FFIV F5 Inc

F5 Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: FFIV) today announced revenue of $465.3 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2014, up 6 percent from $440.3 million in the prior quarter and 18 percent from $395.3 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2013. For fiscal year 2014, revenue was $1.73 billion, up 17 percent from $1.48 billion in fiscal year 2013.

GAAP net income for the fourth quarter was $94.0 million ($1.26 per diluted share) compared to $79.5 million ($1.05 per diluted share) in the third quarter of 2014 and $76.2 million ($0.97 per diluted share) in the fourth quarter a year ago. GAAP net income for the year was $311.2 million ($4.09 per diluted share) versus $277.3 million ($3.50 per diluted share) in fiscal year 2013.

Excluding the impact of stock-based compensation and amortization of purchased intangible assets, non-GAAP net income for the fourth quarter was $116.7 million ($1.57 per diluted share), compared to $104.6 million ($1.39 per diluted share) in the prior quarter and $99.2 million ($1.26 per diluted share) in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013. For fiscal year 2014, non-GAAP net income was $413.0 million ($5.43 per diluted share) versus $362.9 million ($4.59 per diluted share) in fiscal year 2013.

A reconciliation of GAAP net income to non-GAAP net income is included on the attached Consolidated Statements of Operations.

“The fourth quarter of fiscal 2014 was a solid finish to a year characterized by positive customer and partner response to our Synthesis architecture, the array of new products we rolled out in fiscal 2013, our Good Better Best pricing strategy, and the enhanced capabilities of our BIG-IQ management platform,” said John McAdam, F5 president and chief executive officer.

“During the quarter, product revenue grew 20 percent from the fourth quarter of 2013, driven by strong sequential growth of Enterprise sales in the Americas and solid year-over-year growth in EMEA and APAC. Contributing to that growth, rising concern over the increasing number and variety of security threats helped stimulate demand for our security solutions and drive sales of our Better and Best software bundles, which include our most popular security products. This quarter, we will expand our portfolio of security offerings with the launch of our WebSafe and MobileSafe anti-malware solutions, available as software modules on TMOS, and Defense.Net, cloud-based DDoS protection that complements our on-premise DDoS solution.

“Revenue for the quarter and the year also benefited from a steady increase in the number of deals greater than $500,000 and a significant rebound in deals greater than $1 million. In addition, sales of our Virtual Edition (software-only) products continued to gain traction, with annual revenue up 49 percent from fiscal 2013.

“Revenue from consulting not only contributed to another year of solid growth in service revenue but helped drive follow-on product sales in major accounts, particularly in replacing other vendors’ products.

“Looking forward, I am confident that all of the company-specific drivers that propelled our growth in the fourth quarter and fiscal 2014 will continue to have a positive impact on our business throughout 2015. In addition, I believe our partnerships with major SDN and cloud providers will open up new opportunities for growth as the year progresses,” McAdam said.

For the first quarter of fiscal 2015, ending December 31, the company has set a revenue target of $460 million to $470 million with a GAAP earnings target of $1.10 to $1.13 per diluted share. Excluding stock-based compensation expense and amortization of purchased intangible assets, the company’s non-GAAP earnings target is $1.46 to $1.49 per diluted share.

A reconciliation of the company's expected GAAP and non-GAAP earnings is provided in the following table:

  Three months ended December 31, 2014   Reconciliation of Expected Non-GAAP First Quarter Earnings Low   High Net income $ 81.5 $ 83.7 Stock-based compensation expense $ 31.0 $ 31.0 Amortization of purchased intangible assets $ 3.2 $ 3.2 Tax effects related to above items $ (8.1 ) $ (8.1 ) Non-GAAP net income excluding stock-based compensation expense and amortization of purchased intangible assets $ 107.6   $ 109.8   Net income per share - diluted $ 1.10   $ 1.13   Non-GAAP net income per share - diluted $ 1.46   $ 1.49    

About F5 Networks

F5 (NASDAQ: FFIV) provides solutions for an application world. F5 helps organizations seamlessly scale cloud, data center, and software defined networking (SDN) deployments to successfully deliver applications to anyone, anywhere, at any time. F5 solutions broaden the reach of IT through an open, extensible framework and a rich partner ecosystem of leading technology and data center orchestration vendors. This approach lets customers pursue the infrastructure model that best fits their needs over time. The world’s largest businesses, service providers, government entities, and consumer brands rely on F5 to stay ahead of cloud, security, and mobility trends. For more information, go to f5.com.

You can also follow @f5networks on Twitter or visit us on Facebook for more information about F5, its partners, and technology.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements including, among other things, statements regarding the continuing strength and momentum of F5's business, future financial performance, sequential growth, projected revenues including target revenue and earnings ranges, income, earnings per share, share amount and share price assumptions, demand for application delivery networking, application delivery services, security, virtualization and diameter products, expectations regarding future services and products, expectations regarding future customers, markets and the benefits of products, and other statements that are not historical facts and which are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to the safe harbor provisions created by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of certain risk factors. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions and other factors that, if they do not fully materialize or prove correct, could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: customer acceptance of our new traffic management, security, application delivery, optimization, diameter and virtualization offerings; the timely development, introduction and acceptance of additional new products and features by F5 or its competitors; competitive factors, including but not limited to pricing pressures, industry consolidation, entry of new competitors into F5’s markets, and new product and marketing initiatives by our competitors; increased sales discounts; uncertain global economic conditions which may result in reduced customer demand for our products and services and changes in customer payment patterns; global economic conditions and uncertainties in the geopolitical environment; overall information technology spending; litigation involving patents, intellectual property, shareholder and other matters, and governmental investigations; natural catastrophic events; a pandemic or epidemic; F5's ability to sustain, develop and effectively utilize distribution relationships; F5's ability to attract, train and retain qualified product development, marketing, sales, professional services and customer support personnel; F5's ability to expand in international markets; the unpredictability of F5's sales cycle; F5’s share repurchase program; future prices of F5's common stock; and other risks and uncertainties described more fully in our documents filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K that we may file from time to time, which could cause actual results to vary from expectations. The financial information contained in this release should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in F5’s most recent reports on Forms 10-Q and 10-K as each may be amended from time to time. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available as of the date hereof and qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. F5 assumes no obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements.

GAAP to non-GAAP Reconciliation

F5’s management evaluates and makes operating decisions using various operating measures. These measures are generally based on the revenues of its products, services operations and certain costs of those operations, such as cost of revenues, research and development, sales and marketing and general and administrative expenses. One such measure is net income excluding stock-based compensation, amortization of purchased intangible assets and acquisition-related charges, net of taxes, which is a non-GAAP financial measure under Section 101 of Regulation G under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. This measure consists of GAAP net income excluding, as applicable, stock-based compensation, amortization of purchased intangible assets and acquisition-related charges. This measure of non-GAAP net income is adjusted by the amount of additional taxes or tax benefit that the company would accrue if it used non-GAAP results instead of GAAP results to calculate the company’s tax liability. Stock-based compensation is a non-cash expense that F5 has accounted for since July 1, 2005 in accordance with the fair value recognition provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 718 Compensation—Stock Compensation (“FASB ASC Topic 718”). Amortization of intangible assets is a non-cash expense. Investors should note that the use of intangible assets contribute to revenues earned during the periods presented and will contribute to revenues in future periods. Acquisition-related expenses consist of professional services fees incurred in connection with acquisitions.

Management believes that non-GAAP net income per share provides useful supplemental information to management and investors regarding the performance of the company’s core business operations and facilitates comparisons to the company’s historical operating results. Although F5’s management finds this non-GAAP measure to be useful in evaluating the performance of the core business, management’s reliance on this measure is limited because items excluded from such measures could have a material effect on F5’s earnings and earnings per share calculated in accordance with GAAP. Therefore, F5’s management will use its non-GAAP earnings and earnings per share measures, in conjunction with GAAP earnings and earnings per share measures, to address these limitations when evaluating the performance of the company’s core business. Investors should consider these non-GAAP measures in addition to, and not as a substitute for, financial performance measures in accordance with GAAP.

F5 believes that presenting its non-GAAP measure of earnings and earnings per share provides investors with an additional tool for evaluating the performance of the company’s core business and which management uses in its own evaluation of the company’s performance. Investors are encouraged to look at GAAP results as the best measure of financial performance. However, while the GAAP results are more complete, the company provides investors this supplemental measure since, with reconciliation to GAAP, it may provide additional insight into the company’s operational performance and financial results.

For reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, please see the section in our Consolidated Statements of Operations entitled “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

  F5 Networks, Inc. Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited, in thousands)     September 30, September 30, 2014   2013     ASSETS Current assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 281,502 $ 189,693 Short-term investments 363,877 352,450 Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $4,958 and $3,259 242,242 204,205 Inventories 24,471 19,026 Deferred tax assets 42,290 16,342 Other current assets 44,466   34,655  

Total current assets

998,848   816,371   Property and equipment, net 66,791 63,522 Long-term investments 482,917 728,981 Deferred tax assets 4,434 22,389 Goodwill 556,957 523,727 Other assets, net 75,003   75,564   Total assets $ 2,184,950   $ 2,230,554   LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY Current liabilities Accounts payable $ 43,772 $ 37,313 Accrued liabilities 108,772 92,608 Deferred revenue 484,437   421,429   Total current liabilities 636,981   551,350   Other long-term liabilities 22,718 25,202 Deferred revenue, long-term 152,312 109,944 Deferred tax liabilities 3,629   5,346   Total long-term liabilities 178,659   140,492   Commitments and contingencies Shareholders’ equity Preferred stock, no par value; 10,000 shares authorized, no shares outstanding — — Common stock, no par value; 200,000 shares authorized, 73,390 and 78,090 shares issued and outstanding 15,753 262,505 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (9,584 ) (7,414 ) Retained earnings 1,363,141   1,283,621   Total shareholders’ equity 1,369,310   1,538,712   Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 2,184,950   $ 2,230,554         F5 Networks, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited, in thousands, except per share amounts)   Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended September 30, September 30, 2014     2013   2014     2013   Net revenues Products $ 255,461 $ 212,291 $ 936,130 $ 798,856 Services 209,805   183,038   795,916   682,458   Total 465,266   395,329   1,732,046   1,481,314   Cost of net revenues (1)(2) Products 43,351 35,151 158,788 129,066 Services 38,601   31,792   151,171   123,981   Total 81,952   66,943   309,959   253,047   Gross profit 383,314   328,386   1,422,087   1,228,267   Operating expenses (1)(2) Sales and marketing 143,284 119,836 558,284 483,041 Research and development 65,401 54,464 263,792 209,614 General and administrative 27,148 26,512 106,454 102,401 Loss on facility sublease —   2,393   —   2,393   Total 235,833   203,205   928,530   797,449   Income from operations 147,481 125,181 493,557 430,818 Other income, net 2,323   732   3,785   7,274   Income before income taxes 149,804 125,913 497,342 438,092 Provision for income taxes 55,783   49,682   186,159   160,778   Net income $ 94,021   $ 76,231   $ 311,183   $ 277,314     Net income per share — basic $ 1.27   $ 0.97   $ 4.13   $ 3.53   Weighted average shares — basic 73,817   78,353   75,395   78,565     Net income per share — diluted $ 1.26   $ 0.97   $ 4.09   $ 3.50   Weighted average shares — diluted 74,366   78,674   76,092   79,136     Non-GAAP Financial Measures Net income as reported $ 94,021 $ 76,231 $ 311,183 $ 277,314 Stock-based compensation expense (3) 25,159 22,031 127,156 104,212 Amortization of purchased intangible assets 3,147 1,033 9,488 4,131 Loss on facility sublease — 2,393 — 2,393 Tax effects related to above items (5,585 ) (2,538 ) (34,859 ) (25,114 ) Net income excluding stock-based compensation, amortization of purchased intangible assets and loss on facility sublease (non-GAAP) - diluted $ 116,742   $ 99,150   $ 412,968   $ 362,936     Net income per share excluding stock-based compensation, amortization of purchased intangible assets and loss on facility sublease (non-GAAP) - diluted $ 1.57   $ 1.26   $ 5.43   $ 4.59     Weighted average shares - diluted 74,366   78,674   76,092   79,136     (1) Includes stock-based compensation as follows: Cost of net revenues $ 2,591 $ 2,258 $ 13,985 $ 11,118 Sales and marketing 9,521 7,945 50,091 39,478 Research and development 9,029 7,638 43,633 32,668 General and administrative 4,018   4,190   19,447   20,948   $ 25,159   $ 22,031   $ 127,156   $ 104,212     (2) Includes amortization of purchased intangible assets as follows: Cost of net revenues $ 2,651 $ 958 $ 7,890 $ 3,831 Sales and marketing 496   75   1,598   300   $ 3,147   $ 1,033   $ 9,488   $ 4,131     (3) Stock-based compensation is accounted for in accordance with the fair value recognition provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation (“FASB ASC Topic 718”)     F5 Networks, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited, in thousands)   Years Ended September 30, 2014     2013   Operating activities Net income $ 311,183 $ 277,314 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Realized gain on disposition of assets and investments (195 ) (187 ) Stock-based compensation 127,156 104,212 Provisions for doubtful accounts and sales returns 2,870 1,025 Depreciation and amortization 46,121 40,005 Deferred income taxes (3,090 ) 474 Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of amounts acquired: Accounts receivable (40,895 ) (18,867 ) Inventories (5,445 ) (1,617 ) Other current assets (9,828 ) (3,614 ) Other assets (2,502 ) 683 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 18,339 16,790 Deferred revenue 105,278   83,475   Net cash provided by operating activities 548,992   499,693   Investing activities Purchases of investments (515,737 ) (938,571 ) Maturities of investments 523,983 613,927 Sales of investments 214,493 212,011 Decrease (increase) in restricted cash 59 (612 ) Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired (49,439 ) (212,642 ) Purchases of property and equipment (22,718 ) (26,583 ) Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 150,641   (352,470 ) Financing activities Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation 10,283 4,091 Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and purchases of stock under employee stock purchase plan 35,299 29,591 Repurchase of common stock (650,542 ) (200,000 ) Net cash used in financing activities (604,960 ) (166,318 ) Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 94,673 (19,095 ) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents (2,864 ) (2,393 ) Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year 189,693   211,181   Cash and cash equivalents, end of year $ 281,502   $ 189,693    

F5 Networks, Inc.Investor RelationsJohn Eldridge, 206-272-6571j.eldridge@f5.comorPublic RelationsNathan Misner, 206-272-7494n.misner@f5.com