Linear Technology Reports a 17% Increase in Revenues and a 38% Increase in Earnings Per Share Over the Prior Year
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Linear Technology Reports a 17% Increase in Revenues and a 38% Increase in Earnings Per Share Over the Prior Year

Linear Technology Corporation (NASDAQ:LLTC), a leading, independent manufacturer of high performance linear integrated circuits, today reported financial results for the quarter ended March 30, 2008. Revenue for the third quarter of fiscal year 2008 increased 3.2% to $297.9 million over the previous quarters revenue of $288.7 million and increased 16.8% or $42.9 million over $255.0 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2007. Diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.44 increased $0.03 per share or 7% over the second quarter of fiscal year 2008 and increased $0.12 per share or 38% over the third quarter of fiscal year 2007. Third quarter Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) net income of $99.2 million increased $5.4 million or 5.8% from $93.8 million reported in the second quarter of fiscal year 2008. During the March quarter the Companys cash and short-term investments balance increased $101.3 million net of spending $9.8 million to purchase approximately 400,000 shares of its common stock.

A cash dividend of $0.21 per share will be paid on May 28, 2008 to stockholders of record on May 16, 2008.

Non-GAAP diluted EPS for the third quarter of fiscal year 2008 was $0.49 per share, a $0.03 per share increase over the second quarter of fiscal year 2008 and a $0.12 per share increase over the third quarter of fiscal year 2007. Third quarter non-GAAP net income of $110.0 million increased $6.0 million over $104.0 million in the second quarter and decreased $1.8 million from the third quarter of fiscal year 2007. The Companys non-GAAP measures set forth above exclude charges related to stock-based compensation. The Companys management uses non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP net income per diluted share to evaluate the Companys current operating results and financial results and to compare them against historical financial results. Reconciliations of reported net income and reported net income per diluted share to non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP net income per diluted share, respectively, are included at the end of this press release.

According to Lothar Maier, CEO, The Company grew revenues and EPS sequentially by 3.2% and 7%, respectively, in the March quarter. This marks the fourth consecutive quarter that the Company has sequentially grown revenues, operating margin and EPS. These improvements have occurred in spite of difficult economic times. This speaks to our strategy of diversification both geographically and by end-market as we have seen strength internationally and in the industrial and communication end-markets.

Looking ahead, given the concerns about economic difficulties particularly in the USA, forecasting future results continues to be a challenge. June should be a growth quarter as we had a positive book to bill ratio in the March quarter and we would expect the June quarter to continue to have strength in many of our end-markets. However, the overriding general economic conditions merit concern. Consequently, we estimate that revenues and income before taxes will grow 1% to 5% sequentially from the March quarter.

Except for historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release are forward-looking statements. In particular, the statements regarding the demand for our products, our customers ordering patterns and the anticipated trends in our sales and profits are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are dependent on certain risks and uncertainties, including such factors, among others, as the timing, volume and pricing of new orders received and shipped, the timely introduction of new processes and products, general conditions in the world economy and financial markets and other factors described in our 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 1, 2007.

Company officials will be discussing these results in greater detail in a conference call tomorrow, Wednesday, April 16, 2008 at 8:30 a.m. Pacific Coast Time. Those investors wishing to listen in may call (719) 325-4750 before 8:15 a.m. to be included in the audience. There will be a live webcast of this conference call that can be accessed through www.linear.com or www.streetevents.com. A replay of the conference call will be available from April 16, 2008 through April 22, 2008.

You may access the archive by calling (719) 457-0820 and entering reservation #2749229. An archive of the webcast will also be available at www.linear.com and www.streetevents.com as of April 16, 2008 until the second quarter earnings release next year.

Linear Technology Corporation, a manufacturer of high performance linear integrated circuits, was founded in 1981, became a public company in 1986 and joined the S&P 500 index of major public companies in 2000. Linear Technology products include high performance amplifiers, comparators, voltage references, monolithic filters, linear regulators, DC-DC converters, battery chargers, data converters, communications interface circuits, RF signal conditioning circuits, uModuleTM products, and many other analog functions. Applications for Linear Technologys high performance circuits include telecommunications, cellular telephones, networking products such as optical switches, notebook and desktop computers, computer peripherals, video/multimedia, industrial instrumentation, security monitoring devices, high-end consumer products such as digital cameras and MP3 players, complex medical devices, automotive electronics, factory automation, process control, and military and space systems. For more information, visit www.linear.com.

For further information contact Paul Coghlan at Linear Technology Corporation, 1630 McCarthy Blvd., Milpitas, California 95035-7417, (408) 432-1900.

LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

GAAP (unaudited)

Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
March 30, Dec. 30, April 1, March 30, April 1,
2008 2007 2007 2008 2007
Revenues $ 297,865 $ 288,720 $ 254,992 $ 868,073 $ 814,962
Cost of sales (1) 66,939 66,212 56,535 197,212 180,175
Gross profit 230,926 222,508 198,457 670,861 634,787
Expenses:
Research & development (1) 49,613 47,799 45,364 145,192 136,844
Selling, general & administrative (1) 35,423 33,557 32,807 101,761 100,829
85,036 81,356 78,171 246,953 237,673
Operating income 145,890 141,152 120,286 423,908 397,114
Interest expense (14,435 ) (14,474 ) (422 ) (43,371 ) (1,298 )
Interest income 7,334 7,258 17,011 21,026 49,791
Income before Income taxes 138,789 133,936 136,875 401,563 445,607
Provision for Income taxes 39,555 40,181 38,325 117,099 129,656
Net income $ 99,234 $ 93,755 $ 98,550 $ 284,464 $ 315,951
Earnings per share:
Basic $ 0.45 $ 0.42 $ 0.33 $ 1.28 $ 1.05
Diluted $ 0.44 $ 0.41 $ 0.32 $ 1.26 $ 1.03
Shares used in the calculation of earnings per share:
Basic 222,046 223,494 299,455 221,979 300,212
Diluted 224,489 227,119 304,640 225,842 305,677
(1) Includes stock-based compensation charges as follows:
Cost of sales $ 1,996 $ 1,972 $ 2,933 $ 5,865 $ 8,535
Research & development 8,360 8,182 9,563 24,289 27,746
Sales, general & administrative 4,675 4,528 5,839 13,503 16,901
LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(Dollars in thousands)
March 30, July 1,
2008 2007
(unaudited) (audited)
ASSETS:
Current assets:
Cash, cash equivalents and
short-term investments $ 907,939 $ 633,307

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,759 ($1,775 at July 1, 2007)

150,233

130,546

Inventories 54,375 51,075

Deferred tax assets and other current assets

48,885

46,176

Total current assets 1,161,432 861,104
Property, plant & equipment, net 251,487 266,600
Other noncurrent assets 90,738 91,153
Total assets $ 1,503,657 $ 1,218,857

LIABILITIES & STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY:

Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $ 12,616 $ 11,161

Accrued income taxes, payroll & other accrued liabilities

107,272

128,762

Deferred income on shipments to distributors

37,672

39,946

Total current liabilities 157,560 179,869
Convertible senior notes 1,700,000 1,700,000
Deferred tax and other long-term liabilities
133,669 46,953
Stockholders equity:
Common stock 1,007,039 902,135
Accumulated Deficit (1,498,968 ) (1,609,453 )
Accumulated other
Comprehensive income 4,357 (647 )
Total stockholders deficit (487,572 ) (707,965 )
$ 1,503,657 $ 1,218,857

LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

RECONCILIATION OF GAAP NET INCOME TO NON-GAAP NET INCOME

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
March 30, Dec. 30, April 1, March 30, April 1,
2008 2007 2007 2008 2007
Reported net income
(GAAP basis) $ 99,234 $ 93,755 $ 98,550 $ 284,464 $ 315,951
Stock-based compensation (1) 15,031 14,682 18,335 43,657 53,182
Income tax effect of
non-GAAP adjustments (4,284) (4,405) (5,134) (12,731) (15,474)
Non-GAAP net income $ 109,981 $ 104,032 $ 111,751 $ 315,390 $ 353,659
Non-GAAP earnings per share excluding the effects of stock-based compensation:
Basic $ 0.50 $ 0.47 $ 0.37 $ 1.42 $ 1.18
Diluted $ 0.49 $ 0.46 $ 0.37 $ 1.41 $ 1.17
Shares used in the calculation of Non-GAAP earnings per share:
Basic 222,046 223,494 299,455 221,979 300,212
Diluted 223,119 (2) 225,647 (2) 302,924 (2) 224,385 (3) 303,065 (3)

(1) Linear began expensing stock options in the first quarter of fiscal year 2006.

(2) Excludes 1,370, 1,472 and 1,716 shares for the three months ended March 30, 2008, December 30, 2007 and April 1, 2007, respectively, to conform diluted outstanding shares calculated under FAS123R to diluted shares calculated under prior accounting standards.

(3) Excludes 1,457 and 2,612 shares for the nine months ended March 30, 2008 and April 1, 2007, respectively, to conform diluted outstanding shares calculated under FAS123R to diluted shares calculated under prior accounting standards.

The Companys non-GAAP measures set forth above exclude charges related to stock-based compensation. The Companys management uses non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP net income per diluted share to evaluate the Companys current operating results and financial results and to compare them against historical financial results. The Company excludes stock-based compensation expenses and the related tax effects primarily because they are significant non-cash expense estimates which management separates for consideration when evaluating and managing business operations.

In addition, the Company believes that providing investors with these non-GAAP measurements enhances their ability to compare the Companys business against that of its many competitors who employ and disclose similar non-GAAP measures. This financial measure may be different from non-GAAP methods of accounting and reporting used by the Companys competitors to the extent their non-GAAP measures include other items. The presentation of this additional information should not be considered a substitute for net income or net income per diluted share prepared in accordance with GAAP.