Nova Reports Record Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2016 Results

REHOVOT, Israel, Feb. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Nova Measuring Instruments (Nasdaq: NVMI), a leading innovator and a key provider of metrology solutions for advanced process control used in semiconductor manufacturing, today reported record financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2016, the periods ended December 31, 2016.

Fourth Quarter 2016 Highlights:

• Record quarterly revenue of $50.2 million, up 14% sequentially and 25% year-over-year, significantly exceeding guidance of $42 to $46 million and as preannounced on January 26, 2017
• GAAP net income of $8.4 million, or $0.30 per diluted share, up 58% year-over-year on a per-share basis, exceeding guidance of $0.23 to $0.29 per share
• Non-GAAP net income of $11.7 million, or $0.42 per diluted share, up 24% sequentially and 121% year-over-year on a per-share basis, exceeding guidance of $0.31 to $0.40 per share
• Received over $10 million in XPS orders from multiple foundry customers
• Received multiple orders from leading 3D-NAND manufacturers

Full Year 2016 Highlights:

• Record full-year revenue of $163.9 million, up 10% year-over-year
• GAAP net income of $9.6 million, or $0.35 per diluted share, including non-recurring expense of $12.9 million related to royalty payment to the Israeli Office of the Chief Scientist
• Record non-GAAP net income of $30.3 million, or $1.10 per diluted share, up 44% year-over-year on a per-share basis
• Diversified customer mix yielded four customers contributing more than 10% each to the annual product revenues

A reconciliation between GAAP operating results and non-GAAP operating results is provided following the financial statements that are part of this release. Non-GAAP results exclude amortization of acquired intangible assets, net adjustments of deferred tax assets, stock-based compensation expenses, acquisition related expenses, expense related to royalty buyout agreement with the Office of the Chief Scientistand inventory write-off.

Management Comments

"The fourth quarter was an outstanding conclusion to another record year, demonstrating our ability to execute our growth plans effectively while improving our customer diversification and operational model," commented Eitan Oppenhaim, President and Chief Executive Officer of Nova. "We believe that the strong end to 2016 sets us on course for another growth year in 2017, bolstered by growing demand for our entire product portfolio, combining dimensions and materials metrology solutions. The strength of our business, as evidenced by our strong guidance for the first quarter, will continue into 2017 as we continue to secure wins from multiple customers in various industry segments."

Mr. Oppenhaim continued, "Nova's broad offering, which is embraced by our diversified customer base, allows us today to address a wider range of challenges that generate more opportunities for us to grow in 2017. During our continued growth, we have leveraged our proven business model to drive record profits, as evidenced by the significant increase in full-year non-GAAP net income. We expect to continue to benefit from our efficient business model in the coming years, leading to continued profitable growth." 

2017 First Quarter Financial Outlook

Management provided an outlook for the first quarter, the period ending March 31, 2017. Based on current estimates, management expects:

• $50 million to $54 million in revenue 
• $0.31 to $0.39 in diluted GAAP EPS
• $0.37 to $0.45 in diluted non-GAAP EPS

2016 Fourth Quarter Results

Total revenues for the fourth quarter of 2016 were $50.2 million, in line with the results announced on January 26, 2017. Sequentially, this represented an increase of 14% compared to the third quarter of 2016, and an increase of 25% relative to the fourth quarter of 2015.

Gross margin for the fourth quarter of 2016 was 56%, compared sequentially with gross margin of 22% in the third quarter of 2016 (which included a non-recurring expense related to royalty buyout agreement) and compared with gross margin of 52% in the fourth quarter of 2015.

Operating expenses in the fourth quarter of 2016 were $17.4 million. This is compared with $16.6 million in the third quarter of 2016 and compared with $17.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2015.

On a GAAP basis, the company reported net income of $8.4 million, or $0.30 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2016. This is compared with a net loss of $4.8 million, or $0.18 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2016. The company reported net income of $5.2 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2015.

On a non-GAAP basis, which excludes amortization of acquired intangible assets, net adjustments of deferred tax assets and stock-based compensation expenses, the company reported net income of $11.7 million, or $0.42 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2016. This is compared with net income of $9.4 million, or $0.34 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2016, and compared with net income of $5.3 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2015.

Cash utilization in the fourth quarter was higher than normal mainly due to the timing of shipments during the quarter, and management expects the first quarter of 2017 to include higher than normal cash generation.

2016 Full Year Results

Total revenues for 2016 were $163.9 million, an increase of 10% compared to total revenues of $148.5 million for 2015.

Gross margin in 2016 was 46%, and included $12.9 million of non-recurring expense related to royalty buyout agreement. This is compared with gross margin of 52% in 2015.

Operating expenses in 2016 were $65.1 million, compared with operating expenses of $65.5 million in 2015.

On a GAAP basis, which included $12.9 million of expense related to a royalty buyout agreement with the Office of the Chief Scientist, the company reported net income of $9.6 million, or $0.35 per diluted share, in 2016. This is compared with a net income of $15.7 million, or $0.57 per diluted share, in 2015.

On a non-GAAP basis, which excludes amortization of acquired intangible assets, net adjustments of deferred tax assets, stock-based compensation expenses, expense related to a royalty buyout agreement with the Office of the Chief Scientist and inventory write-off, the company reported net income of $30.3 million, or $1.10 per diluted share, in 2016. This is compared with net income of $21.0 million, or $0.76 per diluted share, in 2015.

Total cash reserves at the end of 2016 were $91.7 million, compared to $97.8 million at the end of 2015.

Conference Call Information

Nova will host a conference call today, February 14, 2017, at 9 a.m. Eastern Time, to discuss the financial results and future outlook. To attend the conference call, please dial one of the following teleconferencing numbers. Please begin by placing your calls five minutes before the conference call commences. If you are unable to connect using the toll-free numbers, please try the international dial-in number.

U.S. Dial-in Number: 1-888-244-2417
ISRAEL Dial-in Number: 1 80 925 8350
INTERNATIONAL Dial-in Number: 1-913-312-0966
At:
9 a.m. Eastern Time
6 a.m. Pacific Time
4 p.m. Israeli Time

Please reference conference ID 3628025

The conference call will also be webcast live from a link on Nova's website at http://ir.novameasuring.com. For those unable to participate in the conference call, there will be a replay available from a link on Nova's website at http://ir.novameasuring.com.

About Nova: Nova Measuring Instruments delivers continuous innovation by providing advanced metrology solutions for the semiconductor manufacturing industry. Deployed with the world's largest integrated-circuit manufacturers, Nova's products deliver state-of-the-art, high-performance metrology solutions for effective process control throughout the semiconductor fabrication lifecycle. Nova's product portfolio, which combines high-precision hardware and cutting-edge software, supports the development and production of the most advanced devices in today's high-end semiconductor market. Nova's technical innovation and market leadership enable customers to improve process performance, enhance products' yields and accelerate time to market. Nova acts as a partner to semiconductor manufacturers from its offices around the world. Additional information may be found at www.novameasuring.com.

Nova is traded on the NASDAQ & TASE under the symbol NVMI.

This press release provides financial measures that exclude charges for amortization of acquired intangible assets, net adjustment of deferred tax assets, stock-based compensation expenses, acquisition related expenses, expense related to royalty buyout agreement with the Office of the Chief Scientist and inventory write-off and are therefore not calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding Nova's performance because they reflect our operational results and enhances management's and investors' ability to evaluate Nova's performance before charges or benefits considered by management to be outside Nova's ongoing operating results. The presentation of this non-GAAP financial information is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. Management believes that it is in the best interest of its investors to provide financial information that will facilitate comparison of both historical and future results and allows greater transparency to supplemental information used by management in its financial and operational decision making. A reconciliation of each GAAP to non-GAAP financial measure discussed in this press release is contained in the accompanying financial tables.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 relating to future events or our future performance, such as statements regarding, but are not limited to, anticipated growth opportunities and projections about our business and its future revenues, expenses and profitability. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied in those forward looking statements. Factors that may affect our results, performance, circumstances or achievements include, but are not limited to, the following: our dependency on three product lines; our dependency on a small number of large customers and small number of suppliers; the highly cyclical and competitive nature of the markets we target and we operate in; our inability to reduce spending during a slowdown in the semiconductor industry; our ability to respond effectively on a timely basis to rapid technological changes; our ability to recognize the benefits of ReVera acquisition and risks that the acquisition may disrupt current plans and operations and impact relationships with customers, distributors and suppliers; our dependency on PEMs; risks related to exclusivity obligations and non-limited liability that may be included in our commercial agreements and arrangements; our ability to retain our competitive position despite the ongoing consolidation in our industry; risks related to our dependence on our manufacturing facilities; risks related to changes in our order backlog; risks related to the worldwide financial instabilities; risks related to our intellectual property; new product offerings from our competitors; unanticipated manufacturing or supply problems; risks related to government programs we participate in; risks related to taxation; changes in customer demand for our products; risks related to currency fluctuations, risks related to acquisitions we may pursue and risks related to our operations in Israel. We cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. The matters discussed in this press release also involve risks and uncertainties summarized under the heading "Risk Factors" in Nova's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2015 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 29, 2016. These factors are updated from time to time through the filing of reports and registration statements with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Nova Measuring Instruments Ltd. does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release.

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SOURCE Nova Measuring Instruments Ltd