Lexmark International, Inc. (NYSE: LXK) announced financial results for the first quarter of 2008. First-quarter revenue was $1.18 billion, down 7 percent compared to revenue of $1.26 billion last year. First-quarter GAAP earnings per share were $1.07. Earnings per share for the first quarter of 2008 would have been $1.16 excluding $0.09 per share for restructuring-related activities. First-quarter 2007 GAAP earnings per share were $0.95. Earnings per share for the first quarter of 2007 would have been $0.96 excluding $0.01 per share for restructuring-related activities. First-quarter 2008 GAAP EPS grew 12.5 percent year to year.
"Our first-quarter results reflect the strategic shift that we began in the second half of 2007," said Paul J. Curlander, Lexmark chairman and chief executive officer. "Although EPS greatly exceeded expectations in the first quarter and we had good cash generation performance, we have more work to do as we continue to implement our strategy to drive our growth in higher-usage segments. A key element in our strategy is the development of industry-leading products and technology, and we made good progress here in the first quarter of 2008 with the introduction of our new Professional Series and Home & Student inkjet product lines, and the ongoing receipt of industry awards, particularly for our inkjet and color laser products."
First-quarter 2008 business segment revenue was $741 million, up about 1 percent year to year. Consumer segment revenue of $434 million declined 17 percent compared to a year ago. First-quarter 2008 gross profit margin was 37.1 percent, the operating expense-to-revenue ratio was 26.7 percent, the operating income margin was 10.4 percent, and net earnings were $102 million. First-quarter 2008 operating income includes $13 million pretax charges in connection with the company's restructuring-related actions.
First-quarter 2007 gross profit margin was 33.5 percent, the operating expense-to-revenue ratio was 23.9 percent, the operating income margin was 9.6 percent, and net earnings were $92 million. First-quarter 2007 operating income included $2 million net restructuring-related pretax charges.
On a non-GAAP basis, excluding restructuring-related charges:
The company ended the quarter with $879 million in cash and current marketable securities. First-quarter net cash provided by operating activities was $178 million. Capital expenditures for the quarter were $40 million. Depreciation and amortization in the quarter was $51 million. Lexmark did not repurchase its stock during the first quarter. The company's remaining share repurchase authorization was approximately $295 million at quarter end.
New Inkjets Target Higher-Usage Customers
The introduction of Lexmark's new Home & Student inkjet
line during the quarter further advances the company's strategy to
increase penetration in higher-usage and higher-growth inkjet market
segments. The Home & Student line, with prices ranging from $79 to
$129, includes two new wireless products and the world's
only all-in-one (AIO) with a front laptop port for quick and easy
access by students and busy laptop users without wireless access.
Also during the quarter, Lexmark's Professional Series inkjet line, with prices ranging from $99 to $2491, earned three Editor's Choice awards from Better Buys for Business, a leading independent reviewer of document imaging equipment. The review praised the Wi-Fi printing capabilities of the Lexmark X4875 Wireless AIO, the X6575 Wireless AIO and the X9575 Wireless AIO. Additionally, the X6570 Wireless AIO was named to PC World magazine's Top 10 Inkjet Multifunction list in January, and the X9575 received a Four-Star, Highly Recommended rating from independent test lab BERTL in April.
Lexmark Continues Award-Winning Push into Key Business Market Segments
Lexmark's efforts to increase its presence in the high-growth color
laser printer and color multifunction product (MFP) segments were also
advanced during the period with receipt of several awards of excellence
from respected testing labs and technology publications. In April,
Lexmark's first entry into the important mid-range color MFP segment,
the Lexmark X560n,
was awarded a Four-Star, Highly Recommended rating from independent
test lab BERTL. In February, PC World magazine named the Lexmark X500n low-end color MFP a Top Five Color Laser Multifunction Printer. The Lexmark C530dn and C780n were additionally named to PC World magazine's Top 10 Color Laser list.
Better Buys for Business has recently recognized Lexmark's color and
monochrome laser printers with a string of accolades. Lexmark's C935hdn workgroup
color laser printer was featured on the cover of its 2008 Color Laser
and Business Inkjet Printer Guide, in which the Lexmark C530, C532, C782 and C935 families of color laser printers were all honored with Editor's Choice awards. In January,
Lexmark's E250, E350 and E450 low-end monochrome laser printer families were designated Editor's Choice winners, and Lexmark's T640, T642 and T644 workgroup monochrome laser printer families earned the Editor's Choice distinction for the third consecutive year.
