THQ REPORTS FISCAL 2006 THIRD QUARTER RESULTS
Company expects 14% - 20% sales growth with higher operating margins in FY 2007
AGOURA HILLS, Calif. – February 3, 2006 - THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) today announced fiscal 2006 third quarter results exceeded previous guidance. The company also established initial guidance for fiscal 2007 of sales growth in the range of 14% to 20% and EPS growth of 34% to 50%.
For the three months ended December 31, 2005, THQ reported net sales of $357.8 million and net income of $47.6 million, or $0.72 per diluted share. These results exceeded the company’s previous guidance of net sales of $320 million and net income of $0.65 per diluted share. For the same period a year ago, THQ reported net sales of $400.3 million and net income of $62.9 million, or $1.05 per diluted share.
For the nine months ended December 31, 2005, the company reported net sales of $658.5 million and net income of $42.2 million, or $0.65 per diluted share. For the same period a year ago, THQ reported net sales of $584.8 million and net income of $52.7 million, or $0.88 per diluted share.
“Our strategy to target the mass-market consumer this holiday succeeded,” said Brian Farrell, THQ president and CEO. “In 2005, we gained market share in each of our major markets, especially among the core gamer audience, driving our ranking as the #3 independent video game publisher worldwide, excluding Japan. We continued to diversify our product portfolio, grow our studio system and expand our global sales
network, which are key drivers for THQ’s long-term profitable growth.”
Farrell continued, “While we view 2006 as a transition year for the industry, THQ is positioned to grow significantly in our fiscal year ending March 31, 2007. During the fiscal year, we plan to release several critically acclaimed new titles targeted to the avid gamer, including Saints Row for Xbox 360, Company of Heroes and Titan Quest for Windows PC, and games based on our industry leading mass-market brands, such as
the upcoming Disney/Pixar film Cars.
“We are excited about the long-term growth prospects for THQ. We continue to build our pipeline of titles based on our partnerships with some of the world’s leading content providers and our growing portfolio of owned and original properties created by THQ’s studio system, which encompasses 12 internal studios and strong relationships with leading third-party developers. We plan to leverage this pipeline to capitalize on
the strong market growth expected over the next cycle.”
Financial Guidance
THQ reaffirmed previous earnings guidance and increased sales guidance for the full fiscal year ending March 31, 2006, and provided initial guidance for the full fiscal year ending March 31, 2007:
For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006, the company expects net sales of approximately $135 million and net income of about $0.02 per diluted share
For the fiscal year ending March 31, 2006, THQ expects net sales of approximately $790 million and net income of approximately $0.67 per diluted share
For the fiscal year ending March 31, 2007, the company expects net sales in the range of $900 million to $950 million and higher operating margins resulting in net income in the range of $0.90 to $1.00 per diluted share, excluding the impact of stock option expense, which has not yet been determined
All per share amounts reflect a 3-for-2 stock split effected on September 1, 2005.
Recent Developments
In calendar 2005, THQ gained market share in each of its major markets and achieved the #3 independent video game software publisher ranking worldwide, excluding Japan, according to the NPD Group, Inc., Chart Track and GfK data
During the December quarter, THQ shipped more than 2.5 million units of WWE® SmackDown® vs. Raw® and more than one million units each of Bratz Rock Angelz™, The Incredibles: Rise of the Underminer and SpongeBob SquarePants: Lights Camera PANTS!
Fiscal year to date, THQ shipped more than one million units of seven titles, including new original properties Juiced™ and Destroy All Humans!™
THQ announced plans to bring dynamic in-game advertising to its video game titles through its partnership with Massive Incorporated
THQ announced today that Doug Clemmer has been named head of THQ Wireless
THQ announced today that its Kaos studio, which includes industry veterans from the R&D team responsible for the multi-million unit franchise Battlefield 2, is working on an original property for next-generation consoles and Windows PC scheduled for calendar 2007
THQ announced the rights to publish videogames for console and select handheld gaming systems based on Columbia Pictures' highly anticipated feature film Monster House from award-winning executive producers Robert Zemeckis and Steven Spielberg
THQ and Conan Properties International, LLC announced a worldwide, multi-year licensing agreement for THQ to develop interactive games based on the Conan universe. The agreement covers development for all current and next-gen systems as well as Windows PC, wireless and handheld platforms
Investor Conference Call
THQ will host a conference call to discuss fiscal third quarter results today at 11:00 a.m. Eastern/8:00 a.m. Pacific. Please dial (800) 591-6942 or (617) 614-4909, access code 19442768 to listen to the call or visit the THQ Inc. Investor Relations home page at www.thq.com. The online archive of the broadcast will be available approximately two hours after the live call ends. In addition, a telephonic replay of the
conference call will be provided approximately two hours after the live call ends through February 6, 2006, by dialing (888) 286-8010 or (617) 801-6888, access code 50821581.
THQ Inc. and Subsidiaries
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except per share data)
|
Three Months Ended |
|
Nine Months Ended |
|
December 31, |
December 31, |
|
2005 |
2004 |
2005 |
2004 |
Net sales |
$ |
357,848 |
$ |
400,315 |
$ |
658,507 |
$ |
584,805 |
| Costs and expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Cost of sales |
|
124,164 |
|
126,27 |
|
225,31 |
|
190,916 |
| License amortization and royalties |
|
41,899 |
|
54,507 |
|
66,358 |
|
70,511 |
| Software development amortization |
|
33,129 |
|
47,74 |
|
80,924 |
|
78,492 |
| Product development |
|
23,954 |
|
24,207 |
|
64,348 |
|
49,537 |
| Selling and marketing |
|
44,318 |
|
48,01 |
|
107,941 |
|
86,26 |
| Payment to venture partner |
|
8,537 |
|
7,05 |
|
11,126 |
|
9,087 |
| General and administrative |
|
17,984 |
|
12,298 |
|
50,285 |
|
37,807 |
| Total costs and expenses |
|
293,985 |
|
320,082 |
|
606,292 |
|
522,61 |
| Income from operations |
|
63,863 |
|
80,233 |
|
52,215 |
|
62,195 |
| Interest income |
|
1,826 |
|
833 |
|
5,763 |
|
2,79 |
| Income before income taxes and minority interest |
|
65,689 |
|
81,066 |
|
57,978 |
|
64,985 |
| Income taxes |
|
18,044 |
|
18,057 |
|
15,654 |
|
12,136 |
| Income before minority interest |
|
47,645 |
|
63,009 |
|
42,324 |
|
52,849 |
| Minority interest |
|
(62) |
|
(74) |
|
(116) |
|
(169) |
| Net Income |
$ |
47,583 |
$ |
62,935 |
$ |
42,208 |
$ |
52,68 |
| Net income per share – basic |
$ |
0.76 |
$ |
1.08 |
$ |
0.68 |
$ |
0.91 |
| Net income per share – diluted |
$ |
0.72 |
$ |
1.05 |
$ |
0.65 |
$ |
0.88 |
| Shares used in per share calculation – basic |
|
62,982 |
|
58,472 |
|
62,265 |
|
58,183 |
| Shares used in per share calculation – diluted |
|
65,919 |
|
59,875 |
|
65,154 |
|
59,695 |
Share and earnings per share data have been restated to reflect our three-for-two stock split for shareholders of record as of August 19, 2005, paid September 1, 2005.
THQ Inc. and Subsidiaries
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands)
|
December 31, |
March 31, |
|
2005 |
2005 |
| ASSETS |
| Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments |
$ |
296,115 |
$ |
331,173 |
| Accounts receivable, net |
|
187,737 |
|
73,7 |
| Inventory |
|
31,189 |
|
23,802 |
| Licenses |
|
22,214 |
|
12,464 |
| Software development |
|
77,397 |
|
57,107 |
| Income taxes receivable |
|
6,601 |
|
9,783 |
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
24,378 |
|
14,53 |
| Total current assets |
|
645,631 |
|
522,559 |
| Property and equipment, net |
|
35,363 |
|
26,822 |
| Licenses, net of current portion |
|
64,182 |
|
75,523 |
| Software development, net of current portion |
|
18,528 |
|
8,144 |
| Income taxes receivable, net of current portion |
|
9,513 |
|
9,513 |
| Goodwill, net |
|
86,053 |
|
83,44 |
| Other long-term assets, net |
|
23,573 |
|
21,392 |
| TOTAL ASSETS |
$ |
882,843 |
$ |
747,393 |
|
|
|
|
|
| LIABILITIES, MINORITY INTEREST AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY |
| Accounts payable |
$ |
41,332 |
$ |
36,499 |
| Accrued and other current liabilities |
|
134,674 |
|
77,532 |
| Deferred income taxes |
|
8,007 |
|
6,841 |
| Total current liabilities |
|
184,013 |
|
120,872 |
| Other long-term liabilities |
|
60,368 |
|
72,059 |
| Deferred income taxes, net of current portion |
|
4,466 |
|
4,466 |
| Minority interest |
|
1,373 |
|
1,238 |
| Common stock |
|
634 |
|
607 |
| Additional paid-in capital |
|
389,669 |
|
347,462 |
| Accumulated other comprehensive income |
|
12,274 |
|
12,851 |
| Retained earnings |
|
230,046 |
|
187,838 |
| Total stockholders’ equity |
|
632,623 |
|
548,758 |
| TOTAL LIABILITIES, MINORITY INTEREST AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY |
$ |
882,843 |
$ |
747,393 |
THQ Inc. and Subsidiaries
Unaudited Supplemental Financial Information
| |
Three Months Ended |
Nine Months Ended |
| December 31, |
December 31, |
| 2005 |
2004 |
2005 |
2004 |
| Platform Revenue Mix |
| Consoles |
| Sony PlayStation 2 |
43.3 |
% |
42.6 |
% |
39.5 |
% |
36.1 |
% |
| Microsoft Xbox |
4.5 |
|
6.6 |
|
12.2 |
|
9.6 |
|
| Nintendo Game Cube |
9.7 |
|
11.1 |
|
8.2 |
|
11.2 |
|
|
57.5 |
|
60.3 |
|
59.9 |
|
56.9 |
|
| Handheld |
| Nintendo Game Boy Advance |
23.4 |
|
27.2 |
|
21.5 |
|
26.6 |
|
| Nintendo Dual Screen |
4.7 |
|
0.6 |
|
2.8 |
|
0.4 |
|
| Sony PlayStation Portable |
3.7 |
|
0.0 |
|
2.1 |
|
0.0 |
|
| Wireless |
2.5 |
|
1.9 |
|
4.3 |
|
2.9 |
|
|
34.3 |
|
29.7 |
|
30.7 |
|
29.9 |
|
PC |
8.0 |
|
9.2 |
|
9.2 |
|
11.9 |
|
Other |
0.2 |
|
0.8 |
|
0.2 |
|
1.3 |
|
|
100.0 |
% |
100.0 |
% |
100.0 |
% |
100.0 |
% |
| Geographic Revenue Mix |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Domestic |
63.1 |
% |
63.0 |
% |
61.1 |
% |
63.0 |
% |
| Foreign |
36.9 |
|
37.0 |
|
38.9 |
|
37.0 |
|
|
100.0 |
% |
100.0 |
% |
100.0 |
% |
100.0 |
% |
|