HP Q1 2010: Profits Up 25% - EPS Beats By 4 Cents - Guides Up

February 18, 2010

HP reported financial results for its first fiscal quarter ended Jan. 31, 2010, with net revenue of $31.2 billion, up 8% from a year earlier and up 5% when adjusted for the effects of currency. Wall Street was only look for net revenue of $30.0 billion

In the first quarter, GAAP diluted earnings per share (EPS) was $0.96, up from $0.75 in the prior-year period. Non-GAAP EPS was $1.10, up from $0.93 in the prior-year period. Non-GAAP financial information excludes after-tax costs of approximately $0.14 per share and $0.18 per share in the first quarter of fiscal 2010 and 2009, respectively, related primarily to the amortization of purchased intangibles, restructuring charges and acquisition-related charges.

HP's Non-GAAP EPS of $1.10 beat the average Wall Street estimate of $1.06 per share.

"HP is well-positioned to outperform the market," said Mark Hurd, HP chairman and chief executive officer. "The strength of our portfolio, leaner cost structure and accelerating market momentum give us the confidence to raise our full-year outlook."

First quarter revenue was up 9% in the Americas to $13.6 billion. Revenue was up 1% in Europe, the Middle East and Africa and 26% in Asia Pacific to $12.1 billion and $5.4 billion, respectively. When adjusted for the effects of currency, revenue was up 7% in the Americas, down 1% in Europe, the Middle East and Africa and up 19% in Asia Pacific. Revenue from outside of the United States in the first quarter accounted for 65% of total HP revenue, with revenue in the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) increasing 41% over the prior-year period while accounting for 10% of total HP revenue.

"Solid performance across the business and disciplined execution on our cost initiatives contributed to strong growth in cash flow and EPS," said Cathie Lesjak, HP executive vice president and chief financial officer. "We will continue to invest for growth and leverage our scale and global position to take advantage of an improving demand environment."

Enterprise Storage and Servers

Enterprise Storage and Servers (ESS) reported total revenue of $4.4 billion, up 11%. Industry Standard Server revenue increased 27% while Storage revenue declined 3% with the midrange EVA product line down 5%. Business Critical Systems revenue declined 22%, while ESS blade revenue was up 24%. Operating profit was $552 million, or 12.6% of revenue, up from $406 million, or 10.3% of revenue, in the prior-year period.

Imaging and Printing Group

Imaging and Printing Group (IPG) revenue increased 4% to $6.2 billion. Supplies revenue was up 1%, up 4% in constant currency, while Commercial hardware revenue and Consumer hardware revenue increased 4% and 21%, respectively. Printer unit shipments increased 16%, with Commercial printer hardware units up 11% and Consumer printer hardware units up 18%. Operating profit was $1.1 billion, or 17.0% of revenue, versus $1.1 billion, or 18.5% of revenue, in the prior-year period.

Personal Systems Group

Personal Systems Group (PSG) posted a 26% increase in unit shipments and maintained the leading market share position in PCs worldwide. PSG revenue increased 20% to $10.6 billion. Notebook revenue for the quarter was up 25%, while Desktop revenue increased 16%. Commercial client revenue was up 16%, while Consumer client revenue increased 26%. Operating profit was $530 million, or 5.0% of revenue, up from $436 million, or 5.0% of revenue, in the prior-year period.

Services

Services revenue decreased 1% to $8.7 billion. Infrastructure Technology Outsourcing revenue increased 2% to $3.9 billion. Technology Services revenue decreased 2% to $2.4 billion. Application Services posted revenue of $1.5 billion and Business Process Outsourcing posted revenue of $734 million down 8% and 3%, respectively. Operating profit was $1.4 billion, or 15.8% of revenue, up from $1.1 billion, or 12.9% of revenue, in the prior-year period.

HP Software

HP Software revenue was flat at $878 million. Business Technology Optimization revenue decreased 1% and Other Software revenue increased 1%. Operating profit was $167 million, or 19.0% of revenue, up from $140 million, or 15.9% of revenue, in the prior-year period.

HP Financial Services

HP Financial Services (HPFS) revenue increased 13% to $719 million. Financing volume increased 30%, and net portfolio assets increased 23%. Operating margin was 9.3% of revenue, up from 6.4% in the prior-year period.

Asset management

HP generated $2.4 billion in cash flow from operations for the first quarter. Inventory ended the quarter at $6.6 billion, down 6 days. Accounts receivable of $14.5 billion was down 4 days. Accounts payable ended the quarter at $13.6 billion, up 3 days. HP's dividend payment of $0.08 per share in the first quarter resulted in cash usage of $189 million. HP also utilized $2.7 billion of cash during the quarter to repurchase approximately 54 million shares of common stock in the open market. HP exited the quarter with $13.7 billion in gross cash.

Outlook

For the second quarter of fiscal 2010, HP expects revenue of approximately $29.4 billion to $29.7 billion, GAAP diluted EPS in the range of $0.89 to $0.91, and non-GAAP diluted EPS in the range of $1.03 to $1.05. Second quarter fiscal 2010 non-GAAP diluted EPS estimates exclude after-tax costs of approximately $0.14 per share, related primarily to the amortization of purchased intangibles, restructuring charges and acquisition-related charges.

HP estimates full year fiscal 2010 revenue will be approximately $121.5 billion to $122.5 billion, up from its previous estimate of $118.0 billion to $119.0 billion. HP expects full year fiscal 2010 GAAP diluted EPS to be in the range of $3.79 to $3.86, up from its previous estimate of $3.65 to $3.75, and non-GAAP diluted EPS to be in the range of $4.37 to $4.44, up from its previous estimate of $4.25 to $4.35. Full year fiscal 2010 non-GAAP diluted EPS estimates exclude after-tax costs of approximately $0.58 per share, related primarily to the amortization of purchased intangibles, restructuring charges and acquisition-related charges.

Wall Street was only expecting full year fiscal 2010 revenue of $120 billion, and a non-GAAP diluted EPS of $4.37 per share.

These estimates for both the second quarter and full year fiscal 2010 do not reflect the potential impact of the proposed acquisition of 3Com Corporation that HP announced on Nov. 11, 2009.