nano-ex991

MILPITAS, Calif., April 26, 2016 — Nanometrics Incorporated (NASDAQ: NANO), a leading provider of advanced process control systems, today announced financial results for its quarter ended March 26, 2016.

A reconciliation between GAAP operating results and non-GAAP operating results is provided following the financial statements that are part of this release and on the investor page of Nanometrics' website.

“We continue to benefit from share gains and strong execution in the 3D-NAND market, a segment growing much faster than the industry in general, which contributes to an even stronger outlook for 2016 compared to what we communicated a quarter ago,” commented Dr. Timothy J. Stultz, president and chief executive officer. “Operationally, the improvements we have made are bearing fruit as demonstrated by our profitable growth, while we continue our work to make even further improvements to our financial model. The response to our Atlas III introduction is surpassing our expectations, with multiple systems already shipped to our launch partner, and more systems shipping in the second quarter to multiple leading customers, for every type of advanced device, including leading-edge foundry and DRAM development. With our business model at a performance inflection point, we expect the revenue growth resulting from strong demand for our Process Control Solutions, coupled by recent share gains at key accounts, will continue to drive earnings leverage and further improvement in our financial results.”

Revenues for the first quarter of 2016 were $47.5 million, up 11% from $42.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2015, and down 6% from $50.4 million in the first quarter of 2015. On a GAAP basis, gross margin was 51.6%, compared to 48.7% in the prior

quarter and 46.4% in the year-ago period. Operating income was $3.7 million, compared to an operating loss of $1.0 million in the prior quarter and operating income of $2.2 million in the year-ago period. Net income was $3.5 million or $0.14 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $1.8 million or $0.07 per share in the prior quarter, and net income of $2.6 million or $0.11 per diluted share in the first quarter of 2015.

On a non-GAAP basis, which excludes amortization of acquired intangible assets, gross margin was 52.5%, compared to 49.8% in the prior quarter and 47.7% in the year-ago period, and exceeded our target model at these sales volumes primarily due to improved operating efficiencies and favorable product mix. Non-GAAP operating income, which also excludes restructuring charges in prior periods, was $4.2 million compared to $0.8 million in the prior quarter and $3.0 million in the first quarter of 2015. Non-GAAP net income, which adjusts for amortization of intangible assets and restructuring charges, was $3.9 million or $0.16 per diluted share, compared to breakeven in the prior quarter and $3.3 million or $0.14 per share in the first quarter of 2015.

Management expects sequential revenue growth in the second quarter and a stronger second half, compared to the first half of 2016, with increasing confidence that revenue growth will outpace the overall industry’s spending on wafer fab equipment this year. Management expects second-quarter 2016 revenues in the range of $52 to $57 million, with GAAP gross margin in the range of 50.7% to 52.3% and non-GAAP gross margin in the range of 51.5% to 53.0%. Management expects second-quarter operating expenses to range between $20.6 million and $21.2 million on a GAAP and non-GAAP basis. Management expects second-quarter earnings in the range of $0.19 to $0.28 per diluted share on a GAAP basis, and $0.21 to $0.30 per diluted share on a non-GAAP basis.

A conference call to discuss first quarter 2016 results will be held today at 4:30 p.m. EDT (1:30 p.m. PDT). To participate in the conference call, the dial-in numbers are (877) 374-4041 for domestic callers and (253) 237-1156 for international callers. The conference ID is 84918266. A live and recorded webcast and supplemental financial information will be made available on the investor page of the Nanometrics website at www.nanometrics.com.

Revenues associated with upgrade sales are now included under Product Revenue, and the related costs in Cost of Product Revenue. Our historical GAAP reporting is unaffected. For ease of investor analysis, all comparable prior period amounts in the supplemental non-GAAP financial information available on the investor page of Nanometrics website at www.nanometrics.com have been recast to reflect this change.

Financial results such as non-GAAP gross profit, gross margin, operating income, net income, and net income per share, which exclude certain expenses, charges and special items, were not prepared in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Management uses non-GAAP financial results, which exclude acquisition-related expenses such as amortization of acquired intangibles and transaction costs, restructuring charges, and other unusual and infrequent items, to evaluate the company’s ongoing performance and to enable comparison to other periods that did not include these unusual and infrequent items. The company believes the presentation of non-GAAP results is useful to investors for analyzing ongoing business trends, comparing performance to prior periods, and enhancing the investor’s ability to view the company’s results from management’s perspective; however, investors are cautioned that other companies may calculate these measures differently than Nanometrics does, which would limit the usefulness of these financial measures. A table presenting a reconciliation of GAAP results to non-GAAP results is included at the end of this press release and is available on the investor page of the Nanometrics website at www.nanometrics.com.

Nanometrics is a leading provider of advanced, high-performance process control metrology and inspection systems used primarily in the fabrication of semiconductors and other solid-state devices, including sensors, optoelectronic devices, high-brightness LEDs, discretes and data storage components. Nanometrics’ automated and integrated metrology systems measure critical dimensions, device structures, topography and various thin film properties, including three-dimensional features and film thickness, as well as optical, electrical and material properties. The company’s process control solutions are deployed throughout the fabrication process, from front-end-of-line substrate manufacturing, to high-volume production of semiconductors and other devices, to advanced three-dimensional wafer-level packaging applications. Nanometrics’ systems enable advanced process control for device manufacturers, providing improved device yield at reduced manufacturing cycle time, supporting the accelerated product life cycles in the semiconductor and other advanced device markets. The company maintains its headquarters in Milpitas, California, with sales and service offices worldwide. Nanometrics is traded on NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol NANO. Nanometrics’ website is http://www.nanometrics.com.

Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in this release. Although Nanometrics believes that the

expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, actual results could differ materially from these expectations due to a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, inability to gain additional market share, increase sales, ship products as scheduled, or outperform the industry, levels of industry spending, demand for Nanometrics’ products, shifts in the timing of customer orders and product shipments, technology adoption rates, changes in customer and product mix, changes in market share, changes in operating expenses, and general economic conditions. For additional information and considerations regarding the risks faced by Nanometrics that could cause actual results to differ materially, see its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 26, 2015, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 24, 2016, including under the caption “Risk Factors,” as well as other periodic reports filed with the SEC from time to time. Nanometrics disclaims any obligation to update information contained in any forward-looking statement, except as required by law.

	March 26, 2016			December 26, 2015
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	38,673		$	38,154
Marketable securities		44,672			44,931
Accounts receivable, net		44,482			37,832
Inventories		49,893			47,749
Inventories-delivered systems		4,138			2,856
Prepaid expenses and other		6,060			6,592
Total current assets		187,918			178,114

Property, plant and equipment, net		43,068			44,493
Goodwill		9,592			9,415
Intangible assets, net		1,425			1,867
Deferred income tax assets		1,191			1,118
Other assets		525			533
Total assets	$	243,719		$	235,540

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	13,212		$	11,675
Accrued payroll and related expenses		8,592			10,097
Deferred revenue		16,010			12,790
Other current liabilities		8,978			8,878
Income taxes payable		704			1,771
Total current liabilities		47,496			45,211

Deferred revenue		250			827
Income taxes payable		805			775
Deferred tax liabilities		563			521
Other long-term liabilities		859			878
Total liabilities		49,973			48,212

Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock		24			24
Additional paid-in capital		260,679			258,715
Accumulated deficit		(62,742	)		(66,209	)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		(4,215	)		(5,202	)
Total stockholders’ equity		193,746			187,328
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity	$	243,719		$	235,540

	Three Months Ended
	March 26, 2016			March 28, 2015

Net revenues:
Products	$	39,214		$	38,229
Service		8,275			12,037
Total net revenues		47,489			50,376

Costs of net revenues:
Cost of products		18,079			19,992
Cost of service		4,484			6,373
Amortization of intangible assets		435			632
Total costs of net revenues		22,998			26,997
Gross profit		24,491			23,379


Operating expenses:
Research and development		8,068			8,159
Selling		7,249			7,116
General and administrative		5,420			5,767
Amortization of intangible assets		24			38
Restructuring		-			58
Total operating expenses		20,761			21,138
Income (loss) from operations		3,730			2,241

Other income (expense):
Interest income		9			10
Interest expense		(117	)		(82	)
Other income, net		225			704
Total other income (expense), net		117			632

Income (loss) before income taxes		3,847			2,873
Provision for income taxes		380			317
Net income (loss)	$	3,467		$	2,556

Net income (loss) per share:
Basic	$	0.14		$	0.11
Diluted	$	0.14		$	0.11

Shares used in per share calculation:
Basic		24,308			23,866
Diluted		24,597			24,257

	Three Months Ended
	March 26, 2016			March 28, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	3,467		$	2,556
Reconciliation of net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		2,176			2,324
Stock-based compensation		1,689			1,571
Loss on disposal of fixed assets		99			485
Inventory write down		651			403
Deferred income taxes		(30	)		55
Changes in fair value of contingent consideration		55			35
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		(5,197	)		(13,340	)
Inventories		(1,871	)		(2,442	)
Inventories-delivered systems		(1,283	)		1,164
Prepaid expenses and other		605			(94	)
Accounts payable, accrued and other liabilities		(1,468	)		3,947
Deferred revenue		2,643			(2,468	)
Income taxes payable		(1,037	)		(70	)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities		499			(5,874	)

Cash flows from investing activities:
Sales of marketable securities		-			1,082
Maturities of marketable securities		13,153			9,592
Purchases of marketable securities		(12,953	)		(10,613	)
Purchase of property, plant and equipment		(610	)		(502	)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities		(410	)		(441	)

Cash flows from financing activities:
Payments to Zygo Corporation related to acquisition		(84	)		(224	)
Proceeds from sale of shares under employee stock option and purchase plans		934			2,357
Taxes paid on net issuance of stock awards		(658	)		(764	)
Repurchases of common stock		-			(1,721	)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		192			(352	)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents		238			(74	)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents		519			(6,741	)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period		38,154			34,676
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$	38,673		$	27,935

	Three Months Ended
	March 26, 2016					December 26, 2015						March 28, 2015
Reconciliation of GAAP gross profit and gross margin to non-GAAP gross profit and gross margin
GAAP gross profit and gross margin, respectively	$	24,491		51.6	%	$	20,804			48.7	%	$	23,379	46.4	%
Non-GAAP adjustments:
Amortization of intangible assets		435		0.9	%		469			1.1	%		632	1.3	%
Non-GAAP gross profit and gross margin, respectively	$	24,926		52.5	%	$	21,273			49.8	%	$	24,011	47.7	%

Reconciliation of GAAP operating income to non-GAAP operating income
GAAP operating income (loss) and operating margin, respectively	$	3,730		7.9	%	$	(1,042	)		(2.4	%)	$	2,241	4.4	%
Non-GAAP adjustments:
Amortization of intangible assets included in cost of revenues		435		0.9	%		469			1.1	%		632	1.3	%
Amortization of intangible assets included in operating expenses		24	-				25		-				38	0.1	%
Restructuring included in operating expenses		-					1,322			3.1	%		58	0.1	%
Total non-GAAP adjustments to operating income (loss)		459		0.9	%		1,816			4.2	%		728	1.5	%
Non-GAAP operating income and operating margin, respectively	$	4,189		8.8	%	$	774			1.8	%	$	2,969	5.9	%

Reconciliation of GAAP net income to non-GAAP net income	`
GAAP net income (loss)	$	3,467				$	(1,814	)				$	2,556
Non-GAAP adjustments:
Total non-GAAP adjustments to non-GAAP operating income (loss)		459					1,816						728
Non-GAAP net income (loss)	$	3,926				$	2					$	3,284

GAAP net income (loss) per diluted share	$	0.14				$	(0.07	)				$	0.11

Non-GAAP net income (loss) per diluted share	$	0.16				$	0.00					$	0.14

Shares used in diluted net income per share calculation		24,597					24,446						24,257


Investor Relations Contact:		Company Contact:
Claire McAdams		Jeffrey Andreson, CFO
Headgate Partners LLC		Nanometrics Incorporated
530.265.9899		408.545.6143
claire@headgatepartners.com		jandreson@nanometrics.com

GAAP Results
	Q1 2016	Q4 2015	Q1 2015
Revenues	$ 47,489	$ 42,683	$ 50,376
Gross Profit	$ 24,491	$ 20,804	$ 23,379
Income (Loss) from Operations	$ 3,730	$ (1,042)	$ 2,241
Net Income (Loss)	$ 3,467	$ (1,814)	$ 2,556
Earnings per Share	$ 0.14	$ (0.07)	$ 0.11

Non-GAAP Results
	Q1 2016	Q4 2015	Q1 2015
Gross Profit	$ 24,926	$ 21,273	$ 24,011
Income from Operations	$ 4,189	$ 774	$ 2,969
Net Income	$ 3,926	$ 2	$ 3,284
Earnings per Share	$ 0.16	$ 0.00	$ 0.14

Non-GAAP results exclude the impact of the following in the indicated period:
Amortization of acquired intangibles	●	●	●
Restructuring charges		●	●