Novatel Wireless Second Quarter 2011 Financial Results

SAN DIEGO, Aug. 4, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Novatel Wireless, Inc. (NASDAQ: NVTL), a leading provider of wireless broadband access solutions, today reported preliminary financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2011.

"Our second quarter benefited from strong growth in our MiFi® intelligent mobile hotspot product line, as well as initial sales of 4G Expedite® embedded solutions," said Peter Leparulo, CEO of Novatel Wireless. "Our LTE MiFi hotspot has quickly become the category leader. Our LTE Expedite embedded modules have achieved a number of tier-one OEM design wins for future product launches in the U.S. and around the world.

"In our M2M business, we are seeing the benefits of our Enfora acquisition begin to unfold, although revenues were constrained due to shortages of certain key components caused by supply disruptions in Japan. Our recently launched Spider MT2500, MT3000 and AT3010 solutions with our N4A software gateway platform have received strong interest from global carriers and enterprise customers seeking asset tracking systems and are expected to be key products for driving our M2M business growth."

Operating Results

Second quarter revenue was $118.0 million, solidly within our guidance range of $112 to $122 million. This was achieved despite the constrained Solutions & Services revenue at our Enfora division related to component shortages.

Sales by major product category were as follows:

Gross margin was 22.2 percent of revenue on a GAAP basis. On a non-GAAP basis, gross margin was 23.2 percent, exceeding the range of our previous guidance of 21 to 22 percent.

Non-GAAP Earnings Summary

The following adjustments are included in the second quarter non-GAAP loss per share.

Segment Results

GAAP financial results by operating segment were as follows:

Recent Business Highlights

• In May, Novatel Wireless became the first provider to have an embedded LTE solution commercially available and compatible with the Verizon Wireless network. Our Expedite® embedded-module portfolio provides innovative solutions to integrate high-speed data connectivity into tablets, notebooks, and various other portable devices. Customer shipments to leading manufacturers began during the second quarter.
• In June, Novatel Wireless extended its innovative Expedite embedded-mobile portfolio with the ultra-thin LGA (Land Grid Array) form factor targeted at tablets, mobile Internet devices, portable entertainment devices and consumer electronics devices.
• Novatel Wireless began supplying its MiFi® 4082 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot to Comcast, supporting its nationwide rollout of Xfinity® Internet 2go. The new MiFi 4082 delivers 4G WiMAX speeds and complements Comcast's entertainment offerings with one-touch connectivity for up to five Wi-Fi enabled devices.
• Novatel Wireless entered the insurance telematics market with the Enfora Spider MT 3000 solution. This new platform is purpose-built for the usage-based insurance, telematics, and fleet management markets.
• Novatel Wireless entered the electric smart-grid market in cooperation with Consert Inc and Qualcomm. The Novatel Wireless' Expedite® E396 PCI Express Mini Card is being embedded into the Consert Virtual Peak Plant^(SM) Solution, allowing utilities to effectively manage load resources in real-time.
• Enfora expanded its collaboration with SeeControl, a company that offers a cloud-based platform for building tailored M2M applications. Our combined offerings will improve visibility, management, and operation of remote mobile and fixed assets. We will integrate software components into a complete solution making it easier than ever for customers to deploy an intelligent-asset network across their existing platforms.
• Novatel Wireless was selected by POM Inc. to supply wireless modules and services for POM's new Parktel™ credit card parking meter. The Parktel meter uses a tightly integrated Enfora wireless module coupled with Enfora's N4A communications and management platform. This provides a secure wireless transaction capability together with the ability to manage the meters remotely via a simple web-based tool.
• Best Buy announced the availability of the Novatel Wireless 3G MiFi® Mobile Hotspot and Ovation™ USB modem on Best Buy Connect(SM), its mobile-broadband service.  The devices are branded Rocketfish, a Best Buy private-label brand that represents a portfolio of connectivity solutions.

Third Quarter 2011 Business Outlook

The following statements are forward-looking and actual results may differ materially.  Please see the section titled, "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" at the end of this press release.  A more detailed description of risks related to our business is included in the reports filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Our guidance for the third quarter of 2011 reflects current business indicators and expectations as of the date of this release. All figures are approximations based on management's beliefs and assumptions as of the date of this release.

Conference Call Information

Novatel Wireless will host a conference call and live webcast for analysts and investors today at 5:00 p.m. ET.  For parties in the United States and Canada, call 1-800-762-8779 to access the conference call. International parties can access the call at 1-480-629-9771.

Novatel Wireless will offer a live webcast of the conference call, which will be accessible from the "Investors" section of the company's website at www.NVTL.com. The webcast will be archived for a period of 90 days. A telephonic replay of the conference call will also be available two hours after the call and will run for two weeks. To hear the replay, parties in the United States and Canada should call 800-406-7325 and enter pass code 4448643.  International parties should call 303-590-3030.

ABOUT NOVATEL WIRELESS

Novatel Wireless, Inc. is a leader in the design and development of intelligent wireless solutions based on 2G, 3G and 4G technologies providing wireless connectivity.  The company delivers specialized wireless solutions to carriers, distributors, retailers, OEMs and vertical markets worldwide. Product lines include MiFi Intelligent Mobile Hotspots, Ovation USB modems, Expedite embedded modules, Enfora smart M2M modules, and Enfora integrated M2M solutions. These innovative products provide anywhere, anytime communications solutions for consumers and enterprises. Headquartered in San Diego, California, Novatel Wireless is listed onNASDAQ: NVTL. For more information please visit www.nvtl.com. (NVTLF)

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the information presented in this release constitutes forward-looking statements based on management's current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections.  In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance and often contain words such as "may," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "intend," "plan," "project," "will" and similar words and phrases indicating future results.  The information presented in this release related to our financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2011 and our outlook for the third quarter of 2011, as well as statements regarding new product launches, are forward-looking.  Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements.  The Company therefore cannot guarantee future results, performance or achievements.  Actual results could differ materially from the Company's expectations.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Novatel Wireless' expectations are set forth as risk factors in the Company's SEC reports and filings and include (1) the future demand for wireless broadband access to data, (2) the growth of wireless wide-area networking, (3) changes in commercially adopted wireless transmission standards and technologies including 3G and 4G standards, (4) continued customer and end user acceptance of the Company's current products and market demand for the Company's anticipated new product offerings, (5) increased competition and pricing pressure from current or future wireless market participants, (6) dependence on third party manufacturers in Asia and key component suppliers worldwide, (7) unexpected liabilities or expenses, (8) the Company's ability to introduce new products in a timely manner, (9) litigation, regulatory and IP developments related to our products or component parts of our products, (10) the outcome of pending or future litigation, including the current class action securities litigation, (11) the continuing impact of the recent global credit crisis on the value and liquidity of the securities in our investment portfolio, (12) dependence on a small number of customers, (13) the effect of changes in accounting standards and in aspects of our critical accounting policies and (14) the Company's plans and expectations relating to strategic relationships, international expansion, software and hardware developments, personnel matters and cost containment initiatives.

These factors, as well as other factors described in the reports filed by the Company with the SEC (available at www.sec.gov), could cause actual results to differ materially. Novatel Wireless assumes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason, even if new information becomes available or other events occur in the future, except as otherwise required pursuant to applicable law and our on-going reporting obligations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Novatel Wireless has provided in this release financial information that has not been prepared in accordance with GAAP. Non-GAAP operating expenses, net income and earnings per share exclude stock-based compensation expenses, charges and benefits related to M&A activities, acquisition-related intangible-asset amortization, and merger integration costs. Non-GAAP net income and earnings per share for the full year also exclude the impact of establishing a valuation allowance related to deferred tax assets and assume a tax rate which management believes reflects its long-term effective tax rate.

Non-GAAP net income, diluted earnings per share, operating expenses, and gross margin are supplemental measures of our performance that are not required by, or presented in accordance with, GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures are not intended to be used in isolation and, moreover, they should not be considered as a substitute for net income, diluted earnings per share, operating expenses, gross margin or any other performance measure determined in accordance with GAAP. We present non-GAAP net income, earnings per share, operating expenses, and gross margin because we consider each to be an important supplemental measure of our performance.

Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures to make operational decisions, evaluate the Company's performance, prepare forecasts and determine compensation. Further, management believes that both management and investors benefit from referring to these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing the Company's performance when planning, forecasting and analyzing future periods.  The stock-based compensation expenses are expected to vary depending on the number of new grants issued to both current and new employees, and changes in the Company's stock price, stock market volatility, expected option life and risk-free interest rates, all of which are difficult to estimate. In calculating non-GAAP operating expenses, net income and earnings per share, management excludes stock-based compensation expenses and charges related to M&A activity to facilitate comparability of the Company's operating performance on a period-to-period basis because such expenses are not, in management's review, related to the Company's ongoing operating performance. Management uses this view of its operating performance for purposes of comparison with its business plan and individual operating budgets and allocation of resources.

We further believe that these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors in providing greater transparency to the information used by management in its operational decision making.  We believe that the use of non-GAAP operating expenses, net income and earnings per share also facilitates a comparison of Novatel Wireless' underlying operating performance with that of other companies in our industry, which use similar non-GAAP financial measures to supplement their GAAP results.

Calculating non-GAAP operating expenses, net income and earnings per share have limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider these measures in isolation or as substitutes for GAAP operating expenses, net income and earnings per share. In the future, we expect to continue to incur expenses similar to the non-GAAP adjustments described above, and exclusion of these items in the presentation of our non-GAAP financial measures should not be construed as an inference that these costs are unusual, infrequent or non-recurring. Investors and potential investors are cautioned that there are material limitations associated with the use of non-GAAP financial measures as an analytical tool. Some of the limitations in relying on non-GAAP operating expenses, net income and earnings per share are:

• Other companies, including other companies in our industry, may calculate non-GAAP operating expenses, net income and earnings per share differently than we do, limiting their usefulness as a comparative tool.  

• The Company's income tax expense will be ultimately based on its GAAP taxable income and actual tax rates in effect, which may differ significantly from the effective tax rate used in our non-GAAP financial measures.

In addition, the adjustments to our GAAP operating expenses, net income and earnings per share reflect the exclusion of stock-based compensation expenses that are recurring and will be reflected in the Company's financial results for the foreseeable future. The Company compensates for these limitations by providing specific information regarding the GAAP amount excluded from the non-GAAP financial measures. The Company further compensates for the limitations of our use of non-GAAP financial measures by presenting comparable GAAP measures more prominently. The Company evaluates the non-GAAP financial measures together with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.

Investors and potential investors are encouraged to review the reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures contained within this press release with our GAAP operating expenses, net income, earnings per share and gross margin. For more information, see the consolidated statements of operations and the "Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income (Loss) to Non-GAAP Net Income" contained in this press release.

(C) 2011 Novatel Wireless. All rights reserved. MiFi, Expedite, Ovation, Enfora, N4A, and the Novatel Wireless name and logo are trademarks of Novatel Wireless, Inc.  Other product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.

Investor contact:

William A. Walkowiak, CFA
Novatel Wireless
(858) 431-3711
[email protected]

Media contact:

Charlotte Rubin
Novatel Wireless
(858) 812-3431
[email protected]

SOURCE Novatel Wireless, Inc.