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FireEye's (FEYE) Loss Narrows in Q1, Revenues Beat Estimates
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FireEye Inc. started 2018 on a strong note, posting impressive results for the first quarter. The company’s Q1 performance indicates that its turnaround efforts, which include shifting the business model to a subscription-based one, are apparently paying off. The main highlights of the quarter were sales beating expectations, strong growth in billings, a narrower loss and an upbeat guidance for the full year. And most importantly, the company expects to turn profitable this year.
However, it seemed this was not enough to impress investors, as shares of the cybersecurity company dipped more than 4% during yesterdays’ after-hour trading session. Nevertheless, the company’s performance, for the past two quarters, makes it quite evident that its turnaround initiatives are on track, and there is a high chance that FireEye might return to the growth trajectory by the end of this year.
Notably, shares of FireEye have gained remarkably in the year, so far, with the stock appreciating 30.7%, significantly outperforming 19.1% growth registered by the industry.
Now, let’s discuss the quarterly results in detail.
Revenues
The company’s first-quarter revenues of $199.1 million increased 7.7% year over year and outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $194 million, as well as management’s guidance of $192-$197 million.
The company noted that its quarterly revenues mainly benefited from shift in the business model from product based to subscription based. This apart, improved sales execution, enhanced relationship with channel partners, and growing adoption of the company’s Helix, iSIGHT Intelligence and Endpoint security solutions were other key growth drivers.
Further, billings climbed 21% year over year to $175.1 million, and came in marginally ahead of management’s guidance of $165-$175 million, mainly attributed to all the factors mentioned above.
Additionally, FireEye continues to secure large deals. Notably, the company renewed one deal of more than $10 million during the reported quarter. Moreover, it closed 29 transactions, with individual value of more than $1 million. The company also added 230 new customers in the recently-reported quarter.
Operating Results
Non-GAAP gross profit increased approximately 7.4% from the year-ago quarter to $147.3 million. Non-GAAP gross margin were almost flat year over year at 74%, which also came in line with management’s expectations.
Non-GAAP operating expenses increased approximately 6% year over year to $153 million, primarily due to elevated expenses related to payroll taxes and other employee-associated costs, and elevated R&D expenditure in connection with buyouts of “Email Laundry in Q4 2017 and X15 in Q1 2018.”
The company posted non-GAAP operating loss of $5.7 million, significantly lower than the year-ago quarter’s loss of $7.3 million. We believe improved operational efficiency and sales productivity are proving conducive to the company’s operating results.
Non-GAAP net loss for the first quarter narrowed down to approximately $7.5 million from the prior-year quarter’s net loss of $9.3 million.
On per share basis, FireEye reported non-GAAP loss of 4 cents, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Year over year, quarterly loss were narrower than the year-ago quarter’s loss of 5 cents. The quarter’s non-GAAP earnings per share also compared favorably with the mid-point of management’s guidance range of a loss of 3-6 cents (mid-point 4.5 cents). Notably, this is the tenth consecutive quarter of year-over-year improvement for the bottom line.
FireEye exited the reported quarter with cash and cash equivalents, and short-term investments of approximately $886.4 million, up from $896.8 million posted at the end of the previous quarter. Accounts receivable were $103.1 million compared with $146.3 million witnessed at the end of fourth-quarter 2017. During the quarter, the company generated $9.2 million of cash from operating activities.
Guidance
Buoyed by the impressive first-quarter results, improved operational efficiency and sales productivity, as well as healthy demand for intelligence-led security products, FireEye issued an encouraging outlook for the second quarter and raised its revenue, billings and operating cash flow guidance for the full year.
For the second quarter, the company anticipates revenues of $199-$203 million (mid-point: $201 million), which is in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Billings are projected at $180-$195 million. Non-GAAP gross margin is estimated to be approximately 74%, while non-GAAP operating margin is estimated in the band of -2% to +1%.
The company forecasts non-GAAP bottom-line results to be between loss per share of 3 and breakeven earnings. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter is pegged at a loss of a penny. Operating cash flow is likely to lie between zero and a negative of $15 million.
For the full year, the company now anticipates revenues of $820-$830 million (mid-point: $825 million), up from the earlier range of $815-$825 million (mid-point: $820 million). The new range is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $819.6 million. Billings are now projected at $815-$835 million, higher than the prior guidance of $810-$830 million.
Non-GAAP operating margin is still estimated in the band of 1-2%. The company continues to project reporting non-GAAP earnings in the range of breakeven to 4 cents per share. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter is pegged at 2 cents.
Operating cash flow is likely to lie between $50 million and $60 million, up from the previously guided range of $45-$55 million. Capital expenditure is still estimated to be between $35 million and $40 million.
Our Take
FireEye’s management has been striving to turn around the business through a string of initiatives, which includes product launches, acquisitions and cost optimization. We believe the company’s turnaround strategies are paying off as evident from its back-to-back five quarters of splendid results.
Additionally, although a shift from product-based to subscription-based business model will have a negative impact on FireEye’s near-term results, we believe it will lead to more stable revenues over the long run.
However, a shorter contract length is likely to affect the company’s near-term top-line performance. Nonetheless, there is an advantage to the shorter-length contracts, as these generally generate higher margins compared with three-year contracts.
Currently, FireEye carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Long-term expected earnings growth rates for CoStar Group, Dell Technologies and Science Applications International are 16.8%, 9.1% and 5%.
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FireEye's (FEYE) Loss Narrows in Q1, Revenues Beat Estimates
FireEye Inc. started 2018 on a strong note, posting impressive results for the first quarter. The company’s Q1 performance indicates that its turnaround efforts, which include shifting the business model to a subscription-based one, are apparently paying off. The main highlights of the quarter were sales beating expectations, strong growth in billings, a narrower loss and an upbeat guidance for the full year. And most importantly, the company expects to turn profitable this year.
However, it seemed this was not enough to impress investors, as shares of the cybersecurity company dipped more than 4% during yesterdays’ after-hour trading session. Nevertheless, the company’s performance, for the past two quarters, makes it quite evident that its turnaround initiatives are on track, and there is a high chance that FireEye might return to the growth trajectory by the end of this year.
Notably, shares of FireEye have gained remarkably in the year, so far, with the stock appreciating 30.7%, significantly outperforming 19.1% growth registered by the industry.
Now, let’s discuss the quarterly results in detail.
Revenues
The company’s first-quarter revenues of $199.1 million increased 7.7% year over year and outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $194 million, as well as management’s guidance of $192-$197 million.
The company noted that its quarterly revenues mainly benefited from shift in the business model from product based to subscription based. This apart, improved sales execution, enhanced relationship with channel partners, and growing adoption of the company’s Helix, iSIGHT Intelligence and Endpoint security solutions were other key growth drivers.
Further, billings climbed 21% year over year to $175.1 million, and came in marginally ahead of management’s guidance of $165-$175 million, mainly attributed to all the factors mentioned above.
Additionally, FireEye continues to secure large deals. Notably, the company renewed one deal of more than $10 million during the reported quarter. Moreover, it closed 29 transactions, with individual value of more than $1 million. The company also added 230 new customers in the recently-reported quarter.
Operating Results
Non-GAAP gross profit increased approximately 7.4% from the year-ago quarter to $147.3 million. Non-GAAP gross margin were almost flat year over year at 74%, which also came in line with management’s expectations.
Non-GAAP operating expenses increased approximately 6% year over year to $153 million, primarily due to elevated expenses related to payroll taxes and other employee-associated costs, and elevated R&D expenditure in connection with buyouts of “Email Laundry in Q4 2017 and X15 in Q1 2018.”
The company posted non-GAAP operating loss of $5.7 million, significantly lower than the year-ago quarter’s loss of $7.3 million. We believe improved operational efficiency and sales productivity are proving conducive to the company’s operating results.
Non-GAAP net loss for the first quarter narrowed down to approximately $7.5 million from the prior-year quarter’s net loss of $9.3 million.
On per share basis, FireEye reported non-GAAP loss of 4 cents, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Year over year, quarterly loss were narrower than the year-ago quarter’s loss of 5 cents. The quarter’s non-GAAP earnings per share also compared favorably with the mid-point of management’s guidance range of a loss of 3-6 cents (mid-point 4.5 cents). Notably, this is the tenth consecutive quarter of year-over-year improvement for the bottom line.
FireEye, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
FireEye, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | FireEye, Inc. Quote
Balance Sheet & Cash Flow
FireEye exited the reported quarter with cash and cash equivalents, and short-term investments of approximately $886.4 million, up from $896.8 million posted at the end of the previous quarter. Accounts receivable were $103.1 million compared with $146.3 million witnessed at the end of fourth-quarter 2017. During the quarter, the company generated $9.2 million of cash from operating activities.
Guidance
Buoyed by the impressive first-quarter results, improved operational efficiency and sales productivity, as well as healthy demand for intelligence-led security products, FireEye issued an encouraging outlook for the second quarter and raised its revenue, billings and operating cash flow guidance for the full year.
For the second quarter, the company anticipates revenues of $199-$203 million (mid-point: $201 million), which is in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Billings are projected at $180-$195 million. Non-GAAP gross margin is estimated to be approximately 74%, while non-GAAP operating margin is estimated in the band of -2% to +1%.
The company forecasts non-GAAP bottom-line results to be between loss per share of 3 and breakeven earnings. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter is pegged at a loss of a penny. Operating cash flow is likely to lie between zero and a negative of $15 million.
For the full year, the company now anticipates revenues of $820-$830 million (mid-point: $825 million), up from the earlier range of $815-$825 million (mid-point: $820 million). The new range is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $819.6 million. Billings are now projected at $815-$835 million, higher than the prior guidance of $810-$830 million.
Non-GAAP operating margin is still estimated in the band of 1-2%. The company continues to project reporting non-GAAP earnings in the range of breakeven to 4 cents per share. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter is pegged at 2 cents.
Operating cash flow is likely to lie between $50 million and $60 million, up from the previously guided range of $45-$55 million. Capital expenditure is still estimated to be between $35 million and $40 million.
Our Take
FireEye’s management has been striving to turn around the business through a string of initiatives, which includes product launches, acquisitions and cost optimization. We believe the company’s turnaround strategies are paying off as evident from its back-to-back five quarters of splendid results.
Additionally, although a shift from product-based to subscription-based business model will have a negative impact on FireEye’s near-term results, we believe it will lead to more stable revenues over the long run.
However, a shorter contract length is likely to affect the company’s near-term top-line performance. Nonetheless, there is an advantage to the shorter-length contracts, as these generally generate higher margins compared with three-year contracts.
Currently, FireEye carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks in the broader technology sector are CoStar Group, Inc. (CSGP - Free Report) , Dell Technologies Inc. and Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC - Free Report) , all sporting a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Long-term expected earnings growth rates for CoStar Group, Dell Technologies and Science Applications International are 16.8%, 9.1% and 5%.
5 Medical Stocks to Buy Now
Zacks names 5 companies poised to ride a medical breakthrough that is targeting cures for leukemia, AIDS, muscular dystrophy, hemophilia, and other conditions.
New products in this field are already generating substantial revenue and even more wondrous treatments are in the pipeline. Early investors could realize exceptional profits.
Click here to see the 5 stocks >>