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 F5 Delivers Second Consecutive Quarter of Double-Digit Revenue Growth with 19% GAAP and 18% Non-GAAP Product Revenue Growth

F5 Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: FFIV) today announced financial results for its fiscal second quarter ended March 31, 2021.

“The transformation we have worked persistently to achieve has put F5 at the center of applications, both traditional and modern, with a differentiated multi-cloud approach. As a result, we are benefiting from strong and sustainable macro growth drivers, which are ultimately powered by escalating application growth,” said François Locoh-Donou, F5’s President and CEO.

“Business and consumers’ increasing reliance on applications has accelerated all prior expectations about the pace of digital transformation and our customers across the globe are scaling their digital assets faster, resulting in growing demand for F5’s application security and delivery solutions,” concluded Locoh-Donou.

Second Quarter Performance Summary

Second quarter fiscal 2021 GAAP revenue was $645 million, up 11% from GAAP revenue of $583 million and up 10% from non-GAAP revenue of $586 million in the second quarter of fiscal year 2020. Fiscal year 2021 second quarter non-GAAP revenue growth was driven by 18% product revenue growth and 4% global services revenue growth over the prior year. Non-GAAP product revenue growth was fueled by 20% software revenue growth and 17% systems revenue growth compared to the year ago period.

GAAP net income for the second quarter of fiscal year 2021 was $43 million, or $0.70 per diluted share compared to second quarter fiscal year 2020 GAAP net income of $61 million, or $1.00 per diluted share.

Non-GAAP net income for the second quarter of fiscal year 2021 was $155 million, or $2.50 per diluted share, compared to $136 million, or $2.23 per diluted share, in the second quarter of fiscal year 2020. Non-GAAP net income for the second quarter of fiscal year 2021 excludes $63 million in stock-based compensation, impairment charges of $34 million, $28 million in acquisition-related charges, $12 million in amortization of purchased intangible assets, and $5 million in facility-exit costs.

A reconciliation of revenue, net income, earnings per share, and other measures on a GAAP to non-GAAP basis is included in the attached Consolidated Income Statements. Additional information about non-GAAP financial information is included in this release.

Business Outlook

For the third quarter of fiscal year 2021 ending June 30, 2021, F5 expects to deliver revenue in the range of $620 million to $650 million, with non-GAAP earnings in the range of $2.36 to $2.54 per diluted share.

All forward-looking non-GAAP measures included in the outlook exclude estimates for amortization of intangible assets, share-based compensation expenses, significant effects of tax legislation and judicial or administrative interpretation of tax regulations (including the impact of income tax reform), non-recurring income tax adjustments, valuation allowance on deferred tax assets, and the income tax effect of non-GAAP exclusions, and do not include the impact of any future acquisitions or divestitures, acquisition-related charges and write-downs, restructuring charges, facility exit costs, or other non-recurring charges that may occur in the period. F5 is unable to provide a reconciliation of non-GAAP earnings guidance measures to corresponding U.S. generally accepted accounting principles or GAAP measures on a forward-looking basis without unreasonable effort due to the overall high variability and low visibility of most of the foregoing items that have been excluded. Material changes to any one of these items could have a significant effect on our guidance and future GAAP results. Certain exclusions, such as amortization of intangible assets and share-based compensation expenses, are generally incurred each quarter, but the amounts have historically varied and may continue to vary significantly from quarter to quarter.

Live Webcast and Conference Call

F5 will host a live webcast and conference call to review its financial results and outlook today, April 27, 2021, at 4:30 pm ET. The live webcast can be accessed from the investor relations portion of F5.com. To participate in the live call via telephone in the U.S. and Canada, dial (833) 714-0927. Outside the U.S. and Canada, dial +1 (778) 560-2886. Reference Meeting ID 3461547. Please call at least 5 minutes prior to the call start time. The webcast replay will be archived on the investor relations portion of F5’s website.

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, past and future financial performance including revenue, operating targets, earnings and earnings per share ranges, demand for application security and delivery services, SaaS, and software 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 offerings; potential disruptions to F5’s business and distraction of management as F5 integrates acquired businesses’, teams and technologies; F5’s ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses’ products with F5 technologies; the ability of F5’s sales professionals and distribution partners to sell acquired businesses’ product and service 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; the business impact of the acquisition of Volterra and potential adverse reactions or changes to business or employee relationships, including those resulting from the announcement of completion of the acquisition; uncertain global economic conditions which may result in reduced customer demand for our products and services and changes in customer payment patterns; potential disruptions to the global supply chain resulting in inability to source required parts for F5’s products or the ability to only do so at greatly increased prices thereby impacting our revenues and/or margins; 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; potential security flaws in the Company’s networks, products or services; cybersecurity attacks on its networks, products or services; 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; the ability of F5 to execute on its share repurchase program including the timing of any repurchases; 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 and other documents that we may file or furnish 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 GAAP net income excluding, as applicable, stock-based compensation, amortization of purchased intangible assets, acquisition-related charges, net of taxes, restructuring charges, facility-exit costs, significant litigation and other contingencies and certain non-recurring tax expenses and benefits, which is a non-GAAP financial measure under Section 101 of Regulation G under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. 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.

The non-GAAP adjustments, and F5's basis for excluding them from non-GAAP financial measures, are outlined below:

Acquisition-related write-downs of assumed deferred revenue. Included in its GAAP financial statements, F5 records acquisition-related write-downs of assumed deferred revenue to fair value, which results in lower recognized revenue over the term of the contract. F5 includes revenue associated with acquisition-related write-downs of assumed deferred revenue in its non-GAAP financial measures as management believes it provides a more accurate depiction of revenue arising from our strategic acquisitions.

Stock-based compensation. Stock-based compensation consists of expense for stock options, restricted stock, and employee stock purchases through the company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Although stock-based compensation is an important aspect of the compensation of F5’s employees and executives, management believes it is useful to exclude stock-based compensation expenses to better understand the long-term performance of the company’s core business and to facilitate comparison of the company’s results to those of peer companies.

Amortization of purchased intangible assets. Purchased intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives and generally cannot be changed or influenced by management after the acquisition. Management does not believe these charges accurately reflect the performance of the company’s ongoing operations, therefore, they are not considered by management in making operating decisions. However, investors should note that the use of intangible assets contributed to F5’s revenues earned during the periods presented and will contribute to F5’s future period revenues as well.

Facility-exit costs. In fiscal year 2019, F5 relocated its headquarters in Seattle, Washington, and recorded charges in connection with this facility exit as well as other non-recurring lease activity. These charges are not representative of ongoing costs to the business and are not expected to recur. As a result, these charges are being excluded to provide investors with a more comparable measure of costs associated with ongoing operations.

Acquisition-related charges, net. F5 does not acquire businesses on a predictable cycle and the terms and scope of each transaction can vary significantly and are unique to each transaction. F5 excludes acquisition-related charges from its non-GAAP financial measures to provide a useful comparison of the company’s operating results to prior periods and to its peer companies. Acquisition-related charges consist of planning, execution and integration costs incurred directly as a result of an acquisition.

Impairment charges. In fiscal year 2021, F5 recorded impairment charges related to the permanent exit of certain floors at its Seattle headquarters. These charges are not representative of ongoing costs to the business and are not expected to recur. As a result, these charges are being excluded to provide investors with a more comparable measure of costs associated with ongoing operations.

Restructuring charges. F5 has incurred restructuring charges that are included in its GAAP financial statements, primarily related to workforce reductions and costs associated with exiting facility-lease commitments. F5 excludes these items from its non-GAAP financial measures when evaluating its continuing business performance as such items vary significantly based on the magnitude of the restructuring action and do not reflect expected future operating expenses.

In addition, these charges do not necessarily provide meaningful insight into the fundamentals of current or past operations of its business.

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 measures of earnings and earnings per share provides investors with an additional tool for evaluating the performance of the company’s core business and is used by management 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 these supplemental measures since, with reconciliation to GAAP, it may provide additional insight into the company’s operational performance and financial results.

For reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, please see the section in our attached Condensed Consolidated Income Statements entitled “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

About F5

F5 (NASDAQ: FFIV) is a multi-cloud application security and delivery company that enables our customers—which include the world’s largest enterprises, financial institutions, service providers, and governments—to bring extraordinary digital experiences to life. For more information, go to f5.com. You can also follow @F5 on Twitter or visit us on LinkedIn and Facebook for more information about F5, its partners, and technologies.

F5 is a trademark, service mark, or tradename of F5 Networks, Inc., in the U.S. and other countries. All other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Source: F5 Networks

F5 Networks, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(unaudited, in thousands)
 

March 31,

September 30,

2021

2020

 
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents

$

532,166

$

849,556

Short-term investments

111,105

360,333

Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $3420 and $3105

374,404

296,183

Inventories

24,571

27,898

Other current assets

293,402

259,506

Total current assets

1,335,648

1,793,476

 
Property and equipment, net

207,599

229,239

Operating lease right-of-use assets

260,389

300,680

Long-term investments

19,078

102,939

Deferred tax assets

68,624

45,173

Goodwill

2,209,639

1,858,966

Other assets, net

418,215

347,447

Total assets

$

4,519,192

$

4,677,920

 
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Current liabilities
Accounts payable

$

53,567

$

64,472

Accrued liabilities

324,865

321,398

Deferred revenue

929,397

883,134

Current portion of long-term debt

19,275

19,275

Total current liabilities

1,327,104

1,288,279

 
Deferred tax liabilities

1,888

602

Deferred revenue, long-term

437,506

389,498

Operating lease liabilities, long-term

320,132

338,715

Long-term debt

359,410

369,047

Other long-term liabilities

65,333

59,511

Total long-term liabilities

1,184,269

1,157,373

 
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, 60,052 and 61,099 shares issued and outstanding39,507305,453
Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(19,194

)

(18,716

)

Retained earnings

1,987,506

1,945,531

Total shareholders' equity

2,007,819

2,232,268

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

$

4,519,192

$

4,677,920

F5 Networks, Inc.
Consolidated Income Statements
(unaudited, in thousands, except per share amounts)
 

Three Months Ended

Six Months Ended

March 31,

March 31,

2021

2020

2021

2020

 
Net revenues
Products (1)

$

309,189

$

259,538

$

597,234

$

494,074

Services

336,098

323,911

672,670

658,680

Total

645,287

583,449

1,269,904

1,152,754

 
Cost of net revenues (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)
Products

73,289

53,086

140,327

95,204

Services

55,296

48,152

103,237

94,676

Total

128,585

101,238

243,564

189,880

Gross profit

516,702

482,211

1,026,340

962,874

 
Operating expenses (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)
Sales and marketing

244,908

215,472

459,454

410,991

Research and development

140,453

109,028

254,644

205,033

General and administrative

77,840

74,013

140,993

133,017

Restructuring charges

-

-

-

7,800

Total

463,201

398,513

855,091

756,841

 
Income from operations

53,501

83,698

171,249

206,033

Other income, net

(1,377

)

(141

)

(2,060

)

5,079

Income before income taxes

52,124

83,557

169,189

211,112

Provision for income taxes

8,883

22,178

38,270

51,206

Net income

$

43,241

$

61,379

$

130,919

$

159,906

 
 
Net income per share - basic

$

0.71

$

1.01

$

2.14

$

2.63

Weighted average shares - basic

60,667

60,869

61,058

60,758

 
Net income per share - diluted

$

0.70

$

1.00

$

2.10

$

2.62

Weighted average shares - diluted

62,158

61,084

62,292

61,017

 
 
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
 
Net income as reported

$

43,241

$

61,379

$

130,919

$

159,906

Acquisition-related write-downs of assumed deferred revenue.

-

2,191

1,283

2,191

Stock-based compensation expense..

63,220

51,222

121,289

98,883

Amortization of purchased intangible assets.

12,206

8,620

22,912

13,208

Facility-exit costs.

5,065

1,254

6,401

3,011

Acquisiton-related charges.

27,978

23,453

45,643

31,719

Impairment charges.

33,825

-

33,825

-

Restructuring charges.

-

-

-

7,800

Tax effects related to above items

(30,388

)

(12,172

)

(45,661

)

(25,406

)

Net income excluding acquisition-related write-downs of assumed deferred revenue, stock-based compensation expense, amortization of purchased intangible assets, facility-exit costs, acquisition-related charges, impairment charges and restructuring charges (non-GAAP) - diluted$155,147$135,947$316,611$291,312
 
Net income per share excluding acquisition-related write-downs of assumed deferred revenue, stock-based compensation expense, amortization of purchased intangible assets, facility-exit costs, acquisition-related charges, impairment charges and restructuring charges (non-GAAP) - diluted$2.50$2.23$5.08$4.77
 
Weighted average shares - diluted

62,158

61,084

62,292

61,017

 
(1) GAAP net product revenues

$

309,189

$

259,538

$

597,234

$

494,074

Acquisition-related write-downs of assumed deferred revenue

-

2,191

1,283

2,191

Non-GAAP net product revenues

309,189

261,729

598,517

496,265

GAAP net service revenues

336,098

323,911

672,670

658,680

Acquisition-related write-downs of assumed deferred revenue

-

-

-

-

Non-GAAP net service revenues

336,098

323,911

672,670

658,680

Total non-GAAP net revenues

$

645,287

$

585,640

$

1,271,187

$

1,154,945

 
(2) Includes stock-based compensation expense as follows:
Cost of net revenues

$

7,352

$

6,434

$

14,694

$

11,923

Sales and marketing

27,040

22,638

52,283

44,404

Research and development

17,717

12,557

32,704

23,759

General and administrative

11,111

9,593

21,608

18,797

$

63,220

$

51,222

$

121,289

$

98,883

 
(3) Includes amortization of purchased intangible assets as follows:
Cost of net revenues

$

8,799

$

5,953

$

16,181

$

9,050

Sales and marketing

2,832

2,153

5,581

3,114

General and administrative

575

514

1,150

1,044

$

12,206

$

8,620

$

22,912

$

13,208

 
(4) Includes facility-exit costs as follows:
Cost of net revenues

$

984

$

180

$

1,156

$

501

Sales and marketing

1,457

391

1,863

1,077

Research and development

1,544

408

1,878

1,153

General and administrative

1,080

275

1,504

280

$

5,065

$

1,254

$

6,401

$

3,011

 
(5) Includes acquisition-related charges as follows:
Cost of net revenues

$

32

$

13

$

2,522

$

13

Sales and marketing

9,917

3,364

14,688

3,773

Research and development

9,046

746

13,439

780

General and administrative

8,983

19,330

14,994

27,153

$

27,978

$

23,453

$

45,643

$

31,719

 
(6) Includes impairment charges as follows:
Cost of net revenues

$

4,388

$

-

$

4,388

$

-

Sales and marketing

10,256

-

10,256

-

Research and development

9,845

-

9,845

-

General and administrative

9,336

-

9,336

-

$

33,825

$

-

$

33,825

$

-

F5 Networks, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(unaudited, in thousands)
 

Six Months Ended

March 31,

2021

2020

 
Operating activities
Net income

$

130,919

$

159,906

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Stock-based compensation

121,289

98,447

Depreciation and amortization

56,185

43,112

Non-cash operating lease costs

19,415

18,970

Deferred income taxes

(17,962

)

5,353

Impairment of assets

40,698

-

Non-cash provisions for exit costs

-

-

Other

105

54

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable

(79,649

)

4,317

Inventories

3,327

3,459

Other current assets

(32,939

)

(19,603

)

Other assets

(29,066

)

(4,298

)

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

(14,529

)

(1,936

)

Deferred revenue

93,493

43,987

Lease liabilities

(25,447

)

(25,948

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

265,839

325,820

 
Investing activities
Purchases of investments

(65,725

)

(195,123

)

Maturities of investments

126,711

237,892

Sales of investments

269,986

232,255

Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired

(411,319

)

(955,574

)

Purchases of property and equipment

(14,090

)

(35,463

)

Net cash used in investing activities

(94,437

)

(716,013

)

 
Financing activities
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and purchases of stock under employee stock purchase plan

28,687

21,443

Repurchase of common stock

(500,000

)

(50,009

)

Proceeds from term debt agreement

-

400,000

Payments on term debt agreement

(10,000

)

-

Payments for debt issuance costs

-

(3,040

)

Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards

(7,928

)

-

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

(489,241

)

368,394

 
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

(317,839

)

(21,799

)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

494

(1,090

)

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period

852,826

602,254

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period

$

535,481

$

579,365

 
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities

$

30,809

$

30,067

Cash paid for interest on long-term debt

2,724

$

2,089

Supplemental disclosures of non-cash activities
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations

$

9,523

$

399,203

Contacts:

Investors
Suzanne DuLong
(206) 272-7049
s.dulong@f5.com

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