Unisys Corporation reported a third-quarter 2013 net loss of $11.6 million, or a loss of 26 cents per diluted share, which included $22.6 million of pension expense. In the third quarter of 2012, the company reported a net loss of $12.4 million, or a loss of 28 cents per diluted share, which included $28.9 million of pension expense and $23.1 million of debt reduction charges.
Unisys Corporation reported a third-quarter 2013 net loss of $11.6 million, or a loss of 26 cents per diluted share, which included $22.6 million of pension expense. In the third quarter of 2012, the company reported a net loss of $12.4 million, or a loss of 28 cents per diluted share, which included $28.9 million of pension expense and $23.1 million of debt reduction charges. Excluding pension expense in both periods and the debt reduction charge in the year-ago period, non-GAAP diluted earnings per share(1) in the third quarter of 2013 was 25 cents compared with 85 cents in the third quarter of 2012. Pre-tax income in the third quarter of 2013 was $23.5 million compared to $27.6 million in the third quarter of 2012.
The company reported a third-quarter 2013 income tax provision of $27.0 million compared with $32.7 million in the third quarter of 2012. The third-quarter 2013 and third-quarter 2012 tax provisions included charges of $11.4 million and $9.2 million, respectively, related to a change in applicable corporate tax rates in the U.K.
Third-quarter 2013 revenue declined 10 percent to $792 million from $877 million in the year-ago quarter primarily driven by a $57 million decline in technology revenue. Foreign currency translations had a one percentage-point negative impact on revenue comparisons in the quarter.
“While we were encouraged by improved operating profit margins in our services business, both sequentially and compared to the year-ago quarter, our third-quarter results were impacted by lower technology revenue, which can vary significantly from quarter to quarter,” said Unisys Chairman and CEO Ed Coleman. “We are focused on our goal of maintaining flat technology revenue for the full year and look to close out the year with a strong fourth quarter. Longer term, we are excited about the growth prospects of our newer technology offerings, such as our Unisys Stealth suite of cybersecurity products and our recently announced Forward! by Unisys computing platform.”
Third-Quarter Company and Business Segment Highlights
U.S. revenue declined 2 percent in the quarter while international revenue declined 15 percent. On a constant currency basis (2), international revenue declined 13 percent, primarily due to lower technology revenue.
Reflecting the lower technology revenue, the company reported an overall third-quarter 2013 gross profit margin of 21.7 percent, down from 24.9 percent a year ago. Operating expenses (SG&A and R&D expenses) declined 6 percent from the year-ago period. The company reported a third-quarter 2013 operating profit of $24.0 million, or 3.0 percent of revenue, compared with an operating profit of $61.2 million, or 7.0 percent of revenue, in the third quarter of 2012.
Third-quarter 2013 services revenue declined 4 percent (2 percent on a constant currency basis) from the prior-year quarter, primarily driven by lower IT outsourcing revenue. Third-quarter 2013 services gross profit margin improved to 21.1 percent from 19.9 percent a year ago and services operating profit margin improved to 7.7 percent from 6.0 percent a year ago.
Third-quarter 2013 services orders grew slightly from year-ago levels as order growth for IT outsourcing and systems integration offset order declines in other areas. Services backlog at September 30, 2013 was $4.8 billion, consistent with June 30, 2013 levels and down 5 percent from December 31, 2012.
Third-quarter 2013 technology revenue, which represented 9 percent of overall company revenue in the quarter, declined 44 percent from the prior-year quarter due to lower sales of ClearPath enterprise software and servers. Reflecting the lower ClearPath sales, third-quarter 2013 technology gross profit margin declined to 35.3 percent compared to 59.9 percent in the year-ago quarter and technology operating profit (loss) margin was (11.0) percent compared to 29.1 percent in the year-ago quarter.
Cash Flow and Balance Sheet Highlights
Unisys generated $16 million of cash from operations in the third quarter of 2013, including $40 million of pension contributions. In the third quarter of 2012, the company generated $17 million of cash from operations, which included $56 million of pension contributions. Capital expenditures in the third quarter of 2013 were $39 million compared with $32 million in the year-ago quarter. After capital expenditures, the company used $23 million of free cash(3) in the third quarter of 2013 compared with free cash usage of $15 million in the third quarter of 2012. Free cash flow before pension contributions was $17 million in the third quarter of 2013 compared with $42 million in the year-ago quarter.
At September 30, 2013, the company reported a cash balance of $556 million and total debt of $210 million.
Non-GAAP Information
Unisys reports its results in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) in the United States. However, in an effort to provide investors with additional perspective regarding the company’s results as determined by GAAP, the company also discusses, in its earnings press release and/or earnings presentation materials, non-GAAP information which management believes provides useful information to investors. Our management uses supplemental non-GAAP financial measures internally to understand, manage and evaluate our business and assess operational alternatives. These non-GAAP measures may include non-GAAP diluted earnings per share, free cash flow, and free cash flow before pension contributions.
Our non-GAAP measures are not intended to be considered in isolation or as substitutes for results determined in accordance with GAAP and should be read only in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. (See GAAP to non-GAAP reconciliations attached.)
(1) Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share – The company recorded pension expense of $22.6 million and $28.9 million during the third quarters of 2013 and 2012, respectively. In addition, as a result of debt reductions, Unisys recorded a charge of $23.1 million during the third quarter of 2012. In an effort to provide investors with a perspective on the company’s earnings without these charges, they are excluded from the non-GAAP diluted earnings per share calculations.
(2) Constant currency – The company refers to growth rates at constant currency or adjusting for currency so that the business results can be viewed without the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates to facilitate comparisons of the company’s business performance from one period to another. Constant currency for revenue is calculated by retranslating current and prior period results at a consistent rate. This approach is based on the pricing currency for each country which is typically the functional currency. Generally, when the dollar either strengthens or weakens against other currencies, the growth at constant currency rates will be higher or lower, respectively, than growth reported at actual exchange rates.
(3) Free cash flow – To better understand the trends in our business, we believe that it is helpful to present free cash flow, which we define as cash flow from operations less capital expenditures. Management believes this measure gives investors an additional perspective on cash flow from operating activities in excess of amounts required for reinvestment. Because of the significance of the company’s pension funding obligations, free cash flow before pension funding is also provided.
Conference Call
Unisys will hold a conference call today at 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss its results. The listen-only Webcast, as well as the accompanying presentation materials, can be accessed on the Unisys Investor Web site at www.unisys.com/investor. Following the call, an audio replay of the Webcast, and accompanying presentation materials, can be accessed through the same link.
Forward-Looking Statements
Any statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, any projections of earnings, revenues, or other financial items; any statements of the company’s plans, strategies or objectives for future operations; statements regarding future economic conditions or performance; and any statements of belief or expectation. All forward-looking statements rely on assumptions and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. Risks and uncertainties that could affect the company’s future results include the company’s ability to drive profitable growth in consulting and systems integration; the company’s ability to take on, successfully implement and grow outsourcing operations; market demand for the company’s high-end enterprise servers and maintenance on those servers; the potential adverse effects of aggressive competition in the information services and technology marketplace; the company’s ability to retain significant clients; the company’s ability to effectively anticipate and respond to volatility and rapid technological change in its industry; the adverse effects of global economic conditions; the company’s significant pension obligations and potential requirements to make significant cash contributions to its defined benefit pension plans; the success of the company’s program to reduce costs, focus its global resources and simplify its business structure; the risks that the company’s contracts may not be as profitable as expected or provide the expected level of revenues and that contracts with U.S. governmental agencies may subject it to audits, criminal penalties, sanctions and other expenses and fines; the risk that the company may face damage to its reputation or legal liability if its clients are not satisfied with its services or products; the risk that breaches of data security could expose the company to legal liability and could harm its business and reputation; the performance and capabilities of third parties with whom the company has commercial relationships; the risks of doing business internationally when more than half of the company’s revenue is derived from international operations; the company’s ability to access capital and credit markets to address its liquidity needs; the potential for intellectual property infringement claims to be asserted against the company or its clients; the possibility that pending litigation could affect the company’s results of operations or cash flow; the business and financial risk in implementing future dispositions or acquisitions; and the company’s consideration of all available information following the end of the quarter and before the filing of the Form 10-Q and the possible impact of this subsequent event information on its financial statements for the reporting period. Additional discussion of factors that could affect the company’s future results is contained in its periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.