Flex Reports Revenue of $6.7 Billion in Q2 Fiscal 2019

Second Quarter Fiscal 2019 Results of Operations

Net sales for the second quarter ended September 28, 2018 were $6.7 billion, growing 7% year-over-year, and within the guidance range of $6.6 to $7.0 billion. GAAP income before income taxes was $109 million for the quarter and adjusted operating income was $224 million, above the midpoint of the guidance range of $200 million to $230 million. GAAP net income was $87 million and adjusted net income for the quarter was $153 million. GAAP net income per share was $0.16 for the quarter and adjusted EPS was $0.29 for the quarter.

NIKE Update

The Company has worked hard with NIKE to make the footwear manufacturing operations in Mexico technically and commercially successful. In recent weeks, however, it became clear that the Company would be unable to reach a commercially viable solution. Accordingly, Flex and NIKE have mutually agreed to wind-down the footwear manufacturing operations in Guadalajara by December 31, 2018. The Company is in the process of finalizing the terms and details of the wind-down and is striving hard to retain many of the affected employees and repurpose the facility. In connection with the wind-down of the operation, the Company recognized $30 million of exit costs primarily related to an estimated impairment of fixed assets. The Company may incur additional costs to complete the wind-down.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Highlights

Flex ended the quarter with approximately $1.38 billion of cash on hand and total debt of approximately $2.9 billion. The balance sheet remains well positioned to support the business over the long term.

Flex’s cash from operations was negative $764 million and negative $1.7 billion for the three and six-month periods ended September 28, 2018, respectively, and reflects the impacts due to cash collections under our ABS programs of the deferred purchase price for receivables sold of $885 million and $1.8 billion for those respective periods that due to a recent accounting change are now included as investing cash activities. Adjusted to exclude the impacts from the new accounting noted above, cash from operations was $120 million and $105 million for the three and six-month periods ended September 28, 2018, respectively.

The Company remains committed to return over 50% of annual free cash flow to its shareholders as it repurchased ordinary shares for approximately $60 million during the three-month period ended September 28, 2018.

Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2019 Guidance

For the third quarter ending December 31, 2018, revenue is expected to be in the range of $6.6 to $7.0 billion. Adjusted EPS is expected to be in the range of $0.29 to $0.33 per diluted share. GAAP EPS is expected to be in the range of $0.19 to $0.23 and includes primarily stock-based compensation expense and intangible amortization.

Updated Fiscal Year 2019 Guidance

The Company is updating its fiscal 2019 guidance originally established at its May Investor and Analyst Day. This guidance has been updated for impacts from component shortages and incremental reductions from the India ramp due to capacity constraints as well as incremental pressures in both the automotive and industrial businesses. Our CTG performance has severely impacted our forecast and accounts for the majority of the downward guidance, which we are reducing to the following: revenue is expected to be in the range of $26.0 to $27.0 billion. Adjusted EPS is expected to be in the range of $1.05 to $1.15 per diluted share. GAAP EPS is expected to be in the range of $0.75 to $0.85 and includes stock-based compensation expense, intangible amortization, and other charges.

About Flex

Flex Ltd. is the Sketch-to-Scale solutions provider that designs and builds Intelligent Products for a Connected World. With approximately 200,000 professionals across 30 countries, Flex provides innovative design, engineering, manufacturing, real-time supply chain insight and logistics services to companies of all sizes in various industries and end-markets. For more information, click here.