Press Release Details

GAAP Revenue down 4% Year-over-Year; Non-GAAP Revenue down 10% Year-over-Year

WESTFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul. 23, 2009-- NetScout Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTCT):

NetScout Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTCT), an industry leader for advanced network and service assurance solutions, today announced financial results for its first quarter of fiscal year 2010, ended June 30, 2009.

Total GAAP revenue for the first quarter of fiscal year 2010 was $58.1 million, and non-GAAP revenue was $58.7 million. Non-GAAP revenue excludes the purchase accounting adjustment to record the acquired Network General deferred revenue at fair value. Product revenue was $28.4 million on a GAAP and non-GAAP basis. Service revenue was $29.7 million on a GAAP basis and $30.3 million on a non-GAAP basis.

GAAP net income for the quarter was $5.2 million, or net income per diluted share of $0.13. GAAP income from operations was $8.9 million. On a non-GAAP basis, net income was $7.3 million, or $0.18 per diluted share, and non-GAAP income from operations was $12.2 million. Non-GAAP income from operations excludes the purchase accounting adjustment to record the acquired Network General deferred revenue at fair value, as well as share-based compensation expenses and amortization of acquired intangible assets. Non-GAAP net income excludes these effects as well as their related impact on the provision for income taxes. A reconciliation between GAAP and non-GAAP results is included in the attached financial tables.

“We continue to see the slowing effects of the economy on IT spending across most of our verticals, although we expect that to moderate as the year progresses,” said Anil Singhal, President and CEO of NetScout Systems. “As a result we are reaffirming our fiscal year 2010 guidance and we remain confident in our ability to return to the same level of growth we achieved prior to the economic downturn. We are currently focused on our key growth verticals, particularly wireless service providers, which we expect will continue to be a significant growth driver for our company as we bring new service provider solutions to market. We continue to execute well on cost and expense management during these difficult times as we have achieved a 15% GAAP operating margin and 21% non-GAAP operating margin despite reduced revenue.”

The NetScout Board of Directors has reinstated the previously authorized stock buyback program. The remaining authorization is for 3.5 million shares. Execution of the program is expected to begin during the current fiscal year, depending on market conditions.

Company and Financial Highlights for the First Quarter 2010:

• During the quarter we announced a new partnership with Cisco’s Unified Wireless program based on our Sniffer^® Global enterprise troubleshooting solution. Beginning in the fall of 2009, our Sniffer Global network analyzer will be integrated with Cisco’s Mobility Services Engine to more quickly identify and resolve network and service performance issues over wired and wireless networks. Cisco will include Sniffer Global in their reference design for their wireless LAN resellers.
• NetScout’s nGenius Performance Manager was recognized as the “Testing and Monitoring Product of the Year” in the third annual Network Computing Awards.
• IDC released a report recognizing NetScout as top vendor with 14% market share in its annual “Worldwide Network Performance and Operations Management 2009-2013 Forecast and 2008 Vendor Shares.”
• GAAP revenue decreased 4% year-over-year and 12% sequentially. Non-GAAP revenue decreased 10% year-over-year and 12% sequentially.
• GAAP and non- GAAP product revenue decreased 19% year-over-year and 23% sequentially. GAAP service revenue increased 15% year-over-year and 1% sequentially. Non-GAAP service revenue was unchanged year-over-year and increased 1% sequentially.
• GAAP operating margin was 15% up from 7% a year ago. Non-GAAP operating margin was 21% up from 19% a year ago.
• As of June 30, 2009, total cash and cash equivalents and short and long-term marketable securities were $141.6 million, up $5.7 million from $135.9 million as of the end of the prior quarter.

Guidance

NetScout reaffirms guidance for fiscal year 2010. GAAP revenue is expected to be in the range of $259 to $279 million and non-GAAP revenue between $260 million to $280 million. GAAP net income per diluted share is expected to be in the range of $0.60 to $0.75 and non-GAAP net income per diluted share is expected to be between $0.80 and $0.95. The fiscal year 2010 non-GAAP revenue expectation excludes the purchase accounting adjustment to fair value of approximately $1.3 million of Network General’s deferred revenue and the non-GAAP net income per diluted share expectation excludes the deferred revenue purchase accounting adjustment, as well as share-based compensation expenses of approximately $5.6 million, amortization of acquired intangible assets of approximately $5.9 million, and the related impact of these adjustments on the provision for income taxes of $4.9 million.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information

To supplement the financial measures presented in the Company's press release in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"), the Company also presents non-GAAP measures relating to revenue, income from operations, net income and net income per diluted share which were adjusted from amounts determined based on GAAP to exclude the purchase accounting adjustment representing the fair value of Network General’s deferred revenue, share-based compensation expenses, amortization of acquired intangible assets, integration expenses as well as the related income tax effects.

These non-GAAP measures are not in accordance with GAAP, should not be considered an alternative for measures prepared in accordance with GAAP, and may have limitations in that they do not reflect all of NetScout’s results of operations as determined in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP measures should only be used to evaluate NetScout’s results of operations in conjunction with the corresponding GAAP measures. The presentation of non-GAAP information is not meant to be considered superior to, in isolation from or as a substitute for results prepared in accordance with GAAP.

The Company believes these non-GAAP financial measures will enhance the reader’s overall understanding of NetScout’s current financial performance and the Company's prospects for the future by providing a higher degree of transparency for certain financial measures and providing a level of disclosure that helps investors understand how the Company plans and measures its own business. The Company believes that providing these non-GAAP measures affords investors a view of the Company’s operating results that may be more easily compared to peer companies and also enables investors to consider the Company’s operating results on both a GAAP and non-GAAP basis during the period where GAAP results are affected by the Company’s acquisition of Network General. Presenting the GAAP measures on their own would not be indicative of the Company’s core operating results. Furthermore, NetScout believes that the presentation of non-GAAP measures when shown in conjunction with the corresponding GAAP measures provide useful information to management and investors regarding present and future business trends relating to its financial condition and results of operations.

As discussed above, Company management regularly uses supplemental non-GAAP financial measures internally to understand, manage and evaluate its business and to make operating decisions. These non-GAAP measures are among the primary factors that management uses in planning and forecasting future periods.

CONFERENCE CALL INSTRUCTIONS

The Company invites shareholders to listen to its conference call today at 4:30 p.m. ET, which will be webcast live through the Company’s website at http://www.netscout.com/investors. Alternatively, people can listen to the call by dialing 866-701-8242 for U.S./Canada and 763-416-6912 for international callers and using conference ID: 20002134. A replay of the call will be available after 7:30 p.m. ET on July 23 for approximately one week. The number for the replay is 800-642-1687 for U.S./Canada and 706-645-9291 for international callers. The conference ID is: 20002134.

About NetScout Systems

NetScout Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTCT) is the industry leader in advanced network, application and service delivery management solutions. For over twenty years, NetScout has delivered breakthrough technology solutions that provide trusted, comprehensive real-time and historical performance intelligence, including advanced early warnings and rapid, definitive problem analysis. These capabilities have become vital, and increasingly strategic, to IT organizations. The world’s largest enterprises, government agencies, and service providers depend upon NetScout nGenius solutions to assure service delivery to their users by preventing disruptions and degradations. More information about NetScout Systems is available at http://www.netscout.com.

Safe Harbor

Forward-looking statements in this release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and other federal securities laws. Investors are cautioned that statements in this press release, which are not strictly historical statements, including the plans, objectives and future financial performance of NetScout, constitute forward-looking statements which involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with slowdowns or downturns in economic conditions generally and in the market for advanced network and service assurance solutions specifically, the Company’s relationships with strategic partners, dependence upon broad-based acceptance of the Company’s network performance management solutions, the Company’s ability to achieve and maintain a high rate of growth, introduction and market acceptance of new products and product enhancements, the ability of the Company to take advantage of service provider opportunities, competitive pricing pressures, reliance on sole source suppliers, successful expansion and management of direct and indirect distribution channels and dependence on proprietary technology. For a more detailed description of the risk factors associated with the Company, please refer to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009 and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. NetScout assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information contained in this press release or with respect to the announcements described herein.

©2009 NetScout Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. NetScout and the NetScout logo and nGenius are registered trademarks of NetScout Systems, Inc.

Source: NetScout Systems, Inc.

NetScout Systems, Inc.
Catherine Taylor, 978-614-4286
Director of Investor Relations
IR@netscout.com