Q4 net revenue of $182.4 million, and operating margin above the high end of guidance Q4 annual recurring revenue of almost $35 million, growing 25% year over year Q4 free cash flow of $19.0 million - sixth consecutive quarter of cash generation Q1 2025 restructuring implemented from position of strength to fund 2025 investment opportunities Added $125 million in cash and repurchased more than $33 million of stock in 2024
SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- NETGEAR, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTGR), a global leader in intelligent networking solutions for businesses, homes, and service providers, today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2024.
Q4 2024
2024 Fiscal Year
The accompanying schedules provide a reconciliation of financial measures computed on a GAAP basis to financial measures computed on a non-GAAP basis.
CJ Prober, Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Having recently passed my one-year anniversary at NETGEAR, I’m thrilled with our progress as we once again delivered revenue and operating margin above the high end of guidance while driving dramatic shifts in our operating model and focus on the customer. These results were enabled by the proactive steps we took throughout the year to improve our organization, operating model and strategy in pursuit of long-term growth and profitability. In the last year, we aggressively de-stocked our channel, dramatically lowered our inventory, significantly increased our cash position, continued to innovate with new product launches and software enhancements, and added great new people to our world class team. Going forward, the focus is on improving our software capabilities and driving recurring revenue where we have a solid starting point at almost $35 million annual recurring revenue as we exit 2024.”
Bryan Murray, Chief Financial Officer, added, “This marked the sixth consecutive quarter of free cash flow generation, which came in at $19.0 million, driven by DSOs reaching their lowest level in over seven years with the improved linearity in the business enabling us to match sell-in with sell-through. We exited the quarter with nearly $409 million in cash, a sequential increase of $13.0 million. Capital allocation remains a key focus for NETGEAR and in Q4 we resumed our share repurchase program, repurchasing approximately $10.7 million of our common stock. Importantly, to maximize long-term shareholder value, we completed a restructuring of the business, ultimately saving more than $20 million in annual operating expenses that we are reinvesting into the business to capitalize on our highest priority opportunities to expand revenue and profitability.”
NETGEAR For Business (NFB) Segment Results
Mr. Prober continued, “For NFB, our leading ProAV products drove another record quarter in end user sales while we added almost 50 new manufacturing partners and launched Engage 2.0, substantially expanding our software capabilities in this product category. The continuing strong performance of this business provides a great foundation for our return to profitable growth.”
Connected Home Products (CHP) Segment Results
Mr. Prober continued, “We’ve had a great reception to our recently released WiFi 7 Orbi and Nighthawk products and we are making progress in executing on our ‘good-better-best’ product strategy, which we expect to help us reclaim market share in 2025. Importantly, recurring revenue improved by 25% year over year, a result of the targeted software investments we’ve made across both businesses, including recent upgrades to our Armor offering. Although the full benefits of NETGEAR’s revamped strategy will take time to materialize completely, we’re focused on generating long-term value for shareholders and remain confident in the consumer market opportunity ahead of us as we progress through 2025.”
Business Outlook
Mr. Murray continued, “We expect to continue to see more predictable performance that is aligned with the market for both of our businesses now that both our destocking and inventory reduction actions are completed. However, within NFB, although end user demand for our ProAV line of managed switches remains strong, we are facing lengthy lead times for supply, which will result in us under shipping in Q1 and this is reflected in our muted top line guidance. On the CHP side, we are seeing signs of market stability and expect to experience normal seasonality in the retail portion of this business. We expect revenue from the service provider channel to be approximately $15 million in Q1, down on a sequential basis. Accordingly, we expect first quarter net revenue to be in the range of $145 million to $160 million. In the first quarter we expect to maintain the gross margin performance experienced in the recent fourth quarter, however with our seasonally lower topline we expect our first quarter GAAP operating margin to be in the range of (16.4)% to (13.4)%, and non-GAAP operating margin to be in the range of (10.0)% to (7.0)%. Our GAAP tax expense is expected to be in the range of $1.0 million to $2.0 million, and our non-GAAP tax benefit is expected to be in the range of $0.5 million to $1.5 million for the first quarter of 2025.”
A reconciliation between the Business Outlook on a GAAP and non-GAAP basis is provided in the following table:
Three months ending
March 30, 2025
(In millions, except for percentage data)
Operating Margin Rate
Tax Expense (Benefit)
GAAP
(16.4)% - (13.4)%
$1.0 - $2.0
Estimated adjustments for1 :
Stock-based compensation expense
4.0%
-
Restructuring and other charges
2.4%
Non-GAAP tax adjustments
$(2.5)
Non-GAAP
(10.0)% - (7.0)%
$(1.5) - $(0.5)
1 Business outlook does not include estimates for any currently unknown income and expense items which, by their nature, could arise late in a quarter, including: litigation reserves, net; acquisition-related charges; impairment charges; restructuring and other charges and discrete tax benefits or detriments that cannot be forecasted (e.g., windfalls or shortfalls from equity awards or items related to the resolution of uncertain tax positions). New material income and expense items such as these could have a significant effect on our guidance and future GAAP results.
Investor Conference Call / Webcast Details
NETGEAR will review the fourth quarter and full year results and discuss management's expectations for the first quarter of 2025 today, Wednesday, February 5, 2025 at 5 p.m. ET (2 p.m. PT). The toll-free dial-in number for the live audio call is (888) 660-6392. The international dial-in number for the live audio call is (929) 203-0899. The conference ID for the call is 1030183. A live webcast of the conference call will be available on NETGEAR's Investor Relations website at http://investor.netgear.com. A replay of the call will be available via the web at http://investor.netgear.com.
About NETGEAR, Inc.
Founded in 1996 and headquartered in the USA, NETGEAR® (NASDAQ: NTGR) is a global leader in innovative networking technologies for businesses, homes, and service providers. NETGEAR delivers a wide range of award-winning, intelligent solutions designed to unleash the full potential of connectivity and power extraordinary experiences. For businesses, NETGEAR offers reliable, easy-to-use, high-performance networking solutions, including switches, routers, access points, software, and AV over IP technologies, tailored to meet the diverse needs of organizations of all sizes. NETGEAR’s Connected Home products deliver advanced connectivity, powerful performance, and enhanced security features right out of the box, designed to keep families safe online, whether at home or on the go. More information is available from the NETGEAR Press Room or by calling (408) 907-8000. Connect with NETGEAR: Facebook, Instagram and the NETGEAR blog at NETGEAR.com.
© 2025 NETGEAR, Inc. NETGEAR and the NETGEAR logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc. and its affiliates in the United States and/or other countries. Other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. NETGEAR shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein. All rights reserved.
Source: NETGEAR-F
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 for NETGEAR, Inc .:
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words “anticipate,” “expect,” “believe,” “will,” “may,” “should,” “estimate,” “project,” “outlook,” “forecast” or other similar words are used to identify such forward-looking statements. However, the absence of these words does not mean that the statements are not forward-looking. The forward-looking statements represent NETGEAR, Inc.’s expectations or beliefs concerning future events based on information available at the time such statements were made and include statements regarding: NETGEAR’s future operating performance and financial condition, including expectations regarding growth, revenue, operating margin and gross margin; creating long-term value for shareholders; positioning NETGEAR for long term success; long-term potential and profitable growth; continued end user demand for NETGEAR’s ProAV line of managed switches; expectations regarding more predictable performance that is aligned to the market; revenue from the service provider channel; expectations regarding continuing market demand for the NETGEAR’s products and services; and expectations regarding expected tax benefits or tax expenses. These statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including the following: future demand for NETGEAR’s products and services may be lower than anticipated; NETGEAR may be unsuccessful, or experience delays, in manufacturing and distributing its new and existing products and services; consumers may choose not to adopt NETGEAR’s new product and services offerings or adopt competing products and services; NETGEAR may fail to manage costs, including the cost of key components, the cost of air freight and ocean freight, and the cost of developing new products and manufacturing and distribution of its existing offerings; NETGEAR may fail to successfully continue to effect operating expense savings; changes in the level of NETGEAR's cash resources and NETGEAR’s planned usage of such resources; changes in NETGEAR’s stock price and developments in the business that could increase NETGEAR’s cash needs; fluctuations in foreign exchange rates; loss of services of key personnel may affect NETGEAR’s ability to executive on business strategy effectively; and the actions and financial health of NETGEAR’s customers, including NETGEAR’s ability to collect receivables as they become due. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecast in such forward-looking statements. Further information on potential risk factors that could affect NETGEAR and its business are detailed in NETGEAR’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, those risks and uncertainties listed in the section entitled "Part II - Item 1A. Risk Factors" in NETGEAR’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 29, 2024, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 1, 2024. Given these circumstances, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. NETGEAR undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law.
Non-GAAP Financial Information:
To supplement our unaudited selected financial data presented on a basis consistent with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), we disclose certain non-GAAP financial measures that exclude certain charges, including non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP gross margin, non-GAAP research and development, non-GAAP sales and marketing, non-GAAP general and administrative, non-GAAP total operating expenses, non-GAAP operating income (loss), non-GAAP operating margin, non-GAAP other income (expenses), net, non-GAAP net income (loss) and non-GAAP net income (loss) per diluted share. These supplemental measures exclude adjustments for amortization of intangibles, stock-based compensation expense, intangibles impairment, restructuring and other charges, litigation reserves, net, gain/loss on investments, net, gain on litigation settlements, and adjust for effects related to non-GAAP tax adjustments. These non-GAAP measures are not in accordance with or an alternative for GAAP, and may be different from non-GAAP measures used by other companies. We believe that these non-GAAP measures have limitations in that they do not reflect all of the amounts associated with our results of operations as determined in accordance with GAAP and that these measures should only be used to evaluate our results of operations in conjunction with the corresponding GAAP measures. The presentation of this additional information is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the most directly comparable GAAP measures. We compensate for the limitations of non-GAAP financial measures by relying upon GAAP results to gain a complete picture of our performance.
In calculating non-GAAP financial measures, we exclude certain items to facilitate a review of the comparability of our operating performance on a period-to-period basis because such items are not, in our view, related to our ongoing operational performance. We use non-GAAP measures to evaluate the operating performance of our business, for comparison with forecasts and strategic plans, and for benchmarking performance externally against competitors. In addition, management’s incentive compensation is determined using certain non-GAAP measures. Since we find these measures to be useful, we believe that investors benefit from seeing results “through the eyes” of management in addition to seeing GAAP results. We believe that these non-GAAP measures, when read in conjunction with our GAAP financials, provide useful information to investors by offering:
The following are explanations of the adjustments that we incorporate into non-GAAP measures, as well as the reasons for excluding them in the reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures:
Amortization of intangibles consists primarily of non-cash charges that can be impacted by, among other things, the timing and magnitude of acquisitions. We consider our operating results without these charges when evaluating our ongoing performance and forecasting our earnings trends, and therefore exclude such charges when presenting non-GAAP financial measures. We believe that the assessment of our operations excluding these costs is relevant to our assessment of internal operations and comparisons to the performance of our competitors.
Stock-based compensation expense consists of non-cash charges for the estimated fair value of stock options, restricted stock units, performance shares and shares under the employee stock purchase plan granted to employees. We believe that the exclusion of these charges provides for more accurate comparisons of our operating results to peer companies due to the varying available valuation methodologies, subjective assumptions and the variety of award types. In addition, we believe it is useful to investors to understand the specific impact stock-based compensation expense has on our operating results.
Other items consist of certain items that are the result of either unique or unplanned events, including, when applicable: restructuring and other charges, litigation reserves, net, and gain/loss on investments, net. It is difficult to predict the occurrence or estimate the amount or timing of these items in advance. Although these events are reflected in our GAAP financial statements, these unique transactions may limit the comparability of our on-going operations with prior and future periods. The amounts result from events that often arise from unforeseen circumstances, which often occur outside of the ordinary course of continuing operations. Therefore, the amounts do not accurately reflect the underlying performance of our continuing business operations for the period in which they are incurred.
Non-GAAP tax adjustments consist of adjustments that we incorporate into non-GAAP measures in order to provide a more meaningful measure on non-GAAP net income (loss). We believe providing financial information with and without the income tax effects relating to our non-GAAP financial measures, as well as adjustments for valuation allowances on deferred tax assets, provides our management and users of the financial statements with better clarity regarding both current period performance and the on-going performance of our business. Non-GAAP income tax expense (benefit) is computed on a current and deferred basis with non-GAAP income (loss) consistent with use of non-GAAP income (loss) as a performance measure. The Non-GAAP tax provision (benefit) is calculated by adjusting the GAAP tax provision (benefit) for the impact of the non-GAAP adjustments, with specific tax provisions such as state income tax and Base-erosion and Anti-Abuse Tax recomputed on a non-GAAP basis, as well as adjustments for valuation allowances on deferred tax assets. The tax valuation allowance is a non-cash adjustment primarily reflecting our expectations of, and assumptions as to, future operating results and applicable tax laws, that are not directly attributable to the current quarter’s operating performance. For interim periods, the non-GAAP income tax provision (benefit) is calculated based on the forecasted annual non-GAAP tax rate before discrete items and adjusted for interim discrete items. Included in the non-GAAP tax adjustments for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 are adjustments to tax expense (benefit) related to differences between our prior forecasts and actual results for the twelve months ended.
NETGEAR, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
December 31, 2024
December 31, 2023
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$
286,444
176,717
Short-term investments
122,246
106,931
Accounts receivable, net
156,210
185,059
Inventories
162,539
248,851
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
30,590
30,421
Total current assets
758,029
747,979
Property and equipment, net
11,288
8,273
Operating lease right-of-use assets
28,047
37,285
Goodwill
36,279
Other non-current assets
16,587
17,326
Total assets
850,230
847,142
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable
58,481
46,850
Accrued employee compensation
23,290
21,286
Other accrued liabilities
148,078
168,084
Deferred revenue
30,261
27,091
Income taxes payable
9,973
1,037
Total current liabilities
270,083
264,348
Non-current income taxes payable
7,583
12,695
Non-current operating lease liabilities
19,796
29,698
Other non-current liabilities
11,702
4,906
Total liabilities
309,164
311,647
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock
29
30
Additional paid-in capital
997,912
967,651
Accumulated other comprehensive income
241
136
Accumulated deficit
(457,116
)
(432,322
Total stockholders’ equity
541,066
535,495
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share and percentage data)
Three Months Ended
Twelve Months Ended
September 29, 2024
Net revenue
182,419
182,854
188,674
673,759
740,840
Cost of revenue
123,035
126,371
123,038
477,832
491,588
Gross profit
59,384
56,483
65,636
195,927
249,252
Gross margin
32.6
%
30.9
34.8
29.1
33.6
Operating expenses:
Research and development
20,099
20,905
19,592
81,082
83,295
Sales and marketing
32,212
31,196
30,552
123,694
127,778
General and administrative
17,858
8,357
17,107
63,468
66,243
Litigation reserves, net
3,613
(100,855
—
(89,012
178
687
1,072
1,259
4,479
3,962
Intangibles impairment
1,071
Total operating expenses
74,469
(39,325
68,510
183,711
282,527
Income (loss) from operations
(15,085
95,808
(2,874
12,216
(33,275
Operating margin
(8.3
)%
52.4
(1.5
1.8
(4.5
Other income, net
3,624
3,485
2,454
12,672
14,139
(Loss) income before income taxes
(11,461
99,293
(420
24,888
(19,136
(Benefit from) provision for income taxes
(2,575
14,219
1,249
12,525
85,631
Net (loss) income
(8,886
85,074
(1,669
12,363
(104,767
Net (loss) income per share:
Basic
(0.31
2.96
(0.06
0.43
(3.57
Diluted
2.90
0.42
Weighted average shares used to compute net (loss) income per share:
28,648
28,705
29,623
28,905
29,355
29,364
29,683
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization
6,514
7,161
Stock-based compensation
22,678
17,938
Gain on investments, net
(3,552
(3,226
Deferred income taxes
1,001
82,319
Provision for excess and obsolete inventory
6,064
3,168
Changes in assets and liabilities:
28,849
92,425
80,248
47,595
Prepaid expenses and other assets
5,101
(3,189
11,486
(38,947
2,004
(2,846
(15,152
(45,893
3,368
6,969
3,825
(2,925
Net cash provided by operating activities
164,797
56,853
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of short-term investments
(137,228
(135,920
Proceeds from maturities of short-term investments
120,290
115,006
Purchases of property and equipment
(8,994
(5,799
Purchases of long-term investments
(225
(720
Net cash used in investing activities
(26,157
(27,433
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repurchases of common stock
(33,088
Restricted stock unit withholdings
(3,409
(2,793
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
4,019
Proceeds from issuance of common stock under employee stock purchase plan
3,565
3,590
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
(28,913
797
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
109,727
30,217
Cash and cash equivalents, at beginning of period
146,500
Cash and cash equivalents, at end of period
RECONCILIATIONS OF GAAP MEASURES TO NON-GAAP MEASURES
(In thousands, except percentage data)
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:
GAAP gross profit
GAAP gross margin
Amortization of intangibles
257
391
444
358
1,613
1,405
Non-GAAP gross profit
59,775
56,927
65,994
197,540
250,914
Non-GAAP gross margin
32.8
31.1
35.0
29.3
33.9
GAAP research and development
(887
(868
(885
(3,297
(3,935
Non-GAAP research and development
19,212
20,037
18,707
77,785
79,360
GAAP sales and marketing
(2,190
(1,520
(1,237
(6,182
(5,336
Non-GAAP sales and marketing
30,022
29,676
29,315
117,512
122,442
GAAP general and administrative
(3,158
(2,788
(1,821
(11,586
(7,262
Non-GAAP general and administrative
14,700
5,569
15,286
51,882
58,981
GAAP total operating expenses
(6,235
(5,176
(3,943
(21,065
(16,533
(1,071
(687
(1,072
(1,259
(4,479
(3,962
(3,613
100,855
89,012
(178
Non-GAAP total operating expenses
63,934
55,282
63,308
247,179
260,783
GAAP operating (loss) income
GAAP operating margin
6,626
5,620
4,301
Non-GAAP operating (loss) income
(4,159
1,645
2,686
(49,639
(9,869
Non-GAAP operating margin
(2.3
0.9
1.4
(7.4
(1.3
GAAP other income, net
Gain/loss on investments, net
110
(49
(8
93
8
Gain on litigation settlements
(6,000
Non-GAAP other income, net
3,734
3,436
2,446
12,765
8,147
RECONCILIATIONS OF GAAP MEASURES TO NON-GAAP MEASURES (CONTINUED)
(In thousands, except per share data)
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA (CONTINUED):
GAAP net (loss) income
(3,761
14,203
(1,138
23,055
86,586
Non-GAAP net income (loss)
(1,611
5,065
2,745
(26,344
(767
NET INCOME (LOSS) PER DILUTED SHARE:
GAAP net (loss) income per diluted share
0.01
0.23
0.19
0.14
0.78
0.61
0.04
0.02
0.15
0.13
(3.43
(3.08
(0.20
(0.13
0.47
(0.03
0.82
2.94
Non-GAAP net income (loss) per diluted share 1
0.17
0.09
(0.91
Shares used in computing GAAP net (loss) income per diluted share
Shares used in computing non-GAAP net income (loss) per diluted share
1 The per share reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP may not aggregate due to both calculations utilizing a different share basis. The net loss per diluted share calculation uses a lower share count as it excludes potentially dilutive shares included in the net income per diluted share calculation.
SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION
(In thousands, except per share data, DSO, inventory turns, weeks of channel inventory, headcount and percentage data)
June 30, 2024
March 31, 2024
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments
408,690
395,732
294,339
289,421
283,648
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments per diluted share
14.27
13.48
10.19
9.85
9.56
177,326
147,069
172,771
Days sales outstanding (DSO)
80
88
96
89
161,976
188,936
211,270
Ending inventory turns
3.0
3.1
2.4
2.2
2.0
Weeks of channel inventory:
U.S. retail channel
9.7
9.5
11.2
10.8
U.S. distribution channel
3.3
2.8
4.0
7.9
EMEA distribution channel
4.8
5.3
5.2
5.9
6.4
APAC distribution channel
10.0
8.3
8.0
Deferred revenue (current and non-current)
35,362
35,068
34,216
33,714
31,994
Headcount
655
638
622
628
635
Non-GAAP diluted shares
28,883
29,395
NET REVENUE BY GEOGRAPHY
Americas
$122,857
67%
$127,752
70%
$124,798
66%
$456,040
68%
$504,349
EMEA
35,920
20%
32,798
18%
37,899
127,260
19%
148,922
APAC
23,642
13%
22,304
12%
25,977
14%
90,459
87,569
Total
$182,419
100%
$182,854
$188,674
$673,759
$740,840
SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION (CONTINUED)
NET REVENUE BY SEGMENT
NETGEAR for Business
80,792
78,530
70,296
287,812
293,975
Connected Home
101,627
104,324
118,378
385,947
446,865
Total net revenue
SERVICE PROVIDER NET REVENUE
264
268
152
977
579
19,801
22,949
27,313
90,035
98,659
Total service provider net revenue
20,065
23,217
27,465
91,012
99,238
45,354
77,290
122,644
43,436
82,491
125,927
37,519
85,162
122,681
168,399
307,820
476,219
163,083
326,843
489,926
35,438
24,337
35,094
21,833
32,777
33,216
65,993
119,413
78,127
130,892
120,022
43.9
23.9
44.7
20.9
46.6
28.1
41.5
20.2
44.5
26.9
Contribution income (loss)
15,907
(1,297
14,610
16,133
(4,780
11,353
14,511
*
7,209
21,720
44,005
(26,011
17,994
56,765
9,545
66,310
Contribution margin
19.7
20.5
(4.6
6.2
20.6
6.1
11.5
15.3
(6.7
2.7
19.3
2.1
9.0
Corporate and unallocated costs
(18,769
(9,708
(19,034
(67,633
(76,179
(257
(6,626
(5,620
(4,301
(22,678
(17,938
Loss before income taxes
* Financial information for each reportable segment in the prior year periods were recast to conform to the current reportable segment structure.
NETGEAR Investor Relations Erik Bylin investors@netgear.com