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Linear Technology Reports Increases in Revenue and Net Income Over the Comparable Prior Year Period. Revenue Also Increased Sequentially Whereas Net Income Was Unchanged.

MILPITAS, Calif. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — October 14, 2014 — Linear Technology Corporation (NASDAQ: LLTC), a leading, independent manufacturer of high performance linear integrated circuits, today reported financial results for the fiscal quarter ended September 28, 2014. Quarterly revenues of $371.1 million for the first quarter of fiscal year 2015 increased $5.6 million or 1.5% over the previous quarter's revenue of $365.4 million and increased $30.7 million or 9.0% over $340.4 million reported in the first quarter of fiscal year 2014. Net income of $129.5 million decreased $0.3 million from the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2014 and increased $21.6 million or 20.0% over the first quarter of fiscal year 2014. First quarter net income and earnings per share were negatively impacted by a higher effective income tax rate of 26% that more than offset the benefit of lower interest expense that resulted from the extinguishment of the Convertible Senior Notes at the end of fiscal 2014. Diluted earnings per share of $0.53 per share in the first quarter of fiscal year 2015 was flat compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2014 and increased $0.08 per share or 18% over the first quarter of fiscal year 2014.

Our cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities increased by $14.9 million over the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2014 to $1,028 million. A cash dividend of $0.27 per share will be paid on November 26, 2014 to stockholders of record on November 14, 2014. During the first quarter the Company generated positive cash flows from operations of $136.4 million or 36.8% of total revenues. The Company has historically generated strong cash flows from its operations. During the first quarter of fiscal year 2015 the Company returned $99.8 million to shareholders in the form of dividends of $65.7 million, representing $0.27 per share and stock purchases of $34.1 million. The Board of Directors authorized the Company to purchase, depending on market conditions, up to 10 million shares of its outstanding common stock in the open market over the next two years.

According to Lothar Maier, CEO, “For our first fiscal quarter, we grew revenue $5.6 million which approximated the midpoint of our guidance, of 1% to 3%, and represented 9% growth over the similar quarter in the prior year. Operating income grew in concert with sales and remained an industry leading 47% of sales. Bookings were down from the prior quarter while our book to bill ratio was only modestly negative. Seasonally this is typical performance for us as our major end markets, industrial and automotive, generally experience some softness in the summer and fall, but show strength in the first half of the calendar year. The industrial end-market was 43% of our business, down from 44% last quarter whereas automotive at 19% was similar to last quarter.

“Looking forward, revenue in the December quarter is typically down from the September quarter, averaging down sequentially 6% over the past four years. Based upon this and our current bookings rate, we are forecasting revenue to be down 3% to 6% sequentially though up year over year in the 4% to 8% range. Overall, we remain optimistic about the increased electronics content in our end markets, especially automotive and industrial.”

Except for historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release are forward-looking statements. In particular, the statements regarding the demand for our products, our customers' ordering patterns and the anticipated trends in our sales and profits are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are dependent on certain risks and uncertainties, including such factors, among others, as the timing, volume and pricing of new orders received and shipped, the timely introduction of new processes and products, general and country specific conditions in the world economy and financial markets and other factors described in our 10-K for the quarter ended June 29, 2014.

Company officials will be discussing these results in greater detail in a conference call tomorrow, Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at 8:30 a.m. Pacific Coast Time. Those investors wishing to listen in may call 719-457-2643, or toll free 800-500-0920 before 8:15 a.m. to be included in the audience. There will be a live webcast of this conference call that can be accessed through www.linear.com or www.streetevents.com. A replay of the conference call will be available from October 15, 2014 through October 22, 2014. You may access the archive by calling (719) 457-0820 or toll free (888) 203-1112 and entering reservation #1896570. An archive of the webcast will also be available at www.linear.com and www.streetevents.com as of October 22, 2014 until the first quarter earnings release next year.

Linear Technology Corporation, a member of the S&P 500, has been designing, manufacturing and marketing a broad line of high performance analog integrated circuits for major companies worldwide for over three decades. The Company’s products provide an essential bridge between our analog world and the digital electronics in communications, networking, industrial, automotive, computer, medical, instrumentation, consumer, and military and aerospace systems. Linear Technology produces power management, data conversion, signal conditioning, RF and interface ICs, µModule® subsystems, and wireless sensor network products. For more information, visit www.linear.com.

For further information contact Paul Coghlan at Linear Technology Corporation, 1630 McCarthy Blvd., Milpitas, California 95035-7417, (408) 432-1900.

 
LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
U.S. GAAP (unaudited)
 
  Three Months Ended
September 28,   June 29,   September 29,
  2014   2014   2013
 
Revenues $ 371,060 $ 365,428 $ 340,357
Cost of sales(1)   89,007   87,579     84,001  
Gross profit   282,053   277,849     256,356  
Expenses:

Research and development(1)

65,600 64,785 61,512
Selling, general and administrative(1)   42,089   41,419     38,678  
Total operating expenses   107,689   106,204     100,190  
Operating income 174,364 171,645 156,166
Interest expense (2,271 ) (6,813 )
Amortization of debt discount(2) (1,885 ) (5,446 )
Interest income and other income   581   452     882  
Income before income taxes 174,945 167,941 144,789
Provision for income taxes   45,486   38,206     36,921  
Net income $ 129,459 $ 129,735   $ 107,868  
 
Earnings per share:
Basic $ 0.53 $ 0.53   $ 0.45  
Diluted $ 0.53 $ 0.53   $ 0.45  
 
Shares used in determining earnings per share:
Basic   244,145   243,279     238,146  
Diluted   244,801   244,935     239,328  
 
Includes the following non-cash charges:
(1) Stock-based compensation
Cost of sales $ 2,100 $ 2,043 $ 1,964
Research and development 9,791 9,513 9,162
Selling, general and administrative 5,056 4,913 4,730
(2) Amortization of debt discount
(non-cash interest expense) 1,885 5,446
 
LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)
U.S. GAAP (unaudited)
 
  September 28, 2014   June 29, 2014
ASSETS:
Current assets:
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities $ 1,027,643 $ 1,012,787

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,653 ($1,653 at June 29, 2014)

175,494 173,340
Inventories 97,642 91,310
Deferred tax assets and other current assets   86,916     87,276  
Total current assets   1,387,695     1,364,713  
 
Property, plant & equipment, net 291,333 277,080
Other noncurrent assets   13,235     13,785  
Total assets $ 1,692,263   $ 1,655,578  
 
LIABILITIES & STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $ 27,037 $ 28,221
Accrued income taxes, payroll & other accrued liabilities 125,406 141,275
Deferred income on shipments to distributors   46,705     45,619  
Total current liabilities   199,148     215,115  
 
Deferred tax and other noncurrent liabilities 109,837 109,094
 
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock 1,964,206 1,948,006
Accumulated deficit (581,086 ) (616,992 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   158     355  
Total stockholders’ equity   1,383,278     1,331,369  
$ 1,692,263   $ 1,655,578  
 
LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(unaudited)
 
  Three Months Ended
September 28,   June 29,   September 29,
2014 2014 2013
Cash flow from operating activities:
Net income $ 129,459 $ 129,735 $ 107,868
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 13,214 12,851 12,835
Stock-based compensation 16,947 16,469 15,856
Amortization of convertible senior notes discount 1,885 5,446
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation (2,202 ) (4,101 ) (1,529 )
Change in operating assets and liabilities: (21,042 ) 46,903 (18,278 )
           
Cash provided by operating activities   136,376     203,742     122,198  
 
Cash flow from investing activities:

Net purchases and proceeds from sale and maturities of available-for-sale securities

(26,426 ) 101,618 83,552
Purchase of property, plant and equipment   (26,917 )   (21,033 )   (3,888 )
Cash (used in) provided by investing activities   (53,343 )   80,585     79,664  
 
Cash flow from financing activities:
Extinguishment of Convertible Senior Notes (845,087 )
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation 2,202 4,101 1,529
Issuance of common stock under employee stock plans 3,323 9,910 21,655
Purchase of common stock (34,086 ) (36,202 ) (14,671 )
Payment of cash dividends   (65,739 )   (66,095 )   (62,059 )
Cash used in financing activities   (94,300 )   (933,373 )   (53,546 )
 
(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents (11,267 ) (649,046 ) 148,316
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period   157,323     806,369     126,650  
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 146,056   $ 157,323   $ 274,966  



Contact:

Linear Technology Corporation
Paul Coghlan, 408-432-1900
Vice President, Finance, Chief Financial Officer