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February 22, 2016

Motorola Solutions Reports Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year 2015 Financial Results

Company closes acquisition of Airwave, leading public safety managed services provider
 
FOURTH-QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
 

  • Sales of $1.7 billion, down 8 percent, including $54 million of unfavorable foreign currency impact
  • GAAP earnings per share (EPS) from continuing operations1 of $1.56
  • Non-GAAP EPS from continuing operations* of $1.58, up 26 percent driven by lower operating expenses
  • Generated $414 million in operating cash flow; $1.0 billion for the full year
  • Generated $370 million in free cash flow2; $830 million for the full year
  • Returned $239 million to shareholders in share repurchase and dividends; $3.5 billion for full year

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. Feb. 22, 2016 Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: MSI) today reported its earnings results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2015. Click here for a printable news release and financial tables.
 
SUPPORTING QUOTE
 
“The fourth quarter capped off a year of disciplined execution from our team with strong earnings growth and cash flow performance," said Greg Brown, chairman and CEO of Motorola Solutions. “We grew in North America and grew in Managed & Support services across all regions while increasing backlog by nearly $700 million. Additionally, we achieved more than $200 million in structural cost savings and returned $3.5 billion of capital to shareholders."
 
KEY FINANCIAL RESULTS (presented in millions, except per share data and percentages)
 

  Fourth Quarter Full Year
  2015 2014 % Change 2015 2014 % Change
Sales   $1,682 $1,823 (8)% $5,695 $5,881 (3)%
GAAP
  Operating earnings (loss) $389 $(1,459) N/M $994 $(1,006) N/M
 
% of Sales
23.1% (80.0)%   17.5% (17.1)%  
  EPS from continuing operations $1.56 $(4.02) N/M $3.17 $(2.84) N/M
Non-GAAP
  Operating earnings $458 $483 (5)% $1,166 $1,069 9%
 
% of Sales
27.2% 26.5%   20.5% 18.2%  
  EPS from continuing operations $1.58 $1.25 26% $3.33 $2.58 29%
 
Product Segment
  Sales $1,125 $1,246 (10)% $3,676 $3,807 (3)%
  GAAP operating earnings (loss) $291 $(944) N/M $704 $(667) N/M
 
% of Sales
25.9% (75.8)%   19.2% (17.5)%  
  Non-GAAP Operating earnings $340 $394 (14)% $827 $754 10%
 
% of sales
30.2% 31.6%   22.5% 19.8%  
 
Services Segment
  Sales $557 $577 (3)% $2,019 $2,074 (3)%
  GAAP operating earnings (loss) $98 $(515) N/M $290 $(339) N/M
 
% of Sales
17.6% (89.3)%   14.4% (16.3)%  
  Non-GAAP Operating earnings $118 $89 33% $339 $315 8%
 
% of Sales
21.2% 15.4%   16.8% 15.2%  

 

*Q4 Non-GAAP financial information excludes the after-tax impact of approximately $0.02 per diluted share related to share-based compensation, intangible assets amortization expense and highlighted items for the fourth-quarter. Details on these non-GAAP adjustments and the use of non-GAAP measures are included later in this news release.
 
OTHER SELECTED FOURTH-QUARTER FINANCIAL RESULTS
 
  • Revenue - Sales decreased 8 percent, including $54 million of unfavorable foreign currency impact. These results reflect a 1 percent decline in North America, or flat when excluding the impact of currency. Overall company product sales declined 10 percent due primarily to weakness in Latin America and Europe. The Services business declined 3 percent due to currency headwinds, lower iDEN revenue and a decline in systems integration revenues in Norway.
  • Operating margin - GAAP operating margin was 23.1 percent of sales in the fourth quarter of    2015; non-GAAP operating margin was 27.2 percent of sales, compared with 26.5 percent in the fourth quarter of 2014. Improved non-GAAP results reflect $45 million in lower operating expenses compared with the fourth quarter of 2014, due to the company's cost reduction initiatives, lower pension expense and a stronger dollar.
  • Taxes - The fourth quarter of 2015 GAAP effective tax rate was 26 percent. This compares with a tax rate of 38 percent in the fourth quarter of 2014, which was driven by the loss from continuing operations. The fourth quarter of 2015 non-GAAP tax rate was 31 percent compared with a tax rate of 35 percent in the fourth quarter of 2014.
  • Cash flow - The company generated $414 million in operating cash flow from continuing operations during the quarter, reflecting solid execution across all working capital accounts. Free cash flow was $370 million in the quarter. The increase was largely driven by lower pension contributions and improved cost structure.
  • Cash and cash equivalents - The company ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $2.03 billion and a net debt position of approximately $2.4 billion4. The company repurchased approximately $179 million of its common stock in the fourth quarter of 2015 and paid approximately $60 million in cash dividends.
 
OTHER SELECTED FULL-YEAR FINANCIAL RESULTS
 
  • Revenue - Sales decreased 3 percent, including $201 million of unfavorable foreign currency impact. These results reflect 3 percent growth in North America, which delivered improvements in both Products and Services sales in state and local governments. Overall company product sales declined 3 percent due to currency headwinds and weakness in Latin America and Europe. The Services business declined 3 percent primarily due to currency headwinds, lower iDEN revenue and a decline in systems integration revenues in Norway.
  • Operating margin - For the full year, GAAP operating margin was 17.5 percent of sales in 2015, compared with (17.1) percent for the full year of 2014. 2014 results include a $1.9 billion non-recurring charge related to U.S. pension de-risking actions. For the full year, non-GAAP operating margin was 20.5 percent of sales in 2015, compared with 18.2 percent for the full year of 2014 driven primarily by lower operating expenses.
  • Taxes - The 2015 GAAP effective tax rate was 30 percent. This compares with a full-year GAAP effective tax rate of 40 percent in 2014. The full year 2015 non-GAAP tax rate was 33 percent, compared with a tax rate of 32 percent in 2014.
  • Cash flow - The company generated $1.0 billion in operating cash from continuing operations, reflecting an increase of $1.7 billion over the prior year. Free cash flow was $830 million in the year. The increase was largely driven by lower pension contributions and improved earnings performance.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS
 
Strategic wins
 

  • $430 million contract for the fourth major public safety long-term evolution (LTE) award as the Lot 2 winner of the United Kingdom's Emergency Network System
  • $170 million covering four separate U.S. statewide networks to provide both network upgrades and Managed & Support services over multiyear periods
  • $21 million Smart Public Safety win with our local partner serving the Royal Malaysia Police enabling the integration of computer-aided dispatch, video management, command & control center dispatch and equipping police cars with video systems to enable dispatch with situational awareness

Innovation and investments in growth
 

  • Completed our $1 billion acquisition of Airwave Communications.  Airwave is the largest private operator of a public safety network in the world, delivering mission-critical voice and data communications to more than 300 public service agencies in Great Britain
  • Released new P25 software upgrade "Software Defined Core" enabling customers to more easily add features, software updates and licensing capabilities
  • Introduced our next-generation digital mobile radio solution for commercial customers that extends our industry leading MOTOTRBO capabilities and complies with the DMR III standard.  Also introduced new devices purpose built for commercial customers in hazardous locations in both P25 and TETRA technologies
  • Executed successful public safety LTE trials around the world that span devices, land-mobile radio & LTE interoperability, applications, and deployable networks

BUSINESS OUTLOOK
 

  • First quarter 2016 - Motorola Solutions expects a revenue decline of 4 to 6 percent compared with the first quarter of 2015. This assumes a $20 million5 unfavorable currency impact and includes approximately $55 million in revenues associated with the Airwave acquisition. The company expects non-GAAP earnings per share from continuing operations in the range of $0.37 to $0.42 per share.
  • Full-year 2016 - The company expects revenue to increase 5 to 7 percent compared to 2015. This assumes a $60 million5 unfavorable currency impact. The company’s outlook assumes growth in North America and contraction in Europe and Latin America, including iDEN revenues. This revenue outlook includes approximately $450 million in revenues associated with the Airwave acquisition. The company expects non-GAAP earnings per share from continuing operations in the range of $4.45 to $4.65 per share.

CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST
 
Motorola Solutions will host its quarterly conference call beginning at 4:00 p.m. U.S. Central Standard Time (5:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Standard Time) Monday, February 22. The conference call will be webcast live with audio and slides at www.motorolasolutions.com/investor.
 
CONSOLIDATED GAAP RESULTS (presented in millions, except per share data)
 
A comparison of results from operations is as follows:

 

  Fourth Quarter Full Year
  2015 2014 2015 2014
Net sales $1,682 $1,823 $5,695 $5,881
         
Gross margin 838 912 2,719 2,831
Operating earnings (loss) 389 (1,459) 994 (1,006)
         
Amounts attributable to Motorola Solutions, Inc. common stockholders        
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax 277 (926) 640 (697)
Net earnings 279 201 610 1,299
Diluted EPS from continuing operations $1.56 $(4.02) $3.17 $(2.84)
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding 177.5 230.5 201.8 245.6

 
HIGHLIGHTED ITEMS AND SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION EXPENSE
 
The table below includes highlighted items, share-based compensation expense and intangible amortization for the fourth quarter of 2015.

   
(per diluted common share)  Q4 2015
   
GAAP Earnings from Continuing Operations $1.56
   
Highlighted Items:  
Share-based compensation expense $0.08
Reorganization of business charges $0.16
Intangibles amortization expense --
Gain on sale of equity investment $(0.14)
Impairment of corporate aircraft $0.02
Decrease in net deferred tax liability for undistributed earnings $(0.07)
Tax benefit for foreign tax credit $(0.03)
Total Highlighted Items $0.02
   
Non-GAAP Diluted EPS from Continuing Operations $1.58

 

USE OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
In addition to the GAAP results included in this presentation, Motorola Solutions also has included non-GAAP measurements of results. The company has provided these non-GAAP measurements to help investors better understand its core operating performance, enhance comparisons of core operating performance from period to period and allow better comparisons of operating performance to its competitors. Among other things, management uses these operating results, excluding the identified items, to evaluate performance of the businesses and to evaluate results relative to certain incentive compensation targets. Management uses operating results excluding these items because it believes this measurement enables it to make better period-to-period evaluations of the financial performance of core business operations. The non-GAAP measurements are intended only as a supplement to the comparable GAAP measurements and the company compensates for the limitations inherent in the use of non-GAAP measurements by using GAAP measures in conjunction with the non-GAAP measurements. As a result, investors should consider these non-GAAP measurements in addition to, and not in substitution for or as superior to, measurements of financial performance prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
 
Highlighted items: The company has excluded the effects of highlighted items (and any reversals of highlighted items recorded in prior periods) from its non-GAAP operating expenses and net income measurements because the company believes that these historical items do not reflect expected future operating earnings or expenses and do not contribute to a meaningful evaluation of the company’s current operating performance or comparisons to the company’s past operating performance.
 
Share-based compensation expense: The company has excluded share-based compensation expense from its non-GAAP operating expenses and net income measurements. Although share-based compensation is a key incentive offered to the company’s employees and the company believes such compensation contributed to the revenue earned during the periods presented and also believes it will contribute to the generation of future period revenues, the company continues to evaluate its performance excluding share-based compensation expense primarily because it represents a significant non-cash expense. Share-based compensation expense will recur in future periods.
 
Intangible assets amortization expense: The company has excluded intangible assets amortization expense from its Non-GAAP operating expenses and net earnings measurements, primarily because it represents a non-cash expense and because the company evaluates its performance excluding intangible assets amortization expense. Amortization of intangible assets is consistent in amount and frequency but is significantly affected by the timing and size of the company’s acquisitions. Investors should note that the use of intangible assets contributed to the company’s revenues earned during the periods presented and will contribute to the company’s future period revenues as well. Intangible assets amortization expense will recur in future periods.
 
Constant Currency: We evaluate our results of operations on both an as reported and a constant currency basis. The constant currency presentation, which is a non-GAAP measure, excludes the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. We calculate constant currency percentages by converting our current period local currency results using prior-period exchange rates, and then comparing these adjusted values to prior period reported results.
 
Details of the above items and reconciliations of the non-GAAP measurements to the corresponding GAAP measurements can be found at the end of this press release.

 

BUSINESS RISKS
 
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable federal securities law. These statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and generally include words such as “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “estimates” and similar expressions. The company can give no assurance that any actual or future results or events discussed in these statements will be achieved. Any forward-looking statements represent the company’s views only as of today and should not be relied upon as representing the company’s views as of any subsequent date. Readers are cautioned that such forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause the company’s actual results to differ materially from the statements contained in this release. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, Motorola Solutions’ financial outlook for the fourth quarter and full year of 2015, including the impact of currency rates and incremental revenues of Airwave. Motorola Solutions cautions the reader that the risk factors below, as well as those on pages 9 through 20 in Item 1A of Motorola Solutions 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K, on page 39 in Part 2 of Item 1A of Motorola Solutions quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2015 and in its other SEC filings available for free on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and on Motorola Solutions’ website at www.motorolasolutions.com/investor, could cause Motorola Solutions’ actual results to differ materially from those estimated or predicted in the forward-looking statements. Many of these risks and uncertainties cannot be controlled by Motorola Solutions and factors that may impact forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (1) the economic outlook for the government communications industry; (2) the impact of foreign currency fluctuations on the company; (3) the level of demand for the company's products; (4) the company's ability to refresh existing and introduce new products and technologies in a timely manner; (5) negative impact on the company's business from global economic and political conditions, which may include: (i) continued deferment or cancellation of purchase orders by customers; (ii) the inability of customers to obtain financing for purchases of the company's products; (iii) increased demand to provide vendor financing to customers; (iv) increased financial pressures on third-party dealers, distributors and retailers; (v) the viability of the company's suppliers that may no longer have access to necessary financing; (vi) counterparty failures negatively impacting the company’s financial position; (vii) changes in the value of investments held by the company's pension plan and other defined benefit plans, which could impact future required or voluntary pension contributions; and (viii) the company’s ability to access the capital markets on acceptable terms and conditions; (6) the impact of a security breach or other significant disruption in the company’s IT systems, those of our partners or suppliers or those we sell to or operate or maintain for our customers; (7) the outcome of ongoing and future tax matters; (8) the company's ability to purchase sufficient materials, parts and components to meet customer demand, particularly in light of global economic conditions and reductions in the company’s purchasing power; (9) risks related to dependence on certain key suppliers, subcontractors, third-party distributors and other representatives; (10) the impact on the company's performance and financial results from strategic acquisitions or divestitures, including the acquisition of Airwave; (11) risks related to the company's manufacturing and business operations in foreign countries; (12) the creditworthiness of the company's customers and distributors, particularly purchasers of large infrastructure systems; (13) exposure under large systems and managed services contracts, including risks related to the fact that certain customers require that the company build, own and operate their systems, often over a multi-year period; (14) the ownership of certain logos, trademarks, trade names and service marks including “MOTOROLA” by Motorola Mobility Holdings, Inc.; (15) variability in income received from licensing the company's intellectual property to others, as well as expenses incurred when the company licenses intellectual property from others; (16) unexpected liabilities or expenses, including unfavorable outcomes to any pending or future litigation or regulatory or similar proceedings; (17) the impact of the percentage of cash and cash equivalents held outside of the United States; (18) the ability of the company to pay future dividends due to possible adverse market conditions or adverse impacts on the company’s cash flow; (19) the ability of the company to repurchase shares under its repurchase program due to possible adverse market conditions or adverse impacts on the company’s cash flow; (20) the impact of changes in governmental policies, laws or regulations; (21) negative consequences from the company's outsourcing of various activities, including certain manufacturing operations, information technology and administrative functions; (22) the impact of the sale of the company’s legacy information systems, including components of the enterprise resource planning (ERP) system and the implementation of a new ERP system; and (23) the company’s ability to settle the par value of the Senior Convertible Notes in cash. Motorola Solutions undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement or risk factor, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
 
DEFINITIONS
 
1 Amounts attributable to Motorola Solutions, Inc. common shareholders.
2 Free cash flow represents operating cash flow less capex
3 Ending cash excludes $400 million of UK treasury securities purchased in association with the Airwave transaction
4 Net debt represents cash and cash equivalents less long-term debt, including current portion
5 Based on currency rates as of Feb. 19, 2016
 
ABOUT MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS
 
Motorola Solutions (NYSE: MSI) creates innovative, mission-critical communication solutions and services that help public safety and commercial customers build safer cities and thriving communities. For ongoing news, visit www.motorolasolutions.com/newsroom .
 

Media and Investors Contacts

Kelly Palecek

Motorola Solutions

Media Contact

(312) 914 5008

Kelly Palecek

Motorola Solutions

Investor Contact

(312) 914 5008

Kelly Palecek

Motorola Solutions

Media Contact

(312) 914 5008

Kelly Palecek

Motorola Solutions

Investor Contact

(312) 914 5008

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