HP Imaging and Printing Group Q4 Revenue Fell 1% to $7.5 Billion
-- Graphic Arts Online, 11/25/2008 9:41:00 AM
PALO ALTO, Calif., Nov 24, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- HP (NYSE:HPQ) today announced financial results for its fourth fiscal quarter ended Oct. 31, 2008, with net revenue of $33.6 billion, up 19% from a year earlier and up 16% when adjusted for the effects of currency. Excluding EDS revenue, net revenue grew 5% year over year or 2% when adjusted for the effects of currency.In the fourth quarter, GAAP operating profit was $2.7 billion and GAAP diluted earnings per share (EPS) was $0.84, up from $0.81 in the prior-year period. Non-GAAP operating profit was $3.4 billion, with non-GAAP diluted EPS of $1.03, up from $0.86 in the prior-year period. Non-GAAP financial information excludes $482 million of adjustments on an after-tax basis, or $0.19 per diluted share, related primarily to amortization of purchased intangible assets, restructuring charges, acquisition-related charges and in-process research and development charges.
"HP capped off a strong year by delivering another solid quarter led by strength in our services segment and disciplined expense management," said Mark Hurd, HP chairman and chief executive officer. "Our global reach, broad portfolio, numerous cost initiatives and consistent execution differentiate HP in the current economic environment."
Information about HP's use of non-GAAP financial information is provided under "Use of non-GAAP financial information" below. Unless otherwise noted, all growth rates included in the narrative below reflect year-over-year comparisons.
Revenue grew 17% in the Americas, 22% in Europe, the Middle East and Africa and 14% in Asia Pacific to $14.0 billion, $14.1 billion and $5.5 billion, respectively. When adjusted for the effects of currency, revenue grew 17% in the Americas, 15% in Europe, the Middle East and Africa and 12% in Asia Pacific. Revenue from outside of the United States in the fourth quarter accounted for 68% of total revenue, with revenue in the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) growing 23% over the prior-year period and accounting for 9% of total revenue.
Personal Systems Group
Personal Systems Group (PSG) revenue grew 10% to $11.2 billion, with unit shipments up 19%. Notebook revenue for the quarter grew 21%, while Desktop revenue declined 2%. Commercial client revenue grew 7%, while Consumer client revenue increased 15%. Operating profit was $616 million, or 5.5% of revenue, up from $589 million, or 5.8% of revenue, in the prior-year period.
Imaging and Printing Group
Imaging and Printing Group (IPG) revenue declined 1% to $7.5 billion. Supplies revenue grew 9%, while Commercial hardware revenue and Consumer hardware revenue declined 10% and 21%, respectively. Printer unit shipments decreased 8%, with Consumer printer hardware units down 8% and Commercial printer hardware units down 9%. Operating profit was $1.2 billion, or 15.5% of revenue, versus $1.1 billion, or 14.5% of revenue, in the prior-year period.
Enterprise Storage and Servers
Enterprise Storage and Servers (ESS) reported total revenue of $5.1 billion, down 1%. Storage revenue grew 13% led by 16% revenue growth in the midrange EVA product line and 9% revenue growth in the high-end XP product line. Industry Standard Server revenue declined 3% and Business Critical Systems revenue declined 10% while ESS blade revenue increased 43%. Operating profit was $705 million, or 13.9% of revenue, down from $736 million, or 14.4% of revenue, in the prior-year period.
HP Services
HP Services (HPS) revenue increased 99% to $8.6 billion, led by $3.9 billion revenue resulting from the EDS acquisition for the period between the Aug. 26 acquisition date and Oct. 31. Excluding EDS, HPS revenue grew 10%. Revenue in Technology Services and Outsourcing Services grew 10% and 15%, respectively, with revenue in Consulting and Integration up 2%. Operating profit was $920 million, or 10.6% of revenue, compared to $515 million, or 11.8% of revenue, in the prior-year period.
HP Software
HP Software revenue grew 13% to $855 million, led by 15% growth in the Business Technology Optimization portfolio. Operating profit was $195 million, or 22.8% of revenue, up from $145 million, or 19.1% of revenue, in the prior-year period.
HP Financial Services
HP Financial Services (HPFS) reported revenue of $691 million, up 5%. Financing volume increased 5%, and net portfolio assets declined 2%. Operating margin was 7.4% of revenue, up from 7.3% in the prior-year period.
Asset management
HP generated $3.3 billion in cash flow from operations for the fourth quarter. Inventory ended the quarter at $7.9 billion, down 7 days. Accounts receivable of $16.9 billion was up 2 days. Accounts payable ended the quarter at $14.1 billion, down 1 day. HP's dividend payment of $0.08 per share in the fourth quarter resulted in cash usage of $196 million. HP utilized $1.9 billion of cash during the fourth quarter to repurchase approximately 45 million shares of common stock in the open market. HP exited the quarter with $10.3 billion in gross cash, which includes cash and cash equivalents of $10.2 billion, short-term investments of $93 million, and certain long-term investments of $95 million.
Full year fiscal 2008
Net revenue for the full fiscal year was $118.4 billion, representing growth of 13% or 8% when adjusted for the effects of currency. GAAP operating profit was $10.5 billion and GAAP diluted EPS was $3.25, up from $2.68 in the prior year. Non-GAAP operating profit was $11.8 billion, with non-GAAP diluted EPS of $3.62, up from $2.93 in the prior year. Non-GAAP financial information excludes $973 million of adjustments on an after-tax basis, or $0.37 per diluted share, related primarily to the amortization of purchased intangible assets, restructuring charges, acquisition-related charges and in-process research and development charges.
Outlook
In providing its outlook for the first fiscal quarter and full year 2009, the company has taken into consideration the current challenging economic environment and the relative strength of the U.S. dollar. Based on current exchange rates, the company now expects an unfavorable year-over-year currency impact on revenue of approximately 5 percentage points in the first quarter and roughly 6-7 percentage points for the full fiscal year and this impact is reflected in its outlook.
For the first fiscal quarter of 2009, HP expects revenue of approximately $32.0 billion to $32.5 billion, GAAP diluted EPS in the range of $0.80 to $0.82, and non-GAAP diluted EPS in the range of $0.93 to $0.95. Q109 non-GAAP diluted EPS estimates exclude after-tax costs of approximately $0.13 per share, related primarily to the amortization of purchased intangibles.
For the full fiscal year 2009, HP expects revenue of approximately $127.5 billion to $130.0 billion, GAAP diluted EPS in the range of $3.38 to $3.53, and non-GAAP diluted EPS in the range of $3.88 to $4.03. FY09 non-GAAP diluted EPS estimates exclude after-tax costs of approximately $0.50 per share, related primarily to the amortization of purchased intangibles.
More information on HP's quarterly earnings, including additional financial analysis and an earnings overview presentation, is available on HP's Investor Relations website at www.hp.com/investor/home.
HP's Q4 FY08 earnings conference call is accessible via an audio webcast at www.hp.com/investor/q42008webcast.
About HP
HP, the world's largest technology company, provides printing and personal computing products and IT services, software and solutions that simplify the technology experience for consumers and businesses. HP completed its acquisition of EDS on Aug. 26, 2008. More information about HP is available at http://www.hp.com/.
Use of non-GAAP financial information
To supplement HP's consolidated condensed financial statements presented on a GAAP basis, HP provides non-GAAP operating profit, non-GAAP operating margin, non-GAAP net earnings, non-GAAP diluted earnings per share and gross cash. HP also provides forecasts of non-GAAP diluted earnings per share. A reconciliation of the adjustments to GAAP results for this quarter and prior periods is included in the tables below. In addition, an explanation of the ways in which HP management uses these non-GAAP measures to evaluate its business, the substance behind HP management's decision to use these non-GAAP measures, the material limitations associated with the use of these non-GAAP measures, the manner in which HP management compensates for those limitations, and the substantive reasons why HP management believes that these non-GAAP measures provide useful information to investors is included under "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" after the tables below. This additional non-GAAP financial information is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for operating profit, operating margin, net earnings, diluted earnings per share, or cash and cash equivalents prepared in accordance with GAAP.
Forward-looking statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If the risks or uncertainties ever materialize or the assumptions prove incorrect, the results of HP may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including but not limited to any projections of revenue, margins, expenses, earnings, tax provisions, cash flows, benefit obligations, share repurchases, acquisition synergies, currency exchange rates or other financial items; any statements of the plans, strategies, and objectives of management for future operations, including execution of cost reduction programs and restructuring and integration plans; any statements concerning the expected development, performance or market share relating to products or services; any statements regarding macroeconomic trends or events and the impact of those trends and events on HP and its financial performance; any statements regarding pending investigations, claims or disputes; any statements of expectation or belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions include macroeconomic and geopolitical trends and events; execution and performance of contracts by HP and its suppliers, customers and partners; the challenge of managing asset levels, including inventory; the difficulty of aligning expense levels with revenue changes; assumptions related to pension and other post-retirement costs; expectations and assumptions relating to the execution and timing of cost reduction programs and restructuring and integration plans; the possibility that the expected benefits of business combination transactions may not materialize as expected; the resolution of pending investigations, claims and disputes; and other risks that are described in HP's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2007 and HP's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including HP's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended July 31, 2008. As in prior periods, the financial information set forth in this release, including tax-related items, reflects estimates based on information available at this time. While HP believes these estimates to be meaningful, these amounts could differ materially from actual reported amounts in HP's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2008. In particular, determining HP's actual tax balances and provisions as of October 31, 2008 requires extensive internal and external review of tax data (including consolidating and reviewing the tax provisions of numerous domestic and foreign entities), which is being completed in the ordinary course of preparing HP's Form 10-K. HP assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.


























