Alert: Chinese-connected devices in US networks

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Forescout Technologies Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2017 Financial Results

  • Revenue grows 33% year-over-year in Q4’17 and 32% year-over-year in FY’17
  • Gross margin improves 700 bps year-over-year in Q4’17 and improves 200 bps in FY’17
  • Q4’17 operating cash flow margin improves 600 bps year-over-year, free cash flow margin improves 900 bps year-over-year

SAN JOSE, Calif., February 7, 2018 – Forescout Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:FSCT), a leading Internet of Things (IoT) security company, today announced results for its fourth quarter and full year 2017, ended December 31, 2017.

“We are pleased with the strong results we achieved in the fourth quarter, which were driven by balanced growth across our business,” said Michael DeCesare, CEO and President of Forescout Technologies. “We saw consistent strength across a variety of customer verticals, geographies and products in the quarter, demonstrating the broad-based demand for visibility and control of networked-connected devices across campus, data center and operational technology environments. The success we achieved this year is a result of our differentiated, agentless technology, increasing traction with our maturing sales organization, our growing network of powerful third-party technology integrations and partnerships, and market tailwinds for visibility in our favor. We look forward to building upon our success in the quarters and years ahead.”

Fourth Quarter 2017 Financial Highlights

  • Revenue: Total revenue was $66.0 million, an increase of 33% over the fourth quarter of 2016.
    • Product revenue was $37.5 million, an increase of 26% over the fourth quarter of 2016
    • Maintenance and Professional Services revenue was $28.4 million, an increase of 45% over the fourth quarter of 2016
  • Gross Profit: GAAP gross profit was $49.9 million, or 76% of total revenue, compared to $34.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2016, or 69% of total revenue. Non-GAAP gross profit was $51.3 million, or 78% of total revenue, compared to $34.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2016, or 70% of total revenue.
  • Operating Loss: GAAP operating loss was $35.5 million, or 54% of total revenue, compared to $16.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2016, or 32% of total revenue. Non-GAAP operating loss was $4.9 million, or 7% of total revenue, compared to $12.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2016, or 24% of total revenue.
  • Net Loss: GAAP net loss attributable to common stockholders was $49.2 million, or $1.80 per share, compared to $16.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2016, or $2.89 per share. Non-GAAP net loss was $5.4 million, or $0.20 per share, compared to $13.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2016, or $2.33 per share.
  • Cash Flow: Net cash used in operating activities was $6.3 million, compared to net cash used in operating activities of $7.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2016. Free cash flow was negative $7.4 million, or 11% of total revenue compared to negative $9.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2016, or 20% of total revenue.

Full Year 2017 Financial Highlights

  • Revenue: Total revenue was $220.9 million, an increase of 32% over the full year 2016.
  • Operating Loss: GAAP operating loss was $87.7 million, or 40% of total revenue, compared to $71.4 million in the full year 2016, or 43% of total revenue. Non-GAAP operating loss was $45.1 million or 20% of total revenue, compared to $54.6 million in the full year 2016, or 33% of total revenue.
  • Net Loss: GAAP net loss attributable to common stockholders was $104.0 million, or $9.12 per share, compared to $74.8 million in the full year 2016, or $13.33 per share. Non-GAAP net loss was $47.9 million, or $4.20 per share, compared to $59.0 million in the full year 2016, or $10.53.
  • Cash Flow: Net cash used in operating activities was $2.7 million, compared to net cash used in operating activities of $38.3 million in the full year 2016. Free cash flow was negative $7.3 million, or 3% of total revenue compared to negative $60.3 million in the full year 2016, or 36% of total revenue.

A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP financial measures is provided in the financial statement tables included in this press release. An explanation of these measures is also included under the heading “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

“We were very pleased with our year-over-year revenue growth of 33% in the fourth quarter of 2017, which capped off a successful year for Forescout. Our strong fourth quarter results were driven by balanced traction across our business and supported by strong execution from our sales team,” said Criss Harms, Chief Financial Officer of Forescout. “We continued to see improving leverage in our business as non-GAAP gross margins and operating margins improved nicely year-over-year. These were driven by the ongoing shift to customers buying more of our software products, improvements in sales productivity as our team becomes more tenured, and continued effective expense management. Finally, ongoing improvements in cash management translated to free cash flow margin improvement of 3,300 basis points for the full year 2017.”

Fourth Quarter Business Highlights

During the fourth quarter of 2017, Forescout:

  • Priced and closed its Initial Public Offering, raising gross proceeds of $133.6 million, including the full exercise of the underwriters’ overallotment option.
  • Formed a strategic alliance with CrowdStrike to deliver advanced endpoint and network threat protection. The new partnership enables joint threat hunting and automated incident response to help protect against data breaches. The technology alliance also allows organizations to improve security hygiene and reduce mean time to respond (MTTR) to advanced threats across the endpoint and network.
  • Extended our integration with IBM Security Solutions and announced Forescout’s Extended Module for IBM BigFix. Through this integration, we can help customers fortify endpoint defenses and enforce compliance across network-connected devices, including mobile, BYOD, IoT and off-premises corporate device.
  • Was recognized by premier publications, CRN and IoT Innovator, as a cutting-edge IoT security vendor for its flagship solution, Forescout CounterACT. The CRN Tech Innovator awards recognize standout products and solutions that are moving the IT industry forward through innovation and technological advancements. Additionally, the IoT Innovator awards honor the best of IoT businesses and products across the globe.
  • Was named on Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500™, a ranking of the 500 fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies in North America. Forescout ranked as a Technology Fast 500™ award winner for the second year in a row.

First Quarter and Full Year 2018 Outlook

Forescout provides guidance based on current market conditions and expectations. The guidance below assumes revenue recognition under ASC 605.

For the first quarter of 2018, Forescout expects:

  • Revenue of $53.5 million to $56.5 million, representing year-over-year growth of 24 percent at the midpoint.
  • Non-GAAP operating loss of ($16.4) to ($15.6) million
  • Non-GAAP net loss per share of ($0.46) to ($0.44) using approximately 37.7 million basic and diluted shares outstanding

For the full year of 2018, Forescout expects:

  • Revenue of $260 million to $270 million, representing year-over-year growth of 20 percent at the midpoint.
  • Non-GAAP operating loss of ($43) to ($39) million
  • Non-GAAP net loss per share of ($1.21) to ($1.13) using approximately 38.2 million basic and diluted shares outstanding

Guidance for non-GAAP operating loss and non-GAAP net loss per share excludes stock-based compensation expense. We have not reconciled non-GAAP operating loss guidance to GAAP operating loss, nor have we reconciled non-GAAP net loss per share to GAAP net loss per share, as a result of the uncertainty regarding, and the potential variability of these items, which could be significant. Accordingly, a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure guidance to the corresponding GAAP measure is not available without unreasonable effort.

Conference Call Information

Forescout will host a conference call for analysts and investors to discuss its fourth quarter and full year 2017 financial results today at 1:30 p.m. Pacific time. Open to the public, interested parties may access the conference call by dialing either (855) 659-9329 or (615) 247-5915 using the passcode 1886618.

A live webcast will be accessible on Forescout’s investor relations website at investors.forescout.com. A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available through Wednesday, February 14, 2018. To access the replay, interested parties should dial either (855) 859-2056 or (404) 537-3406 using the passcode 1886618.

About Forescout

Forescout Technologies, Inc. helps make the invisible visible. Our company provides Global 2000 enterprises and government agencies with agentless visibility and control of traditional and IoT devices the instant they connect to the network. Our technology integrates with disparate security tools to help organizations accelerate incident response, break down silos, automate workflows and optimize existing investments. Learn more at www.forescout.com.

© 2017. Forescout Technologies, Inc. is a Delaware corporation. Forescout, the Forescout logo, ActiveResponse, ControlFabric, CounterACT, CounterACT Edge and SecureConnector are trademarks or registered trademarks of Forescout.

Investor Relations Contacts:
Michelle Spolver
408-721-5884
[email protected]

Media Relations Contacts:
Forescout Technologies, Inc.
650-314-8705
[email protected]

FSCT – F

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding our financial outlook for the first quarter of 2018 and fiscal year 2018, our markets and demand for our products as well as our growth prospects. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. If any of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if any of our assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results could differ materially from the results expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include risks associated with: the evolution of the cyberthreat landscape facing enterprises in the United States and other countries; developments and trends in the domestic and international markets for network security products; our expectations concerning the productivity of our expanding sales force as our sales representatives become more seasoned; our plans to attract new customers, retain existing customers and increase our annual revenue; future acquisitions of, or investments in, complementary companies, services or technologies; fluctuations in our quarterly results of operations and other operating measures; increasing competition; our ability to recruit and retain our employees; general economic, market and business conditions; the number of shares of our common stock outstanding; and the risks described in the other filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, including the risks described under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2017, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 7, 2017, and which should be read in conjunction with our financial results and forward-looking statements, and is available on the SEC filings section of the Investor Relations page of our website at https://investors.forescout.com/. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to us as of the date hereof, and we do not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements provided to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made except as required by applicable law.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Forescout has provided in this press release financial information that has not been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP). Forescout uses these non-GAAP financial measures internally in analyzing its financial results and believes that use of these non-GAAP financial measures is useful to investors as an additional tool to evaluate ongoing operating results and trends and in comparing Forescout’s financial results with other companies in its industry, many of which present similar non-GAAP financial measures.

Non-GAAP financial measures are not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for comparable GAAP financial measures and should be read only in conjunction with Forescout’s consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of Forescout’s historical non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures has been provided in the financial statement tables included in this press release, and investors are encouraged to review the reconciliation.

Non-GAAP Gross Profit. Forescout defines non-GAAP gross profit as gross profit plus stock-based compensation expense. Forescout considers non-GAAP gross profit to be a useful metric for management and investors as a more accurate comparison to our peer companies and a more accurate comparison of our financial results to previous periods due to the impact of differences in valuation assumptions and varying award types associated with stock-based compensation expense.

Non-GAAP Operating Loss. Forescout defines non-GAAP operating loss as operating loss excluding stock-based compensation expense.

Non-GAAP Net Loss Per Share. Forescout defines non-GAAP net loss as net loss excluding stock-based compensation expense, expense associated with changes in the fair value of preferred stock warrants, and the value of the dividend of common stock issued to certain of our stockholders in connection with the initial public offering of our common stock. Forescout defines non-GAAP net loss per share as non-GAAP net loss divided by the weighted average shares outstanding.

Free Cash Flow. Forescout defines free cash flow as net cash provided by (used in) operating activities less purchases of property and equipment. Forescout defines free cash flow margin as free cash flow as a percentage of total revenue. Forescout considers free cash flow and free cash flow margin to be profitability and liquidity measures that provide useful information to management and investors about the amount of cash generated by the business that, after the purchases of property and equipment, can be used for strategic opportunities, including investing in our business, making strategic acquisitions, and strengthening the balance sheet.

 

2017 Q4 Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets 2017 Q4 Condensed Consolidated Statment Operations 2017 Q4 Condensed Consolidated Cash Flows 2017 Q4 Reconciliation GAAP Non GAAP Measures

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