Q4 2015 Financial Highlights

(PRNewswire) —  Synopsys, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNPS) today reported results for its fourth quarter and fiscal year 2015.

For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015, Synopsys reported revenue of $587.2 million, compared to $539.0 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014. Revenue for fiscal year 2015 was $2.242 billion, an increase of 9.0 percent from $2.057 billion in fiscal 2014.  

"Synopsys reported an excellent fourth quarter and fiscal 2015 against a somewhat challenging semiconductor industry backdrop, providing a solid foundation as we enter 2016," said Aart de Geus, chairman and co-CEO of Synopsys. "Our game-changing design and verification products have made great strides and are yielding excellent results. Meanwhile, we continue to invest and grow in our new TAM of software quality and security, both organically and with several important acquisitions during the year."

GAAP Results

On a generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) basis, net income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015 was $49.8 million, or $0.31 per share, compared to $62.5 million, or $0.39 per share, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014. GAAP net income for fiscal year 2015 was $225.9 million, or $1.43 per share, compared to $259.1 million, or $1.64 per share, for fiscal 2014.

Non-GAAP Results

On a non-GAAP basis, net income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015 was $105.5 million, or $0.67 per share, compared to non-GAAP net income of $100.9 million, or $0.64 per share, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014. Non-GAAP net income for fiscal 2015 was $438.4 million, or $2.77 per share, compared to non-GAAP net income of $398.9 million, or $2.53 per share, for fiscal 2014. Reconciliation between GAAP and non-GAAP results is provided below.

Financial Targets

Synopsys also provided its financial targets for the first quarter and full fiscal year 2016.  These targets do not include any impact of future acquisition-related activities or costs that may be incurred in fiscal year 2016. Beginning in fiscal year 2016, Synopsys will utilize a normalized annual non-GAAP tax rate in calculating non-GAAP financial measures in order to provide better consistency across interim reporting periods by eliminating the effects of non-recurring and period-specific items.

These targets constitute forward-looking statements and are based on current expectations.  For a discussion of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these targets, see "Forward-Looking Statements" below. 

First Quarter of Fiscal Year 2016 Targets:

• Revenue: $560 million - $575 million
• GAAP expenses: $505 million - $524 million
• Non-GAAP expenses: $445 million - $455 million
• Other income and expense: $0 - $2 million
• Normalized annual tax rate applied in non-GAAP net income calculations: 19 percent
• Fully diluted outstanding shares: 155 million - 158 million
• GAAP earnings per share: $0.25 - $0.33
• Non-GAAP earnings per share: $0.60 - $0.63

Full Fiscal Year 2016 Targets:

• Revenue: $2.350 billion - $2.390 billion
• Other income and expense: $0 - $4 million
• Normalized annual tax rate applied in non-GAAP net income calculations: 19 percent
• Fully diluted outstanding shares: 155 million - 158 million
• GAAP earnings per share: $1.55 - $1.71
• Non-GAAP earnings per share: $2.93 - $3.00
• Cash flow from operations: at least $500 million

GAAP Reconciliation

Synopsys continues to provide all information required in accordance with GAAP, but believes evaluating its ongoing operating results may not be as useful if an investor is limited to reviewing only GAAP financial measures. Accordingly, Synopsys presents non-GAAP financial measures in reporting its financial results to provide investors with an additional tool to evaluate Synopsys' operating results in a manner that focuses on what Synopsys believes to be its ongoing business operations and what Synopsys uses to evaluate its ongoing operations and for internal planning and forecasting purposes. Synopsys' management does not itself, nor does it suggest that investors should, consider such non-GAAP financial measures in isolation from, or as a substitute for, financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. Synopsys' management believes it is useful for itself and investors to review, as applicable, both GAAP information that includes: (i) the amortization of acquired intangible assets, (ii) the impact of stock compensation, (iii) acquisition-related costs,  (iv) other significant items, including restructuring charges and certain accruals for legal and tax matters, and (v) the income tax effect of non-GAAP pre-tax adjustments as well as unusual or infrequent tax adjustments; and the non-GAAP measures that exclude such information in order to assess the performance of Synopsys' business and for planning and forecasting in subsequent periods. Beginning in fiscal 2016, Synopsys will utilize a normalized annual non-GAAP tax rate in the calculation of its non-GAAP measures that is based on our projected annual tax rate through fiscal 2018.  In projecting this rate, we evaluated our historical and projected mix of U.S. and international profit before tax, excluding the impact of stock-based compensation, the amortization of purchased intangibles and other non-GAAP adjustments described above. We also took into account other factors including our current tax structure, our existing tax positions, and expected recurring tax incentives, such as the U.S. federal research and development tax credit. We intend to re-evaluate this rate on an annual basis for any significant events that may materially affect our projections, such as significant changes in our geographic earnings mix or significant tax law changes in major jurisdictions where we operate. Whenever Synopsys uses a non-GAAP financial measure, it provides a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure to the most closely applicable GAAP financial measure. Investors are encouraged to review the related GAAP financial measures and the reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measure as detailed below.

Reconciliation of Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2015 Results

The following tables reconcile the specific items excluded from GAAP in the calculation of non-GAAP net income and earnings per share for the periods indicated below.