San Diego, California, USA
January 29, 2019
Illumina, Inc. (NASDAQ: ILMN) today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year 2018.
Fourth quarter 2018 results:
- Revenue of $867 million, an 11% increase compared to $778 million in the fourth quarter of 2017
- GAAP net income attributable to Illumina stockholders for the quarter of $210 million, or $1.41 per diluted share, compared to $68 million, or $0.46 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2017; GAAP earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2017 included our provisional estimate of the one-time transition tax as a result of U.S. Tax Reform
- Non-GAAP net income attributable to Illumina stockholders for the quarter of $197 million, or $1.32 per diluted share, compared to $212 million, or $1.44 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2017 (see the table entitled “Itemized Reconciliation Between GAAP and Non-GAAP Net Income Attributable to Illumina Stockholders” for a reconciliation of these GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures)
- Cash flow from operations of $300 million compared to $294 million in the fourth quarter of 2017
- Free cash flow (cash flow from operations less capital expenditures) of $235 million for the quarter compared to $218 million in the fourth quarter of 2017
Gross margin in the fourth quarter of 2018 was 68.1% compared to 69.7% in the prior year period. Excluding amortization of acquired intangible assets, non-GAAP gross margin was 69.1% for the fourth quarter of 2018 compared to 70.9% in the prior year period.
Research and development (R&D) expenses for the fourth quarter of 2018 were $176 million compared to $137 million in the prior year period. Non-GAAP R&D expenses as a percentage of revenue were 20.3%, including 0.8% attributable to Helix. This compares to non-GAAP R&D expenses as a percentage of revenue of 17.4% in the prior year period, including 0.7% attributable to Helix.
Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses for the fourth quarter of 2018 were $217 million compared to $175 million in the prior year period. Excluding restructuring charges and acquisition related expense, non-GAAP SG&A expenses as a percentage of revenue were 24.5%, including 1.6% attributable to Helix. This compares to 22.1% in the prior year period, including 1.2% attributable to Helix.
Depreciation and amortization expenses were $49 million and capital expenditures for free cash flow purposes were $65 million during the fourth quarter of 2018. At the close of the quarter, the company held $3.5 billion in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, compared to $2.1 billion as of December 31, 2017.
Fiscal year 2018 results:
- Revenue of $3,333 million, a 21% increase compared to $2,752 million in fiscal 2017
- GAAP net income attributable to Illumina stockholders of $826 million, or $5.56 per diluted share, compared to $726 million, or $4.92 per diluted share, in fiscal 2017; GAAP earnings per share for fiscal 2017 included the one-time transition tax referenced previously
- Non-GAAP net income attributable to Illumina stockholders of $850 million, or $5.72 per diluted share, compared to $591 million, or $4.00 per diluted share, in fiscal 2017 (see the table entitled “Itemized Reconciliation Between GAAP and Non-GAAP Net Income Attributable to Illumina Stockholders” for a reconciliation of these GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures)
- Cash flow from operations of $1.1 billion compared to $875 million in fiscal 2017
- Free cash flow (cash flow from operations less capital expenditures) of $846 million, compared to $565 million in fiscal 2017
Gross margin for fiscal 2018 was 69.0% compared to 66.4% in the prior year. Excluding amortization of acquired intangible assets, non-GAAP gross margin was 70.1% for fiscal 2018 compared to 68.4% in the prior year period.
Research and development (R&D) expenses for fiscal 2018 were $623 million compared to $546 million in the prior year. Excluding restructuring charges, non-GAAP R&D expenses as a percentage of revenue were 18.7%, including 0.9% attributable to Helix. This compares to 19.6% in the prior year period, including 1.0% attributable to Helix and GRAIL.
Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses for fiscal 2018 were $794 million compared to $674 million in the prior year period. Excluding restructuring charges, amortization of acquired intangible assets, and acquisition related expense, non-GAAP SG&A expenses as a percentage of revenue were 23.6%, including 1.3% attributable to Helix. This compares to 23.9% in the prior year period, including 1.7% attributable to Helix and GRAIL.
“With revenue growth of 21% in 2018, Illumina delivered its 20th consecutive year of growth, with increasing adoption of innovative sequencing applications across a wide range of customers and geographies,” said Francis deSouza, President and CEO. “From the evolving regulatory environment for oncology diagnostics to progress in reimbursement for non-invasive prenatal and undiagnosed disease testing, genomics is accelerating on its path into clinical standard of care.”
Updates since our last earnings release:
- Signed a definitive agreement to acquire Pacific Biosciences to expand biological discovery and clinical insight by adding long-read sequencing technology
- Launched TruSight Oncology 500 (TSO 500) pan-cancer assay broadening insights into Tumor Mutational Burden and Microsatellite Instability. TSO 500 is shipping now as a research-use-only product
- Received Breakthrough Device Designation from the FDA for Illumina’s TruSight Assay, which is based on the content of TSO 500. Illumina is seeking FDA approval of the assay as a companion diagnostic
- Announced a new genotyping array and scientific contribution to support the All of Us research program
- Repurchased approximately $98 million of common stock in the fourth quarter under the previously announced share repurchase program
Financial outlook and guidance
The non-GAAP financial guidance discussed below reflects certain pro forma adjustments to assist in analyzing and assessing our core operational performance. Please see our Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Guidance included in this release for a reconciliation of the GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures.
For fiscal 2019, the company projects revenue growth in the range of 13% to 14%, GAAP earnings per diluted share attributable to Illumina stockholders of $6.07 to $6.17 and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share attributable to Illumina stockholders of $6.50 to $6.60. This guidance excludes any impact from the pending acquisition of Pacific Biosciences, which we expect to close in mid-2019.
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