Turtle Beach Reports Third Quarter 2017 Results

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 2, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Turtle Beach Corporation (NASDAQ:  HEAR), a leading gaming headset and audio accessory company, reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017.

Third Quarter Summary vs. Year-Ago Quarter:

• Net revenue of $36.0 million versus $38.4 million, down slightly due to holiday shipment timing.
• Gross margin improved significantly to 34.9% compared to 10.2% last year (excluding a $7.1 million HyperSound-related charge, gross margin in the year-ago quarter was 28.7%).
• Operating expenses were reduced to $10.7 million compared to $46.7 million (excluding $33.1 million in HyperSound-related charges, operating expenses in the year-ago quarter were $13.6 million).
• Net loss improved significantly to $0.5 million, or $(0.01) per share, compared to a net loss of $44.8 million, or $(0.91) per share (excluding HyperSound-related charges, net loss in the year-ago quarter was $4.7 million, or $(0.10) per share).
• Adjusted EBITDA improved significantly to $3.3 million compared to $0.5 million.

"Our third quarter performance was highlighted by significant gross margin expansion and prudent expense management, which drove strong growth in adjusted EBITDA that exceeded our outlook," said Juergen Stark, CEO, Turtle Beach Corporation. "We believe these results are beginning to underscore the underlying profit potential of our business as the leading console gaming headset brand now that we are largely unencumbered by HyperSound costs.

"Third quarter sales were slightly impacted by orders from some large customers that shifted from September into October. Due to the high velocity of holiday shipments that happen in late September, this shift was identified as a possibility in our third quarter outlook. While this timing difference had no impact on our full-year outlook, other factors including reduction in run-rate inventory levels by some retailers and a slightly reduced industry outlook for headsets have led us to modestly lower our full year revenue forecast. However, we continue to expect a strong holiday quarter with increased revenues and significant EBITDA expansion for both the holiday quarter and full year."

"We expect this expansion to be driven by a strong holiday product lineup," continued Stark. "This includes four new, category-redefining wireless headsets, including the world's first Xbox One headsets that connect directly to the console. We also recently launched our Elite Pro – PC Edition and OpTic Limited Edition headsets, two products that are highly visible in the esports market, as well as our new Recon Camo, which is just in time for the upcoming release of Call of Duty^®: WWII."

Third Quarter 2017 Financial Results

Net revenue in the third quarter was $36.0 million compared to $38.4 million in the year-ago quarter. The decline was largely due to the shift in orders from some large customers into the fourth quarter, an event the company cited last quarter as a possible scenario given large levels of product shipments estimated to occur in late September.

Gross margin in the third quarter improved significantly to 34.9% compared to 10.2% in the third quarter of 2016. Excluding a $7.1 million HyperSound-related charge, gross margin in the year-ago quarter was 28.7%. The increase was due to a mix-shift toward higher margin headsets, as well as on-going supply chain and logistics-driven product cost improvements.

Operating expenses in the third quarter were reduced to $10.7 million compared to $46.7 million in the third quarter of 2016, which included HyperSound-related charges totaling $33.1 million. Excluding these charges, year-over-year operating expenses declined 21% due to a continued focus on cost management across the business.

Net loss improved significantly to $0.5 million, or $(0.01) per share, compared to a net loss of $44.8 million, or $(0.91) per share, in the third quarter of 2016. Excluding $0.81 per share in HyperSound-related charges, net loss in the third quarter of 2016 was $4.7 million, or $(0.10) per share. The improvement was primarily driven by the higher gross margin and lower operating expenses.

Adjusted EBITDA (as defined below in "Non-GAAP Financial Measures") improved significantly to $3.3 million compared to $0.5 million in the year-ago quarter.

Balance Sheet Highlights

At September 30, 2017, the Company had approximately $0.5 million of cash, compared to $3.3 million one year ago. As a result of its $60 million revolving credit facility, Turtle Beach generally does not hold a large cash balance.

Total outstanding debt principal at September 30, 2017 was $59.0 million compared to $59.9 million at September 30, 2016. The debt consisted of $24.8 million of revolving debt, $12.9 million in term loans and $21.2 million in subordinated debt.

2017 Outlook

For the fourth quarter of 2017, Turtle Beach expects net revenue to increase to a range between $82.6-$87.6 million compared to $82.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2016. Adjusted EBITDA is expected to improve to a range between $16.7-$18.7 million compared to $16.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2016. Net income for the fourth quarter is expected to increase and range between $0.25-$0.29 per share compared to $0.25 per share in the fourth quarter of 2016.

For the full year 2017, Turtle Beach now expects net revenue to range between $152-$157 million (down from $157-$162 million in its August outlook) compared to $174 million in 2016. This year-over-year decline reflects the higher channel inventory impact on first half revenues, ongoing efforts by some retailers to significantly reduce their run-rate inventory levels, and a slightly reduced outlook for overall industry headset sales. In addition, it reflects an approximate $6-$7 million year-over-year decline in old-gen headset sales, bringing this business to a close in 2017. This also assumes no material revenue from HyperSound. However, the Company continues to expect $11-$13 million in consolidated adjusted EBITDA in 2017 compared to $4 million in 2016. This includes an approximate $1 million expected adjusted EBITDA loss from HyperSound in 2017. Net loss in 2017 is still expected to range between $(0.06)-$(0.10) per share based upon 49.3 million diluted shares outstanding. This is compared to a net loss of $(1.79) per share in 2016 (or a loss of $(0.33) per share in 2016 excluding the goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges, HyperSound restructuring reserves and other restructuring charges).

A table summarizing this outlook has been provided at the end of this release.

With respect to the Company's adjusted EBITDA outlook for the fourth quarter and full year 2017, a reconciliation to its net loss outlook for the same periods has not been provided because of the variability, complexity, and lack of visibility with respect to certain reconciling items between adjusted EBITDA and net loss, including other income (expense), provision for income taxes and stock-based compensation. These items cannot be reasonably and accurately predicted without the investment of undue time, cost and other resources and, accordingly, a reconciliation of the Company's adjusted EBITDA outlook to its net loss outlook for such periods is not available without unreasonable effort. These reconciling items could be material to the Company's actual results for such periods.

Conference Call Details

Turtle Beach Corporation will hold a conference call today, November 2, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. Pacific time (5:00 p.m. Eastern) to discuss its third quarter 2017 results.

CEO Juergen Stark and CFO John Hanson will host the call, followed by a question and answer session.

Conference Call Details:

Date: Thursday, November 2, 2017
Time: 5:00 p.m. ET / 2:00 p.m. PT
Toll-Free Dial-in Number: (877) 303-9855
International Dial-in Number: (408) 337-0154
Conference ID: 5789519

For the conference call, please dial-in 5-10 minutes prior to the start time and an operator will register your name and organization. If you have any difficulty with the conference call, please contact Liolios at (949) 574-3860.

The conference call will be broadcast live and available for replay here and via the investor relations section of the Company's website at http://corp.turtlebeach.com.

A replay of the conference call will be available after 8:00 p.m. ET on the same day through November 9, 2017.

Toll-Free Replay Number: (855) 859-2056
International Replay Number: (404) 537-3406
Replay ID: 5789519

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to its reported results, the Company has included in this earnings release certain financial results, including adjusted EBITDA, that the Securities and Exchange Commission defines as "non-GAAP financial measures." Management believes that such non-GAAP financial measures, when read in conjunction with the Company's reported results, can provide useful supplemental information for investors analyzing period to period comparisons of the Company's results. "Adjusted EBITDA" is defined by the Company as net income (loss) before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock- based compensation (non-cash), and certain special items that we believe are not representative of core operations. See a reconciliation of GAAP results to adjusted EBITDA included below for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017.

About Turtle Beach Corporation

Turtle Beach Corporation (http://corp.turtlebeach.com) designs innovative, market-leading audio products. Under its award-winning Turtle Beach brand (www.turtlebeach.com), the Company is the clear market share leader with its wide selection of acclaimed gaming headsets for use with Xbox One and PlayStation®4, as well as personal computers and mobile/tablet devices. Under the HyperSound brand (www.hypersound.com), the Company develops and licenses pioneering directed audio solutions with applications in digital signage and kiosks, consumer electronics and hearing healthcare. The Company's shares are traded on the NASDAQ Exchange under the symbol: HEAR.

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking information and statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Except for historical information contained in this release, statements in this release may constitute forward-looking statements regarding assumptions, projections, expectations, targets, intentions or beliefs about future events. Statements containing the words "may", "could", "would", "should", "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "plan", "estimate", "target", "project", "intend" and similar expressions constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current belief, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management.

While the Company believes that its expectations are based upon reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurances that its goals and strategy will be realized. Numerous factors, including risks and uncertainties, may affect actual results and may cause results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements made by the Company or on its behalf. Some of these factors include, but are not limited to, risks related to the Company's liquidity, the substantial uncertainties inherent in the acceptance of existing and future products, the difficulty of commercializing and protecting new technology, the impact of competitive products and pricing, general business and economic conditions, risks associated with the expansion of our business including the implementation of any businesses we acquire, our indebtedness, the outcome of our HyperSound strategic review process and other factors discussed in our public filings, including the risk factors included in  the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the Company's other periodic reports. Except as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Company is under no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement after the date of this release whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE Turtle Beach Corporation

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