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Published: 2021-02-16 08:20:36 ET
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EX-99.1 2 ex_226367.htm EXHIBIT 99.1 ex_226367.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

ex_226367img001.gif

 

 

CEVA, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter and Year End 2020 Financial Results

 

Strong fourth quarter results, exceeding revenue and profitability expectations

Record quarterly royalty revenue of $16.1 million, up 19% year-over-year

Record annual total revenue of $100.3 million, up 15% year-over-year

Record annual licensing revenue and licensing agreements signed, totaling $52.5 million and 55, respectively

Record annual royalty revenue, underpinned by record royalty contribution from base station & IoT product category of $22.3 million, up 72% year-over-year

Record quarterly and annual CEVA-powered shipments of 484 million and 1.3 billion units, respectively

 

Rockville, MD, February 16, 2021 CEVA, Inc. (NASDAQ: CEVA), the leading licensor of wireless connectivity and smart sensing technologies, today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2020.

 

Total revenue for the fourth quarter of 2020 was $28.1 million, a slight decrease of 1%, when compared to $28.3 million reported for the fourth quarter of 2019. Fourth quarter 2020 licensing and related revenue was $12.1 million, a decrease of 18%, when compared to $14.8 million reported for the same quarter a year ago. Royalty revenue for the fourth quarter of 2020 was a record high of $16.1 million, an increase of 19%, when compared to $13.5 million reported for the fourth quarter of 2019.

 

Gideon Wertheizer, Chief Executive Officer of CEVA, stated: “We are very pleased to end the year with another excellent quarter, in both licensing and royalties. We concluded 21 licensing agreements, including a strategic and comprehensive agreement with a top tier smartphone OEM who will develop a range of CEVA-based connectivity chips to serve its smartphone and wireless accessories product lines. Our record high royalty revenue reflects a particularly strong quarter in smartphone shipments and continued traction in our base station and IoT product category, which grew 50% year over year.”

 

Mr. Wertheizer continued: “Our organization worldwide showed tremendous resilience and determination to cope with the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic presented. Our licensing business had another record year as we grew our customer base in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 5G and automotive. Our annual royalty business also reached an all-time high, driven by 72% year-over-year growth in base station and IoT royalty revenues, to contribute $22.3 million. We continue to benefit from the expedited deployment of 5G base station and growing use of smart TV, laptops and other IoT devices. We entered 2021 with strong momentum in both our licensing and royalty businesses as our primary markets are expected to continue to expand the adoption of wireless connectivity and smart sensing technologies.”

 

 

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During the quarter, CEVA completed 21 license agreements. Five of the agreements were for smart sensing products and 16 for connectivity products with seven first-time customers of CEVA. Customers’ target products include 5G smartphones, TWS earbuds, cellular IoT devices and a wide variety of other IoT devices. Geographically, eight of the deals signed were in China, six were in the U.S., four in APAC and three were in Europe.

 

GAAP net income for the fourth quarter of 2020 decreased to $0.6 million, compared to $3.1 million reported for the same period in 2019. GAAP diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2020 decreased to $0.03 from $0.14 a year ago. The fourth quarter 2020 financials included a $2 million tax expense due to withholding taxes which cannot be utilized in future years.

 

Non-GAAP net income and diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2020 were $4.7 million and $0.20, respectively, comparing the $6.8 million and $0.30 reported for the fourth quarter of 2019. Non-GAAP net income and diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2020 excluded: (a) equity-based compensation expense, net of taxes, of $3.4 million, and (b) the impact of the amortization of acquired intangible and other assets, net of taxes, of $0.7 million associated with the acquisition of the Hillcrest Labs business and investments in NB-IoT and Immervision technologies. Net income and diluted earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2019 excluded: (a) equity-based compensation expense, net of taxes, of $2.8 million, and (b) the impact of the amortization of acquired intangible assets of $0.9 million associated with the acquisition of RivieraWaves and the Hillcrest Labs business, and investments in NB-IoT and Immervision technologies.

 

Full Year 2020 Review

 

Total revenue for 2020 was $100.3 million, an increase of 15%, when compared to $87.2 million reported for 2019. Licensing and related revenue for 2020 was a record $52.5 million, an increase of 10%, when compared to $47.9 million reported for 2019. Royalty revenue for 2020 was a record $47.8 million, representing an increase of 22%, as compared to $39.3 million reported for 2019.

 

U.S. GAAP net loss and diluted loss per share for 2020 were $2.4 million and $0.11, respectively, compared to U.S GAAP net income and diluted earnings per share of $0.0 million and $0.00, respectively reported for 2019.

 

Non-GAAP net income and diluted earnings per share for 2020 were $13.7 million and $0.60, respectively, representing an increase of 3% and 2%, respectively, over $13.4 million and $0.59 reported for 2019, respectively. Non-GAAP net income and diluted earnings per share for 2020 excluded (a) equity-based compensation expense, net of taxes, of $13.4 million, and (b) the impact of the amortization of acquired intangible assets, net of taxes, of $2.7 million associated with the acquisition of the Hillcrest Labs business, and investments in NB-IoT and Immervision technologies. Non-GAAP net income and diluted earnings per share for 2019 excluded (a) equity-based compensation expense, net of taxes, of $10.1 million, (b) the impact of the amortization of acquired intangible assets of $2.3 million associated with the acquisitions of RivieraWaves and the Hillcrest Labs business, and the investments in NB-IoT and Immervision technologies, and (c) deal expenses and write-off of an acquired lease associated with the Hillcrest Labs transaction of $0.8 million.

 

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Yaniv Arieli, Chief Financial Officer of CEVA, stated: "We are extremely proud of our performance in 2020, highlighted by the numerous records achieved in the fourth quarter and the full year. These include record royalty revenue for the fourth quarter and the full year 2020 of $16.1 million and $47.8 million, respectively, generated from a record 484 million and 1.3 billion CEVA-powered devices, respectively. We also managed to deliver non-GAAP EPS of $0.60 for the full year, despite recent foreign exchange headwinds. At the end of the year, our cash and cash equivalent balances, marketable securities and bank deposits were approximately $160 million, with no debt.”

 

CEVA Conference Call

 

On February 16, 2021, CEVA management will conduct a conference call at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the operating performance for the quarter.

 

The conference call will be available via the following dial in numbers:

 

 

U.S. Participants: Dial 1-844-435-0316 (Access Code: CEVA)

 

International Participants: Dial +1-412-317-6365 (Access Code: CEVA)

 

The conference call will also be available live via webcast at the following link: https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/984/39449. Please go to the web site at least fifteen minutes prior to the call to register, download and install any necessary audio software.

 

For those who cannot access the live broadcast, a replay will be available by dialing +1-877-344-7529 or +1-412-317-0088 (access code: 10151090) from one hour after the end of the call until 9:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) on February 23, 2021. The replay will also be available at CEVA's web site www.ceva-dsp.com.

 

For More Information, Contact:

Yaniv Arieli

CEVA, Inc.

CFO

+1.650.417.7941

yaniv.arieli@ceva-dsp.com

Richard Kingston

CEVA, Inc.

VP Market Intelligence, Investor & Public Relations

+1.650.417.7976

richard.kingston@ceva-dsp.com

 

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About CEVA, Inc.

CEVA is the leading licensor of wireless connectivity and smart sensing technologies. We offer Digital Signal Processors, AI processors, wireless platforms and complementary software for sensor fusion, image enhancement, computer vision, voice input and artificial intelligence, all of which are key enabling technologies for a smarter, connected world. We partner with semiconductor companies and OEMs worldwide to create power-efficient, intelligent and connected devices for a range of end markets, including mobile, consumer, automotive, robotics, industrial and IoT. Our ultra-low-power IPs include comprehensive DSP-based platforms for 5G baseband processing in mobile and infrastructure, advanced imaging and computer vision for any camera-enabled device and audio/voice/speech and ultra-low power always-on/sensing applications for multiple IoT markets. For sensor fusion, our Hillcrest Labs sensor processing technologies provide a broad range of sensor fusion software and IMU solutions for AR/VR, robotics, remote controls, and IoT. For artificial intelligence, we offer a family of AI processors capable of handling the complete gamut of neural network workloads, on-device. For wireless IoT, we offer the industry’s most widely adopted IPs for Bluetooth (low energy and dual mode), Wi-Fi 4/5/6 (802.11n/ac/ax) and NB-IoT.

 

CEVA is a sustainable and environmentally conscious company, adhering to our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics. As such, we emphasize and focus on environmental preservation, recycling, the welfare of our employees and privacy – which we promote on a corporate level. At CEVA, we are committed to social responsibility, values of preservation and consciousness towards these purposes.

 

Visit us at https://www.ceva-dsp.com/ and follow us on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

 

Forward Looking Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions that if they materialize or prove incorrect, could cause the results of CEVA to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions.  Forward-looking statements include Mr. Wertheizer’s statements about optimism regarding the continued traction in CEVA’s base station and IoT product category, benefits derived from the expedited deployment of 5G base station and growing use of smart TV, laptops and other IoT devices, as well as the strong momentum in CEVA’s licensing and royalty businesses in 2021 as its primary markets are expected to continue to expand the adoption of wireless connectivity and smart sensing technologies. The risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause differing CEVA results include: the scope and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic; the extent and length of the restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact on customers, consumer demand and the global economy generally; the ability of CEVA DSP cores and other technologies to continue to be strong growth drivers for us; our success in penetrating new markets, including in non-baseband markets, and maintaining our market position in existing markets; our ability to diversify the company’s royalty streams, the ability of products incorporating our technologies to achieve market acceptance, the maturation of the connectivity, IoT and 5G markets, the effect of intense industry competition and consolidation, global chip market trends, the possibility that markets for CEVA’s technologies may not develop as expected or that products incorporating our technologies do not achieve market acceptance; our ability to timely and successfully develop and introduce new technologies; and general market conditions and other risks relating to our business, including, but not limited to, those that are described from time to time in our SEC filings.  CEVA assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements or information, which speak as of their respective dates.

 

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CEVA, INC. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME – U.S. GAAP

U.S. dollars in thousands, except per share data



   

Three months ended

     

Year ended

 
   

December 31,

     

December 31,

 
   

2020

   

2019

   

2020

   

2019

 
   

Unaudited

 

Revenues:

                               

Licensing and related revenues

  $ 12,068     $ 14,806     $ 52,513     $ 47,890  

Royalties

    16,077       13,506       47,813       39,262  
                                 

Total revenues

    28,145       28,312       100,326       87,152  
                                 

Cost of revenues

    2,490       2,823       10,749       10,106  
                                 

Gross profit

    25,655       25,489       89,577       77,046  
                                 

Operating expenses:

                               

Research and development, net

    16,315       14,250       62,010       52,843  

Sales and marketing

    3,135       3,554       11,907       12,363  

General and administrative

    3,223       3,481       14,116       11,841  

Amortization of intangible assets

    575       746       2,307       1,923  
                                 

Total operating expenses

    23,248       22,031       90,340       78,970  
                                 

Operating income (loss)

    2,407       3,458       (763 )     (1,924 )

Financial income , net

    595       992       3,284       3,291  
                                 

Income before taxes on income

    3,002       4,450       2,521       1,367  

Income taxes

    2,367       1,388       4,900       1,339  
                                 

Net income (loss)

  $ 635     $ 3,062     $ (2,379 )   $ 28  
                                 

Basic net income (loss) per share

  $ 0.03     $ 0.14     $ (0.11 )   $ 0.00  

Diluted net income (loss) per share

  $ 0.03     $ 0.14     $ (0.11 )   $ 0.00  

Weighted-average number of Common Stock used in computation of net income (loss) per share (in thousands):

                               

Basic

    22,249       21,920       22,107       21,932  

Diluted

    22,911       22,373       22,107       22,323  

 

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Unaudited Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures

 U.S. Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts

 

   

Three months ended

   

Year ended

 
   

December 31

   

December 31,

 
   

2020

   

2019

   

2020

   

2019

 
   

Unaudited

 
                                 

GAAP net income (loss)

  $ 635     $ 3,062     $ (2,379 )   $ 28  

Equity-based compensation expense included in cost of revenue

    166       166       639       630  

Equity-based compensation expense included in research and development expenses

    1,759       1,543       6,874       5,857  

Equity-based compensation expense included in sales and marketing expenses

    542       383       2,038       1,495  

Equity-based compensation expense included in general and administrative expenses

    1,099       779       4,085       2,736  

Income tax benefit related to equity-based compensation expenses

    (196 )     (101 )     (256 )     (574 )
Amortization of intangible assets, net of taxes, related to acquisitions of RivieraWaves and Hillcrest Labs business, investments in NB-IoT and Immervision technologies, and deal costs and write off of an acquired lease related the Hillcrest Labs transaction     685       945       2,746       3,203  

Non-GAAP net income

  $ 4,690     $ 6,777     $ 13,747     $ 13,375  
                                 
                                 
                                 
GAAP weighted-average number of Common Stock used in computation of diluted net income per share (in thousands)     22,911       22,373       22,107       22,323  

Weighted-average number of shares related to outstanding stock-based awards (in thousands)

    305       462       979       475  

Weighted-average number of Common Stock used in computation of diluted earnings per share, excluding the above (in thousands )

    23,216       22,835       23,086       22,798  
                                 

GAAP diluted net income (loss) per share

  $ 0.03     $ 0.14     $ (0.11 )   $ 0.00  

Equity-based compensation expense, net of taxes

  $ 0.14     $ 0.12     $ 0.59     $ 0.45  
Amortization of intangible assets, net of taxes, related to acquisitions of RivieraWaves and Hillcrest Labs business, investments in NB-IoT and Immervision technologies, and deal costs and write off of an acquired lease related the Hillcrest Labs transaction   $ 0.03     $ 0.04     $
0.12
    $
0.14
 

Non-GAAP diluted net income per share

  $ 0.20     $ 0.30     $ 0.60     $ 0.59  

 

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CEVA, INC. AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

(U.S. Dollars in thousands)



   

December 31,

   

December 31,

 
   

2020

      2019 (*)  
   

Unaudited

   

Unaudited

 

ASSETS

               
                 

Current assets:

               

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 21,143     $ 22,803  

Marketable securities and short term bank deposits

    108,987       121,782  

Trade receivables, net

    14,765       11,066  

Unbilled receivables

    16,459       17,241  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

    6,205       5,660  

Total current assets

    167,559       178,552  

Long-term assets:

               

Bank deposits

    29,529       5,368  

Severance pay fund

    10,535       9,881  

Deferred tax assets

    10,826       10,605  

Property and equipment, net

    7,586       7,879  

Operating lease right-of-use assets

    9,052       11,066  

Goodwill

    51,070       51,070  

Intangible assets, net

    10,836       13,424  

Other long term assets

    9,959       9,176  

Total assets

  $ 306,952     $ 297,021  
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY                
                 

Current liabilities:

               

Trade payables

  $ 894     $ 701  

Deferred revenues

    2,434       3,642  

Accrued expenses and other payables

    21,883       19,642  

Operating lease liabilities

    2,969       2,393  

Total current liabilities

    28,180       26,378  
                 

Long-term liabilities:

               

Accrued severance pay

    11,226       10,551  

Operating lease liabilities

    5,772       8,273  

Other accrued liabilities

    885       662  

Total liabilities

    46,063       45,864  
                 

Stockholders’ equity:

               

Common stock:

    22       22  

Additional paid in-capital

    233,172       228,005  

Treasury stock

    (30,133 )     (39,390 )

Accumulated other comprehensive income

    478       94  

Retained earnings

    57,350       62,426  

Total stockholders’ equity

    260,889       251,157  

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

  $ 306,952     $ 297,021  

 

(*) Derived from audited financial statements

 

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