AMD Reports 2015 Third Quarter Results

SUNNYVALE, CA -- (Marketwired) -- 10/15/15 -- AMD (NASDAQ: AMD)

• Strong 13% quarter-over-quarter revenue growth
• $65 million inventory write-down primarily of older-generation APUs
• Announced corporate restructuring plan to further reduce operating expenses
• Announcing a definitive agreement for Assembly, Test, Mark and Pack (ATMP) manufacturing joint venture

AMD (NASDAQ: AMD) today announced revenue for the third quarter of 2015 of $1.06 billion, operating loss of $158 million, and net loss of $197 million, or $0.25 per share. Non-GAAP(1) operating loss was $97 million and non-GAAP(1) net loss was $136 million, or $0.17 per share. GAAP and non-GAAP results include a $65 million inventory write-down and the impact of this charge to loss per share was $0.08.

"AMD delivered double-digit percentage sequential revenue growth in both of our segments in the third quarter," said Dr. Lisa Su, AMD president and CEO. "We continue to take targeted actions to improve long-term financial performance, build great products and simplify our business model. The formation of a joint venture of our back-end manufacturing assets is a significant step towards achieving these goals and strengthening our balance sheet."

Q3 2015 Results

• Revenue of $1.06 billion, up 13 percent sequentially and down 26 percent year-over-year. The sequential increase was due to solid seasonal semi-custom and strong desktop processor and GPU sales. The year-over-year decline was primarily due to decreased sales in the Computing and Graphics segment.
• Gross margin of 23 percent, down 2 percentage points sequentially, due to an inventory write-down of $65 million. Non-GAAP(1) gross margin, including the impact of the inventory write-down was 23 percent, down 5 percentage points sequentially. The inventory write-down was due to lower anticipated future demand for older-generation APUs. The gross margin impact of the inventory write-down was 6 percentage points.
• Operating loss of $158 million, compared to an operating loss of $137 million for the prior quarter. Non-GAAP(1) operating loss of $97 million, compared to non-GAAP(1) operating loss of $87 million in Q2 2015, primarily due to lower gross margin.
• Net loss of $197 million, loss per share of $0.25, and non-GAAP(1) net loss of $136 million, non-GAAP(1) loss per share of $0.17, compared to a net loss of $181 million, loss per share of $0.23 and non-GAAP(1) net loss of $131 million, non-GAAP(1) loss per share of $0.17 in Q2 2015. The impact of the inventory write-down to EPS was $0.08.
• Cash and cash equivalents were $755 million at the end of the quarter, down $74 million from the end of the prior quarter, due primarily to a $69 million debt interest payment.
• Total debt at the end of the quarter was $2.26 billion, flat from the prior quarter.

Financial Segment Summary

• Computing and Graphics segment revenue increased 12 percent sequentially and decreased 46 percent from Q3 2014. The sequential increase was primarily due to higher sales of desktop processors and GPUs and the annual decrease was driven primarily by lower client processor sales.
  • Operating loss was $181 million, compared with an operating loss of $147 million in Q2 2015 and an operating loss of $17 million in Q3 2014. The sequential change was primarily driven by an inventory write-down of older-generation products partially offset by higher revenue. The year-over-year change was primarily driven by lower sales.
  • Client processor average selling price (ASP) decreased sequentially and year-over-year primarily driven by lower notebook processor ASP.
  • GPU ASP was flat sequentially and increased year-over-year. The year-over-year change was due to new GPU product offerings and improved AIB ASP.
• Enterprise, Embedded and Semi-Custom segment revenue increased 13 percent sequentially, primarily driven by seasonally higher sales of our semi-custom SoCs. The year-over-year decrease of 2 percent was primarily driven by lower embedded product and server processor sales.
  • Operating income was $84 million compared with $27 million in Q2 2015 and $108 million in Q3 2014. The sequential increase was primarily due to the absence of the $33 million charge associated with a technology node transition in Q2 2015 and higher sales. The year-over-year decrease was primarily driven by a portion of the Q3 2015 inventory write-down and product mix.
• All Other category operating loss was $61 million compared with operating losses of $17 million in Q2 2015 and $28 million in Q3 2014. The sequential and year-over-year increases were due to restructuring charges recorded in Q3 2015.

ATMP Manufacturing Facilities Joint Venture
As a part of AMD's ongoing strategic plan to sharpen its focus on designing high-performance technologies and products that drive profitable growth, AMD today announced the signing of a definitive agreement to create a joint venture with Nantong Fujitsu Microelectronics (NFME) that combines AMD's high-volume ATMP facilities and experienced workforce in Penang, Malaysia and Suzhou, China with NFME's established outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (OSAT) expertise to offer differentiated capabilities and scale to service a broad range of customers. The value of the transaction is $436 million and NFME will take an 85 percent ownership of the joint venture. AMD will receive $371 million in cash and expects net proceeds of approximately $320 million, net of taxes and other charges at close. This transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2016, pending successful completion of regulatory approvals.

Recent Highlights

• AMD expanded its offerings for the commercial client market with new product announcements and security-focused technology partnerships that address the needs of business users and IT decision makers:
  • For the first time, AMD was the exclusive launch processor partner for HP's newest EliteBook commercial client systems featuring the latest AMD PRO A-Series mobile and desktop processors (formerly codenamed "Carrizo PRO" and "Godavari PRO"). AMD's new commercial processors deliver exceptional performance and dependability to meet the evolving budget and IT needs of businesses today and tomorrow. AMD PRO mobile processors power some of the first-to-market commercial notebook systems running the Microsoft® Windows® 10 operating system and are the industry's first commercial processors designed to be compliant with the Heterogeneous Systems Architecture (HSA) 1.0 specification.
• AMD demonstrated innovation leadership with the introduction of the AMD Radeon™ R9 Nano, the fastest Mini ITX graphics card2 ever created and the world's smallest enthusiast GPU, featuring High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM) to deliver up to 30 percent more performance3 and up to 30 percent lower power4 than AMD's previous generation graphics cards.
• AMD announced the AMD A8-7670K APU delivering an excellent experience and value for today's mainstream workloads, eSports online gaming, and Microsoft® Windows® 10.
• AMD delivered seamless and intuitive support for Windows® 10 and DirectX® 12 across AMD APU and GPU solutions with its new AMD Catalyst™ 15.7 Driver update and continued to out-perform its competitors in DirectX® 12 performance, including in the Ashes of the Singularity and Fable Legends benchmarks.
• AMD further solidified itself as a leader in the embedded market with new product introductions and design wins:
  • Announced multiple new discrete AMD Embedded Radeon™ graphics options specifically designed to advance the visual and parallel processing capabilities of embedded applications.
  • Bolstered its No. 1 position in the thin client space with the announcement that the new FUJITSU FUTRO S920, S720 and S520 are powered by AMD Embedded G-Series SOCs, which couple high-performance computing and graphics capability in a highly-integrated, low-power design.
• AMD released a carbon footprint analysis of the 6th Generation AMD A-Series APU, formerly codenamed "Carrizo", showing that using the new processor can result in up to a 50 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to AMD's previous generation APU.
• AMD displayed the versatility of its FirePro™ professional graphics to address a variety of markets:
  • Introduced the world's first server GPU with 32GB of memory for high performance compute (HPC).
  • Announced new professional graphics design wins with the Dell Precision™ 3510, 7510, and 7710 mobile workstations powered by AMD FirePro™ mobile GPUs to address the mobile performance needs of engineers and design pros.
  • Showcased the power of FirePro professional graphics technologies to create stunning visual effects for global film productions such as Baahubali: The Beginning and Golden Drops.
  • Unveiled the world's first hardware-based virtualized GPU solution. With the AMD Multiuser GPU, IT pros can easily configure solutions to allow up to 15 users on a single AMD GPU.
• AMD formed the Radeon Technologies Group to bring a vertical focus on graphics and immersive computing development. With this strategic alignment, AMD is well-positioned to expand its role as the graphics industry leader, recapturing share across traditional graphics markets, and staking leadership positions in new markets such as virtual and augmented reality.

Current Outlook
AMD's outlook statements are based on current expectations. The following statements are forward-looking, and actual results could differ materially depending on market conditions and the factors set forth under "Cautionary Statement" below.

For Q4 2015, AMD expects revenue to decrease 10 percent, plus or minus 3 percent, sequentially.

For additional details regarding AMD's results and outlook please see the CFO commentary posted at quarterlyearnings.amd.com.

AMD Teleconference
AMD will hold a conference call for the financial community at 2:00 p.m. PDT (5:00 p.m. EDT) today to discuss its third quarter financial results. AMD will provide a real-time audio broadcast of the teleconference on the Investor Relations page of its website at www.amd.com. The webcast will be available for 12 months after the conference call.

*Beginning in Q1 2015, AMD started excluding the impact of stock-based compensation from non-GAAP results. Prior periods have been adjusted accordingly.

About AMD
For more than 45 years, AMD has driven innovation in high-performance computing, graphics, and visualization technologies -- the building blocks for gaming, immersive platforms, and the datacenter. Hundreds of millions of consumers, leading Fortune 500 businesses, and cutting-edge scientific research facilities around the world rely on AMD technology daily to improve how they live, work, and play. AMD employees around the world are focused on building great products that push the boundaries of what is possible. For more information about how AMD is enabling today and inspiring tomorrow, visit the AMD (NASDAQ: AMD) website, blog, Facebook and Twitter pages.

Cautionary Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements concerning Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. ("AMD" or the "Company") including AMD's ability to improve its long-term financial performance, build great products and simplify its business model; recapture profitable share across traditional graphics market; AMD's ability to stake leadership positions in new markets such as AR and VR; AMD's expected fourth quarter of 2015 revenue statements regarding the proposed joint ventures (the "JVs") between AMD and Nantong Fujitsu Microelectronics, Co., Ltd., including the JVs' expected future performance (including expected results of operations and financial guidance); synergies from the proposed transaction; the JVs' future financial condition, operating results, strategy and plans; statements about regulatory and other approvals; the closing date for the proposed transaction; financial projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions; statements regarding plans, objectives and expectations with respect to future operations, products and services; and statements regarding future performance, which are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are commonly identified by words such as "would," "may," "expects," "believes," "plans," "intends," "projects" and other terms with similar meaning. Investors are cautioned that the forward-looking statements in this document are based on current beliefs, assumptions and expectations, speak only as of the date of this document and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations. Such statements are subject to certain known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond AMD's control, that could cause actual results and other future events to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. Material factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, without limitation, the following: Intel Corporation's dominance of the microprocessor market and its aggressive business practices may limit AMD's ability to compete effectively; AMD relies on GF to manufacture most of its microprocessor and APU products and certain of its GPU and semi-custom products. If GF is not able to satisfy AMD's manufacturing requirements, its business could be adversely impacted; AMD relies on third parties to manufacture its products, and if they are unable to do so on a timely basis in sufficient quantities and using competitive technologies, AMD's business could be materially adversely affected; failure to achieve expected manufacturing yields for AMD's products could negatively impact its financial results; the success of AMD's business is dependent upon its ability to introduce products on a timely basis with features and performance levels that provide value to its customers while supporting and coinciding with significant industry transitions; if AMD cannot generate sufficient revenue and operating cash flow or obtain external financing, it may face a cash shortfall and be unable to make all of its planned investments in research and development or other strategic investments; AMD may not be able to successfully implement its business strategy to refocus its business to address markets beyond its core PC market to high-growth adjacent markets; the loss of a significant customer may have a material adverse effect on us; global economic uncertainty may adversely impact AMD's business and operating results; AMD may not be able to generate sufficient cash to service its debt obligations or meet its working capital requirements; AMD has a substantial amount of indebtedness which could adversely affect its financial position and prevent it from implementing its strategy or fulfilling its contractual obligations; the agreements governing AMD's notes and its Secured Revolving Line of Credit for a principal amount up to $500 million (Secured Revolving Line of Credit) impose restrictions on AMD that may adversely affect its ability to operate its business; the markets in which AMD's products are sold are highly competitive; uncertainties involving the ordering and shipment of AMD's products could materially adversely affect it; the completion and impact of the 2015 Restructuring Plan, its transformation initiatives and any future restructuring actions could adversely affect it; AMD's receipt of revenue from its semi-custom SoC products is dependent upon its technology being designed into third-party products and the success of those products; the demand for AMD's products depends in part on the market conditions in the industries into which they are sold. Fluctuations in demand for AMD's products or a market decline in any of these industries could have a material adverse effect on its results of operations; AMD's ability to design and introduce new products in a timely manner is dependent upon third-party intellectual property; AMD depends on third-party companies for the design, manufacture and supply of motherboards and other computer platform components to support its business; if AMD loses Microsoft Corporations support for its products or other software vendors do not design and develop software to run on AMD's products, its ability to sell its products could be materially adversely affected; AMD may incur future impairments of goodwill; AMD's reliance on third-party distributors and AIB partners subjects it to certain risks; AMD's inability to continue to attract and retain qualified personnel may hinder its product development programs; in the event of a change of control, AMD may not be able to repurchase its outstanding debt as required by the applicable indentures and its Secured Revolving Line of Credit, which would result in a default under the indentures and its Secured Revolving Line of Credit; the semiconductor industry is highly cyclical and has experienced severe downturns that have materially adversely affected, and may continue to materially adversely affect, its business in the future; AMD's business is dependent upon the proper functioning of its internal business processes and information systems and modification or interruption of such systems may disrupt its business, processes and internal controls; data breaches and cyber-attacks could compromise AMD's intellectual property or other confidential, sensitive information and cause significant damage to its business, competitive position and reputation while subjecting it to potential litigation; AMD's operating results are subject to quarterly and seasonal sales patterns; if essential equipment or materials are not available to manufacture its products, AMD could be materially adversely affected; if AMD's products are not compatible with some or all industry-standard software and hardware, it could be materially adversely affected; costs related to defective products could have a material adverse effect on AMD; if AMD fails to maintain the efficiency of its supply chain as it responds to changes in customer demand for its products, its business could be materially adversely affected; AMD outsources to third parties certain supply-chain logistics functions, including portions of its product distribution, transportation management and information technology support services; acquisitions could disrupt its business, harm its financial condition and operating results or dilute, or adversely affect the price of its common stock; AMD's worldwide operations are subject to political, legal and economic risks and natural disasters, which could have a material adverse effect on it; worldwide political conditions may adversely affect demand for AMD's products; unfavorable currency exchange rate fluctuations could adversely affect AMD; AMD's inability to effectively control the sales of its products on the gray market could have a material adverse effect on it; if AMD cannot adequately protect its technology or other intellectual property in the United States and abroad, through patents, copyrights, trade secrets, trademarks and other measures, it may lose a competitive advantage and incur significant expenses; AMD is a party to litigation and may become a party to other claims or litigation that could cause it to incur substantial costs or pay substantial damages or prohibit it from selling its products; AMD's business is subject to potential tax liabilities; a variety of environmental laws including conflict mineral rules that AMD is subject to could result in additional costs and liabilities; and higher health care costs and labor costs could adversely affect AMD's business. Investors are urged to review in detail the risks and uncertainties in AMD's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including but not limited to AMD's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 27, 2015.

AMD, the AMD Arrow logo, Catalyst, FirePro, Radeon, and combinations thereof, are trademarks of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. ARM is a registered trademark of ARM Limited in the EU and other countries. DirectX, Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the US and other jurisdictions. Other names are for informational purposes only and used to identify companies and products and may be trademarks of their respective owner.

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Source: Advanced Micro Devices

Released October 15, 2015