Little Falls, New Jersey, May 11, 2017 - Ceragon Networks Ltd. (NASDAQ: CRNT), the #1 wireless backhaul specialist, today reported results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2017.
First Quarter 2017 Highlights:
Revenues – $76.0 million, up 27.1% from the first quarter of 2016, and down 10.2% from the fourth quarter of 2016.
Gross margin – 29.3%, compared to 35.6% in the first quarter of 2016 and 32.5% in the fourth quarter of 2016.
Operating income – $2.0 million, compared to operating income of $1.2 million in the first quarter of 2016 and operating income of $8.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2016.
Net loss – $(0.1) million or $(0.00) per diluted share. Net loss for the first quarter of 2016 was $(0.4) million, or $(0.01) per diluted share. Net income for the fourth quarter of 2016 was $8.3 million, or $0.10 per diluted share.
Non-GAAP results – gross margin was 30.0%, operating profit was $2.9 million, and net income was $0.9 million, or $0.01 per diluted share. Non-GAAP results exclude adjustments of $1.0 million. For a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results, see the attached tables.
Cash and cash equivalents – $36.5 million at March 31, 2017, compared to $36.3 million at December 31, 2016.
"Q1 was in line with expectations and we increased our net cash position to $25 million, using our free cash flow to further reduce our debt,” said Ira Palti, president and CEO of Ceragon. “Our book-to-bill ratio was substantially above 1:1 in the first quarter. Our gross margin fluctuates from quarter to quarter, mainly based on geographic mix of revenue. Based on our bookings, funnel of opportunities and assumptions about timing of revenue, we expect our gross margin to improve as the year progresses due to a more favorable revenue mix, and we continue to target substantial growth in net income for 2017 compared to 2016.”
Supplemental revenue breakouts:
Geographical breakdown, first quarter of 2017:
- Europe: 10%
- Africa: 6%
- North America: 15%
- Latin America: 14%
- India: 36%
- APAC: 19%
A conference call to discuss the results will begin at 9:00 a.m. EDT. Investors are invited to join the Company’s teleconference by calling USA: (800) 230-1096 or International: +1 (612) 288-0337, from 8:50 a.m. EDT. The call-in lines will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Investors can also listen to the call live via the Internet by accessing Ceragon Networks’ website at the investors’ page: https://www.ceragon.com/about-us/ceragon/investor-relations, selecting the webcast link, and following the registration instructions.
If you are unable to join us live, the replay numbers are: USA: (800) 475-6701 or International +1 (320) 365-3844 Access Code: 421730. A replay of both the call and the webcast will be available through June 11, 2017.
About Ceragon Networks Ltd.
Ceragon Networks Ltd. (NASDAQ: CRNT) is the world’s #1 wireless backhaul specialist. We help operators and other service providers worldwide increase operational efficiency and enhance end customers’ quality of experience with innovative wireless backhaul solutions. Our customers include wireless service providers, public safety organizations, government agencies and utility companies, which use our solutions to deliver 4G, mission-critical multimedia services and other applications at high reliability and speed. Ceragon’s unique multicore technology provides highly reliable, high-capacity 4G wireless backhaul with minimal use of spectrum, power and other resources. It enables increased productivity, as well as simple and quick network modernization. We deliver a range of professional services that ensure efficient network rollout and optimization to achieve the highest value for our customers. Our solutions are deployed by more than 460 service providers, as well as hundreds of private network owners, in more than 130 countries.
Ceragon Networks® and FibeAir® are registered trademarks of Ceragon Networks Ltd. in the United States and other countries. CERAGON ® is a trademark of Ceragon Networks Ltd., registered in various countries. Other names mentioned are owned by their respective holders.
This press release contains statements concerning Ceragon's future prospects that are "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of Ceragon's management. Examples of forward-looking statements include: projections of revenues, net income, gross margin, capital expenditures and liquidity, competitive pressures, growth prospects, product development, financial resources, cost savings and other financial matters. You may identify these and other forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "may", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "targets", "expects", "intends", "potential" or the negative of such terms, or other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including risks associated with a decline in revenues; the risk of a decrease in the amount of business coming from a certain geographic region, from which a significant portion of Ceragon’s business is generated; the risk associated with the a change in Ceragon’s gross margin as a result of changes in the geographic mix of revenues; the risk associated with the loss of a single customer or customer group, which represents a significant portion of Ceragon’s revenues; the risk associated with Ceragon’s failure to effectively compete with other wireless equipment providers; the risk relating to the concentration of Ceragon's business in India, Latin America, Africa, and in developing nations and the political, economic and regulatory risks from doing business in those regions, including potential currency restrictions; and other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in Ceragon's Annual Report on Form 20-F and Ceragon's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission that represent our views only as of the date they are made and should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.
-Tables to be downloaded below -
