Ka-ching.ELECTRONIC ARTS REPORTS SECOND QUARTER RESULTS
Net Revenue up 35 Percent, Net Income up 27 Percent, Announces $750 Million Share Repurchase Program
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. Oct. 19, 2004 Electronic Arts today announced financial results for the fiscal second quarter ended September 30, 2004.
Net revenue was $716 million, up 35 percent as compared with $530 million for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2003. Sales were driven by Madden NFL 2005, The SimsTM 2, BurnoutTM 3: TakedownTM and NCAA® Football 2005 -- each reaching platinum status (over one million copies sold) in the quarter.
Madden NFL 2005 has sold over 4 million copies since launch. The Sims 2 and Burnout 3: Takedown have each sold over one million copies in Europe alone.
Net income for the second quarter was $97 million, a 27 percent increase year-over-year. Diluted earnings per share were $0.31 as compared to $0.25 a year ago.
Non-GAAP net income for the second quarter was $98 million, a 27 percent increase. Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share were $0.31 as compared to $0.25 a year ago. (Please see Non-GAAP Financial Measures and reconciliation information included in this release.)
Trailing twelve month operating cash flow was $664 million as compared to $657 million for the same period a year ago.
EA's Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase program of up to $750 million. EA may purchase the Company's common stock from time to time in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions over the next 12 months.
"We enter the holidays with strong momentum in North America, Europe and Asia," said Larry Probst, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "EA SPORTS is having its best year ever and The Sims 2 had the strongest PC launch in EA's history. In the December quarter, the breadth and quality of our global line-up is exceptional, with eleven new releases expected to achieve platinum status."
"We are fortunate to be in a strong financial position," said Warren Jenson, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer. "We have the financial strength to invest for the long term, maintain strategic flexibility and at the same time return capital to our shareholders through our share repurchase program."
Current Highlights (comparisons are to the quarter ended September 30, 2003)
The Sims 2 sold through more than one million copies worldwide within the first ten days of release - the biggest PC launch in EA's history.
Madden NFL 2005 became the #1 selling game of the year in North America -- in just one month.
Net revenue: North America -- up 32 percent to $473 million; Europe -- up 45 percent to $210 million; Asia Pacific -- up 21 percent to $21 million; Japan -- up 29 percent to $12 million. Reported net revenue increased by approximately $23 million or 4 percent due to changes in foreign currency rates. Gross margin was 60.3 percent -- compared to 59.7 percent a year ago.
Operating income was $125 million -- compared to $102 million. Operating margin was 17.4 percent -- compared to 19.2 percent a year ago.
The acquisition of Criterion Software was completed in October, bringing the BurnoutTM and Black franchises and RenderWare® technology to EA.
The Company announced plans to build a studio in China focused on creating games for this market.
EA received 4 out of the "Top Five PC Games with the Highest Expectations" awards and 2 out of the "Top Five Most Popular PC Games" awards at China Joy, China's equivalent to E3.
Business Outlook
The following forward-looking statements reflect expectations as of October 19, 2004. Results may be materially different and are affected by many factors, such as changes in foreign exchange rates, the overall global economy, the popular appeal of our products, our effective tax rate, development delays, our ability to secure key licenses and other factors detailed in this release and in our annual and quarterly SEC filings.
Fiscal Third Quarter Expectations -- Ending December 31, 2004
Net revenue is expected to be between $1.4 and $1.475 billion -- as compared to $1.475 billion for the prior year. Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share are expected to be between $1.16 and $1.26 -- as compared to $1.26 for the prior year. This range does not factor in five cents of estimated charges related principally to our acquisition of Criterion Software.
GAAP diluted earnings per share are expected to be between $1.11 and $1.21 -- as compared to $1.26 for the prior year. Fiscal Year Expectations -- Ending March 31, 2005
Net revenue is expected to be between $3.275 and $3.4 billion -- as compared to $2.957 billion for fiscal 2004. Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share are expected to be between $1.90 and $2.10 -- as compared to $1.84 for fiscal 2004. This range does not factor in six cents of estimated charges related principally to our acquisition of Criterion Software.
GAAP diluted earnings per share are expected to be between $1.84 and $2.04 -- as compared to $1.87 for fiscal 2004. Our expected results include the projected impact of our share repurchase program.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Electronic Arts uses non-GAAP measures of operating income, net income and diluted earnings per share. These non-GAAP measures exclude the following items, including any related tax effect, from the Company's statement of operations:
Amortization of intangibles and employee stock-based compensation
Restructuring and asset impairment charges Other-than-temporary impairment of investments in affiliates
Charges for acquired in-process technology
The Company believes that excluding these items is useful for illustrating and explaining operating results and comparisons to prior periods. Management considers these non-GAAP measures in its decision-making to facilitate more relevant operating comparisons.
A reconciliation of GAAP operating income to non-GAAP operating income; GAAP net income to non-GAAP net income; and GAAP diluted earnings per share to non-GAAP diluted earnings per share are included as part of the supplemental disclosures to this release.
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