UNITED STATES  

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION  

Washington, D.C. 20549  

  

FORM 10-Q  

  

☒  Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934  

  

For the quarterly period ended:  September 30, 2015 or  

  

☐  Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934  

  

For the transition period from ________________ to ________________  

  

Commission file number:  0-25426  

  

  

NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION  

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)  

 

  

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (512) 338-9119  

__________________________

  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒  No ☐  

  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ☒  No ☐  

  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”, and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):  

  

Large accelerated filer ☒Accelerated filer ☐Non-accelerated filer ☐Smaller reporting company ☐  

  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐  No ☒  

  

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.  

 

  

   

 

 

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NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION  

  

INDEX  

 

 

  

   

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PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION  

  

ITEM 1.Financial Statements  

  

NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION  

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS  

(in thousands, except per share data)  

  

  

  

  

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements. 

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NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION  

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME  

(in thousands, except per share data)  

(unaudited)  

  

  

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

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NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION  

 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME  

(in thousands)  

(unaudited)  

  

 

 

 

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NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS  

(in thousands)  

(unaudited)  

  

  

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.  

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NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  

  

Note 1 – Basis of presentation  

  

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2014, included in our annual report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring items) considered necessary to present fairly our financial position at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, and the results of our operations and comprehensive income for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2015, and the cash flows for the nine month period ended September 30, 2015. Our operating results for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2015. These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

 

 

  

   

Note 2 – Earnings per share  

  

Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during each period. Diluted EPS is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding (if dilutive) during each period. The number of common share equivalents, which include stock options and restricted stock units (“RSUs”), is computed using the treasury stock method.  

  

The reconciliation of the denominators used to calculate basic EPS and diluted EPS for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, are as follows:

  

Stock awards to acquire 1,331,000 shares and 420,000 shares for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and 433,400 shares and 24,300 shares for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, were excluded in the computations of diluted EPS because the effect of including the stock awards would have been anti-dilutive.

 

  

Note 3 – Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments  

  

The following tables summarize unrealized gains and losses related to our cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments designated as available-for-sale:

 

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The following tables summarize the contractual maturities of our short-term investments designated as available-for-sale:

 

  

 

  

   

Note 4 – Fair value measurements 

  

We define fair value to be the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. When determining the fair value measurements for assets and liabilities required or permitted to be recorded at fair value, we consider the principal or most advantageous market that market participants may use when pricing the asset or liability.   

We follow a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. Fair value measurement is determined based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The three values of the fair value hierarchy are the following:   

Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities   

Level 2 – Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly   

Level 3 – Inputs that are not based on observable market data   

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Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis are summarized below:

 

 

We value our available-for-sale short-term investments based on pricing from third party pricing vendors, who may use quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1 inputs) or inputs other than quoted prices that are observable either directly or indirectly (Level 2 inputs) in determining fair value. We classify all of our fixed income available-for-sale securities as having Level 2 inputs. The valuation techniques used to measure the fair value of our financial instruments having Level 2 inputs were derived from non-binding market consensus prices that are corroborated by observable market data, quoted market prices for similar instruments, or pricing models, such as discounted cash flow techniques. We believe all of these sources reflect the credit risk associated with each of our available-for-sale short-term investments. Short-term investments available-for-sale consists of debt securities issued by states of the U.S. and political subdivisions of the U.S., corporate debt securities and debt securities issued by U.S. government organizations and agencies as well as debt securities issued by foreign governments. All short-term investments available-for-sale have contractual maturities of less than 36 months.  

  

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Derivatives include foreign currency forward and option contracts. Our foreign currency forward contracts are valued using an income approach (Level 2) based on the spot rate less the contract rate multiplied by the notional amount. Our foreign currency option contracts are valued using a market approach based on the quoted market prices which are derived from observable inputs including current and future spot rates, interest rate spreads as well as quoted market prices of similar instruments. We consider counterparty credit risk in the valuation of our derivatives. However, counterparty credit risk did not impact the valuation of our derivatives during the nine month period ended September 30, 2015. There were no transfers in or out of Level 1 or Level 2 during the nine month period ended September 30, 2015.  

  

As of September 30, 2015, our short-term investments did not include sovereign debt from any country other than the United States. 

  

We did not have any items that were measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014.  

  

The carrying value of net accounts receivable and accounts payable contained in the Consolidated Balance Sheets approximates fair value.

 

Note 5 – Derivative instruments and hedging activities  

  

We recognize all of our derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities in our statement of financial position at fair value. The accounting for changes in the fair value (i.e., gains or losses) of a derivative instrument depends on whether it has been designated and qualifies as part of a hedging relationship and further, on the type of hedging relationship. For those derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as hedging instruments, we designate the hedging instrument, based upon the exposure being hedged, as a fair value hedge, cash flow hedge, or a hedge of a net investment in a foreign operation.

   

We have operations in over 50 countries. Sales outside of the Americas accounted for approximately 58% and 58% of our net sales during the three month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and 58% and 60% of our net sales during the nine month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Our activities expose us to a variety of market risks, including the effects of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. These financial risks are monitored and managed by us as an integral part of our overall risk management program.   

  

We maintain a foreign currency risk management strategy that uses derivative instruments (foreign currency forward and purchased option contracts) to help protect our earnings and cash flows from fluctuations caused by the volatility in currency exchange rates. Movements in foreign currency exchange rates pose a risk to our operations and competitive position, in that exchange rate changes may affect our profitability and cash flow, and the business or pricing strategies of our non-U.S. based competitors.

   

The vast majority of our foreign sales are denominated in the customers’ local currency. We purchase foreign currency forward and option contracts as hedges of forecasted sales that are denominated in foreign currencies and as hedges of foreign currency denominated receivables. These contracts are entered into to help protect against the risk that the eventual dollar-net-cash inflows resulting from such sales or firm commitments will be adversely affected by changes in exchange rates. We also purchase foreign currency forward contracts as hedges of forecasted expenses that are denominated in foreign currencies. These contracts are entered into to help protect against the risk that the eventual dollar-net-cash outflows resulting from foreign currency operating and cost of sales expenses will be adversely affected by changes in exchange rates.

   

We designate foreign currency forward and purchased option contracts as cash flow hedges of forecasted net sales or forecasted expenses. In addition, we hedge our foreign currency denominated balance sheet exposures using foreign currency forward contracts that are not designated as hedging instruments. None of our derivative instruments contain a credit-risk-related contingent feature.

 

  Cash flow hedges  

 

  To help protect against the reduction in value caused by a fluctuation in foreign currency exchange rates of forecasted foreign currency cash flows resulting from international sales over the next one to three years, we have instituted a foreign currency cash flow hedging program. We hedge portions of our forecasted net sales and forecasted expenses denominated in foreign currencies with forward and purchased option contracts. For forward contracts, when the dollar strengthens significantly against the foreign currencies, the change in the present value of future foreign currency cash flows may be offset by the change in the fair value of the forward contracts designated as hedges. For option contracts, when the dollar strengthens significantly against the foreign currencies, the change in the present value of future foreign currency cash flows may be offset by the change in the fair value of the option contracts net of the premium paid designated as hedges. Our foreign currency purchased option contracts are purchased “at-the-money” or “out-of-the-money.” We purchase foreign currency forward and option contracts for up to 100% of our forecasted exposures in selected currencies (primarily in Euro, Japanese yen, Hungarian forint, British pound, Chinese yuan and Malaysian ringgit) and limit the duration of these contracts to 40 months or less.  

 

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For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as a cash flow hedge, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative is reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (“OCI”) and reclassified into earnings in the same line item (net sales, operating expenses, or cost of sales) associated with the forecasted transaction and in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. Gains and losses on the derivative representing either hedge ineffectiveness or hedge components excluded from the assessment of effectiveness are recognized in current earnings or expenses during the current period and are classified as a component of “net foreign exchange loss.” Hedge effectiveness of foreign currency forwards and purchased option contracts designated as cash flow hedges are measured by comparing the hedging instrument’s cumulative change in fair value from inception to maturity to the forecasted transaction’s terminal value.   

 

We held forward contracts with the following notional amounts:

  

The contracts in the foregoing table had contractual maturities of 40 months or less at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014.  

  

At September 30, 2015, we expect to reclassify $7 million of gains on derivative instruments from accumulated OCI to net sales during the next twelve months when the hedged international sales occur, $2.3 million of losses on derivative instruments from accumulated OCI to cost of sales during the next twelve months when the cost of sales are incurred and $2.6 million of losses on derivative instruments from accumulated OCI to operating expenses during the next twelve months when the hedged operating expenses occur. Expected amounts are based on derivative valuations at September 30, 2015. Actual results may vary materially as a result of changes in the corresponding exchange rates subsequent to this date.  

  

We did not record any ineffectiveness from our hedges during the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014.  

 

Other Derivatives  

Other derivatives not designated as hedging instruments consist primarily of foreign currency forward contracts that we use to hedge our foreign denominated net receivable or net payable positions to help protect against the change in value caused by a fluctuation in foreign currency exchange rates. We typically attempt to hedge up to 90% of our outstanding foreign denominated net receivables or net payables and typically limit the duration of these foreign currency forward contracts to approximately 120 days or less. The gain or loss on the derivatives as well as the offsetting gain or loss on the hedge item attributable to the hedged risk is recognized in current earnings under the line item “net foreign exchange loss.” As of September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, we held foreign currency forward contracts with a notional amount of $72 million and $78 million, respectively.   

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The following tables present the fair value of derivative instruments on our Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively.   

 

   

 

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The following tables present the effect of derivative instruments on our Consolidated Statements of Income for three month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively:

 

 

 

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The following tables present the effect of derivative instruments on our Consolidated Statements of Income for the nine month periods ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively: