HP Reports Fiscal 2015 First Quarter Results 

HP today announced financial results for its fiscal 2015 first quarter ended January 31, 2015.

First quarter net revenue of $26.8 billion was down 5% from the prior-year period and down 2% on a constant currency basis.

First quarter GAAP diluted net earnings per share (EPS) was $0.73, down from $0.74 in the prior-year period and within its previously provided outlook of $0.72 to $0.76. First quarter non-GAAP diluted net EPS was $0.92, up from $0.90 in the prior-year period and within its previously provided outlook of $0.89 to $0.93. First quarter non-GAAP net earnings and non-GAAP diluted net EPS exclude after-tax costs of $339 million and $0.19 per diluted share, respectively, related to the amortization of intangible assets, restructuring charges, separation costs, and acquisition-related charges.

"With the first quarter of fiscal 2015 now behind us, the HP turnaround remains on track," said Meg Whitman, chairman, president and chief executive officer, HP. "We grew operating profit margins across all of our major business segments, increased investment in innovation, and executed well across key areas of our portfolio and in our separation activities.  Our progress continues as we head into Q2."

Outlook

The US dollar has strengthened considerably since HP last provided an FY15 outlook in November, 2014.  As is the case with many US based companies, this currency challenge is having a significant impact on HP's financial outlook.

For the fiscal 2015 second quarter, HP estimates non-GAAP diluted net EPS to be in the range of $0.84 to $0.88, reflecting an estimated currency impact of $0.09.  HP expects GAAP diluted net EPS to be in the range of $0.57 to $0.61, reflecting an estimated currency impact of $0.09. Fiscal 2015 second quarter non-GAAP diluted net EPS estimates exclude after-tax costs of approximately $0.27 per share, related to separation costs, the amortization of intangible assets, restructuring charges and acquisition-related charges.

For fiscal 2015, HP estimates non-GAAP diluted net EPS to be in the range of $3.53 to $3.73, reflecting an estimated currency impact of $0.30.  Absent the impact of currency, the range is in line with HP's prior forecast.  HP expects GAAP diluted net EPS to be in the range of $2.03 to $2.23, reflecting an estimated currency impact of $0.30. Fiscal 2015 non-GAAP diluted net EPS estimates exclude after-tax costs of approximately $1.50 per share, related to separation costs, the amortization of intangible assets, restructuring charges and acquisition-related charges.

"While we were able to manage the impact of currency in the quarter and deliver earnings as expected, we believe the impact on FY15 will be significantly greater than we anticipated in November," Whitman added.  "We'll work hard to offset these impacts through re-pricing and productivity, but fully mitigating currency movements of this size would require reducing investments and mortgaging our future.  We won't do that."

Asset management

HP generated $744 million in cash flow from operations in the first quarter, down 75% from the prior-year period. Inventory ended the quarter at $6.6 billion, up 4 days year over year to 29 days. Accounts receivable ended the quarter at $12.3 billion, down 2 days year over year to 41 days. Accounts payable ended the quarter at $14.9 billion, up 13 days year over year to 65 days. HP's dividend payment of $0.16 per share in the first quarter resulted in cash usage of $304 million. HP also utilized $1.6 billion of cash during the quarter to repurchase approximately 41.1 million shares of common stock in the open market. HP exited the quarter with $13.3 billion in gross cash.

Fiscal 2015 first quarter segment results

• Personal Systems revenue was flat year over year with a 3.7% operating margin. Commercial revenue decreased 1% and Consumer revenue increased 2%. Total units were up 9% with Notebooks units up 21% and Desktops units down 7%.
• Printing revenue was down 5% year over year with a 19.2% operating margin. Total hardware units were down 4% with Commercial hardware units flat and Consumer hardware units down 6%. Supplies revenue was down 5%.
• Enterprise Group revenue was flat year over year with a 15.6% operating margin. Industry Standard Servers revenue was up 7%, Storage revenue was flat, Business Critical Systems revenue was down 9%, Networking revenue was down 11% and Technology Services revenue was down 5%.
• Enterprise Services revenue was down 11% year over year with a 3.0% operating margin.  Application and Business Services revenue was down 11%, and Infrastructure Technology Outsourcing revenue declined 11%.
• Software revenue was down 5% year over year with an 18.0% operating margin. License revenue was down 16%, support revenue was flat, professional services revenue was down 7% and software-as-a-service (SaaS) revenue was flat.
• HP Financial Services revenue was down 8% year over year with a 1% decrease in net portfolio assets and a 14% increase in financing volume. The business delivered an operating margin of 11.2%.