FireEye Reports Above-Guidance Revenue and Improved Operating Margins for Third Quarter 2017

• Revenue of $189.6 million grew 2 percent from third quarter 2016
• Operating margins improved 27 percentage points from third quarter 2016
• Product subscription billings increased 28 percent sequentially from second quarter of 2017
• Cash flow from operations of $12.5 million exceeded prior guidance range

MILPITAS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 1, 2017-- FireEye, Inc. (NASDAQ: FEYE), the intelligence-led security company, today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017.

“We executed against our financial commitments in the third quarter, delivering billings, revenue, earnings per share and operating cash flow above expectations,” said Kevin Mandia, FireEye chief executive officer. “I believe we have done an excellent job of right-sizing our cost structure over the past year while innovating faster than at any time in our history.”

“Our mission is to relentlessly protect our customers with innovative technology and expertise learned on the front lines,” added Mandia. “FireEye Helix is our technology platform that makes it simple to deliver advanced security to any organization. It enhances the visibility into unseen threats provided by our individual security products and empowers organizations to make expert decisions based on our frontline threat intelligence and expertise. I believe Helix, coupled with innovations in our key product families, has the potential to expand our customer base, accelerate multi-product adoption, and increase our subscription billings over the long term."

Third Quarter 2017 Financial Results

• Revenue of $189.6 million, an increase of 2 percent from the third quarter of 2016 and above the guidance range of $183 million to $189 million.
• Billings of $201.7 million, a decrease of 6 percent from the third quarter of 2016 and above the mid-point of the guidance range of $190 million to $205 million.¹
• GAAP gross margin of 64 percent, compared to 63 percent in the third quarter of 2016.
• Non-GAAP gross margin of 74 percent, compared to 74 percent in the third quarter of 2016 and above the guidance of approximately 73 percent.¹
• GAAP operating margin of negative 33 percent, compared to negative 60 percent in the third quarter of 2016.
• Non-GAAP operating margin of negative 2 percent, compared to negative 14 percent in the third quarter of 2016 and better than the guidance range of approximately negative 4 percent to negative 6 percent.¹
• GAAP net loss per share of $0.41, compared to a GAAP net loss per share of $0.75 in the third quarter of 2016.
• Non-GAAP net loss per share of $0.04, compared to a non-GAAP net loss per share of $0.18 in the third quarter of 2016 and better than the guidance range of $0.06 to $0.09.¹
• Cash flow from operations of $12.5 million, compared to cash flow from operations of $14.1 million in the third quarter of 2016 and better than the guidance range of $1 million to $10 million.

“We continued to improve our operating efficiency on a quarter-over-quarter and year-over-year basis,” said Frank Verdecanna, FireEye executive vice president and chief financial officer. “We reduced GAAP operating loss by 45 percent and non-GAAP operating loss by 82 percent, compared to the third quarter of 2016, and achieved positive operating and free cash flow. On a year-to-date basis, we have reduced our GAAP operating loss by more than $200 million and our non-GAAP operating loss by more than $125 million, compared to the same period in 2016. These are significant milestones on our path to profitability, and I believe we are well positioned to achieve non-GAAP operating profitability in the fourth quarter.”

¹ A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures is provided in the financial statement tables included in this press release. An explanation of these measures is also included under the heading “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

Fourth Quarter and Updated 2017 Outlook

FireEye provides guidance based on current market conditions and expectations.

For the fourth quarter of 2017, FireEye currently expects:

• Total revenue in the range of $190 million to $196 million.
• Billings in the range of $210 million to $230 million.
• Non-GAAP gross margin of approximately 75 percent.
• Non-GAAP operating margin of approximately negative 1 percent to positive 1 percent.
• Non-GAAP net loss per share of $0.00 to $0.03.
• Positive cash flow from operations of $16 million to $25 million.

Non-GAAP net loss per share for the fourth quarter assumes cash interest expense of approximately $3.0 million associated with the company’s convertible senior notes, provision for income taxes of between $1.0 and $1.5 million, and weighted average shares outstanding of approximately 182 million.

For 2017, FireEye currently expects:

• Revenue in the range of $739 million to $745 million.
• Billings in the range of $736 million to $756 million.
• Non-GAAP net loss per share of $0.16 to $0.19.
• Positive cash flow from operations of $1 million to $10 million.
• Capital expenditures between $40 million and $45 million. Capital expenditures expectations for 2017 include an estimated $20 million in capital expenditures associated with the build-out and relocation of the company’s headquarters from five separate buildings to a single building in Milpitas in January 2018.

Non-GAAP net loss per share for 2017 assumes cash interest expense of approximately $12.1 million, paid semi-annually in June and December, associated with the company's convertible senior notes, provision for income taxes of between $4.5 million and $5 million, and weighted average shares outstanding of approximately 177 million.

Guidance for non-GAAP financial measures excludes stock based compensation, amortization of intangible assets, non-cash interest expense related to the company’s convertible senior notes, and other non-recurring expenses. A reconciliation of non-GAAP guidance measures to corresponding GAAP measures is not available on a forward-looking basis due to the uncertainty regarding, and the potential variability of, the amounts of stock-based compensation expense, amortization of intangible assets, and other non-recurring expenses that may be incurred in the future. Stock-based compensation expense is impacted by the company’s future hiring and retention needs, as well as the future fair market value of the company’s common stock, all of which is difficult to predict and subject to constant change. The actual amount of stock-based compensation in the fourth quarter of 2017 and full year 2017 will have a significant impact on the company’s GAAP operating margin and net loss per share. Accordingly, a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure guidance to the corresponding GAAP measures is not available without unreasonable effort.

Conference Call Information

FireEye will host a conference call today, November 1, 2017, at 5 p.m. Eastern time (2 p.m. Pacific time) to discuss its third quarter financial results and the company’s outlook for the fourth quarter and full year 2017. Interested parties may access the conference call by dialing 877-312-5521 (domestic) or 678-894-3048 (international). A live audio webcast of the call, as well as related multi-media content, can be accessed from the Investor Relations section of the company's website at http://investors.fireeye.com. An archived version of the webcast will be available at the same website shortly after the conclusion of the live event.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements related to future financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2017, including revenue, billings, non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP operating margin, operating cash flows, interest expense, provision for income taxes, non-GAAP net loss per share, weighted average shares outstanding and capital expenditures in the section entitled “Fourth Quarter and Updated 2017 Outlook” above, as well as statements related to FireEye's ability to achieve non-GAAP operating profitability, expectations regarding the growth in FireEye's business, including the expansion of its customer base and acceleration of customer adoption of multiple products, and anticipated benefits of the FireEye Helix platform and innovations in FireEye’s key product families.

These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions which, if they do not fully materialize or prove incorrect, could cause FireEye’s results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties that could cause FireEye’s results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements include customer demand and adoption of FireEye’s products and services; real or perceived defects, errors or vulnerabilities in FireEye's products or services; any delay in FireEye’s release of products or services; FireEye's ability to react to trends and challenges in its business and the markets in which it operates; FireEye's ability to anticipate market needs or develop new or enhanced products and services to meet those needs; FireEye’s ability to hire and retain critical executives and key employees; FireEye’s ability to attract new and retain existing customers and train its sales force; the budgeting cycles, seasonal buying patterns and length of FireEye’s sales cycle; risks associated with new offerings; sales and marketing execution risks: the ability of FireEye and its partners to execute their strategies, plans, objectives and expected investments with respect to FireEye’s partnerships; and general market, political, economic, and business conditions, as well as those risks and uncertainties included under the captions “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in FireEye’s Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 3, 2017, which should be read in conjunction with these financial results and is available on the Investor Relations section of FireEye’s website at investors.fireeye.com and on the SEC website at www.sec.gov.

All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to the company as of the date hereof, and FireEye does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements provided to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made. Any future product, service, feature, or related specification that may be referenced in this release is for informational purposes only and is not a commitment to deliver any offering, technology or enhancement. FireEye reserves the right to modify future product or service plans at any time.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In this release FireEye has provided financial information that has not been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP). These non-GAAP financial measures are not based on any standardized methodology and are not necessarily comparable to similar measures used by other companies. The company uses these non-GAAP financial measures internally in analyzing its financial results and believes that the use of these non-GAAP financial measures is useful to investors as an additional tool to evaluate ongoing operating results and trends, and in comparing the company's financial results with other companies in its industry, many of which present similar non-GAAP financial measures.

Non-GAAP financial measures are not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for comparable financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP, and should be read only in conjunction with the company's consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of the company's non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP measures has been provided in the financial statement tables included in this press release, and investors are encouraged to review the reconciliation.

Billings. FireEye defines billings as revenue recognized plus the change in deferred revenue from the beginning to the end of the period. FireEye also excludes deferred revenue assumed in connection with acquisitions. The company considers billings to be a useful metric for management and investors because billings drive deferred revenue balances, which are an important indicator of the health and visibility of the company’s business. Revenue recognized from deferred revenue represents a significant percentage of quarterly revenue. There are a number of limitations related to the use of billings versus revenue calculated in accordance with GAAP. First, billings include amounts that have not yet been recognized as revenue. Second, FireEye’s calculation of billings may be different from other companies in its industry, some of which may not use billings, may calculate billings differently, may have different billing frequencies, or may use other financial measures to evaluate their performance, all of which could reduce the usefulness of billings as a comparative measure. FireEye compensates for these limitations by providing specific information regarding GAAP revenue and evaluating billings together with revenue calculated in accordance with GAAP.

Non-GAAP gross margin, operating income, operating margin, net loss, net loss per share, and free cash flow.FireEye defines non-GAAP gross margin as total gross profit excluding stock-based compensation expense, amortization of intangible assets, and, as applicable, other special or non-recurring items, divided by total revenue. FireEye defines non-GAAP operating income as operating loss excluding stock-based compensation expense, amortization of intangible assets, acquisition related expenses, change in fair value of contingent earn-out liability, restructuring charges, and other special or non-recurring items. FireEye defines non-GAAP operating margin as non-GAAP operating income divided by total revenue. FireEye defines non-GAAP net loss as net loss excluding stock-based compensation expense, amortization of intangible assets, acquisition-related expenses, non-cash interest expense related to the company’s convertible senior notes, change in fair value of contingent earn-out liability, restructuring charges, and discrete tax benefits. FireEye defines non-GAAP net loss per share as non-GAAP net loss divided by the weighted average shares outstanding. Additionally, weighted average shares outstanding used to calculate non-GAAP net loss per share excludes stock options, restricted stock units and performance stock units that are anti-dilutive. FireEye defines free cash flow as operating cash flow less purchases of property and equipment.

Non-GAAP net loss and net loss per share in the third quarter of 2017 excluded stock-based compensation expense, amortization of intangible assets, and non-cash interest expense related to the convertible senior notes issued in June 2015. Non-GAAP net loss and net loss per share for the third quarter of 2016 excluded stock-based compensation expense, amortization of intangible assets, restructuring charges, non-cash interest expense related to the convertible senior notes issued in June 2015, non-recurring benefit from income taxes, and change in fair value of contingent earn-out liability.

FireEye considers these non-GAAP financial measures to be useful metrics for management and investors because they exclude the effect of stock-based compensation expense, amortization of intangible assets, acquisition related expenses, non-cash interest expense related to the company’s convertible senior notes, change in fair value of contingent earn-out liability, restructuring charges, and other non-recurring and discrete items so that management and investors can compare the company's core business operating results, over multiple periods.

There are a number of limitations related to the use of these non-GAAP financial measures versus their nearest GAAP equivalents. First, these non-GAAP financial measures exclude stock-based compensation expense. Stock-based compensation expense has been and will continue to be for the foreseeable future a significant recurring expense in the company's business. Stock-based compensation is an important part of FireEye employees' overall compensation. Second, the components of the costs that FireEye excludes in its calculation of these non-GAAP financial measures, including not only stock-based compensation but also non-recurring items such as acquisition related expenses, amortization of intangible assets, non-cash interest expense related to the company’s convertible senior notes, change in fair value of contingent earn-out liability, restructuring charges, and discrete tax benefits, may differ from the components excluded by peer companies when they report their non-GAAP results of operations. FireEye compensates for these limitations by providing specific information regarding the GAAP amounts excluded from non-GAAP financial measures and evaluating non-GAAP financial measures together with their nearest GAAP equivalents.

About FireEye, Inc.

FireEye is the intelligence-led security company. Working as a seamless, scalable extension of customer security operations, FireEye offers a single platform that blends innovative security technologies, nation-state grade threat intelligence, and world-renowned Mandiant® consulting. With this approach, FireEye eliminates the complexity and burden of cyber security for organizations struggling to prepare for, prevent, and respond to cyber attacks. FireEye has over 6,300 customers across 67 countries, including more than 40 percent of the Forbes Global 2000.

© 2017 FireEye, Inc. All rights reserved. FireEye, Mandiant, Helix, FireEye as a Service, and iSIGHT are registered trademarks or trademarks of FireEye, Inc. in the United States and other countries. All other brands, products, or service names are or may be trademarks or service marks of their respective owners.

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Source: FireEye, Inc.

FireEye, Inc.
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