THQ Reports Fiscal 2006 Results
Company Posts 11th Consecutive Year of Revenue Growth
Ten Titles Surpass One Million Units Shipped in FY
2006
Management Reiterates Guidance for FY
2007
AGOURA HILLS, Calif., May 5: THQ Inc. (Nasdaq: THQI)
today announced results for the fourth quarter and fiscal
year ended March 31, 2006 and reaffirmed its guidance for
fiscal 2007.
For the twelve months ended March 31, 2006, THQ reported its
11th consecutive year of revenue growth as net sales
increased to a record $806.6 million from $756.7 million for
fiscal 2005. Net income for fiscal 2006 was $34.3 million, or
$0.52 per diluted share. This compares to prior- year net
income of $62.8 million, or $1.04 per diluted share, which
included a $0.13 per diluted share benefit from research and
development tax credits claimed for prior years. Fiscal 2006
results reflect increased investment in product development
in advance of the new generation of video game
consoles.
THQ reported fiscal 2006 fourth quarter net sales of $148.1
million and a net loss of $7.9 million, or $0.12 per share.
Top selling titles in the fourth quarter were The
OutfitTM on the
Xbox 360TM
video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and
continued strong sales of holiday titles such as
WWE®
SmackDown® vs.
RAW® 2006. As
previously announced, the net loss includes $0.08 per share
of software development expense related to the cessation of
internal product development for wrestling games and $0.06
per share of higher-than-expected price protection and
software development expense for Full Spectrum
WarriorTM: Ten
Hammers. In the same period a year ago, the company reported
net sales of $171.9 million and net income of $10.1 million,
or $0.16 per diluted share.
"THQ posted record net sales in fiscal 2006, fueled by our
success with mass-market games based on our three core
brands, Disney/Pixar, World Wrestling Entertainment and
Nickelodeon, and the establishment of two new original
franchises targeted to avid gamers, Juiced and Destroy All
Humans!," said Brian Farrell, president and CEO, THQ.
Farrell added, "We continue to execute against our plans to
manage through the platform transition. We expect our
investments in next-generation product development to begin
yielding strong results starting in fiscal 2007 with products
such as Saints Row and WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2007. In fiscal
2008, we plan to release an increasing number of
next-generation titles in order to capitalize on the growing
hardware installed base, including products such as
Frontlines: Fuel of War and others yet to be announced. With
strong licenses secured for the long term, 1,200 people in
our internal studio system, a growing direct international
business and more than $370 million in cash and short-term
investments, we are well positioned to expand our leadership
in the video game industry."
Fiscal 2007 Guidance
THQ reaffirmed previous guidance for the full fiscal year
ending March 31, 2007 and provided initial guidance for the
fiscal first quarter ending June 30, 2006:
* Consistent with previous guidance, for the fiscal year
ending March 31, 2007, THQ expects net sales in the range of
$900 million to $950 million and net income in the range of
$0.90 to $1.00 per diluted share. This excludes forecasted
equity-based compensation expense of $0.16 per diluted
share.
* For the first quarter of fiscal 2007, the company expects
net sales of approximately $125 million and a net loss of
about $0.21 per share, excluding forecasted equity-based
compensation expense of $0.04 per share.
Fiscal 2006 Accomplishments:
* THQ reported its 11th consecutive year of net sales
growth
* THQ gained market share in all of its major markets --
North America, Europe and Australia
* THQ established two new owned and original franchises,
JuicedTM and
Destroy All Humans!TM
* THQ published 10 titles that shipped more than one million
units, including WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2006 at three million
units
* THQ grew international net revenue to 39% of net sales as
it expanded its direct sales operations in Europe and Asia
Pacific
* THQ Wireless net revenues grew to $36 million from $25
million a year ago
* THQ added four new internal development studios, expanding
its studio system to include 14 internal studios across North
America, Australia and Europe
* THQ grew its internal product development personnel 33% to
approximately 1,200 from 900 a year ago, supporting its
strategy to develop more franchises internally and to
establish a leadership position early in the next console
cycle
* THQ generated operating cash flow of $43 million while
continuing to invest in new studios and next-generation game
development
Investor Conference Call
THQ will host a conference call to discuss fiscal fourth
quarter results today at 11:00 a.m. Eastern/8:00 a.m.
Pacific. Please dial 800.901.5218 or 617.786.4511, access
code 93532728 to listen to the call or visit the THQ Inc.
Investor Relations Home page at www.thq.com. The online
archive of the broadcast will be available approximately two
hours after the live call ends. In addition, a telephonic
replay of the conference call will be provided approximately
two hours after the live call ends through May 8, 2006 by
dialing 888.286.8010 or 617.801.6888, access code
97231204.
THQ Inc. (Nasdaq: THQI) is a leading worldwide developer and
publisher of interactive entertainment software. The company
develops its products for all popular game systems, personal
computers and wireless devices. Headquartered in Los Angeles
County, California, THQ sells product through its global
network of offices located in North America, Europe and Asia
Pacific. More information about THQ and its products may be
found at www.thq.com and www.thqwireless.com. THQ, THQ Wireless, Destroy
All Humans!, Frontlines: Fuel of War, Juiced, Saints Row, The
Outfit and their respective logos are trademarks and/or
registered trademarks of THQ Inc.
This press release contains statements that are
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements
include, but are not limited to, the company's expectations
for revenue and earnings per share for the quarter ending
June 30, 2006 and the fiscal year ending March 31, 2007 and
for the company's product releases and financial performance
in future periods. These forward-looking statements are based
on current expectations, estimates and projections about the
business of THQ Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively
referred to as "THQ") and are based upon management's beliefs
and certain assumptions made by management. Such
forward-looking statements are subject to risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to,
economic, competitive and technological factors affecting the
operations, markets, products, services and pricing of THQ.
Unless otherwise required by law, THQ disclaims any
obligation to update its view on any such risks or
uncertainties or to revise or publicly release the results of
any revision to these forward-looking statements. Readers
should carefully review the risk factors and the information
that could materially affect THQ's financial results,
described in other documents that THQ files from time to time
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and its Annual Report on Form
10-K for the fiscal period ended March 31, 2005, and
particularly the discussion of risk factors that may affect
results of operations set forth therein. Readers are
cautioned not to place undue reliance on these
forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date
of this press release.