Teradata Reports Better Than Expected 2017 Results

ATLANTA, Feb. 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Teradata Corp. (NYSE: TDC) reported revenue of $626 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2017, the same as the $626 million reported in the fourth quarter of 2016. Full-year 2017 revenue was $2.156 billion, which exceeded the company's guidance range.  

Due to the recent enactment of The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (Tax Reform Act), Teradata reported a net loss under U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) of $(74) million in the fourth quarter, or $(0.61) per share, which compared to net income of $58 million, or $0.44 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2016. For the full-year, including the impact of the charge related to the Tax Reform Act, Teradata reported a net loss of $(67) million, or $(0.53) per share, which compared to $125 million, or $0.95 per diluted share in 2016.

Non-GAAP net income in the fourth quarter of 2017, excluding the tax-related charge, stock-based compensation expense, and the special items described in footnote #2, was $72 million, or $0.58 per diluted share. Fourth quarter 2016 non-GAAP net income was $92 million, or $0.70 per diluted share, which also excluded stock-based compensation expense, and special items.⁽²⁾  Full-year 2017 non-GAAP net income was $173 million, or $1.35 per diluted share, compared to $338 million, or $2.57 per diluted share in 2016.⁽²⁾ The decline in 2017 non-GAAP earnings per share for the fourth quarter and full-year was largely due to increased investments related to the company's transformation initiatives as well as revenue from subscription-based transactions being recognized over time, versus upfront as was largely the case for Teradata's transactions in 2016.

In addition, customers continued their preference for Teradata's subscription and cloud offerings in the fourth quarter. During the full-year 2017, $255 million of equivalent value transactions occurred via Teradata's subscription and cloud offerings, more than the high-end of the company's expectations when it began the year.

"We are pleased to have delivered a strong fourth quarter, exceeding our guidance for revenue, EPS, and cash flow, while also driving increased utilization of our cloud offerings and subscription licenses," said Vic Lund, President and Chief Executive Officer, Teradata. "Our success is grounded in the unrivaled combination of our outstanding technology and consulting, our skilled and talented people, and our winning strategy. I am very proud of the Teradata team for their terrific performance in the fourth quarter and look forward to a great year in 2018."

Gross Margin

For fourth quarter 2017, gross margin was 48.9 percent, versus 50.3 percent for the fourth quarter 2016 and for the full-year, gross margin was 47.4 percent, versus 51.2 percent reported in 2016.

On a non-GAAP basis, excluding stock-based compensation expense and special items, gross margin for the fourth quarter 2017 was 51.8 percent, versus 53.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2016.⁽²⁾ For the full-year 2017, non-GAAP gross margin was 51.5 percent, versus 55.1 percent in 2016.⁽²⁾ The decrease in non-GAAP gross margin for the quarter and full-year resulted from a higher mix of services revenue and lower services margin due to investments related to Teradata's transformation.   

Operating Income

Operating income was $59 million in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared to $98 million of operating income in the fourth quarter of 2016. Full-year GAAP operating income was $64 million in 2017, versus $232 million in 2016.

On a non-GAAP basis, excluding stock-based compensation expense and special items, operating income was $91 million in the fourth quarter of 2017, versus $131 million in the fourth quarter of 2016.⁽²⁾ Full-year 2017 non-GAAP operating income was $246 million, versus $474 million in 2016.⁽²⁾ The year-over-year decrease in non-GAAP operating income was due to investments related to Teradata's transformation, and a higher mix of subscription-based transactions. 

Income Taxes

The enactment of the Tax Reform Act resulted in a net tax charge of $126 million in the fourth quarter for GAAP reporting purposes. This charge is comprised of $145 million in tax expense related to the mandatory deemed repatriation of certain foreign earnings and profits, which the company intends to pay over an eight-year period beginning in 2018, offset by $19 million of tax benefit, a majority of which related to the re-measurement of net deferred tax liabilities arising from the new lower 21 percent corporate tax rate enacted in the legislation. As a result, Teradata's reported GAAP tax rate, which includes the tax charge, was 229.8 percent for the fourth quarter and 215.5 percent for the full-year. Excluding this tax charge, Teradata's non-GAAP tax rate was 19.1 percent in the fourth quarter 2017 versus 24.0 percent in the fourth quarter of 2016,⁽²⁾ and the full-year 2017 non-GAAP tax rate was 27.9 percent as compared to 26.0 percent in 2016.⁽²⁾ The increase in the non-GAAP effective tax rate was a result of the mix of foreign versus domestic taxable earnings and the resulting rate impact of discrete tax  items period-over-period.

Teradata continues to analyze the effects of the Tax Reform Act on its future income tax rate, but currently estimates that its 2018 tax rate to be approximately 20 percent.

Cash Flow

Teradata generated $23 million of cash from operating activities in the fourth quarter of 2017, compared to $52 million in the same period in 2016. For the full-year 2017, Teradata generated $324 million of cash from operating activities, compared to $446 million in 2016.  

In the fourth quarter of 2017, Teradata generated $2 million of free cash flow (cash from operating activities less capital expenditures and additions to capitalized software), compared to $20 million in the fourth quarter of 2016.⁽³⁾ For the full-year 2017, free cash flow was $237 million, compared to $328 million in 2016⁽³⁾. The year-over-year decrease in cash from operating activities and free cash flow was mainly due to the company's transition to subscription-based purchasing options as well as investments to support the company's transformation.   

Balance Sheet

Teradata ended the fourth quarter 2017 with $1.089 billion in cash, which was largely held outside the United States. During 2017, Teradata used $351 million of cash to repurchase approximately 11.5 million shares.  

As of December 31, 2017, Teradata had total debt of approximately $780 million, consisting of $540 million outstanding under a term loan and $240 million in borrowings under its $400 million revolving credit facility.

Teradata plans to repatriate a majority of its offshore cash as a result of the enactment of Tax Reform Act. The company intends to use repatriated funds to pay down its revolving credit facility, repurchase shares and retain the remainder for general corporate purposes. 

On February 5, 2018, Teradata's Board of Directors authorized an additional $310 million to be utilized to repurchase Teradata common stock under its open market share repurchase program. Teradata now has a total of approximately $500 million authorized for share repurchases under this share repurchase program. The stock is anticipated to be repurchased periodically on an ongoing basis in open market transactions at management's discretion, in accordance with applicable securities rules regarding issuer repurchases. The increased share repurchase authorization is effective immediately and the program now expires on February 5, 2021.

Guidance

Revenue in 2018 is expected to be approximately $2.15 billion to $2.20 billion, but will be highly influenced by the extent and pace Teradata's customers shift to subscription-based purchasing options. Revenue in the first quarter of 2018 is expected to be in the $490 million to $500 million range.

Full-year 2018 GAAP earnings per share is expected to be $0.67 to $0.77. On a non-GAAP basis, which excludes stock-based compensation expense and other special items, earnings per share is expected to be in the $1.50 to $1.60 range⁽²⁾. 

GAAP loss per share in the first quarter of 2018 is expected to be in the $(0.08) to $(0.05) range. Non-GAAP earnings per share in the first quarter is expected to be in the $0.13 to $0.16 range⁽²⁾.

Earnings Conference Call

A conference call is scheduled today at 8:30 a.m. (ET) to discuss the company's fourth quarter and full-year 2017 results. Access to the conference call, as well as a replay of the call, is available on Teradata's website at investor.teradata.com.

Supplemental Financial Information

Additional information regarding Teradata's operating results is provided below as well as on the Investor Relations page of Teradata's website.

1. The impact of currency is determined by calculating the prior-period results using the current-year monthly average currency rates. See the foreign currency fluctuation schedule on the Investor Relations page of the company's web site at investor.teradata.com, which is used to determine revenue on a constant currency ("CC") basis.

2. Teradata reports its results in accordance with GAAP. However, as described below, the company believes that certain non-GAAP measures (such as non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP net income, and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share, or EPS, all of which exclude certain items, sold businesses, (as well as free cash flow) are useful for investors. Our non-GAAP measures are not meant to be considered in isolation or as substitutes for, or superior to, results determined in accordance with GAAP, and should be read only in conjunction with our condensed consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP.   

The following tables reconcile Teradata's actual and projected results and EPS under GAAP to the company's actual and projected non-GAAP results and EPS for the periods presented, which exclude certain specified items. Our management internally uses supplemental non-GAAP financial measures, such as gross profit, operating income, net income and EPS, excluding certain items, to understand, manage and evaluate our business and support operating decisions on a regular basis. The company believes such non-GAAP financial measures (1) provide useful information to investors regarding the underlying business trends and performance of the company's ongoing operations, (2) are useful for period-over-period comparisons of such operations and results, that may be more easily compared to peer companies and allow investors a view of the company's operating results excluding  the tax expense charge related to U.S. tax reform, stock-based compensation expense, special items and transactions such as sold businesses, including the Marketing Applications business which was sold on July 1, 2016, (3) provide useful information to management and investors regarding present and future business trends, and (4) provide consistency and comparability with past reports and projections of future results.

Teradata's reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results included in this release.

3. As described below, the company believes that free cash flow is a useful non-GAAP measure for investors. Teradata defines free cash flow as cash provided/used by operating activities less capital expenditures for property and equipment, and additions to capitalized software. Free cash flow does not have a uniform definition under GAAP and therefore, Teradata's definition may differ from other companies' definitions of this measure. Teradata's management uses free cash flow to assess the financial performance of the company and believes it is useful for investors because it relates the operating cash flow of the company to the capital that is spent to continue and improve business operations. In particular, free cash flow indicates the amount of cash generated after capital expenditures for, among other things, investment in the company's existing businesses, strategic acquisitions, strengthening the company's balance sheet, repurchase of the company's stock and repayment of the company's debt obligations, if any. Free cash flow does not represent the residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures since there may be other nondiscretionary expenditures that are not deducted from the measure. This non-GAAP measure is not meant to be considered in isolation, as a substitute for, or superior to, results determined in accordance with GAAP, and should be read only in conjunction with our condensed consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Note to Investors

This news release contains forward-looking statements, including statements as to anticipated or expected results, beliefs, opinions and future financial performance, within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements include projections of revenue, profit growth and other financial items, future economic performance and statements concerning analysts' earnings estimates, among other things. These forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations and assumptions and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause Teradata's actual results to differ materially. In addition to the factors discussed in this release, other risks and uncertainties could affect our future results, and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. Such factors include those relating to: the global economic environment in general or on the ability of our suppliers to meet their commitments to us, or the timing of purchases by our current and potential customers, and other general economic and business conditions; the rapidly changing and intensely competitive nature of the information technology industry and the data analytics business, including the increased pressure on price/performance for data analytics solutions and changes in customer's buying patterns; fluctuations in our operating results, unanticipated delays or accelerations in our sales cycles and the difficulty of accurately estimating revenues, particularly the pace and extent to which customers shift from perpetual licenses to subscription-based licenses; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of our business transformation program, divestitures, senior management changes, or other restructuring and cost saving initiatives; risks inherent in operating in foreign countries, including the impact of economic, political, legal, regulatory, compliance, cultural, foreign currency fluctuations and other conditions abroad (including Brexit); the timely and successful development, production or acquisition and market acceptance of new and existing products and services, including our ability to accelerate market acceptance of new products and services as well as the reliability, quality, security and operability of new products because of the difficulty and complexity associated with their testing and production; tax rates and the impact of recent tax reform legislation; turnover of workforce and the ability to attract and retain skilled employees; availability and successful exploitation of new acquisition and alliance opportunities; our ability to execute integration plans for newly acquired entities, including the possibility that expected synergies and operating efficiencies may not be achieved, that such integration efforts may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected, and that operating costs, customer loss and business disruption (including, without limitation, difficulties in maintaining relationships with employees, customers, clients or suppliers) may be greater than expected following the transaction; recurring revenue may decline or fail to be renewed; changes in Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and the resulting impact, if any, on the company's accounting policies; impact on our business and financial reporting from changes in accounting rules, including Topic ASC 606; continued efforts to establish and maintain best-in-class and secure internal information technology and control systems; and other factors described from time-to-time in the company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 10-K and subsequent quarterly reports on Forms 10-Q, as well as the company's annual reports to stockholders. The company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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