Motorola Solutions Reports First-Quarter 2015 Financial Results

Sales of $1.2 billion, flat from a year ago, including $40 million of unfavorable foreign currency impact
North America sales grew 6 percent, driven by Product segment sales
GAAP earnings per share (EPS) from continuing operations¹ of $0.40
Non-GAAP² earnings per share (EPS) from continuing operations of $0.38 driven by lower overall operating expenses
Generated $151 million in operating cash flow
Returned $728 million to shareholders through share repurchases and cash dividends, including the repurchase of $653 million of stock in the quarter

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. – May 6, 2015 – Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: MSI) today reported its earnings results for the first quarter of 2015. Click here for a printable news release and financial tables.

SUPPORTING QUOTE

“The company delivered strong double-digit profitability growth in the first quarter, driven primarily by strength in our North America business and a leaner cost structure,” said Greg Brown, chairman and CEO of Motorola Solutions. “We remain committed to driving growth through innovation as well as improving operating leverage and cash flow generation.”

KEY FINANCIAL RESULTS (presented in millions, except per share data and percentages)

		Q1 2015	Q1 2014	% Change
	Sales	$1,223	$1,228	0%

GAAP
	Operating earnings	$119	$107	11%
	% of Sales	9.7%	8.7%
	EPS from continuing operations	$0.40	$0.33	21%

Non-GAAP
	Operating earnings	$156	$126	24%
	% of Sales	12.8%	10.3%
	EPS from continuing operations	$0.38	$0.28	36%

Product Segment
	Sales	$758	$752	1%
	GAAP Operating Earnings	$64	$39	64%
	% of Sales	8.4%	5.2%
	Non-GAAP Operating Earnings	$90	$52	73%
	% of Sales	11.9%	6.9%

Services Segment
	Sales	$465	$476	-2%
	GAAP Operating Earnings	$55	$68	-19%
	% of Sales	11.8%	14.3%
	Non-GAAP Operating Earnings	$66	$74	-11%
	% of Sales	14.2%	15.5%

Non-GAAP financial information excludes the after-tax impact of approximately $0.02 per diluted share related to share-based compensation, intangible assets amortization expense and highlighted items. Details on these non-GAAP adjustments and the use of non-GAAP measures are included later in this news release.

OTHER SELECTED FINANCIAL RESULTS

Revenue – Sales were flat, including $40 million of unfavorable foreign currency impact. These results reflect 6 percent growth in North America. Product sales grew 1 percent driven primarily by an improvement in device sales, while Services declined 2 percent driven by lower iDEN and system integration sales.
Operating margin – GAAP operating margin was 9.7 percent of sales in the first quarter of 2015, compared with 8.7 percent in the first quarter of 2014; non-GAAP operating margin was 12.8 percent of sales, compared with 10.3 percent in the first quarter of 2014, reflecting $60 million in lower operating expenses compared with the first quarter of 2014, due largely to cost reduction and simplification initiatives across all categories as well as lower pension expense and a stronger dollar.
Taxes – The first-quarter GAAP effective tax rate was 31 percent. This compares with a tax rate of 4 percent in the first quarter of 2014, which included $30 million of net tax benefit associated with the net reduction in previously unrecognized tax benefits. The first-quarter non-GAAP tax rate was 29 percent, compared with a tax rate of 33 percent in the first quarter of 2014. The full-year non-GAAP tax rate is expected to be approximately 33 percent. The full-year cash tax rate is expected to be approximately 15 percent.
Cash flow – The company generated $151 million in operating cash from continuing operations during the quarter, reflecting an increase of $139 million over the prior year. The increase was largely driven by working capital improvements.
Cash and cash equivalents – The company ended the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $3.4 billion, reflecting a net debt position of $43 million³. The company repurchased $653 million of its common stock in the first quarter and paid $75 million in cash dividends.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

Strategic wins

$135 million system upgrade and multi-year managed services contract for the South Australia Government Radio Network that integrates voice and data capabilities, and covers more than 20 first responder agencies
$46 million contract with $32 million of services for multi-year software upgrades and maintenance services with Hamilton County, Ohio
$20 million contract for both expansion services and core products in Columbus, Georgia, that incorporates Smart Public Safety Services and P25 equipment and software
$19 million contract to provide 25,000 digital TETRA radios, accessories, training and logistics services to the Central Procurement Office of Schleswig-Holstein AöR (GMSH) Germany
A Real Time Crime Center win with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department to deploy an intelligence-led policing solution that integrates video management systems with computer-aided dispatch and public safety applications

Innovation and investments in growth

Completed two acquisitions in the Smart Public Safety business: Emergency CallWorks and PublicEngines, leading providers of software-based solutions that solidify Motorola Solutions’ offerings in command and control, next-generation 9-1-1 call center and intelligence-led policing solutions that enable predictive policing and citizen engagement capabilities for law enforcement and government entities
Invested in three businesses that complement the company’s Smart Public Safety technology portfolio, through the company’s venture capital arm
Announced the APX8000, the first all-band, Wi-Fi-enabled APX P25 portable two-way radio
Upgraded the MTP3000 Series TETRA radios to meet mission-critical demands for improved ruggedness, coverage, encryption and other public safety-specific functionality

BUSINESS OUTLOOK⁴

Second quarter 2015 – Motorola Solutions expects a revenue decline of 3 to 5 percent compared with the second quarter of 2014. This assumes a $45 million⁵ unfavorable currency impact, which translates to revenue of flat to down 2 percent in constant currency. The company expects non-GAAP earnings per share from continuing operations in the range of $0.51 to $0.56 per share.
Full-year 2015 – The company revenue outlook remains unchanged as revenue is expected to be flat to down 2 percent compared to 2014. This outlook translates to revenue growth of 1 to 3 percent in constant currency. The company now expects non-GAAP earnings per share from continuing operations in the range of $3.20 to $3.40 per share.

CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST

Motorola Solutions will host its quarterly conference call beginning at 7 a.m. U.S. Central Daylight Time (8 a.m. U.S. Eastern Daylight Time) Wednesday, May 6. The conference call will be webcast live with audio and slides at www.motorolasolutions.com/investor.

CONSOLIDATED GAAP RESULTS (presented in millions, except per share data)

A comparison of results from operations is as follows:

	Q1 2015	Q1 2014
Net sales	$1,223	$1,228
Gross margin	548	577
Operating earnings	119	107
Amounts attributable to Motorola Solutions, Inc. common stockholders Earnings from continuing operations	87	85
Net earnings	74	127
Diluted EPS from continuing operations	$0.40	$0.33
Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding	217.8	258.3

HIGHLIGHTED ITEMS AND SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION EXPENSE

The table below includes highlighted items, share-based compensation expense and intangible amortization for the first quarter of 2015.

(per diluted common share)	Q1 2015

GAAP Earnings from Continuing Operations	$0.40

Highlighted Items:
Share-based compensation expense and intangible amortization	0.06
Reorganization of business charges	0.05
Gain on Sale of equity investment	(0.13)
Total Highlighted Items	(0.02)

Non-GAAP Diluted EPS from Continuing Operations	$0.38

USE OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION

In addition to the GAAP results included in this presentation, Motorola Solutions also has included non-GAAP measurements of results. The company has provided these non-GAAP measurements to help investors better understand its core operating performance, enhance comparisons of core operating performance from period to period and allow better comparisons of operating performance to its competitors. Among other things, management uses these operating results, excluding the identified items, to evaluate performance of the businesses and to evaluate results relative to certain incentive compensation targets. Management uses operating results excluding these items because it believes this measurement enables it to make better period-to-period evaluations of the financial performance of core business operations. The non-GAAP measurements are intended only as a supplement to the comparable GAAP measurements and the company compensates for the limitations inherent in the use of non-GAAP measurements by using GAAP measures in conjunction with the non-GAAP measurements. As a result, investors should consider these non-GAAP measurements in addition to, and not in substitution for or as superior to, measurements of financial performance prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

Highlighted items: The company has excluded the effects of highlighted items (and any reversals of highlighted items recorded in prior periods) from its non-GAAP operating expenses and net income measurements because the company believes that these historical items do not reflect expected future operating earnings or expenses and do not contribute to a meaningful evaluation of the company’s current operating performance or comparisons to the company’s past operating performance.

Share-based compensation expense: The company has excluded share-based compensation expense from its non-GAAP operating expenses and net income measurements. Although share-based compensation is a key incentive offered to the company’s employees and the company believes such compensation contributed to the revenue earned during the periods presented and also believes it will contribute to the generation of future period revenues, the company continues to evaluate its performance excluding share-based compensation expense primarily because it represents a significant non-cash expense. Share-based compensation expense will recur in future periods.

Intangible assets amortization expense: The company has excluded intangible assets amortization expense from its Non-GAAP operating expenses and net earnings measurements, primarily because it represents a non-cash expense and because the company evaluates its performance excluding intangible assets amortization expense. Amortization of intangible assets is consistent in amount and frequency but is significantly affected by the timing and size of the company’s acquisitions. Investors should note that the use of intangible assets contributed to the company’s revenues earned during the periods presented and will contribute to the company’s future period revenues as well. Intangible assets amortization expense will recur in future periods.

Details of the above items and reconciliations of the non-GAAP measurements to the corresponding GAAP measurements can be found at the end of this press release.

BUSINESS RISKS

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable federal securities law. These statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and generally include words such as “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “anticipates,” “estimates” and similar expressions. The company can give no assurance that any actual or future results or events discussed in these statements will be achieved. Any forward-looking statements represent the company’s views only as of today and should not be relied upon as representing the company’s views as of any subsequent date. Readers are cautioned that such forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause the company’s actual results to differ materially from the statements contained in this release. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, Motorola Solutions’ expected full-year non-GAAP tax rate, full-year cash tax rate and financial outlook for the second quarter and full year of 2015, including the impact of currency rates. Motorola Solutions cautions the reader that the risk factors below, as well as those on pages 9 through 20 in Item 1A of Motorola Solutions, Inc.'s 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K and in its other SEC filings available for free on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and on Motorola Solutions’ website at www.motorolasolutions.com, could cause Motorola Solutions’ actual results to differ materially from those estimated or predicted in the forward-looking statements. Many of these risks and uncertainties cannot be controlled by Motorola Solutions and factors that may impact forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (1) the economic outlook for the government communications industry; (2) the impact of foreign currency fluctuations on the company; (3) the level of demand for the company's products; (4) the company's ability to introduce new products and technologies in a timely manner; (5) negative impact on the company's business from global economic and political conditions, which may include: (i) continued deferment or cancellation of purchase orders by customers; (ii) the inability of customers to obtain financing for purchases of the company's products; (iii) increased demand to provide vendor financing to customers; (iv) increased financial pressures on third-party dealers, distributors and retailers; (v) the viability of the company's suppliers that may no longer have access to necessary financing; (vi) counterparty failures negatively impacting the company’s financial position; (vii) changes in the value of investments held by the company's pension plan and other defined benefit plans, which could impact future required or voluntary pension contributions; and (viii) the company’s ability to access the capital markets on acceptable terms and conditions; (6) the impact of a security breach or other significant disruption in the company’s IT systems, those of our partners or suppliers or those we sell to or operate or maintain for our customers; (7) the outcome of ongoing and future tax matters; (8) the company's ability to purchase sufficient materials, parts and components to meet customer demand, particularly in light of global economic conditions and reductions in the company’s purchasing power; (9) risks related to dependence on certain key suppliers, subcontractors, third-party distributors and other representatives; (10) the impact on the company's performance and financial results from strategic acquisitions or divestitures; (11) risks related to the company's manufacturing and business operations in foreign countries; (12) the creditworthiness of the company's customers and distributors, particularly purchasers of large infrastructure systems; (13) exposure under large systems and managed services contracts, including risks related to the fact that certain customers require that the company build, own and operate their systems, often over a multi-year period; (14) the ownership of certain logos, trademarks, trade names and service marks including “MOTOROLA” by Motorola Mobility Holdings, Inc.; (15) variability in income received from licensing the company's intellectual property to others, as well as expenses incurred when the company licenses intellectual property from others; (16) unexpected liabilities or expenses, including unfavorable outcomes to any pending or future litigation or regulatory or similar proceedings; (17) the impact of the percentage of cash and cash equivalents held outside of the United States; (18) the ability of the company to pay future dividends due to possible adverse market conditions or adverse impacts on the company’s cash flow; (19) the ability of the company to repurchase shares under its repurchase program due to possible adverse market conditions or adverse impacts on the company’s cash flow; (20) the impact of changes in governmental policies, laws or regulations; (21) negative consequences from the company's outsourcing of various activities, including certain business operations, information technology and administrative functions; (22) the impact of the sale of the company’s enterprise legacy information systems, including components of the enterprise resource planning (ERP) system and the implementation of a new ERP system; and (23) the company’s ability to return proceeds of the sale of the Enterprise business to shareholders and the timing thereof. Motorola Solutions undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement or risk factor, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

DEFINITIONS

¹ Amounts attributable to Motorola Solutions, Inc. common shareholders.
²Non-GAAP financial information excludes from GAAP results the effects of share-based compensation expense, intangible assets amortization expense and highlighted items.
³ Net debt represents cash and cash equivalents less long-term debt, including current portion
⁴Business outlook excludes share-based compensation expense, intangible assets amortization expense and charges associated with items typically highlighted by the company in its quarterly earnings releases.
⁵Based on currency rates as of May 4, 2015.

ABOUT MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS

Motorola Solutions (NYSE: MSI) creates innovative, mission-critical communication solutions and services that help public safety and commercial customers build safer cities and thriving communities. For ongoing news, visit www.motorolasolutions.com/newsroom .