Ceragon Networks Reports Financial Results for the First Quarter of 2020

LITTLE FALLS, New Jersey, May 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Ceragon Networks Ltd. (NASDAQ: CRNT), the #1 wireless hauling specialist, today reported results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020.

First Quarter 2020 Highlights

    --  Weak results reflecting COVID-19 challenges compounded by normal Q1
        seasonality
    --  Strong bookings (book-to-bill ratio well above 1) as service providers
        addressed increased demand for broadband connectivity
    --  Return of India as major source of business; highest Q1 bookings in
        Europe in 6 years
    --  Management believes trends created by the COVID-19 crisis will
        accelerate the global 5G network rollout, driving long-term growth
        momentum for Ceragon. However, management remains cautious because of
        the risk of a potential worldwide recession.

Primary Financial Results:

Revenues: $55.9 million compared with $69.2 million for Q1'19 and $71.3 million for Q4'19.

Gross margin: 25.1% compared to 35.6% for Q1'19 and 31.7% for Q4'19.

Operating income (loss): $(6.0) million compared with $3.2 million for Q1'19 and $(2.2) million for Q4'19.

Net income (loss): $(6.9) million, $(0.09) per diluted share compared with $0.8 million, $0.01 per diluted share for Q1'19 and $(4.1) million, or $(0.05) per diluted share for Q4'19.

Non-GAAP results: gross margin 25.1%, operating loss $(5.6) million, and net loss $(6.7) million, or $(0.08) per diluted share. For reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results, see the attached tables.

Cash and cash equivalents: $44.1 million at March 31, 2020, compared to $23.9 million at December 31, 2019.

Commenting on the results, Ira Palti, President and CEO of Ceragon, said, "Our results were in line with the business update we provided on April 6(th), reflecting the normal seasonality of the first quarter compounded by the disruption created by the COVID-19 environment. At the same time, the sweeping changes that the pandemic has made in the way we all work, shop, learn and stay entertained have created a global surge in demand for broadband capacity that has increased demand for our products. Although no one knows how to predict the timing of the recovery, the fact that broadband connectivity is now recognized as an essential utility brings urgency to the need to increase the capacity of existing networks and to extend network coverage to more of the population. During the first quarter, this trend accelerated bookings for our wireless hauling solutions, and we believe it will accelerate the transition to 5G, further emphasizing the need for our differentiated technologies."

Mr. Palti continued, "In the meantime, we are fully focused on serving our customers in today's dynamic environment. We are proud of our success in meeting our commitments in the face of supply chain disruptions, and working to overcome challenges as they arise. We are pleased that India's Airtel has recently placed a large order, indicating the return of India as a major focus market after last year's slowdown. In Europe, we had the strongest first-quarter bookings in six years, and in Latin America we continued executing on expansion projects across the continent."

Mr. Palti concluded, "Looking forward, concerns of a global recession could surely delay operators' network investments, dampening short-to-mid-term demand for our equipment. However, with strong ongoing operations, a healthy balance sheet and a new urgency to the 5G market, we believe we are positioned favorably and expect to emerge from today's challenges as a leader in a growing market."

Supplemental revenue breakouts by geography:

First quarter 2020:



            ·  Europe:              15%



            ·  Africa:               6%


             ·  North America:       13%


             ·  Latin America:       20%



            ·  India:               25%



            ·  APAC                 21%

A conference call will follow beginning at 9:00 a.m. EST. Investors are invited to join the company's teleconference by calling (USA) (844) 291-6360 or international +1 (234) 720-6993 and using the following access code: 6063623.

Investors can also listen to the call live via the Internet by accessing Ceragon Networks' website on the webcasts page in the section for investors: www.ceragon.com/investors/webcasts/ selecting the webcast link, and following the registration instructions.

If you are unable to join us live, the replay numbers are: (USA) (866) 207-1041 (International) +1 (402) 970-0847, with access code: 8883765. This audio replay will be available through June 4, 2020.

About Ceragon Networks Ltd.

Ceragon Networks Ltd. (NASDAQ: CRNT) is the #1 wireless hauling specialist. We help operators and other service providers worldwide increase operational efficiency and enhance end customers' quality of experience with innovative wireless backhaul and fronthaul solutions. Our customers include wireless service providers, public safety organizations, government agencies and utility companies, which use our solutions to deliver 5G & 4G, mission-critical multimedia services and other applications at high reliability and speed.

Ceragon's unique multicore technology and disaggregated approach to wireless hauling provides highly reliable, fast to deploy, high-capacity wireless hauling for 5G and 4G networks with minimal use of spectrum, power and other resources. It enables increased productivity, as well as simple and quick network modernization, positioning Ceragon as a leading solutions provider for the 5G era. We deliver a range of professional services that ensure efficient network rollout and optimization to achieve the highest value for our customers. Our solutions are deployed by more than 460 service providers, as well as hundreds of private network owners, in more than 130 countries.

Join the discussion:
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Safe Harbor

Ceragon Networks® and FibeAir® are registered trademarks of Ceragon Networks Ltd. in the United States and other countries. CERAGON ® is a trademark of Ceragon Networks Ltd., registered in various countries. Other names mentioned are owned by their respective holders.

This press release contains statements concerning Ceragon's future prospects that are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of Ceragon's management about Ceragon's business, financial condition, results of operations, micro and macro market trends and other issues addressed or reflected therein. Examples of forward-looking statements include: projections of demand, revenues, net income, gross margin, capital expenditures and liquidity, competitive pressures, order timing, growth prospects, product development, financial resources, cost savings and other financial matters. You may identify these and other forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "may", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "targets", "expects", "intends", "potential" or the negative of such terms, or other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including the risk of a disruption to our and our customers' business related to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic ("Coronavirus"); the risk of macro-economic downturn and slowdown of development and significant decline of business that can harm our and our customers' ability to conduct or further develop our/their business, including, cancellation, suspension or reduction in the investment in new equipment purchases, postponement or cancellation of rollout of wireless networks, postponement in the transition to 5G technologies and in the introduction of new products and capabilities, inability to deliver and perform under our contracts, disruption to our supply chain and production capacity, adverse effect on our and our customers' financial performance, cash flow, revenue and financial results, available cash and financing, and our ability to bill and collect amounts due from our customers; the risks relating to the concentration of a significant portion of Ceragon's expected business in certain countries and particularly in India, where a small number of customers are expected to represent a significant portion of our revenues, including the risks of deviations from our expectations of timing and size of orders from these customers; the risk of delays in converting design wins into revenue as well as the expected revenue growth; risks associated with any failure to meet our product development timetable and specifications and to maintain our technological advantage over our competitors; risks associated with any failure to effectively compete with other wireless equipment providers; the risk that the rollout of 5G services could take longer or differently than anticipated; and other risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in Ceragon's Annual Report on Form 20-F, Item 3, under the caption "Risk Factors", and Ceragon's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, that represent our views only as of the date they are made and should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date. Such forward-looking statements do not purport to be predictions of future events or circumstances, and therefore, there can be no assurance that any forward-looking statement contained in our announcements, presentations, or commentary will prove to be accurate. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

-tables follow-


                
              
                CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS


          
              
                (U.S. dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)


                                  
              
                (Unaudited)




                                                                      Three months ended
                                                    March 31,



                                                      2020                                          2019






             Revenues                             $55,871                                       $69,163


              Cost of revenues                      41,861                                        44,531






             Gross profit                          14,010                                        24,632





              Operating expenses:


                   Research and
                    development, net                 7,290                                         6,164


                   Selling and marketing             8,273                                         9,462


                   General and
                    administrative                   4,456                                         5,782





                           Total operating
                            expenses               $20,019                                       $21,408

    ---



              Operating income (loss)              (6,009)                                        3,224


              Financial expenses and
               others, net                             308                                         1,109





              Income (loss) before
               taxes                               (6,317)                                        2,115




              Taxes on income                          380                                         1,134


              Equity loss in
               affiliates                              183                                           173





              Net income (loss)                   $(6,880)                                         $808





               Basic net income (loss)
                per share                          $(0.09)                                        $0.01



               Diluted net income
                (loss) per share                   $(0.09)                                        $0.01



                                                80,764,932                                    80,113,607





              Weighted average
               number of shares
               used in
        computing basic net
         income (loss) per
         share


                                                80,764,932                                    82,333,627



              Weighted average
               number of shares
               used in
        computing diluted
         net income (loss)
         per share


                                        
              
                CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS


                                             
              
                (U.S. dollars in thousands)




                                                                                           March 31,      December 31,

                                                                                                                  2019



                 
              
                2020

                             ---


       ASSETS                                                                             Unaudited         Audited





       CURRENT ASSETS:



            Cash and cash equivalents                                                       $44,120            $23,939



            Trade receivables, net                                              
              104, 185  
           118, 531


                          Other accounts receivable and prepaid
                                                       expenses                   
              12, 215   
           11, 033



            Inventories                                                                      59,659             62,132






       
                Total current assets                                                    220,179            215,635

    ---




       NON-CURRENT ASSETS:



            Long-term bank deposits                                                              16                 17



            Deferred tax assets                                                   
              8, 130    
           8, 106


             Severance pay and pension fund                                                    5,654              5,661



            Property and equipment, net                                                      33,589             34,865



            Intangible assets, net                                                            8,033              7,898



            Other non-current assets                                             
              17, 070   
           17, 707





                     Total non-current assets                                                 72,492             74,254

    ---




       
                Total assets                                                           $292,671           $289,889

    ---



        LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY





       CURRENT LIABILITIES:



            Trade payables                                                                  $55,553            $59,635



            Deferred revenues                                                                 3,343              1,734



            Short-term loans                                                                 32,855             14,600


             Other accounts payable and accrued expenses                                      25,598             28,399





                     Total current liabilities                                               117,349            104,368

    ---




       LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:


             Accrued severance pay and pension                                                10,295             10,709



            Deferred revenues                                                                 6,265              6,265



            Other long-term payables                                                          7,348              8,126





                     Total long-term liabilities                                              23,908             25,100

    ---




       SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:



            Share capital:



            Ordinary shares                                                                     215                215



            Additional paid-in capital                                                      418,734            418,062



            Treasury shares at cost                                                        (20,091)          (20,091)



            Other comprehensive loss                                                       (10,765)           (8,666)



            Accumulated deficits                                                          (236,679)         (229,099)





                     Total shareholders' equity                                              151,414            160,421

    ---



                     Total liabilities and shareholders' equity                             $292,671           $289,889

    ---


                                  
              
              CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW


                                           
              
              (U.S. dollars, in thousands)


                                                   
            
                (Unaudited)




                                                                                 Three months ended


                                                                                      March 31,



                                                                                               2020         2019



                            Cash flows from operating
                             activities:


               Net Income (loss)                                                           $(6,880)        $808


               Adjustments required to
                reconcile net income
                (loss)
    to net cash provided by
     (used in) operating
     activities:




               Depreciation and
                amortization                                                                  2,704        2,120


               Stock-based compensation
                expense                                                                         426          475


               Decrease (increase) in
                trade and other
                receivables, net                                                             11,868      (6,391)


               Decrease (increase) in
                inventory, net of write-
                off                                                                           1,997     (14,150)


               Decrease (increase) in
                deferred tax asset, net                                                        (24)         590


               Increase (decrease) in
                trade payables and accrued                                                  (8,130)      15,583


                    Liabilities


               Increase in deferred
                revenues                                                                      1,609          376


               Other adjustments                                                              (443)        (31)



                            Net cash provided by (used
                             in) operating activities                                        $3,127       $(620)

                                                                                                            ===



                            Cash flows from investing
                             activities:


               Purchase of property and
                equipment, net                                                                (959)     (3,991)


               Purchase of intangible
                assets, net                                                                   (243)     (2,189)


               Proceeds from bank deposits                                                                  940


                            Net cash used in investing
                             activities                                                    $(1,202)    $(5,240)





                            Cash flow from financing
                             activities:


               Proceeds from bank credits
                and loans, net                                                               18,255


               Proceeds from exercise of
                options                                                                         246           66



                            Net cash provided by
                             financing activities                                           $18,501          $66





                            Translation adjustments on
                             cash and cash equivalents                                       $(245)       $(33)

                                                                                                            ===



                            Increase (decrease) in cash
                             and cash equivalents                                           $20,181     $(5,827)

                                                                                                            ===



               Cash and cash equivalents
                at the beginning of the
                period                                                                       23,939       35,581




                            Cash and cash equivalents
                             at the end of the period                                       $44,120      $29,754

                                                                                                            ===


                        
              
         RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL RESULTS


                                     
       
                (U.S. dollars in thousands)


                                       
             
                (Unaudited)




                                                           Three months ended


     
          
                March 31,

                ---

                                                                         2020                      2019





       GAAP cost of revenues                                          $41,861                   $44,531


       Stock based compensation
        expenses                                                         (27)                     (15)


       Changes in indirect tax
        positions                                                         (1)                     (21)



       Non-GAAP cost of revenues                                      $41,833                   $44,495





       GAAP gross profit                                              $14,010                   $24,632


       Gross profit adjustments                                            28                        36



       Non-GAAP gross profit                                          $14,038                   $24,668





       GAAP Research and
        development expenses                                           $7,290                    $6,164


       Stock based compensation
        expenses                                                         (89)                    (103)



       Non-GAAP Research and
        development expenses                                           $7,201                    $6,061





       GAAP Sales and Marketing
        expenses                                                       $8,273                    $9,462


       Stock based compensation
        expenses                                                        (100)                    (175)



       Non-GAAP Sales and
        Marketing expenses                                             $8,173                    $9,287





       GAAP General and
        Administrative expenses                                        $4,456                    $5,782


       Stock based compensation
        expenses                                                        (210)                    (182)



       Non-GAAP General and
        Administrative expenses                                        $4,246                    $5,600





       GAAP financial expenses and
        others, net                                                      $308                    $1,109


       Leases - financial income                                          450                        26


       Non-GAAP financial
        expenses and others, net                                         $758                    $1,135





       GAAP Tax expenses                                                 $380                    $1,134


       Non-cash tax adjustments                                          (15)                    (618)



       Non-GAAP Tax expenses                                             $365                      $516





       GAAP equity loss in
        affiliates                                                       $183                      $173


       Other non-cash adjustments                                       (183)                    (173)



       Non-GAAP equity loss in
        affiliates                                 
              $             -               
     $      -


                         
              
                RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL RESULTS


                     
              
                (U.S. dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)


                                              
              
                (Unaudited)




                                                                            Three months ended


     
              
                March 31,

                    ---

                                                                                          2020                  2019





     GAAP net income (loss)                                                           $(6,880)                 $808


     Stock based compensation
      expenses                                                                             426                   475


     Changes in indirect tax
      positions                                                                              1                    21


     Leases - financial income                                                           (450)                 (26)


     Non-cash tax adjustment                                                                15                   618


     Other non-cash adjustment                                                             183                   173



                                                                                      $(6,705)               $2,069



     Non-GAAP net income
      (loss)


                                                                                       $(0.09)                $0.01



     GAAP basic net income
      (loss) per share


                                                                                       $(0.09)                $0.01



     GAAP diluted net
      income (loss) per
      share


                                                                                       $(0.08)                $0.03



     Non-GAAP diluted net
      income (loss) per
      share




     Weighted average number of
      shares used in computing                                                      80,764,932            80,113,607

          GAAP basic net income (loss)
           per share





     Weighted average number of
      shares used in computing                                                      80,764,932            82,333,627



        GAAP diluted net
         income (loss) per
         share




     Weighted average number of
      shares used in computing                                                      80,764,932            82,701,755

          Non-GAAP diluted net income (loss) per
           share

Investors:
Osi Sessler
+972-3-5431047
investor@ceragon.com

Media:
Tanya Solomon
+972-3-5431163
media@ceragon.com


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SOURCE Ceragon Networks Ltd