Microsoft releases Q1 2009 earnings

Microsoft released its first-quarter earnings (yeah, they're on their own timetable) today. Here's the deal:

• Revenue of $12.92 billion, down 14 percent from the first quarter (the three months ending Sept. 30) of 2008.
• Operating income was down 25 percent over Q1 2008, to $4.48 billion.
• Net income was $3.57 billion, down 18 percent from Q1 2008.
• Diluted earnings per share were 40 cents, down 17 percent.
• Some $1.47 billion of revenue was deferred because of the Windows 7 upgrade Option program. If you add that back into the tally, revenue would have totaled $14.39 billion, a 4 percent drop from Q1 2008.

Peep the full presser after the break.

REDMOND, Wash. — Oct. 23, 2009 — Microsoft Corp. today announced revenue of $12.92 billion for the first quarter ended Sept. 30, 2009, a 14% decline from the same period of the prior year. Operating income, net income and diluted earnings per share for the quarter were $4.48 billion, $3.57 billion and $0.40 per share, which represented declines of 25%, 18% and 17%, respectively, when compared with the prior year period.

These financial results reflect the deferral of $1.47 billion of revenue, an impact of $0.12 of diluted earnings per share, relating to the Windows 7 Upgrade Option program and sales of Windows 7 to OEMs and retailers before general availability. Adding back the deferred revenue, revenue totaled $14.39 billion, a 4% year-over-year decline, and EPS totaled $0.52 per share, an increase of 8% over the same period of the prior year.

“We are very pleased with our performance this quarter and particularly by the strong consumer demand for Windows,” said Chris Liddell, chief financial officer at Microsoft. “We also maintained our cost discipline, which allowed us to drive strong earnings performance despite continued tough overall economic conditions.”

Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 launched globally on Oct. 22 as anticipated. Also during October, Microsoft released Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 to manufacturing and in July announced a strategic partnership with Yahoo! Inc. to provide search results for their global properties.

“The worldwide launches of Windows 7, Exchange Server 2010 and Windows Server 2008 R2 are exciting milestones for Microsoft, our partners and customers,” said Kevin Turner, chief operating officer at Microsoft. “We are pleased by the early positive response we are receiving for these products.”

Business Outlook

Microsoft is reducing operating expense guidance to $26.2 billion to $26.5 billion, for the full year ending June 30, 2010.

Management will discuss first-quarter results and the company’s business outlook on a conference call and webcast at 7:30 a.m. PDT (10:30 a.m. EDT) today.

Webcast Details

Chris Liddell, senior vice president and chief financial officer, Frank Brod, corporate vice president and chief accounting officer, and Bill Koefoed, general manager of Investor Relations, will host a conference call and webcast at 7:30 a.m. PDT (10:30 a.m. EDT) today to discuss details of the company’s performance for the quarter and certain forward-looking information. The session may be accessed at http://www.microsoft.com/msft. The webcast will be available for replay through the close of business on Oct. 23, 2010.

Adjusted Financial Results – Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures

Adjusted Financial Results – Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures Click for larger version of table.

This information has been provided to aid readers of the financial statements in further understanding the company’s financial performance. The impact of certain items and events on the financial results may not be indicative of trends affecting the company’s business. For comparability of reporting, management considers this information in conjunction with GAAP amounts in evaluating business performance. The non-GAAP financial measures provided above should not be considered as a substitute for, or superior to, the measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP.