Press Release Details

WESTFORD, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 3, 2018-- NETSCOUT SYSTEMS, INC. (NASDAQ: NTCT), a leading provider of service assurance, security, and business analytics, today announced financial results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year ended March 31, 2018.

“Due to improved gross margins and lower operating costs, we delivered a reasonably good EPS performance against our January 2018 guidance despite revenue that approached the lower end of our targets,” stated Anil Singhal, NETSCOUT’s president and CEO. “Despite the difficult market conditions in the service provider customer segment, we’ve seen good adoption of our software-based real-time information platform, which contributed to higher gross margins. In the enterprise customer segment, we are seeing increasing interest in some of our newest offerings that provide seamless workflows into infrastructure performance as well as greater application visibility across traditional data center, private and public clouds, and hybrid environments.”

Singhal concluded, “We expect that orders for our next-generation, software-based instrumentation and analytic offerings will continue ramping over the coming quarters as we also introduce new capabilities that will enable us to address broader security and big data analytics requirements. We are also advancing plans that we believe will help us further recalibrate our cost structure in ways that can help us improve our underlying operating profitability without compromising our ability to capitalize on near-term and longer-term growth opportunities. As we move forward, we remain confident in our product and go-to-market strategies.”

Notable fourth-quarter and recent operational highlights include:

• In late-February, NETSCOUT announced that it was selected by VodafoneZiggo to support its Network Function Virtualization (NFV) transformation. This win underscores why over two dozen other service providers are currently deploying the Company’s NFV solutions in their networks. NETSCOUT also showcased its solutions to service providers at Mobile World Congress that support ongoing innovation in 4G network technology as well as emerging 5G network architectures.
• NETSCOUT’s ongoing involvement in supporting industry standards was demonstrated several weeks ago when the Company announced that it had joined the Linux Foundation Networking (LFN) ecosystem, which encompasses OpenDaylight, OPNFV, ONAP, FD.io, PNDA and SNAS. Through membership in LFN, NETSCOUT will be able to collaborate with the open source community with its virtualized visibility instrumentation and smart data solutions that deliver actionable metadata and KPIs, driving network and services automation.
• In mid-March, NETSCOUT announced enhancements to nGeniusPULSE with new capabilities that extend infrastructure monitoring into VMware virtual infrastructures as well as Wi-Fi infrastructures.
• Recognition of the Company’s technology leadership and innovation continues to build. In early April, Network Computing selected both NETSCOUT’s LinkRunner G2^TM Smart Network Tester and Aircheck G2^TM Wireless Network Tester as a Bench Tested Product of the Year.
• In mid-April, NETSCOUT announced a new version of its distributed denial of service (DDoS) mitigation solution, the Arbor TMS HD1000, that more than doubles mitigation capacity over the previous version, delivering a 40% reduction in the cost per gigabit of protection delivered. Also last month, NETSCOUT announced that the Brazilian Network Information Centre selected Arbor DDoS solutions to strengthen its Network Operations Center defense capabilities to protect its infrastructure against service disrupting Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks.
• Last week, two new independent directors were appointed to the Company’s Board. Mr. Alfred Grasso, who served as president and CEO of the MITRE Corporation from July 2006 until February 2017, was appointed as a Class I Director and will be eligible for election at the 2018 annual meeting of stockholders to serve a full three-year term. Ms. Susan L. Spradley, currently a partner in the Tap Growth Group and CEO of Motion Intelligence, Inc., was appointed as a Class III Director and will be eligible for election when this initial term expires at the 2020 annual meeting of stockholders. The appointments of Mr. Grasso and Ms. Spradley increase the size of the Board to nine members from seven. Detailed biographies on each new director are available online at https://www.netscout.com/company/board-of-directors.
• NETSCOUT plans to hold its annual user conference and technology summit, Engage18, on May 14 through May 17 in Dallas, Texas.

Q4 FY18 Financial Results
Total revenue (GAAP) for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2018 was $235.2 million, compared with $318.9 million in the same quarter one year ago. Non-GAAP total revenue for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2018 was $238.5 million, compared with $327.2 million in the same quarter one year ago. A reconciliation of GAAP and non-GAAP results is included in the attached financial tables.

Product revenue (GAAP) for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2018 was $128.8 million, which was approximately 55% of total revenue. This compares with product revenue (GAAP) of $210.1 million in the prior fiscal year’s fourth quarter, which was approximately 66% of total revenue. On a non-GAAP basis, product revenue for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2018 was $129.8 million, which was approximately 54% of total non-GAAP revenue. This compares with fourth-quarter fiscal year 2017 non-GAAP product revenue of $213.7 million, which was approximately 65% of total non-GAAP revenue.

Service revenue (GAAP) for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2018 was $106.4 million, or approximately 45% of total revenue, compared with $108.9 million in the same period one year ago, or 34% of total GAAP revenue. Non-GAAP service revenue for fiscal year 2018’s fourth quarter was $108.7 million, which was approximately 46% of total non-GAAP revenue, compared with $113.5 million in the year-ago quarter, or approximately 35% of total non-GAAP revenue.

NETSCOUT’s loss from operations (GAAP) was $7.5 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2018 versus income from operations (GAAP) of $38.7 million in the same quarter one year ago. The Company’s fourth-quarter fiscal year 2018 operating profit margin (GAAP) was -3.2% versus 12.1% in fiscal year 2017’s fourth quarter. Fourth-quarter fiscal year 2018 non-GAAP EBITDA from operations was $51.5 million, or 21.6% of total non-GAAP quarterly revenue, compared with non-GAAP EBITDA from operations of $98.7 million, or 30.2% of total non-GAAP quarterly revenue, in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2017. Fourth-quarter fiscal year 2018 non-GAAP income from operations was $42.5 million and the non-GAAP operating margin was 17.8%. This compares with non-GAAP income from operations of $89.9 million and a non-GAAP operating margin of 27.5% in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2017.

Net income (GAAP) for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2018 was $16.8 million, or $0.20 per share (diluted), versus net income (GAAP) of $22.3 million, or $0.24 per share (diluted), for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2017. On a non-GAAP basis, net income for fiscal year 2018’s fourth quarter was $30.1 million, or $0.36 per share (diluted), compared with non-GAAP net income of $60.6 million, or $0.65 per share (diluted), for the same quarter one year ago.

As of March 31, 2018, cash and cash equivalents, and short and long-term marketable securities were $447.8 million, compared with $383.0 million as of December 31, 2017 and $464.7 million as of March 31, 2017.

During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2018, NETSCOUT began executing a $300 million Accelerated Share Repurchase (ASR), under which 7,387,862 shares of NETSCOUT common stock were delivered to the Company on February 2, 2018. The shares delivered represent approximately 70 percent of the total number of shares of the Company’s common stock expected to be repurchased under the ASR. The cost of the initial delivery of shares was approximately $210 million, or $28.43 per share. The final number of shares to be repurchased is dependent upon the average of the daily volume-weighted average stock prices of the Company’s common stock during the term of the ASR, less a discount and subject to adjustments pursuant to the terms and conditions of the ASR. Of the initial delivery of shares, 970,650 shares were repurchased under NETSCOUT’s prior 20 million share repurchase program that was authorized in 2015. The remainder of the shares delivered were executed under NETSCOUT’s previously disclosed 25 million share repurchase program.

FY18 Financial Results

• For fiscal year 2018, total revenue (GAAP) was $986.8 million versus total revenue (GAAP) of $1.162 billion in fiscal year 2017. Fiscal year 2018 non-GAAP total revenue was $999.3 million versus $1.2 billion in fiscal year 2017.
• Product revenue (GAAP) in fiscal year 2018 was $546.1 million, compared with $735.5 million in fiscal year 2017. Non-GAAP product revenue in fiscal year 2018 was $549.2 million versus $753.8 million in fiscal year 2017.
• Fiscal year 2018 service revenue (GAAP) was $440.7 million versus $426.6 million in fiscal year 2017. Fiscal year 2018 non-GAAP service revenue was $450.1 million compared with $446.1 million in fiscal year 2017.
• NETSCOUT’s fiscal year 2018 loss from operations (GAAP) was $4.1 million versus fiscal year 2017 operating income (GAAP) of $62.1 million. The Company’s operating margin (GAAP) for the fiscal year 2018 was -0.4% versus 5.3% for fiscal year 2017. Fiscal year 2018 non-GAAP EBITDA from operations was $220.9 million, or 22.1% of non-GAAP total annual revenue. This compares with non-GAAP EBITDA from operations of $309.5 million, or 25.8% of non-GAAP total annual revenue, in fiscal year 2017. The Company’s non-GAAP operating income for fiscal year 2018 was $183.4 million with a non-GAAP operating margin of 18.4%, compared with fiscal year 2017 non-GAAP operating income of $275.4 million and a non-GAAP operating margin of 23.0%.
• For fiscal year 2018, NETSCOUT’s net income (GAAP) was $79.8 million, or $0.90 per share (diluted), compared with net income (GAAP) of $33.3 million, or $0.36 per share (diluted) for fiscal year 2017. Non-GAAP net income for fiscal year 2018 was $124.7 million, or $1.41 per share (diluted), compared with $178.5 million, or $1.92 per share (diluted) for fiscal year 2017.
• During fiscal year 2018, NETSCOUT repurchased a total of 13,190,650 shares of its common stock at an average price of $31.08 per share, totaling approximately $410.0 million in the aggregate. This total includes 7,387,862 shares initially delivered on February 2, 2018 as part of the ASR.

Guidance:
NETSCOUT adopted Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, as amended (commonly referred to as ASC 606) on April 1, 2018. The adoption of ASC 606 is currently expected to result in a reduction to NETSCOUT’s fiscal year 2019 GAAP revenue of approximately $26 million. The Company’s guidance reflects the anticipated impact of this transition against fiscal year 2018 results, which were accounted for under the legacy revenue recognition standard, ASC 605. For fiscal year 2019, NETSCOUT is providing the following guidance:

• The Company’s fiscal year 2019 GAAP revenue performance is expected to range from a low single-digit decline to low single-digit growth on a percentage change basis from fiscal year 2018 GAAP revenue of $986.8 million. The Company’s fiscal year 2019 non-GAAP revenue performance is expected to range from a low single-digit decline to low single-digit growth from fiscal year 2018 non-GAAP revenue of $999.3 million. The Company’s GAAP and non-GAAP guidance includes the aforementioned anticipated negative impact of approximately $26 million resulting from the adoption of ASC 606.
  • Under the legacy ASC 605 standard, the Company’s GAAP revenue guidance range would equate to low single-digit to mid single-digit revenue growth on a percentage change basis over fiscal year 2018 GAAP revenue. Under the legacy ASC 605 standard, the Company’s non-GAAP revenue guidance range would equate to roughly flat revenue with fiscal year 2018 non-GAAP revenue to low single-digit growth over fiscal year 2018 non-GAAP revenue on a percentage change basis.
  • NETSCOUT expects improving product revenue growth over the course of fiscal year 2019.
• The Company’s fiscal year 2019 GAAP net income per share (diluted) is expected to decline within a range of 115 percent to 165 percent on a percentage change basis from fiscal year 2018 GAAP net income per share (diluted) of $0.90. The Company’s fiscal year 2019 non-GAAP net income per share (diluted) performance is expected to range from a decline of approximately 20 percent to low double-digit growth over fiscal year 2018 non-GAAP net income per share (diluted) of $1.41.
  • Under the legacy ASC 605 standard, the Company’s GAAP net income per share (diluted) guidance would equate to a decline in the range of 90 percent to 140 percent from fiscal year 2018’s GAAP net income per share (diluted). Under the legacy ASC 605 standard, the non-GAAP net income per share (diluted) guidance would equate to a low single-digit decline from fiscal year 2018’s non-GAAP net income to approximately 30 percent growth over fiscal year 2018 on a percentage change basis.
• A reconciliation between GAAP and non-GAAP revenue and net income per share (diluted) for NETSCOUT’s guidance is included in the attached financial tables.

Conference Call Instructions:
NETSCOUT will host a conference call to discuss its fourth-quarter and fiscal year-end 2018 financial results, its near-term outlook and related fiscal year 2019 guidance, and other business matters today at 8:30 a.m. ET. This call will be webcast live through NETSCOUT’s website at http://ir.netscout.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=92658&p=irol-irhome. Alternatively, people can listen to the call by dialing (785) 424-1877. The conference call ID is NTCTQ418. A replay of the call will made be available after 12:00 p.m. ET on May 3 for approximately one week. The number for the replay is (800) 374-0934 for U.S./Canada and (402) 220-0680 for international callers.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information:
To supplement the financial measures presented in NETSCOUT's press release in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP"), NETSCOUT also reports the following non-GAAP measures: non-GAAP total revenue, non-GAAP product revenue, non-GAAP service revenue, non-GAAP income from operations, non-GAAP operating margin, non-GAAP earnings before interest and other expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) from operations, non-GAAP EBITDA from operations margin, non-GAAP net income, and non-GAAP net income per share (diluted). Non-GAAP revenue (total, product and service) eliminates the GAAP effects of acquisitions by adding back revenue related to deferred revenue revaluation, as well as revenue impacted by the amortization of intangible assets. Non-GAAP income from operations includes the aforementioned revenue adjustments and also removes expenses related to the amortization of acquired intangible assets, stock-based compensation, restructuring charges, expenses related to the implementation of a new accounting standard, and certain expenses relating to acquisitions including depreciation costs, compensation for post-combination services and business development and integration costs. Non-GAAP EBITDA from operations, which has been presented herein as a measure of NETSCOUT’s performance, includes the aforementioned items related to non-GAAP income from operations and also removes non-acquisition-related depreciation expense. Non-GAAP operating margin is calculated based on the non-GAAP financial metrics discussed above. Non-GAAP net income includes the aforementioned items related to non-GAAP income from operations, net of related income tax effects in addition to the provisional one-time impacts of the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Non-GAAP diluted net income per share also excludes these expenses as well as the related impact of all these adjustments on the provision for income taxes. Investors are encouraged to review the related GAAP financial measures and the reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures included in the attached tables within this press release.

These non-GAAP measures are not in accordance with GAAP, should not be considered an alternative for measures prepared in accordance with GAAP (revenue, gross profit, operating profit, net income and diluted net income per share), and may have limitations because 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.

NETSCOUT believes these non-GAAP financial measures will enhance the reader’s overall understanding of NETSCOUT’s current financial performance and NETSCOUT'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. NETSCOUT believes that providing these non-GAAP measures affords investors a view of NETSCOUT’s operating results that may be more easily compared to peer companies and also enables investors to consider NETSCOUT’s operating results on both a GAAP and non-GAAP basis during and following the integration period of NETSCOUT’s acquisitions. Presenting the GAAP measures on their own, without the supplemental non-GAAP disclosures, might not be indicative of NETSCOUT’s core operating results. Furthermore, NETSCOUT believes that the presentation of non-GAAP measures when shown in conjunction with the corresponding GAAP measures provides useful information to management and investors regarding present and future business trends relating to its financial condition and results of operations.

NETSCOUT 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.

About NETSCOUT
NETSCOUT SYSTEMS, INC. (NASDAQ: NTCT) assures digital business services against disruptions in availability, performance, and security. Our market and technology leadership stems from combining our patented smart data technology with smart analytics. We provide real-time, pervasive visibility, and insights customers need to accelerate, and secure their digital transformation. Our approach transforms the way organizations plan, deliver, integrate, test, and deploy services and applications. Our nGenius service assurance solutions provide real-time, contextual analysis of service, network, and application performance. Arbor security solutions protect against DDoS attacks that threaten availability, and advanced threats that infiltrate networks to steal critical business assets. To learn more about improving service, network, and application performance in physical or virtual data centers, or in the cloud, and how NETSCOUT’s performance and security solutions, powered by service intelligence can help you move forward with confidence, visit www.netscout.com or follow @NETSCOUT and @ArborNetworks on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.

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 without limitation, the statements related to fiscal year 2019 guidance, the expectation that orders for next-generation products will continue ramping over the coming quarters, the introduction of new capabilities to address broader security and big data requirements, our plans that we believe will help us recalibrate our cost structure to help improve underlying profitability without compromising our ability to capitalize on near-term and longer-term growth opportunities, our confidence in our product and go-to-market strategies and the anticipated benefits from our membership in the LFN ecosystem, constitute forward-looking statements which involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from the forward-looking statements due to known and unknown risk, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors. Such factors include slowdowns or downturns in economic conditions generally and in the market for advanced network, service assurance and cybersecurity solutions specifically; the volatile foreign exchange environment; the Company’s relationships with strategic partners and resellers; dependence upon broad-based acceptance of the Company’s network performance management solutions; the presence of competitors with greater financial resources than we have, and their strategic response to our products; our ability to retain key executives and employees; lower than expected demand for the Company’s products and services; and the timing and magnitude of stock buyback activity based on market conditions, corporate considerations, debt agreements, and regulatory requirements. 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, 2017 and the Company’s subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which are 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.

©2018 NETSCOUT SYSTEMS, INC. All rights reserved. NETSCOUT and the NETSCOUT logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of NETSCOUT SYSTEMS, INC. and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the USA and/or other countries.

*Business development & integration expenses include compensation for post-combination services and acquisition-related depreciation expense

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Source: NETSCOUT SYSTEMS, INC.

NETSCOUT SYSTEMS, INC.
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