IBM REPORTS 1997 FOURTH-QUARTER RESULTS
ARMONK, N.Y., January 20, 1998 . . . IBM today announced fourth quarter 1997 net earnings of $2.1 billion, or $2.16 per common share, an earnings per share increase of 10 percent compared with net earnings of $2.0 billion, or $1.97 per common share, in the fourth quarter of 1996. Fourth quarter 1997 revenues increased 3 percent (8 percent at constant currency) year over year to a record $23.7 billion.
Louis V. Gerstner, Jr., IBM chairman and chief executive officer, said: "We had a strong quarter that closed out a very good year. Our strategic priorities were increasingly evident in our marketplace results. Our services business continued its excellent growth rate of more than 20 percent for the year. The momentum of our software business grew throughout 1997, and we ended the year with an exceptionally strong performance from our Lotus Notes, Tivoli, and database software products. In addition, our strategy to exploit IBM's technological base continued to be successful, particularly in storage products, and in 1997 we repositioned our server product lines from top to bottom.
"Our results are especially satisfying," Mr. Gerstner said, "because they were achieved despite a number of very difficult factors, including an increasingly negative currency impact, weakness in some Asian markets, and pricing pressures that affected certain product areas. We remain comfortable with our strategies, with the fundamental strength of our business, and with our long-term business and financial model."
On an as-reported basis, fourth quarter revenues from North America were $10.4 billion, up 9 percent from the same period of 1996. Asia-Pacific revenues were essentially flat at $4.4 billion (up 10 percent at constant currency). Revenues from the company's Europe, Middle East, and Africa unit declined 4 percent (up 5 percent at constant currency) to $7.7 billion. Latin America revenues grew 4 percent to $1.2 billion (up 7 percent at constant currency).
Total hardware sales declined 1 percent (up 4 percent in constant currency) year over year to $11.5 billion. In as-reported terms, RS/6000, storage and semiconductor revenues increased while overall PC, AS/400 and System/390 revenues declined. On a constant currency basis, hardware sales increased in all key hardware lines, with the exception of the System/390 and consumer PCs.
Services revenues totaled $5.9 billion, an 18 percent increase (up 24 percent in constant currency) compared with the year-earlier period. Approximately $8.5 billion in new services contracts were signed in the quarter, and services margins were essentially flat year over year at 22.5 percent.
Overall software revenues were $3.8 billion, an increase of 1 percent (up 7 percent in constant currency) compared with the fourth quarter of 1996. Approximately 4 million Lotus Notes seats were shipped in the quarter, more than double that of the fourth quarter of 1996. Tivoli distributed software revenues also doubled year over year. During the fourth quarter, IBM completed its acquisition of Unison Software, Inc., and announced plans to acquire Software Artistry, Inc., both of which will complement Tivoli's network computing offerings.
Maintenance revenues declined 9 percent (down 4 percent in constant currency) to $1.6 billion in the fourth quarter, compared with the year-earlier period, and rentals and financing revenues fell 4 percent (up 1 percent in constant currency) to $1.0 billion.
IBM's overall gross profit margin in the fourth quarter was 40.1 percent compared with 40.3 percent in the year-earlier period.
Total fourth quarter 1997 expenses increased 1 percent year over year. The expense to revenue ratio in the fourth quarter of 1997 was 27.4 percent compared with 27.8 percent in the year-earlier period.The company's tax rate was 30.5 percent in the fourth quarter compared with 29.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 1996.
IBM spent approximately $2 billion on share repurchases in the fourth quarter. The average number of shares outstanding in the fourth quarter of 1997 was 964.8 million compared with 1,026.8 million in the year-earlier period.
Full-year 1997 results
Net earnings for the 12 months ended December 31, 1997 were $6.1 billion, or a record $6.18 per common share, compared with net earnings of $5.9 billion, or $5.53 per common share, in full-year 1996. The 1996 figure excludes a charge associated with research and development related to acquisitions in the first quarter of 1996. Including this charge, 1996 net earnings were $5.4 billion, or $5.12 per common share.
Revenues for the year ended December 31, 1997 were $78.5 billion, also a record, an increase of 3 percent (8 percent at constant currency) from the prior year's $75.9 billion.
On an as-reported basis, hardware sales revenues for full-year 1997 were flat at $36.2 billion compared with full-year 1996. Services revenues increased 22 percent to $19.3 billion. Software revenues declined 2 percent to $12.8 billion. Maintenance revenues decreased 8 percent to $6.4 billion, while revenues from rentals and financing were flat at $3.7 billion.
In constant currency terms, full-year 1997 hardware revenues increased 4 percent compared with the previous year. Services revenues grew 28 percent. Software revenues grew 4 percent. Maintenance revenues fell 3 percent, and revenues from rentals and financing increased 4 percent.
Common share repurchases totaled $7 billion in 1997, including the $2 billion in the fourth quarter. The average number of shares outstanding in 1997 was 983.3 million compared with 1,056.7 million during 1996. There were a total of 958.1 million common shares outstanding at year-end 1997.
IBM generated $8.9 billion in cash from operations. The company completed the year with more than $7.5 billion in cash after spending nearly $7 billion on capital expenditures and $7 billion on share repurchases.
The company's "core" debt -- debt in support of operations, excluding financing -- increased $900 million from year-end 1996 through December 31, 1997 to $3.1 billion. During the same period, debt supporting the company's worldwide credit operations increased $3.2 billion to $23.8 billion.
Note: The company has implemented Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 128, "Earnings per Share" (EPS) which is effective for fiscal periods ending after December 15, 1997. This standard requires presentation of both basic and diluted EPS on the face of the earnings statement. Accordingly, these amounts appear on the financial statements attached to this release. SFAS 128 does not address which number needs to be discussed in the text of the earnings release, and, consistent with IBM's past practice, the discussion of earnings per share in this release focuses on basic EPS. Assuming dilution, net earnings per share of common stock were $2.11 in the fourth quarter of 1997 compared with $1.93 per common share in the fourth quarter of 1996. For full-year 1997, net earnings per share of common stock, assuming dilution, were $6.01 compared with $5.41 during the year-earlier period.
Forward-looking and cautionary statements
Except for the historical information and discussions contained herein, statements contained in this release may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, as discussed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE - COMPARATIVE FINANCIAL RESULTS
(EXCLUDES EFFECT OF PURCHASED R&D FOR TWELVE MONTHS 1996)*
(Dollars in millions except per share amounts)
Three Months Twelve Months
Ended December 31, Ended December 31,
Percent Percent
1997 1996 Change 1997 1996 Change
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
REVENUE
Hardware sales $11,507 $11,660 -1.3% $36,229 $36,316 -0.2%
Gross margin 37.3% 36.6% 35.0% 35.6%
Services 5,886 5,009 17.5% 19,302 15,873 21.6%
Gross margin 22.5% 22.3% 20.8% 20.3%
Software 3,771 3,718 1.4% 12,844 13,052 -1.6%
Gross margin 71.8% 68.4% 70.5% 68.7%
Maintenance 1,593 1,755 -9.2% 6,402 6,981 -8.3%
Gross margin 47.9% 47.1% 47.0% 47.6%
Rentals
and financing 966 1,001 -3.5% 3,731 3,725 0.1%
Gross margin 44.3% 56.6% 49.0% 56.4%
TOTAL REVENUE 23,723 23,143 2.5% 78,508 75,947 3.4%
GROSS PROFIT 9,518 9,321 2.1% 30,609 30,539 0.2%
Gross margin 40.1% 40.3% 39.0% 40.2%
OPERATING EXPENSES
S,G&A 5,060 5,093 -0.6% 16,634 16,854 -1.3%
% of revenue 21.3% 22.0% 21.2% 22.2%
R,D&E 1,425 1,332 7.0% 4,877 4,654 4.8%
% of revenue 6.0% 5.8% 6.2% 6.1%
OPERATING INCOME 3,033 2,896 4.7% 9,098 9,031 0.7%
Other income 173 181 -3.7% 657 707 -7.0%
Interest expense 194 190 2.2% 728 716 1.6%
EARNINGS BEFORE
INCOME TAXES 3,012 2,887 4.3% 9,027 9,022 0.1%
Pre-tax margin 12.7% 12.4% 11.5% 11.9%
Provision for
income taxes 919 864 6.4% 2,934 3,158 -7.1%
Effective tax
rate 30.5% 29.9% 32.5% 35.0%
NET EARNINGS * $2,093 $2,023 3.4% $6,093 $5,864 3.9%
Net margin 8.8% 8.7% 7.8% 7.7%
Preferred stock
dividends 5 5 20 20
NET EARNINGS
APPLICABLE TO COMMON
SHAREHOLDERS $2,088 $2,018 3.4% $6,073 $5,844 3.9%
====== ====== ====== ======
NET EARNINGS PER
SHARE OF COMMON
STOCK $2.16 $1.97 9.6% $6.18 $5.53 11.8%
====== ====== ====== ======
NET EARNINGS PER
SHARE OF COMMON
STOCK - ASSUMING
DILUTION $2.11 $1.93 9.3% $6.01 $5.41 11.0%
====== ====== ====== ======
AVERAGE NUMBER OF
COMMON SHARES OUT-
STANDING (M's) 964.8 1,026.8 983.3 1,056.7
* Supplemental information provided for comparative purposes:
Net earnings for the twelve months 1996 excludes a $435 million
non-recurring, non-tax deductible charge for purchased
in-process research and development in connection with the
Tivoli Systems Inc. and Object Technology International Inc.
acquisitions in March 1996.
Note: All references to the average number of common shares and
per common share data for all periods presented reflect a
2-for-1 stock split of the common stock effective May 9, 1997.
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
COMPARATIVE FINANCIAL RESULTS
(Dollars in millions except per share amounts)
Three Months Twelve Months
Ended December 31, Ended December 31,
Percent Percent
1997 1996 Change 1997 1996 Change
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
REVENUE
Hardware sales $11,507 $11,660 -1.3% $36,229 $36,316 -0.2%
Gross margin 37.3% 36.6% 35.0% 35.6%
Services 5,886 5,009 17.5% 19,302 15,873 21.6%
Gross margin 22.5% 22.3% 20.8% 20.3%
Software 3,771 3,718 1.4% 12,844 13,052 -1.6%
Gross margin 71.8% 68.4% 70.5% 68.7%
Maintenance 1,593 1,755 -9.2% 6,402 6,981 -8.3%
Gross margin 47.9% 47.1% 47.0% 47.6%
Rentals
and financing 966 1,001 -3.5% 3,731 3,725 0.1%
Gross margin 44.3% 56.6% 49.0% 56.4%
TOTAL REVENUE 23,723 23,143 2.5% 78,508 75,947 3.4%
GROSS PROFIT 9,518 9,321 2.1% 30,609 30,539 0.2%
Gross margin 40.1% 40.3% 39.0% 40.2%
OPERATING EXPENSES
S,G&A 5,060 5,093 -0.6% 16,634 16,854 -1.3%
% of revenue 21.3% 22.0% 21.2% 22.2%
R,D&E 1,425 1,332 7.0% 4,877 5,089 -4.2%
% of revenue 6.0% 5.8% 6.2% 6.7%
OPERATING INCOME 3,033 2,896 4.7% 9,098 8,596 5.8%
Other income 173 181 -3.7% 657 707 -7.0%
Interest expense 194 190 2.2% 728 716 1.6%
EARNINGS BEFORE
INCOME TAXES 3,012 2,887 4.3% 9,027 8,587 5.1%
Pre-tax margin 12.7% 12.4% 11.5% 11.3%
Provision for
income taxes 919 864 6.4% 2,934 3,158 -7.1%
Effective tax
rate 30.5% 29.9% 32.5% 36.8%
NET EARNINGS * $2,093 $2,023 3.4% $6,093 $5,429 12.2%
Net margin 8.8% 8.7% 7.8% 7.1%
Preferred stock
dividends 5 5 20 20
NET EARNINGS
APPLICABLE TO COMMON
SHAREHOLDERS $2,088 $2,018 3.4% $6,073 $5,409 12.3%
====== ====== ====== ======
NET EARNINGS PER
SHARE OF COMMON
STOCK $2.16 $1.97 9.6% $6.18 $5.12 20.7%
====== ====== ====== ======
NET EARNINGS PER
SHARE OF COMMON
STOCK - ASSUMING
DILUTION $2.11 $1.93 9.3% $6.01 $5.01 20.0%
====== ====== ====== ======
AVERAGE NUMBER OF
COMMON SHARES OUT-
STANDING (M's) 964.8 1,026.8 983.3 1,056.7
* Net earnings for the twelve months 1996 includes a $435
million non-recurring, non-tax deductible charge for purchased
in-process research and development in connection with the
Tivoli Systems Inc. and Object Technology International Inc.
acquisitions in March 1996. Net earnings excluding the charge
were $5,864 million, or $5.53 per common share.
Note: All references to the average number of common shares and
per common share data for all periods presented reflect a
2-for-1 stock split of the common stock effective May 9, 1997.
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
(Dollars in millions)
At At
December 31 December 31 Percent
1997 1996 Change
--------- ----------- -------
ASSETS
Cash, cash equivalents,
and marketable securities $7,553 $8,137 -7.2%
Receivables - net, inventories,
and prepaid expenses 32,865 32,558 0.9%
Plant, rental machines,
and other property - net 18,347 17,407 5.4%
Investments and other assets 22,734 23,030 -1.3%
-------- --------
TOTAL ASSETS $81,499 $81,132 0.4%
======== ========
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Short-term debt $13,230 $12,957 2.1%
Long-term debt 13,696 9,872 38.7%
-------- --------
Total debt 26,926 22,829 17.9%
Accounts payable, taxes,
and accruals 20,277 21,043 -3.6%
Other liabilities 14,480 15,632 -7.4%
-------- --------
TOTAL LIABILITIES 61,683 59,504 3.7%
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY 19,816 21,628 -8.4%
-------- --------
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY $81,499 $81,132 0.4%
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