IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Netlist, Inc. (Nasdaq: NLST) today reported financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended October 3, 2009. Revenues for the third quarter and nine months ended October 3, 2009, were $6.4 million and $11.8 million, respectively, compared to $28.9 million and $60.4 million for the third quarter and nine months ended September 27, 2008. Revenue for the 2009 third quarter doubled from the $3.2 million in this year's second quarter.
The year-over-year decline in revenues was driven by a reduction in demand from the Company's customer base mainly due to the commoditization of certain product offerings. In response to the current lower base of revenue, costs have been aggressively managed downward to better match those levels of revenue. The Company continues to invest heavily in R&D as it executes on the planned technology transition to its next-generation memory subsystems.
"We are very pleased by the progress of our next-generation product development," Chief Executive Officer Chun K. Hong said. "We remain on track to launch the first of our new products before the end of the year. The improving market for high-performance computing, firming prices for memory and the early interest from OEMs in our chip-based technologies have given us reason for optimism as we look into 2010 and beyond."
Gross profit for the third quarter ended October 3, 2009, was $1.6 million, or a gross margin of 24.3 percent, compared to $2.0 million, or a gross margin of 7.1 percent for the third quarter ended September 27, 2008. This is an improvement from the second quarter gross profit of $244,000, or a gross margin of 7.7 percent. Gross profit for the nine months ended October 3, 2009, was $1.3 million, or a gross margin of 10.8 percent, compared to gross profit of $7.8 million, or a gross margin of 13.0 percent in the year-earlier period.
Net loss for the 2009 third quarter was $2.1 million, or $0.11 loss per share, compared to a net loss in the prior year period of $7.4 million, or $0.37 loss per share. Net loss for the 2009 first nine months was $9.9 million, or $0.50 loss per share, compared to a net loss of $10.3 million, or a $0.52 loss per share. These results include stock-based compensation expense in the third quarter and nine months ended October 3, 2009 of $631,000 and $1.2 million, respectively, compared with $362,000 and $981,000 in the prior year periods.
During the third quarter, the Company remained focused on preserving cash. As of October 3, 2009, cash, cash equivalents, and investments in marketable securities were $16.4 million, total assets were $27.1 million, working capital was $14.5 million, total long-term debt was $192,000, and stockholders' equity was $21.6 million.
Conference Call Information
As previously announced, Netlist is conducting a conference call today to be broadcast live over the Internet at 5:00 pm Eastern Time to discuss and review the financial results for the third quarter and nine months ended October 3, 2009. The dial-in number for the call is 1-877-941-8602. The live webcast and archived replay of the call can be accessed in the Investors section of Netlist's website at www.netlist.com.
About Netlist, Inc.
Netlist designs and manufactures high-performance memory subsystems for the server and high-performance computing and communications markets. The Company's memory subsystems are developed for applications in which high-speed, high-capacity memory, functionality, small form factor, and heat dissipation are key requirements. These applications include tower-servers, rack-mounted servers, blade servers, high-performance computing clusters, engineering workstations, and telecommunication equipment. Netlist maintains its headquarters in Irvine, California with manufacturing facilities in Suzhou, China.
Safe Harbor Statement
This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding future events and the future performance of Netlist, including future opportunities and growth for the company's business. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected or projected. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the rapidly-changing nature of technology; volatility in the pricing of DRAM ICs and NAND;changes in and uncertainty of customer demand, including delays in product qualifications; delays in the Company's and its customers' product releases and development; introductions of new products by competitors; changes in end-user demand for technology solutions; the Company's ability to attract and retain skilled personnel; the Company's reliance on suppliers of critical components; fluctuations in the market price of evolving industry standards; and the political and regulatory environment in the People's Republic of China. Other risks and uncertainties are described in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K, dated March 30, 2009, and subsequent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission made by the Company from time to time. Netlist undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
TABLES FOLLOW
Netlist, Inc. Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (in thousands, except per share amounts) Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended ------------------- ------------------ October September October September 3, 27, 3, 27, 2009 2008 2009 2008 -------- --------- ------- --------- Net sales $6,446 $28,876 $11,781 $60,409 Cost of sales(1) 4,879 26,832 10,507 52,575 ----- ------ ------ ------ Gross profit 1,567 2,044 1,274 7,834 ----- ----- ----- ----- Operating expenses: Research and development(1) 1,975 1,651 5,619 4,943 Selling, general and administrative(1) 2,115 3,364 6,170 10,142 ----- ----- ----- ------ Total operating expenses 4,090 5,015 11,789 15,085 ----- ----- ------ ------ Operating loss (2,523) (2,971) (10,515) (7,251) ------ ------ ------- ------ Other income: Interest (expense) income, net (25) 38 75 381 Other income (expense), net 4 13 134 (55) - -- --- --- Total other income (expense), net (21) 51 209 326 --- -- --- --- Loss before provision (benefit) for income taxes (2,544) (2,920) (10,306) (6,925) Provision (benefit) for income taxes (458) 4,502 (409) 3,332 ---- ----- ---- ----- Net loss $(2,086) $(7,422) $(9,897) $(10,257) ======= ======= ======= ======== Net loss per common share: Basic and diluted $(0.11) $(0.37) $(0.50) $(0.52) Weighted-average common shares outstanding: Basic and diluted 19,855 19,855 19,855 19,845 (1) Amounts include stock-based compensation expense as follows: Cost of sales $146 $44 $213 $106 Research and development 156 55 262 140 Selling, general and administrative 329 263 753 735
Netlist, Inc. Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands) October 3, January 3, 2009 2009 ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $11,501 $15,214 Investments in marketable securities 3,115 5,199 Accounts receivable, net 2,732 1,917 Inventories 1,886 1,829 Income taxes receivable - 1,880 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 636 761 --- --- Total current assets 19,870 26,800 Property and equipment, net 5,202 6,939 Long-term investments in marketable securities 1,742 960 Other assets 252 234 --- --- Total assets $27,066 $34,933 ======= ======= LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Accounts payable $1,969 $1,786 Current portion of long-term debt 115 474 Current portion of deferred gain on sale and leaseback transaction 118 118 Income taxes payable 78 - Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 3,093 2,083 ----- ----- Total current liabilities 5,373 4,461 Long-term debt, net of current portion 77 130 Deferred gain on sale and leaseback transaction, net of current portion 19 108 -- --- Total liabilities 5,469 4,699 Commitments and contingencies Stockholders' equity: Common stock, $0.001 par value - 90,000 shares authorized; 19,855 shares issued and outstanding 20 20 Additional paid-in capital 70,611 69,383 Accumulated deficit (49,010) (39,113) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (24) (56) --- --- Total stockholders' equity 21,597 30,234 ------ ------ Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $27,066 $34,933 ======= =======
Contact: Allen & Caron Inc Gail Itow Jill Bertotti (investors) Chief Financial Officer jill@allencaron.com Netlist, Inc. Len Hall (media) (949) 435-0025 len@allencaron.com (949) 474-4300
SOURCE Netlist, Inc.
Nov 02, 2009