10-QPeriod: Q2 FY2022

F5, INC. Quarterly Report for Q2 Ended Mar 31, 2022

Filed May 6, 2022For Securities:FFIV

Summary

F5, Inc. (FFIV) reported its financial results for the quarter and six months ended March 31, 2022. Total net revenues saw a slight decrease of 1.7% for the quarter, primarily impacted by supply chain constraints affecting hardware sales, though this was partially offset by growth in software offerings. For the six-month period, total net revenues increased by 4.0%, driven by growth in both product (especially software) and services revenue. The company's gross margin remained strong, around 80%, indicating effective cost management despite rising component prices. Operating expenses saw a reduction in the quarter, driven by lower sales and marketing and general and administrative costs. Net income for the quarter was $56.2 million, an increase from $43.2 million in the prior year, demonstrating improved profitability. The company continues to invest in R&D and has implemented a restructuring plan, resulting in a charge of $7.9 million in the first half of the fiscal year. F5 maintains a strong liquidity position with $922.0 million in cash and investments, despite significant share repurchases and the acquisition of Threat Stack in the prior year.

Financial Statements
Beta

Key Highlights

  • 1Total net revenues decreased by 1.7% to $634.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, primarily due to supply chain issues impacting hardware systems sales, partially offset by software revenue growth.
  • 2For the six months ended March 31, 2022, total net revenues increased by 4.0% to $1.32 billion, driven by growth in both product (software) and services revenue.
  • 3Gross margin remained robust at approximately 80% for both the three and six-month periods, indicating healthy pricing power and cost control.
  • 4Operating expenses decreased by 6.4% for the quarter, driven by reductions in sales and marketing and general and administrative expenses.
  • 5Net income increased significantly by 30.1% to $56.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022, compared to $43.2 million in the prior year.
  • 6The company repurchased $125.0 million of common stock during the quarter and has $522 million remaining authorization for future repurchases.
  • 7F5 acquired Threat Stack for approximately $68.9 million in October 2021, integrating cloud security capabilities into its offerings.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary reason for the 1.7% decrease in total net revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2022, was a shortage of supplies affecting the company's ability to meet customer demand for its hardware-based systems. This was partially offset by growth in software revenue from both perpetual and subscription-based offerings.

F5 acknowledges ongoing global supply chain constraints, particularly semiconductor shortages, which are impacting its ability to fulfill hardware orders. The company is undertaking efforts to mitigate these constraints, but expects them to continue to affect lead times for hardware products.

The growth in software revenue, particularly from software-as-a-service (SaaS) and subscription-based offerings, is a key positive trend. This shift towards recurring revenue models indicates a more predictable revenue stream and aligns with market demand for cloud-based solutions.

The acquisition of Threat Stack in October 2021 aimed to enhance F5's cloud security capabilities, providing customers with greater visibility across application infrastructure and workloads. While the financial impact of Threat Stack itself was not material to the consolidated results for the periods presented, it is strategically important for expanding F5's security offerings.