Cree, Inc. (Nasdaq: CREE), a market leader in LED lighting, today announced revenue of $346.3 million for its second quarter of fiscal 2013, ended December 30, 2012. This represents a 14% increase compared to revenue of $304.1 million reported for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 and a 10% increase compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2013. GAAP net income for the second quarter was $20.4 million, or $0.18 per diluted share, an increase of 69% year-over-year compared to GAAP net income of $12.1 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, for the second quarter of fiscal 2012. On a non-GAAP basis, net income for the second quarter of fiscal 2013 was $36.9 million, or $0.32 per diluted share, an increase of 29% year-over-year compared to non-GAAP net income for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 of $28.7 million, or $0.25 per diluted share.

"Fiscal Q2 was another strong quarter with record revenue and earnings per share that were higher than our target range due to stronger sales in both LEDs and Lighting combined with improved gross margins," stated Chuck Swoboda, Cree Chairman and CEO. "Overall company backlog is in line with seasonal trends for our fiscal Q3. Longer term, we remain focused on driving adoption through innovation, and with our broad understanding of the technology levers from materials through systems, we see opportunities to move the market even faster than what has been experienced to date."

Q2 2013 Financial Metrics

(in thousands, except per share amounts and percentages)

  Second Quarter    
2013   2012   Change  
(unaudited) (unaudited)
Net revenue $ 346,286 $ 304,118 $ 42,168 14 %
GAAP
Gross margin 38.5 % 34.6 %
Operating margin 7.2 % 4.0 %
Net income $ 20,403 $ 12,078 $ 8,325 69 %
Earnings per diluted share $ 0.18 $ 0.10 $ 0.08 80 %
Non-GAAP
Gross margin 39.2 % 35.3 %
Operating margin 13.7 % 10.3 %
Net income $ 36,878 $ 28,665 $ 8,213 29 %
Earnings per diluted share $ 0.32 $ 0.25 $ 0.07 28 %
  • Gross margin increased 170 basis points from Q1 of fiscal 2013 to 38.5% on a GAAP basis and increased 170 basis points to 39.2% on a non-GAAP basis.
  • Cash and investments increased $69.5 million from Q1 of fiscal 2013 to $885.8 million.
  • Accounts receivable (net) decreased $17.7 million from Q1 of fiscal 2013 to $144.6 million, with days sales outstanding of 38.
  • Inventory increased $5.3 million from Q1 of fiscal 2013 to $185.0 million, with days of inventory declining to 78 days.

Recent Business Highlights:

  • Achieved an LED industry milestone with the release of our 200 lumen-per-watt XLamp® MK-R LED;
  • Announced our revolutionary new LM16 LED replacement lamp to obsolete energy-wasting halogen MR16 lamps;
  • Introduced the XLamp XM-L2 LEDs, the industry's brightest, highest-performing single-die LEDs delivering 186 lumens per watt;
  • Announced that more than 130 locations of convenience restaurant chain Sheetz, Inc. now feature state-of-the-art LED lighting by Cree;
  • Released the industry's first fully qualified, production-ready, all SiC power module.

Business Outlook:

For its third quarter of fiscal 2013 ending March 31, 2013, Cree targets revenue in a range of $325 million to $345 million with GAAP gross margin targeted to be similar to Q2 and non-GAAP gross margin targeted to be 39.5%+/-. Our GAAP gross margin targets include stock-based compensation expense of approximately $2.4 million, while our non-GAAP targets do not. Operating expenses are targeted to be similar to Q2 on both a GAAP and non-GAAP basis. The tax rate is targeted at 17.0% for fiscal Q3. GAAP net income is targeted at $17 million to $23 million, or $0.15 to $0.20 per diluted share. Non-GAAP net income is targeted in a range of $35 million to $41 million, or $0.30 to $0.35 per diluted share. The GAAP and non-GAAP net income targets are based on an estimated 116.7 million diluted weighted average shares. Targeted non-GAAP earnings exclude expenses related to the amortization of acquired intangibles and stock-based compensation expense of $0.15 per diluted share.

Quarterly Conference Call:

Cree will host a conference call at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time today to review the highlights of the fiscal second quarter 2013 results and the fiscal third quarter business outlook, including significant factors and assumptions underlying the targets noted above.

The conference call will be available to the public through a live audio web broadcast via the Internet. For webcast details, visit Cree's website at investor.cree.com/events.cfm.

Supplemental financial information, including the non-GAAP reconciliation attached to this press release, is available on Cree's website at investor.cree.com/results.cfm.

About Cree, Inc.

Cree is leading the LED lighting revolution and making energy-wasting traditional lighting technologies obsolete through the use of energy-efficient, mercury-free LED lighting. Cree is a market-leading innovator of lighting-class LEDs, LED lighting, and semiconductor products for power and radio frequency (RF) applications.

Cree's product families include LED fixtures and bulbs, blue and green LED chips, high-brightness LEDs, lighting-class power LEDs, power-switching devices and RF devices. Cree products are driving improvements in applications such as general illumination, electronic signs and signals, power supplies and inverters.

For additional product and company information, please refer to www.cree.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures:

This press release highlights the company's financial results on both a GAAP and a non-GAAP basis. The GAAP results include certain costs, charges and expenses which are excluded from the non-GAAP results. By publishing the non-GAAP measures, management intends to provide investors with additional information to further analyze the company's performance, core results and underlying trends. Cree's management evaluates results and makes operating decisions using both GAAP and non-GAAP measures included in this press release. Non-GAAP results are not prepared in accordance with GAAP and non-GAAP information should be considered a supplement to, and not a substitute for, financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. Investors and potential investors are encouraged to review the reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP measures attached to this press release.

Forward Looking Statements:

The schedules attached to this release are an integral part of the release. This press release contains forward-looking statements involving risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated. Actual results, including with respect to our targets and prospects, could differ materially due to a number of factors, including the risk that we may not obtain sufficient orders to achieve our targeted revenues given that our backlog is a low percentage of our revenue targets and our ability to forecast orders is limited; risks associated with our acquisition of Ruud Lighting; price competition in key markets; the risk that we or our channel partners are not able to develop and expand customer bases and accurately anticipate demand from end customers, which can result in increased inventory and reduced orders as we experience wide fluctuations in supply and demand; the risk that our results will suffer if we are unable to balance fluctuations in customer demand and capacity; risks associated with the ramp-up of production of our new products, and our entry into new business channels different from those in which we have historically operated; the risk that we may experience production difficulties that preclude us from shipping sufficient quantities to meet customer orders or that result in higher production costs and lower margins; our ability to lower costs; ongoing uncertainty in global economic conditions, infrastructure development or customer demand that could negatively affect product demand, collectability of receivables and other related matters as consumers and businesses may defer purchases or payments, or default on payments; the risk we may be required to record a significant charge to earnings if our goodwill or amortizable assets become impaired; our ability to complete development and commercialization of products under development, such as our pipeline of improved LED chips, LED components and LED lighting products; risks resulting from the concentration of our business among few customers, including the risk that customers may reduce or cancel orders or fail to honor purchase commitments; risks related to our multi-year warranty periods for LED lighting products; the rapid development of new technology and competing products that may impair demand or render our products obsolete; the potential lack of customer acceptance for our products; risks associated with ongoing litigation; and other factors discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including our report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 24, 2012, and subsequent reports filed with the SEC. Except as required under the U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the SEC, Cree disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date of this release, whether as a result of new information, future events, developments, changes in assumptions or otherwise.

Cree®, the Cree logo, and XLamp® are registered trademarks of Cree, Inc. or one of its subsidiaries.

CREE, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(in thousands, except per share amounts and percentages)

(unaudited)

 
Three Months Ended Six Months Ended
December 30,
2012		   December 25,
2011		 December 30,
2012		   December 25,
2011
 
Revenue, net $ 346,286 $ 304,118 $ 662,039 $ 573,098
Cost of revenue, net 212,810   199,000   412,514   369,952  
Gross profit 133,476 105,118 249,525 203,146
Gross margin percentage 38.5 % 34.6 % 37.7 % 35.4 %
 
Operating expenses:
Research and development 39,941 35,886 77,488 70,288
Sales, general and administrative 60,100 49,176 112,745 94,715
Amortization of acquisition-related intangibles 7,719 7,367 15,389 11,292
Loss on disposal or impairment of long-lived assets 624   497   1,522   1,272  
Total operating expenses 108,384 92,926 207,144 177,567
 
Operating income 25,092 12,192 42,381 25,579
Operating income percentage 7.2 % 4.0 % 6.4 % 4.5 %
 
Non-operating income:
Interest and other non-operating income, net 2,481   1,689   5,866   4,632  
Income before income taxes 27,573 13,881 48,247 30,211
Income tax expense 7,170   1,803   11,721   5,314  
Net income $ 20,403   $ 12,078   $ 36,526   $ 24,897  
 
Earnings per share:
Diluted $ 0.18 $ 0.10 $ 0.31 $ 0.22
 
Shares used in diluted per share calculation 116,410 115,883 116,249 114,239
 

CREE, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands)

 
December 30,
2012		 June 24,
2012
(unaudited)
 
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments $ 885,803 $ 744,513
Accounts receivable, net 144,552 152,258
Inventories 185,006 188,849
Deferred income taxes 21,931 21,744
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 61,117   56,917
Total current assets 1,298,409 1,164,281
Property and equipment, net 555,049 582,461
Intangible assets, net 366,520 376,075
Goodwill 616,345 616,345
Other assets 7,733   8,336
Total assets $ 2,844,056   $ 2,747,498
 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable, trade $ 94,487 $ 78,873
Accrued salaries and wages 39,907 29,837
Income taxes payable 8,904 3,834
Other current liabilities 32,655   36,633
Total current liabilities 175,953 149,177
 
Long-term liabilities:
Deferred income taxes 15,733 15,609
Other long-term liabilities 16,762   22,695
Total long-term liabilities 32,495 38,304
 
Shareholders' equity:
Common Stock 145 144
Additional paid-in-capital 1,900,500 1,861,502
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of taxes 11,199 11,133
Retained earnings 723,764   687,238
Total shareholders' equity 2,635,608   2,560,017
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 2,844,056   $ 2,747,498
 

CREE, INC.
FINANCIAL RESULTS BY OPERATING SEGMENT
(in thousands, except percentages)
(unaudited)

The following table reflects the results of the Company's reportable segments as reviewed by the Company's Chief Executive Officer, its Chief Operating Decision Maker or CODM, for the three and six months ended December 30, 2012 and the three and six months ended December 25, 2011. The Company does not review inter-segment revenue when evaluating segment performance and allocating resources to each segment. As such, total segment revenue is equal to the Company's consolidated revenue.

Three Months Ended  
December 30,
2012		   December 25,
2011		   Change  
LED Products $ 200,962 $ 194,162 $ 6,800     4 %
Percent of revenue 58 % 64 %
Lighting Products 122,714 95,736 26,978 28 %
Percent of revenue 35 % 31 %
Power and RF Products 22,610 14,220 8,390 59 %
Percent of revenue 7 % 5 %    
Total revenue $ 346,286   $ 304,118   $ 42,168   14 %
 
Six Months Ended  
December 30,
2012		   December 25,
2011		   Change  
LED Products $ 388,509 $ 390,940 $ (2,431 )   (1 )%
Percent of revenue 59 % 68 %
Lighting Products 230,787 147,409 83,378 57 %
Percent of revenue 35 % 26 %
Power and RF Products 42,743 34,749 7,994 23 %
Percent of revenue 6 % 6 %    
Total revenue $ 662,039   $ 573,098   $ 88,941   16 %
 
Three Months Ended  
December 30,
2012		   December 25,
2011		   Change  
LED Products gross profit $ 84,186 $ 70,302 $ 13,884   20 %
LED Products gross margin 41.9 % 36.2 %
Lighting Products gross profit 41,383 31,927 9,456 30 %
Lighting Products gross margin 33.7 % 33.3 %
Power and RF Products gross profit 12,798 5,274 7,524 143 %
Power and RF Products gross margin 56.6 % 37.1 %
Unallocated costs (4,891 ) (2,385 ) (2,506 ) 105 %
Consolidated gross profit $ 133,476   $ 105,118   $ 28,358   27 %
Consolidated gross margin 38.5 % 34.6 %
 
Six Months Ended  
December 30,
2012		   December 25,
2011		   Change  
LED Products gross profit $ 159,653 $ 148,062 $ 11,591   8 %
LED Products gross margin 41.1 % 37.9 %
Lighting Products gross profit 75,483 47,877 27,606 58 %
Lighting Products gross margin 32.7 % 32.5 %
Power and RF Products gross profit 23,220 14,016 9,204 66 %
Power and RF Products gross margin 54.3 % 40.3 %
Unallocated costs (8,831 ) (6,809 ) (2,022 ) 30 %
Consolidated gross profit $ 249,525   $ 203,146   $ 46,379   23 %
Consolidated gross margin 37.7 % 35.4 %
 

Reportable Segments Description

The Company's LED Products segment includes LED chips, LED components, and SiC wafers. The Company's Lighting Products segment consists of both LED and traditional lighting systems, with its primary focus on LED lighting. The Company's Power and RF Products segment includes power devices and RF devices.

Financial Results by Reportable Segment

The Company's CODM reviews gross profit as the lowest and only level of segment profit. As such, all items below gross profit on the income statement must be included to reconcile the consolidated gross profit presented in the preceding table to the Company's consolidated income before taxes.

The Company allocates direct costs and indirect costs to each segment's cost of sales. The allocation methodology is based on a reasonable measure of utilization considering the specific facts and circumstances of the cost being allocated.

Certain costs are not allocated when evaluating segment performance. These unallocated costs include variable compensation costs for manufacturing employees consisting primarily of stock-based compensation, expenses for profit sharing and quarterly or annual incentive plans, matching contributions under the Company's 401(k) plan and acquisition related costs.

Cree, Inc.
Non-GAAP Measures of Financial Performance

To supplement the company's consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, Cree uses non-GAAP measures of certain components of financial performance. These non-GAAP measures include non-GAAP net income, non-GAAP earnings per diluted share, non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP operating expenses and free cash flow.

Reconciliation to the nearest GAAP measure of all historical non-GAAP measures included in this press release can be found in the tables included with this press release. In this press release, Cree also presents its target for non-GAAP operating expenses, which is operating expenses less stock-based compensation expense, charges for amortization or impairment of acquired intangibles, acquisition finished goods inventory step-up, and acquisition costs.

Non-GAAP measures presented in this press release are not in accordance with or an alternative to measures prepared in accordance with GAAP and may be different from non-GAAP measures used by other companies. In addition, these non-GAAP measures are not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles. Non-GAAP measures have limitations in that they do not reflect all of the amounts associated with Cree's results of operations as determined in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP measures should only be used to evaluate Cree's results of operations in conjunction with the corresponding GAAP measures.

Cree believes that these non-GAAP measures, when shown in conjunction with the corresponding GAAP measures, enhance investors' and management's overall understanding of the company's current financial performance and the company's prospects for the future, including cash flows available to pursue opportunities to enhance shareholder value. In addition, because Cree has historically reported certain non-GAAP results to investors, the company believes the inclusion of non-GAAP measures provides consistency in the company's financial reporting.

For its internal budgeting process, and as discussed further below, Cree's management uses financial statements that do not include stock-based compensation expense or amortization or impairment of acquired intangible assets, and the income taxes associated with the foregoing, and also do not include acquisition finished goods inventory step-up or acquisition costs. Cree's management also uses non-GAAP measures, in addition to the corresponding GAAP measures, in reviewing the company's financial results.

The Consolidated GAAP Gross Profit includes amounts that are excluded for non-GAAP measures in the "Unallocated Costs" in the Segment Reporting. The Company does not consider these costs when evaluating segment performance and allocating resources.

As described above, Cree excludes the following items from one or more of its non-GAAP measures when applicable:

Stock-based compensation expense. This expense consists of expenses for stock options, restricted stock and employee stock purchases through its Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP). Cree excludes stock-based compensation expenses from its non-GAAP measures because they are non-cash expenses that Cree does not believe are reflective of ongoing operating results.

Amortization or impairment of acquired intangible assets. Cree incurs amortization or impairments of acquired intangible assets in connection with acquisitions. Cree excludes these items because they arise from Cree's prior acquisitions and have no direct correlation to the current operating results of Cree's business.

Ruud Lighting Finished Goods Inventory Step-up. The inventory purchased as part of the Ruud Lighting acquisition was recorded at fair value at the time of the acquisition. In particular, the finished goods inventory was valued at the anticipated customer sales price less cost to sell, which is higher than the cost to produce the finished goods. Cree refers to the difference between the fair value and cost to produce as the Ruud Lighting finished goods inventory step-up. Cree excludes this inventory step-up item as Cree does not believe this step-up value is reflective of ongoing operating results.

Ruud Lighting Acquisition Cost. Cree incurred expenses directly related the acquisition of Ruud Lighting. These expenses include auditor fees, investment banking fees, legal fees and other consulting fees incurred to conclude the acquisition. Cree excludes these expenses as they bear no direct correlation to the current operating results and are not reflective of the ongoing operating results.

Income tax effects of the foregoing non-GAAP items. This amount is used to present each of the amounts described above on an after-tax basis consistent with the presentation of non-GAAP net income.

Cree expects to incur stock-based compensation expense and amortization of acquired intangible assets in future periods, including income taxes associated with the foregoing. In addition to the non-GAAP measures discussed above, Cree also uses free cash flow as a measure of operating performance. Free cash flow represents operating cash flows less net purchases of property and equipment and payments for patent and licensing rights. Cree considers free cash flow to be a liquidity measure that provides useful information to management and investors about the amount of cash generated by the business after the purchases of property and equipment, which can then be used to, among other things, invest in Cree's business, make strategic acquisitions, strengthen the balance sheet and repurchase stock. A limitation of the utility of free cash flow as a measure of financial performance is that it does not represent the total increase or decrease in the company's cash balance for the period.

CREE, INC.
Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures
(in thousands, except per share amounts and percentages)
(unaudited)

Non-GAAP Gross Margin

Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
December 30,
2012		   December 25,
2011		 December 30,
2012		   December 25,
2011
GAAP gross profit $ 133,476 $ 105,118 $ 249,525 $ 203,146
GAAP gross margin percentage 38.5 % 34.6 % 37.7 % 35.4 %
Adjustment:
Stock-based compensation expense $ 2,257 $ 1,615 $ 4,541 $ 3,329
Ruud Lighting finished goods inventory step-up --   503   --   1,482  
Non-GAAP gross profit $ 135,733   $ 107,236   $ 254,066   $ 207,957  
Non-GAAP gross margin percentage 39.2 % 35.3 % 38.4 % 36.3 %
 

Non-GAAP Operating Income

Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
December 30,
2012		   December 25,
2011		 December 30,
2012		   December 25,
2011
GAAP operating income $ 25,092 $ 12,192 $ 42,381 $ 25,579
GAAP operating income percentage 7.2 % 4.0 % 6.4 % 4.5 %
Adjustments
Stock-based compensation expense 14,544 11,195 27,029 22,635
Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets 7,719 7,367 15,389 11,292
Ruud Lighting acquisition costs -- -- -- 3,069
Ruud Lighting finished goods inventory step-up --   503   --   1,482  
Total adjustments to GAAP operating income 22,263   19,065   42,418   38,478  
Non-GAAP operating income $ 47,355   $ 31,257   $ 84,799   $ 64,057  
Non-GAAP operating income percentage 13.7 % 10.3 % 12.8 % 11.2 %
 

Non-GAAP Net Income

Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended

December 30,

2012

   December 25,
2011		 December 30,
2012		   December 25,
2011
GAAP net income $ 20,403 $ 12,078 $ 36,526 $ 24,897
Adjustments
Stock-based compensation expense 14,544 11,195 27,029 22,635
Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets 7,719 7,367 15,389 11,292
Ruud Lighting acquisition costs -- -- -- 3,069
Ruud Lighting finished goods inventory step-up --   503   --   1,482  
Total adjustments to GAAP income before provision for income taxes 22,263 19,065 42,418 38,478
Income tax effect * (5,788 ) (2,478 ) (10,308 ) (6,772 )
Non-GAAP net income $ 36,878   $ 28,665   $ 68,636   $ 56,603  
 
Earnings per Share
Non-GAAP diluted net income per share $ 0.32 $ 0.25 $ 0.59 $ 0.50
 
Shares used in diluted net income per share calculation
Non-GAAP shares used 116,410 115,883 116,249 114,239

* Based on effective tax rate calculated using forecasted non-GAAP income

Free Cash Flow

Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
December 30,
2012		   December 25,
2011		 December 30,
2012		   December 25,
2011
Cash flow from operations $ 92,608 $ 80,592 $ 178,294 $ 122,237
Less: PP&E CapEx spending (17,833 ) (19,076 ) (30,430 ) (53,038 )
Less: Patents spending (4,473 ) (3,884 ) (10,021 ) (8,043 )
Total free cash flow $ 70,302   $ 57,632   $ 137,843   $ 61,156  

Cree, Inc.
Raiford Garrabrant
Director, Investor Relations
919-407-7895
Fax: 919-407-5615
investorrelations@cree.com