Information about HP Inc.'s use of non-GAAP financial information is provided under "Use of non-GAAP financial information" below.
Net revenue and EPS results
HP Inc. and its subsidiaries (“HP”) announced fiscal 2021 third quarter net revenue of $15.3 billion, up 7.0% (up 4.1% in constant currency) from the prior-year period.
“Strong and sustained demand for our technology drove another quarter of top and bottom-line growth and we more than doubled non-GAAP EPS year over year,” said Enrique Lores, HP President and CEO. “We are performing while we are transforming our business models and service offerings to accelerate growth opportunities across our portfolio. The evolving hybrid world is driving innovation and market expansion for HP and we are well positioned to capitalize on trends in our markets.”
Third quarter GAAP diluted net EPS was $0.92, up from $0.52 in the prior-year period and above the previously provided outlook of $0.77 to $0.81. Third quarter non-GAAP diluted net EPS was $1.00, up from $0.49 in the prior-year period and above the previously provided outlook of $0.81 to $0.85. GAAP and Non-GAAP diluted net EPS includes a net benefit of $0.13 per diluted share, resulting from a reduction in previously estimated sales and marketing program incentives which was partially offset by discretionary investments in, among other things, R&D, marketing and investing in our hybrid work strategy. Third quarter non-GAAP net earnings and non-GAAP diluted net EPS excludes after-tax adjustments of $90 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, related to restructuring and other charges, acquisition-related charges, amortization of intangible assets, non-operating retirement-related (credits)/charges, debt extinguishment costs, and tax adjustments.
Asset management
HP's net cash provided by operating activities in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 was $1.1 billion. Accounts receivable ended the quarter at $4.9 billion, up 1 day quarter over quarter to 29 days. Inventory ended the quarter at $8.2 billion, up 8 days quarter over quarter to 62 days. Accounts payable ended the quarter at $15.9 billion, up 10 days quarter over quarter to 120 days.
HP generated $1.0 billion of free cash flow in the third quarter. Free cash flow includes net cash provided by operating activities of $1.1 billion adjusted for net investments in leases of $40 million and net investments in property, plant and equipment of $158 million.
HP’s dividend payment of $0.1938 per share in the third quarter resulted in cash usage of $230 million. HP also utilized $1.5 billion of cash during the quarter to repurchase approximately 50 million shares of common stock in the open market. As a result, HP returned 178% of its third quarter free cash flow to shareholders. HP exited the quarter with $3.4 billion in gross cash, which includes cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments of $8 million included in other current assets.
Fiscal 2021 third quarter segment results
- Personal Systems net revenue was $10.4 billion, flat year over year (down 3% in constant currency) with a 8.4% operating margin. Consumer net revenue increased 3% and Commercial net revenue decreased 1%. Total units were flat with Notebooks units up 2% and Desktops units down 7%.
- Printing net revenue was $4.9 billion, up 24% year over year (up 22% in constant currency) with a 17.6% operating margin. Total hardware units were down 4% overall, with Consumer units down 8% and Commercial units up 29%. Consumer net revenue was up 15% and Commercial net revenue was up 46%. Supplies net revenue was up 20% (up 19% in constant currency).
Outlook
For the fiscal 2021 fourth quarter, HP estimates GAAP diluted net EPS to be in the range of $0.82 to $0.88 and non-GAAP diluted net EPS to be in the range of $0.84 to $0.90. Fiscal 2021 fourth quarter non-GAAP diluted net EPS estimates exclude $0.02 per diluted share, primarily related to restructuring and other charges, acquisition-related charges, amortization of intangible assets, non-operating retirement-related (credits)/charges, tax adjustments and the related tax impact on these items.
For fiscal 2021, HP estimates GAAP diluted net EPS to be in the range of $3.56 to $3.62 and non-GAAP diluted net EPS to be in the range of $3.69 to $3.75. Fiscal 2021 non-GAAP diluted net EPS estimates exclude $0.13 per diluted share, primarily related to restructuring and other charges, acquisition-related charges, amortization of intangible assets, non-operating retirement-related (credits)/charges, debt extinguishment costs, tax adjustments and the related tax impact on these items. For fiscal 2021, HP anticipates generating free cash flow of at least $4.0 billion.
More information on HP's earnings, including additional financial analysis and an earnings overview presentation, is available on HP's Investor Relations website at investor.hp.com.
HP's FY21 Q3 earnings conference call is accessible via audio webcast at www.hp.com/investor/2021Q3Webcast.
About HP Inc.
HP Inc. (NYSE: HPQ) creates technology that makes life better for everyone, everywhere. Through our product and service portfolio of personal systems, printers and 3D printing solutions, we engineer experiences that amaze. More information about HP Inc. is available at hp.com.
Use of non-GAAP financial information
To supplement HP’s consolidated condensed financial statements presented on a generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) basis, HP provides net revenue on a constant currency basis, non-GAAP total operating expense, non-GAAP operating profit, non-GAAP operating margin, non-GAAP tax rate, non-GAAP net earnings, non-GAAP diluted net EPS, free cash flow, gross cash and net cash (debt) financial measures. HP also provides forecasts of non-GAAP diluted net EPS and free cash flow. Reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are included in the tables below or elsewhere in the materials accompanying this news release. In addition, an explanation of the ways in which HP’s management uses these non-GAAP measures to evaluate its business, the substance behind HP’s decision to use these non-GAAP measures, the material limitations associated with the use of these non-GAAP measures, the manner in which HP’s management compensates for those limitations, and the substantive reasons why HP’s management believes that these non-GAAP measures provide useful information to investors is included under “Use of non-GAAP financial measures” after the tables below. This additional non-GAAP financial information is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net revenue, operating expense, operating profit, operating margin, tax rate, net earnings, diluted net EPS, cash (used in)/ provided by operating activities or cash and cash equivalents prepared in accordance with GAAP.
Forward-looking statements
