NuVasive Reports Third Quarter 2014 Financial Results and Increases Full Year Guidance

SAN DIEGO, CA--(Marketwired - Oct 30, 2014) -  NuVasive, Inc. (NASDAQ: NUVA)

• Third quarter total revenue increased 12.3% to $189.9 million;
• Non-GAAP operating profit margin of 16.7%; GAAP operating margin of 8.6%; 
• Non-GAAP earnings of $9.6 million, or $0.19 per share; GAAP net loss of $(1.8) million, or $(0.04) per share;
• Generated record quarterly free cash flow at $35 million;
• Company increases guidance for full year 2014 revenue and non-GAAP earnings per share.

NuVasive, Inc. (NASDAQ: NUVA) ("NuVasive" or the "Company"), a medical device company focused on developing minimally disruptive surgical products and procedures for the spine, today announced financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2014.

"We are pleased to report results for the third quarter 2014 that exceeded revenue expectations, generated record free cash flow and demonstrated strong progress toward our commitment to increase operating profitability," said Alex Lukianov, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NuVasive. "Last quarter we announced our position as the #3 spine player globally. That is an incredible accomplishment for the entire NUVA family and we are proud that our strategy delivered continued market share gains in the third quarter. We are laser focused on delivering on our updated full year performance expectations with a strong finish to 2014. The combination of our dynamic share taking strategy with our well-defined levers for improving profitability is set to drive our growth this year and improve shareholder value over the next several years."

A full reconciliation of non-GAAP to GAAP measures can be found in the tables of this press release.

Third Quarter 2014

NuVasive reported third quarter 2014 revenue of $189.9 million, a 12.3% increase compared to $169.2 million for the third quarter 2013. 

GAAP gross profit for the third quarter 2014 was $142.2 million and gross margin was 74.9% compared to a gross profit of $125.9 million and a gross margin of 74.4% for the third quarter 2013.

Total GAAP operating expenses for the third quarter 2014 were $125.9 million compared to $114.3 million in the third quarter 2013. The increase in operating costs for the third quarter 2014 resulted primarily from investment to support international expansion. 

The Company reported a GAAP net loss of $(1.8) million, or $(0.04) per share, for the third quarter 2014. GAAP net loss for the quarter included a tax rate of 128%, which was higher than anticipated primarily due to the mix of earnings. The higher than anticipated tax rate negatively impacted results by approximately $(0.08), all of which the Company expects to recover in the fourth quarter 2014 and is reflected in the revised increase to full year 2014 EPS guidance.

On a non-GAAP basis, the Company reported net income of $9.6 million, or $0.19 per share, for the third quarter 2014. The Non-GAAP earnings per share calculations for the third quarter 2014 exclude the following amounts pre-tax: (i) non-cash stock-based compensation of $8.2 million; (ii) certain intellectual property litigation expenses of $1.2 million; (iii) amortization of intangible assets of $3.1 million; (iv) a leasehold related charge of $2.2 million; (v) one-time and acquisition related items of $0.6 million; and (vi) non-cash interest expense on convertible notes of $3.7 million. 

Cash, cash equivalents and short and long-term marketable securities were approximately $384.2 million at September 30, 2014. The Company generated $48.2 million in cash flows from operations and invested $13.1 million in capital expenditures, yielding $35.1 million for the third quarter 2014 in free cash flow, defined as operating cash flow less capital expenditures.

Annual Guidance for 2014

The Company provided the following updated projections to its full year 2014 guidance:

• Revenue of approximately $755.0 million, which includes an incremental headwind from currency in the fourth quarter 2014, or 10% growth over 2013 revenue of $685.2 million; increased from previous guidance of approximately $745.0 million;
• GAAP Loss per Share of approximately ($0.36); compared to previous guidance of approximately ($0.38);
• Non-GAAP EPS of approximately $1.12; increased from previous guidance of approximately $1.11;
• Non-GAAP Operating Margin of approximately 16.5%; unchanged from previous guidance;
• GAAP effective tax expense of approximately $7.0 million; compared to previous guidance of approximately $6.0 million as a result of increased pre-tax earnings.

Supplementary Financial Information

For additional financial detail, please visit the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at www.nuvasive.com to access Supplementary Financial Information.

Reconciliation of Full Year EPS Guidance
			2014 Guidance
			Prior 1				Current 2
GAAP earnings (loss) per share guidance			$	(0.38	)		$	(0.36	)
Impact of change from basic to diluted share count				0.02				0.02
GAAP earnings (loss) per share, adjusted to diluted share count			$	(0.36	)		$	(0.34	)
	Non-cash stock based compensation			0.43				0.41
	Litigation liability expense			0.36				0.36
	Amortization of intangible assets			0.19				0.16
	Non-cash interest expense on convertible notes			0.18				0.18
	Intangible asset impairment			0.13				0.13
	Leasehold related charges			0.09				0.13
	Certain intellectual property litigation expenses			0.06				0.06
	Acquisition related items 3			0.03				0.03
Non-GAAP earnings per share guidance			$	1.11			$	1.12
Weighted shares outstanding - basic				47,500				46,750
Weighted shares outstanding - diluted				50,000				49,750

1	Effective tax expense rate of ~45% applied to GAAP earnings and ~40% applied to Non-GAAP adjustments
2	Effective tax expense rate of ~70% applied to GAAP earnings and ~40% applied to Non-GAAP adjustments
3	Acquisition related items include expenses associated with prior M&A related activity and as incurred

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Operating Margin %
		2013		2014 Guidance
		Actuals		Prior		Current
Non-GAAP Gross Margin % [A]		74.8	%	76.0	%	76.0	%
Non-cash stock based compensation		0.0	%	0.0	%	0.0	%
Out-of-period royalty expense charge		-1.2	%	0.0	%	0.0	%
GAAP Gross Margin [D]		73.7	%	76.0	%	76.0	%
Non-GAAP Sales, Marketing & Administrative Expense [B]		55.9	%	54.5	%	54.5	%
Non-cash stock based compensation		4.6	%	4.6	%	4.2	%
Certain intellectual property litigation expenses		0.8	%	0.7	%	0.7	%
Leasehold related charges		0.0	%	0.9	%	1.4	%
Acquisition related items*		0.0	%	0.2	%	0.2	%
GAAP Sales, Marketing & Administrative Expense [E]		61.3	%	60.9	%	61.0	%
Non-GAAP Research & Development Expense [C]		4.1	%	5.0	%	5.0	%
Non-cash stock based compensation		0.2	%	0.2	%	0.2	%
Acquisition related items*		0.4	%	0.2	%	0.2	%
GAAP Research & Development Expense [F]		4.7	%	5.4	%	5.4	%
Litigation liability expense [G]		0.0	%	4.1	%	4.0	%
Intangible asset impairment [H]		0.0	%	1.4	%	1.4	%
Amortization of intangible assets [I]		2.8	%	2.2	%	1.8	%
Non-GAAP Operating Margin % [A-B-C]		14.9	%	16.5	%	16.5	%
GAAP Operating Margin % [D-E-F-G-H-I]		4.8	%	2.0	%	2.4	%
* Acquisition related items include expenses associated with prior M&A activity and as incurred

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Information

Management uses certain Non-GAAP financial measures such as Non-GAAP earnings per share, Non-GAAP gross margin, Non-GAAP operating expenses, and Non-GAAP operating margin, which exclude non-cash stock-based compensation, certain intellectual property litigation expenses, amortization of intangible assets, a leasehold related charge, acquisition related items, non-cash interest expense on convertible notes, a litigation liability expense, an out-of-period royalty expense charge, and an intangible asset impairment charge. Management does not consider these costs in evaluating the continuing operations of the Company. Therefore, management calculates the Non-GAAP financial measures provided in this earnings release excluding these costs and uses these Non-GAAP financial measures to enable it to further and more consistently analyze the period-to-period financial performance of its core business operations. Management believes that providing investors with these Non-GAAP measures gives them additional important information to enable them to assess, in the same way management assesses, the Company's current and future continuing operations. These Non-GAAP measures are not in accordance with, or an alternative for, GAAP, and may be different from Non-GAAP measures used by other companies. Set forth below are reconciliations of the Non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP financial measure.

Reconciliation of Third Quarter 2014 Results
(in thousands, except per share data)			Pre-Tax Adjustments			Net of Tax				Earnings Per Share
GAAP net loss						$	(1,830	)		$	(0.04	)
Impact of change from basic to diluted share count											-
GAAP net loss, adjusted to diluted share count						$	(1,830	)			(0.04	)
	Non-cash stock-based compensation		$	8,231			4,939				0.10
	Certain intellectual property litigation expenses			1,224			734				0.01
	Amortization of intangible assets			3,071			1,843				0.04
	Leasehold related charges			2,232			1,339				0.03
	One-time and acquisition related items			575			345				0.01
	Non-cash interest expense on convertible notes			3,704			2,222				0.04
Non-GAAP earnings						$	9,592				0.19
GAAP weighted shares outstanding - basic and diluted											46,990
Non-GAAP weighted shares outstanding - diluted											49,796

Reconciliation of Year To Date 2014 Results
(in thousands, except per share data)			Pre-Tax Adjustments			Net of Tax				Earnings Per Share
GAAP net loss						$	(24,194	)		$	(0.52	)
Impact of change from basic to diluted share count											0.03
GAAP net loss, adjusted to diluted share count						$	(24,194	)			(0.49	)
	Non-cash stock-based compensation		$	24,779			14,867				0.30
	Certain intellectual property litigation expenses		$	3,771			2,263				0.05
	Amortization of intangible assets		$	10,541			6,325				0.13
	Intangible asset impairment charge		$	10,708			6,425				0.13
	Leasehold related charges		$	9,164			5,498				0.11
	One-time and acquisition related items		$	2,966			1,780				0.04
	Non-cash interest expense on convertible notes		$	10,914			6,548				0.13
	Litigation liability expense		$	30,000			18,000				0.36
Non-GAAP earnings						$	37,512				0.76
GAAP weighted shares outstanding - basic and diluted											46,546
Non-GAAP weighted shares outstanding - diluted											49,370

Conference Call

NuVasive will hold a conference call today at 5:30 p.m. ET / 2:30 p.m. PT to discuss these results. The dial-in numbers are 1-877-407-9039 for domestic callers and 1-201-689-8470 for international callers. A live webcast of the conference call will be available online from the investor relations page of the Company's corporate website at www.nuvasive.com.

After the live webcast, the call will remain available on NuVasive's website, www.nuvasive.com through November 28, 2014. In addition, a telephone replay of the call will be available until November 13, 2014. The replay dial-in numbers are 1-877-870-5176 for domestic callers and 1-858-384-5517 for international callers. Please use pin number: 13593345.

About NuVasive

NuVasive is an innovative global medical device company that is changing spine surgery with minimally disruptive surgical products and procedurally-integrated solutions for the spine. The Company is the third largest player in the $8.7 billion global spine market. NuVasive offers a comprehensive spine portfolio of more than 90 unique products developed to improve spine surgery and patient outcomes. The Company's principal procedural solution is its Maximum Access Surgery, or MAS®, platform for lateral spine fusion. MAS was designed to provide safe, reproducible, and clinically proven outcomes, and is a highly differentiated solution with fully integrated neuromonitoring, customizable exposure, and a broad offering of application-specific implants and fixation devices designed to address a variety of pathologies.

NuVasive cautions you that statements included in this press release or made on the earnings call referenced herein that are not a description of historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors which, if they do not materialize or prove correct, could cause NuVasive's results to differ materially from historical results or those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The potential risks and uncertainties that could cause actual growth and results to differ materially include, but are not limited to: the risk that NuVasive's revenue or earnings projections may turn out to be inaccurate because of the preliminary nature of the forecasts; the risk of further adjustment to financial results or future financial expectations; unanticipated difficulty in selling products, generating revenue or producing expected profitability; and those other risks and uncertainties more fully described in NuVasive's press releases and periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. NuVasive's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission are available at www.sec.gov. NuVasive assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date on which it was made.

NuVasive, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per share data)
			Three Months Ended September 30,								Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2014				2013				2014				2013
(Unaudited)
Revenue			$	189,918			$	169,156			$	558,090			$	494,358
Cost of goods sold (excluding amortization and impairment of intangible assets)				47,719				43,291				135,849				131,131
Gross profit				142,199				125,865				422,241				363,227
Operating expenses:
	Sales, marketing and administrative			113,746				102,085				348,820				306,243
	Research and development			9,068				7,248				28,590				24,654
	Amortization of intangible assets			3,071				4,974				10,541				14,263
	Impairment of intangible assets			-				-				10,708				-
	Litigation liability			-				-				30,000				-
Total operating expenses				125,885				114,307				428,659				345,160
Interest and other expense, net:
	Interest income			241				157				691				560
	Interest expense			(6,965	)			(6,712	)			(20,809	)			(20,396	)
	Other (expense) income, net			(2,489	)			3,137				(2,318	)			2,937
Total interest and other expense, net				(9,213	)			(3,418	)			(22,436	)			(16,899	)
Income (loss) before income taxes				7,101				8,140				(28,854	)			1,168
Income tax expense (benefit)				9,088				860				(4,065	)			20
Consolidated net income (loss)			$	(1,987	)		$	7,280			$	(24,789	)		$	1,148
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests			$	(157	)		$	(231	)		$	(595	)		$	(745	)
Net loss attributable to NuVasive, Inc.			$	(1,830	)		$	7,511			$	(24,194	)		$	1,893
Net (loss) income per share attributable to NuVasive, Inc.:
	Basic		$	(0.04	)		$	0.17			$	(0.52	)		$	0.04
	Diluted		$	(0.04	)		$	0.16			$	(0.52	)		$	0.04
Weighted average shares outstanding:
	Basic			46,990				44,572				46,546				44,339
	Diluted			46,990				47,220				46,546				46,387

NuVasive, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except par values and share amounts)
			September 30,				December 31,
			2014				2013
			(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents		$	130,657			$	102,825
	Short-term marketable securities			169,824				143,449
	Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $4,696 and $3,481, respectively			108,367				104,774
	Inventory, net			159,708				136,937
	Deferred tax assets, current			37,049				37,076
	Income tax receivable			13,809				-
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets			10,216				10,947
Total current assets				629,630				536,008
Property and equipment, net				131,217				128,064
Long-term marketable securities				83,752				79,829
Intangible assets, net				72,210				93,986
Goodwill				154,512				154,944
Deferred tax assets, non-current				46,827				42,863
Restricted cash and investments				123,170				119,195
Other assets				28,065				24,679
Total assets			$	1,269,383			$	1,179,568
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
	Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		$	107,956			$	86,057
	Accrued payroll and related expenses			31,289				31,095
	Current litigation liability			30,000				-
Total current liabilities				169,245				117,152
Senior Convertible Notes				356,974				346,060
Deferred tax liabilities, non-current				2,967				2,934
Litigation liability				93,700				93,700
Other long-term liabilities				14,088				14,844
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
	Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized, none outstanding			-				-
	Common stock, $0.001 par value; 120,000,000 shares authorized at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, 47,038,365 and 44,943,233 issued and outstanding at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively			47				45
	Additional paid-in capital			822,854				769,203
	Accumulated other comprehensive income			(3,907	)			(3,238	)
	Accumulated deficit			(194,412	)			(170,218	)
	Less cost of treasury stock; 18,350 shares and 0 shares at September 30, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively			(664	)			-
Total NuVasive, Inc. stockholders' equity				623,918				595,792
Noncontrolling interests				8,491				9,086
Total equity				632,409				604,878
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity			$	1,269,383			$	1,179,568

NuVasive, Inc.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
			Nine Months Ended September 30,
			2014				2013
(Unaudited)
Operating activities:
Consolidated net (loss) income			$	(24,789	)		$	1,148
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:
	Depreciation and amortization			46,521				46,289
	Amortization of non-cash interest			12,244				11,413
	Stock-based compensation			24,779				24,002
	Impairment of intangible assets			10,708				-
	Reserves			4,062				2,649
	Other non-cash adjustments			11,317				3,881
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions:
	Accounts receivable			(5,519	)			(8,253	)
	Inventory			(27,190	)			(16,749	)
	Prepaid expenses and other assets			(1,837	)			(2,838	)
	Accounts payable and accrued liabilities			16,037				17,915
	Litigation liability			30,000				(7,500	)
	Accrued payroll and related expenses			151				(1,824	)
Net cash provided by operating activities				96,484				70,133
Investing activities:
Cash paid for business and asset acquisitions				(59	)			(8,019	)
Purchases of property and equipment				(45,692	)			(38,018	)
Purchases of marketable securities				(177,850	)			(164,338	)
Sales of marketable securities				142,051				183,756
Net cash used in investing activities				(81,550	)			(26,619	)
Financing activities:
Principal payment of 2013 Senior Convertible Notes				-				(74,311	)
Tax benefits related to stock-based compensation awards				-				5,247
Proceeds from the issuance of common stock				15,341				3,492
Purchases of treasury stock				(664	)			-
Other financing activities				(1,166	)			(72	)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities				13,511				(65,644	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash				(613	)			(553	)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents				27,832				(22,683	)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year				102,825				123,299
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year			$	130,657			$	100,616

Investor Contact:
Carol Cox
NuVasive, Inc.
858-638-5533
Email Contact

Media Contact:
Stacy Roughan
NuVasive, Inc.
858-909-1812
Email Contact