Little Falls, New Jersey, February 12, 2018 - Ceragon Networks Ltd. (NASDAQ: CRNT), the #1 wireless backhaul specialist today reported results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2017.
Fourth Quarter 2017 Highlights:
Revenues - $86.7 million, up 2.4% from the fourth quarter of 2016, and up 14.1% from the third quarter of 2017.
Gross margin – 33.6%, compared to 32.5% in the fourth quarter of 2016 and 35.1% in the third quarter of 2017.
Operating income - $7.5 million, compared to $8.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2016, and $5.7 million in the third quarter of 2017.
Net income - net income of $7.2 million, or $0.09 per diluted share for the fourth quarter of 2017. Net income for the fourth quarter of 2016 was $8.3 million, or $0.10 per diluted share. Net income for the third quarter of 2017 was $3.5 million or $0.04 per diluted share.
Non-GAAP results - gross margin was 33.8%, operating income was $6.2 million, and net income was $4.1 million, or $0.05 per diluted share. For reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results, see the attached tables.
Cash and cash equivalents - $25.9 million at December 31, 2017, compared to $36.5 million at September 30, 2017.
Full Year 2017 Highlights:
Revenues – $332.0 million, up 13.1% from 2016.
Gross margin – 32.3%, compared to 33.8% in 2016.
Operating income – $23.1 million, compared to an operating income of $19.5 million in 2016.
Net income – $15.6 million, or $0.19 per diluted share. Net income for 2016 was $11.4 million, or $ 0.15 per diluted share.
Non-GAAP results – gross margin was 32.7%, operating income was $24.0 million, and net income was $15.3 million, or $0.19 per diluted share. For a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results, see the attached tables.
“2017 was the third consecutive year that we have achieved significant growth in net income,” said Ira Palti, president and CEO of Ceragon. “Our technology and product leadership, strong global presence, financial strength and track record of performance are key differentiators that have enabled us to win a major share of several large projects during the year. We achieved a 36% increase in net income, and increased our net cash to $25.9 million at the end of 2017 from $19.3 million at the end of 2016. We had particularly strong bookings during Q4, and we believe we can continue to gradually gain market share as operators are compelled to address complex backhaul challenges in a comprehensive way. We expect these challenges, which are part of the ongoing evolution to full 5G commercial service, to drive greater demand for state-of-the-art solutions and enable us to target progressively higher revenue goals during the next several years.”
Supplemental revenue breakouts by geography:
Fourth quarter 2017:
- Europe: 17%
- Africa: 3%
- North America: 14%
- Latin America: 20%
- India: 34%
- APAC: 12%
Full year 2017:
- Europe: 14%
- Africa: 4%
- North America: 12%
- Latin America: 18%
- India: 39%
- APAC: 13%
A conference call to discuss the results will begin at 9:00 a.m. EST. Investors are invited to join the Company’s teleconference by calling USA: (800) 288-8960 or International: +1 (612) 234-9960, from 8:50 a.m. EST. 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-ceragon/investor-relations/events-webcasts/, 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: 442462. A replay of both the call and the webcast will be available through March 12, 2018.
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 a 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 due to our focus on a single market segment; risks relating to the concentration of Ceragon's business in certain geographic regions such as India, Latin America and in developing nations and the political, economic and regulatory risks from doing business in those regions, including potential currency restrictions; risks associated with a change in Ceragon’s gross margin as a result of changes in the geographic mix of revenues; risks associated with the loss of a single customer or customer group, which represents a significant portion of Ceragon’s revenues; risks associated with Ceragon’s failure to effectively compete with other wireless equipment providers; 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 -
