Nova Reports First Quarter 2018 Results

REHOVOT, Israel, May 2, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Nova (Nasdaq: NVMI), a leading innovator and a key provider of metrology solutions for advanced process control used in semiconductor manufacturing, today reported financial results for the first quarter 2018, the period ended March 31, 2018.

First Quarter 2018 Highlights:

• Record quarterly revenue of $62.6 million, up 15% year-over-year, exceeding guidance of $54 to $60 million
• GAAP net income of $14.1 million, or $0.49 per diluted share, exceeding guidance of $0.29 to $0.40 per share
• Non-GAAP net income of $15.4 million, or $0.54 per diluted share, exceeding guidance of $0.34 to $0.45 per share
• Growing position in China yielded 40% of overall product revenue
• Expansion in the Memory sector generated 50% of overall product revenue

A reconciliation between GAAP operating results and non-GAAP operating results is provided following the financial statements that are part of this release. Non-GAAP results exclude amortization of acquired intangible assets, certain discrete tax items and stock-based compensation expenses.

Management Comments

"Nova continued to perform well this quarter, setting new revenue and profit records that demonstrate our competitive strength in the market and the growing adoption of our diversified portfolio," commented Eitan Oppenhaim, President and Chief Executive Officer of Nova. "Growth in the first quarter was driven by two main notable factors: the expansion of our Memory business and our continued growth in China. This strong start supports our outlook for another growth year in which we continue to execute our strategic plan to expand our portfolio and enhance our value proposition. These efforts contribute directly to our customers' success in transitioning to the most advanced technology nodes," concluded Mr. Oppenhaim.

2018 Second Quarter Financial Outlook

Management provided an outlook for the second quarter, the period ending June 30, 2018. Based on current estimates, management expects:

• $57 million to $63 million in revenue
• $0.30 to $0.40 in diluted GAAP EPS
• $0.35 to $0.45 in diluted non-GAAP EPS

2018 First Quarter Results

Total revenues for the first quarter of 2018 were $62.6 million, an increase of 9% compared to the fourth quarter of 2017, and an increase of 15% relative to the first quarter of 2017.

Gross margin for the first quarter of 2018 was 58%, compared with gross margin of 56% in the fourth quarter of 2017 and compared with gross margin of 60% in the first quarter of 2017.

Operating expenses in the first quarter of 2018 were $20.3 million. This is compared with $19.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2017 and compared with $17.7 million in the first quarter of 2017.

On a GAAP basis, the company reported net income of $14.1 million, or $0.49 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2018. This is compared with net income of $8.2 million, or $0.29 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2017, and compared with net income of $13.4 million, or $0.48 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2017. 

On a Non-GAAP basis, which excludes amortization of acquired intangible assets, certain discrete tax items and stock-based compensation expenses, the company reported net income of $15.4 million, or $0.54 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2018. This is compared with net income of $13.0 million, or $0.45 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2017, and compared with net income of $14.1 million, or $0.50 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2017.

Conference Call Information

Nova will host a conference call today, May 2, 2018, at 9 a.m. Eastern Time, to discuss the financial results and future outlook. To attend the conference call, please dial one of the following teleconferencing numbers. Please begin by placing your calls five minutes before the conference call commences. If you are unable to connect using the toll-free numbers, please try the international dial-in number.

U.S. Dial-in Number: 1-888-394-8218
Israel Dial-in Number: 1-809-212- 883
International Dial-in Number: 1-323-701-0225
At:
9 a.m. Eastern Time
6 a.m. Pacific Time
4 p.m. Israel Time

The conference call will also be webcast live from a link on Nova's website at http://ir.novameasuring.com. For those unable to participate in the conference call, there will be a replay available from a link on Nova's website at http://ir.novameasuring.com.

Replay Dial-In Numbers:
U.S. Dial-in Number:   1-844-512-2921
International Dial-in Number:   1-412-317-6671
From:  05/02/18 at 12:00 pm Eastern Time
To:    05/09/18 at 11:59 pm Eastern Time
Replay Pin Number:  1121259

About Nova: Nova Measuring Instruments delivers continuous innovation by providing advanced metrology solutions for the semiconductor manufacturing industry. Deployed with the world's largest integrated-circuit manufacturers, Nova's products deliver state-of-the-art, high-performance metrology solutions for effective process control throughout the semiconductor fabrication lifecycle. Nova's product portfolio, which combines high-precision hardware and cutting-edge software, supports the development and production of the most advanced devices in today's high-end semiconductor market. Nova's technical innovation and market leadership enable customers to improve process performance, enhance products' yields and accelerate time to market. Nova acts as a partner to semiconductor manufacturers from its offices around the world. Additional information may be found at www.novameasuring.com.

Nova is traded on the NASDAQ & TASE under the symbol NVMI.

This press release provides financial measures that exclude charges for amortization of acquired intangible assets, certain discrete tax items and stock-based compensation expenses and are therefore not calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding Nova's performance because they reflect our operational results and enhances management's and investors' ability to evaluate Nova's performance before charges or benefits considered by management to be outside Nova's ongoing operating results. The presentation of this non-GAAP financial information is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. Management believes that it is in the best interest of its investors to provide financial information that will facilitate comparison of both historical and future results and allows greater transparency to supplemental information used by management in its financial and operational decision making. A reconciliation of each GAAP to non-GAAP financial measure discussed in this press release is contained in the accompanying financial tables.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 relating to future events or our future performance, such as statements regarding, but are not limited to, anticipated growth opportunities and projections about our business and its future revenues, expenses and profitability. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied in those forward-looking statements. Factors that may affect our results, performance, circumstances or achievements include, but are not limited to, the following: our dependency on three product lines; our dependency on a small number of large customers and small number of suppliers; the highly cyclical and competitive nature of the markets we target and we operate in; our inability to reduce spending during a slowdown in the semiconductor industry; our ability to respond effectively on a timely basis to rapid technological changes; our dependency on PEMs; risks related to exclusivity obligations and non-limited liability that may be included in our commercial agreements and arrangements; our ability to retain our competitive position despite the ongoing consolidation in our industry; risks related to our dependence on our manufacturing facilities; risks related to changes in our order backlog; risks related to efforts to complete and integrate current and/or future acquisitions; risks related to the worldwide financial instabilities; risks related to our intellectual property; new product offerings from our competitors; unanticipated manufacturing or supply problems; risks related to government programs we participate in; risks related to taxation; changes in customer demand for our products; risks related to currency fluctuations; risks related to technology security threats and changes in privacy laws; risks related to acquisitions we may pursue and risks related to our operations in Israel. We cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. The matters discussed in this press release also involve risks and uncertainties summarized under the heading "Risk Factors" in Nova's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2017 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2018. These factors are updated from time to time through the filing of reports and registration statements with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Nova Measuring Instruments Ltd. does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release.

(Tables to Follow)

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SOURCE Nova