MKS Instruments Reports Q1 2015 Financial Results

ANDOVER, Mass., April 22, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MKS Instruments, Inc. (Nasdaq:MKSI), a global provider of technologies that enable advanced processes and improve productivity; today reports first quarter 2015 financial results.

  GAAP Results Non-GAAP Results
Net revenues ($ millions) $214 $214
Gross margin 45.4% 45.4%
Operating margin 22.0% 23.1%
Net income ($ millions) $33.8 $35.5
Diluted EPS $0.63 $0.66

First Quarter Financial Results

Sales were $214 million, an increase of 5% from $203 million in the fourth quarter of 2014, and an increase of 4% from $206 million in the first quarter of 2014.

First quarter net income was $33.8 million, or $0.63 per diluted share, compared to net income of $34.2 million, or $0.64 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2014, and $31.2 million, or $0.58 per diluted share in the first quarter of 2014.

Non-GAAP net earnings, which exclude special charges and credits, were $35.5 million, or $0.66 per diluted share, compared to $29.1 million, or $0.54 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2014, and $27.2 million, or $0.51 per diluted share in the first quarter of 2014.

In the first quarter, the board of directors authorized a quarterly cash dividend of $0.165 per share, and the Company paid a dividend of $8.8 million on March 13th.

Gerald Colella, Chief Executive Officer and President, said, "The first quarter was another strong quarter financially for MKS. Sales were up 5% from the fourth quarter and at the high end of our guidance range, and profitability exceeded our expectations with non-GAAP earnings per share up over 20% sequentially. The favorable results were primarily driven by improvements to our operating model, as well as a continued strong environment for our semiconductor business, which increased 7% from the fourth quarter, while sales to all other markets grew for the sixth straight quarter.

"Recent reports for semiconductor capital spending are mixed, but continue to indicate a healthy market for wafer fab equipment in 2015. Our near-term visibility indicates a continued positive business environment in both our semiconductor and other advanced markets for the second quarter, which we expect will be stronger than the same period last year. As we operate within this healthy business environment, we continue to make refinements to our operating structure and improvements to our profitability, as well as redeploying resources to strategic and high-growth areas.

"Based on these factors, and looking at current business levels, we anticipate that sales in the second quarter may range from $200 million to $220 million, and at these volumes, our non-GAAP net earnings could range from $0.53 to $0.66 per share and our GAAP net income could range from $0.54 to $0.67 per share."

Conference Call Details

A conference call with management will be held on Thursday, April 23, 2015 at 8:30 a.m. (EDT). To participate in the conference call, please dial (877) 212-6076 for domestic callers and (707) 287-9331 for international callers, and an operator will connect you. Participants will need to provide the operator with the Conference ID of 14695327, which has been reserved for this call. A live and archived webcast of the call will be available on the company's website at www.mksinst.com.  

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Results

Non-GAAP amounts exclude amortization of acquired intangible assets, costs associated with completed acquisitions, restructuring charges, discrete tax benefits and charges, and the related tax effect of these adjustments. These non-GAAP measures are not in accordance with Accounting Principles Generally Accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). MKS' management believes the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is useful to investors for comparing prior periods and analyzing ongoing business trends and operating results.

About MKS Instruments

MKS Instruments, Inc. is a global provider of instruments, subsystems and process control solutions that measure, control, power, monitor and analyze critical parameters of advanced manufacturing processes to improve process performance and productivity. Our products are derived from our core competencies in pressure measurement and control, materials delivery, gas composition analysis, control and information technology, power and reactive gas generation, and vacuum technology. Our primary served markets are manufacturers of capital equipment for semiconductor devices, and for other thin film applications including flat panel displays, solar cells, light emitting diodes, data storage media, and other advanced coatings. We also leverage our technology in other markets with advanced manufacturing applications including medical equipment, pharmaceutical manufacturing, energy generation and environmental monitoring.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains projections or other forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27 of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act regarding MKS' future growth and the future financial performance of MKS. These projections or statements are only predictions. Actual events or results may differ materially from those in the projections or other forward-looking statements set forth herein. Among the important factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those in the projections or other forward-looking statements are the fluctuations in capital spending in the semiconductor industry, and other advanced manufacturing markets, fluctuations in net sales to MKS' major customers, potential fluctuations in quarterly results, the challenges, risks and costs involved with integrating the operations of MKS and any acquired companies, dependence on new product development, rapid technological and market change, acquisition strategy, manufacturing and sourcing risks, volatility of stock price, international operations, financial risk management, and future growth subject to risks. Readers are referred to MKS' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for a discussion of these and other important risk factors concerning MKS and its operations. MKS is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. 

MKS Instruments, Inc.
Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except per share data)
 
  Three Months Ended 
  March 31, March 31, December 31,
  2015 2014 2014
       
Net revenues:      
 Products  $ 186,096  $ 181,186  $ 176,647
 Services  27,743  25,167  26,374
 Total net revenues  213,839  206,353  203,021
Cost of revenues:      
 Products  98,652  100,211  97,295
 Services  18,141  16,770  16,292
 Total cost of revenues  116,793  116,981  113,587
       
Gross profit  97,046  89,372  89,434
       
Research and development  16,680  15,618  16,022
Selling, general and administrative  30,867  34,591  32,633
Acquisition costs  30  228  -- 
Restructuring  788  747  494
Amortization of intangible assets  1,671  410  1,731
Income from operations  47,010  37,778  38,554
       
Interest income, net  504  235  391
       
Income from operations before income taxes  47,514  38,013  38,945
Provision for income taxes   13,728  6,768  4,753
Net income  $ 33,786  $ 31,245  $ 34,192
       
Net income per share:      
 Basic  $ 0.63  $ 0.58  $ 0.64
 Diluted  $ 0.63  $ 0.58  $ 0.64
       
Cash dividends per common share  $ 0.165  $ 0.160  $ 0.165
       
Weighted average shares outstanding:       
 Basic  53,214  53,411  53,102
 Diluted  53,529  53,776  53,436
       
The following supplemental Non-GAAP earnings information is presented to aid in understanding MKS' operating results:  
       
Net income  $ 33,786  $ 31,245  $ 34,192
       
Adjustments (net of tax, if applicable):      
 Income tax charges (Note 1)  --   --   1,422
 Release of tax reserves (Note 2)  --   --   (3,394)
 Tax benefit and tax credits (Note 3)  --   (5,079)  (4,614)
 Acquisition costs (Note 4)  30  228  -- 
 Restructuring (Note 5)  788  747  494
 Amortization of intangible assets  1,671  410  1,731
 Pro forma tax adjustments  (773)  (366)  (779)
       
Non-GAAP net earnings (Note 6)  $ 35,502  $ 27,185  $ 29,052
       
Non-GAAP net earnings per share (Note 6)  $ 0.66  $ 0.51  $ 0.54
       
Weighted average shares outstanding  53,529  53,776  53,436
       
Income from operations  $ 47,010  $ 37,778  $ 38,554
       
Adjustments:      
 Acquisition costs (Note 4)  $ 30  $ 228  $ -- 
 Restructuring (Note 5)  788  747  494
 Amortization of intangible assets  1,671  410  1,731
       
Non-GAAP income from operations (Note 7)  $ 49,499  $ 39,163  $ 40,779
       
Non-GAAP operating margin percentage (Note 7) 23.1% 19.0% 20.1%
       
       
Note 1: In the fourth quarter of 2014, we recorded $1.4 million of withholding tax related to a foreign intercompany dividend.
 
Note 2: Reserve releases related to the settlement of audits and expiration of the statute of limitations. 
 
Note 3: In the fourth quarter of 2014, we recorded a tax benefit of $3.2 million related to a German NOL resulting from a change in tax status and we recorded a $1.4 million tax credit for the reinstatement of the U.S. research credit for the full year 2014. In the first quarter of 2014, we recorded a tax benefit of $5.1 million related to the settlement of an audit and other discrete items.
 
Note 4: We recorded $0.03 million of acquisition costs related to the Precisive LLC acquisition, which closed during the first quarter of 2015. We recorded $0.2 million of acquisition costs comprising of legal and filing fees related to the Granville-Phillips acquisition, which closed during the second quarter of 2014.
 
Note 5: In the first quarter of 2015, we recorded restructuring charges related to the outsourcing of an international manufacturing operation. In the first and fourth quarters of 2014, we recorded restructuring charges primarily for severance costs related to a reduction in workforce and the consolidation of certain facilities.
 
Note 6: The Non-GAAP net earnings and Non-GAAP net earnings per share amounts exclude amortization of intangible assets, restructuring costs, acquisition costs, discrete tax benefits and charges, and the related tax effect of these adjustments to reflect the expected full year effective tax rate in the related quarter.
 
Note 7: The Non-GAAP income from operations and Non-GAAP operating margin percentages exclude amortization of intangible assets, restructuring costs, and acquisition costs.
 
MKS Instruments, Inc.
Reconciliation of GAAP Income Tax Rate to Non-GAAP Income Tax Rate
(In thousands)
 
  Three Months Ended March 31, 2015 Three Months Ended December 31, 2014
  Income Before Provision (benefit) Effective  Income Before Provision (benefit) Effective 
  Income Taxes for Income Taxes Tax Rate Income Taxes for Income Taxes Tax Rate
             
GAAP  $ 47,514  $ 13,728 28.9%  $ 38,945  $ 4,753 12.2%
             
Adjustments:            
 Income tax charges (Note 1)  --   --     --   (1,422)  
 Release of tax reserves (Note 2)  --   --     --   3,394  
 Tax benefit and tax credits (Note 3)  --   --     --   4,614  
 Acquisition costs (Note 4)  30  --     --   --   
 Restructuring (Note 5)  788  --     494  --   
 Amortization of intangible assets  1,671  --     1,731  --   
 Tax effect of pro forma adjustments  --   817    --   779  
 Adjustment to pro forma tax rate  --   (44)    --   --   
             
Non-GAAP  $ 50,003  $ 14,501 29.0%  $ 41,170  $ 12,118 29.4%
             
  Three Months Ended March 31, 2014      
  Income Before Provision (benefit) Effective       
  Income Taxes for Income Taxes Tax Rate      
             
GAAP  $ 38,013  $ 6,768 17.8%      
             
Adjustments:            
 Tax benefit and tax credits (Note 3)  --   5,079        
 Acquisition costs (Note 4)  228  --         
 Restructuring (Note 5)  747  --         
 Amortization of intangible assets  410  --         
 Tax effect of pro forma adjustments  --   468        
 Adjustment to pro forma tax rate  --   (102)        
             
Non-GAAP  $ 39,398  $ 12,213 31.0%      
 
Note 1: In the fourth quarter of 2014, we recorded $1.4 million of withholding tax related to a foreign intercompany dividend.
 
Note 2: Reserve releases related to the settlement of audits and expiration of the statute of limitations. 
 
Note 3: In the fourth quarter of 2014, we recorded a tax benefit of $3.2 million related to a German NOL resulting from a change in tax status and we recorded a $1.4 million tax credit for the reinstatement of the U.S. research credit for the full year 2014. In the first quarter of 2014, we recorded a tax benefit of $5.1 million related to the settlement of an audit and other discrete items.
 
Note 4: We recorded $0.03 million of acquisition costs related to the Precisive LLC acquisition, which closed during the first quarter of 2015. We recoded $0.2 million of acquisition costs comprising of legal and filing fees related to the Granville-Phillips acquisition, which closed during the second quarter of 2014.
 
Note 5: In the first quarter of 2015, we recorded restructuring charges related to the outsourcing of an international manufacturing operation. In the first and fourth quarters of 2014, we recorded restructuring charges primarily for severance costs related to a reduction in workforce and the consolidation of certain facilities.
 
MKS Instruments, Inc.
Reconciliation of Q2-15 Guidance - GAAP Net Income to Non-GAAP Net Earnings 
(In thousands, except per share data)
 
  Three Months Ended June 30, 2015
  Low Guidance High Guidance
  $ Amount $ Per Share $ Amount $ Per Share
         
GAAP net income  $ 28,800  $ 0.54  $ 36,000  $ 0.67
         
Amortization 1,700 0.03 1,700  0.03
         
Reversal of special one-time E&O charge (Note 1) (2,300) (0.04) (2,300)  (0.04)
         
Tax effect of adjustments (Note 2) 200 0.00 200  0.00
         
Non-GAAP net earnings  $ 28,400  $ 0.53  $ 35,600  $ 0.66
         
Q2 -15 forecasted shares   53,700   53,700
 
Note 1: Represents the estimated effect of the sale of inventory reduced to fair-market value in a prior period.
 
Note 2: The Non-GAAP adjustments are tax effected at the estimated Q2-15 tax rate of 29%.
 
MKS Instruments, Inc.
Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheet
(In thousands)
 
  March 31, December 31,
  2015 2014
     
ASSETS    
     
Cash and cash equivalents  $ 192,713  $ 305,437
Short-term investments  158,631  129,594
Trade accounts receivable, net  124,445  106,362
Inventories  164,412  155,169
Deferred income taxes  13,560  14,017
Other current assets  21,580  27,512
     
Total current assets  675,341  738,091
     
Property, plant and equipment, net  70,908  72,776
Long-term investments  237,313  157,201
Goodwill  199,330  192,381
Intangible assets, net  49,553  46,389
Other assets  17,165  17,206
     
Total assets  $ 1,249,610  $ 1,224,044
     
     
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY  
     
Accounts payable  $ 37,549  $ 34,166
Accrued compensation  21,349  26,970
Income taxes payable  6,455  6,702
Other current liabilities  38,513  35,789
Total current liabilities  103,866  103,627
     
Other liabilities  41,055  38,595
     
Stockholders' equity:    
Common stock  113  113
Additional paid-in capital  736,290  734,732
Retained earnings  374,063  349,061
Other stockholders' equity  (5,777)  (2,084)
Total stockholders' equity  1,104,689  1,081,822
     
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity  $ 1,249,610  $ 1,224,044 
CONTACT: Company Contact: Seth H. Bagshaw

         Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

         Telephone: 978.645.5578



         Investor Relations Contact: Claire McAdams

         Headgate Partners LLC

         Telephone: 530.265.9899

         Email: claire@headgatepartners.com

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Source: MKS Instruments, Inc.

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