparability for assessing the company's results. These Non-GAAP measures are some of the primary indicators management uses for assessing the company's performance and planning and forecasting future periods. These measures should be considered in addition to results prepared in accordance with GAAP, but should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, GAAP results.

As described above, the company excludes the following items from its Non-GAAP measures:

Amortization of acquired intangible assets. The company incurs expenses from the amortization of acquired intangible assets over their economic lives. Such charges are significantly impacted by the timing and magnitude of the company's acquisitions and any related impairment charges.

Stock-based compensation expense. Because of the variety of equity awards used by companies, the varying methodologies for determining stock-based compensation expense, the subjective assumptions involved in those determinations, and the volatility in valuations that can be driven by market conditions outside the company's control, the company believes excluding stock-based compensation expense enhances the ability of management and investors to understand and assess the underlying performance of its business over time and compare it against the company's peers, a majority of whom also exclude stock-based compensation expense from their non-GAAP results.

Employee termination, asset impairment and other charges. From time-to-time, in order to realign the company's operations with anticipated market demand or to achieve cost synergies from the integration of acquisitions, the company may terminate employees and/or restructure its operations. From time-to-time, the company may also incur charges from the impairment of intangible assets and other long-lived assets. These charges (including any reversals of charges recorded in prior periods) are inconsistent in amount and frequency, and the company believes are not indicative of the underlying performance of its business.

Charges related to acquisitions and dispositions. In connection with the company's business combinations or dispositions, the company incurs expenses which it would not have otherwise incurred as part of its business operations. These expenses include third-party professional service and legal fees, third-party integration services, severance costs, non-cash adjustments to the fair value of acquired inventory, contract termination costs, and retention bonuses. The company may also experience other accounting impacts in connection with these transactions. These charges and impacts are related to acquisitions and dispositions, are inconsistent in amount and frequency, and the company believes are not indicative of the underlying performance of its business.

Charges related to cost saving initiatives. In connection with the transformation of the company's business, the company has incurred charges related to cost saving initiatives which do not qualify for special accounting treatment as exit or disposal activities. These charges, which the company believes are not indicative of the underlying performance of its business, primarily relate to costs associated with rationalizing the company's channel partners or vendors, transforming the company's information systems infrastructure, integrating the company's product roadmap, and accelerated depreciation of assets.

Power outage charges. In June 2019, an unexpected power outage incident occurred at the flash-based memory manufacturing facilities operated through the company's strategic partnership with Kioxia Corporation (formerly Toshiba Memory Corporation) in Yokkaichi, Japan. The power outage incident resulted in the write-off of damaged inventory and unabsorbed manufacturing overhead costs which are expensed as incurred. These charges are inconsistent in amount and frequency, and the company believes these charges are not part of the ongoing production operation of its business.

Convertible debt activity. The company excludes non-cash economic interest expense associated with its convertible notes. These charges do not reflect the company's operating results, and the company believes are not indicative of the underlying performance of its business.

Other adjustments. From time-to-time, the company sells or impairs investments or other assets which are not considered necessary to its business operations, or incurs other charges or gains that the company believes are not a part of the ongoing operation of its business. The resulting expense or benefit is inconsistent in amount and frequency.

Income tax adjustments. Income tax adjustments include the difference between income taxes based on a forecasted annual non-GAAP tax rate and a forecasted annual GAAP tax rate as a result of the timing of certain non-GAAP pre-tax adjustments. The income tax adjustments include the company’s final adjustments for the tax effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act allowed within the one-year measurement period that ended on December 22, 2018, as well as estimates related to the current status of the rules and regulations governing the transition to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. These adjustments are excluded because they are infrequent and the company believes that they are not indicative of the underlying performance of its business.

Contacts

Western Digital Corp.
Investor Contact:
T. Peter Andrew
949.672.9655
peter.andrew@wdc.com
investor@wdc.com

Media Contact:
Jim Pascoe
408.717.6999
jim.pascoe@wdc.com

Contacts

Western Digital Corp.
Investor Contact:
T. Peter Andrew
949.672.9655
peter.andrew@wdc.com
investor@wdc.com

Media Contact:
Jim Pascoe
408.717.6999
jim.pascoe@wdc.com