SYMC Symantec Corporation

• Achieved 30 percent non-GAAP operating margin target
• Accelerating growth of Veritas business driven by strength in enterprise backup and appliances
• Approved a new $1 billion share repurchase program

Symantec Corp. (NASDAQ: SYMC) today reported the results of its third quarter of fiscal year 2015, ended January 2, 2015.

Michael A. Brown, president and CEO, said, “Cyberattacks continue to dominate the headlines with more than 70 percent of these still occurring at the endpoint. By harnessing Symantec’s vast threat telemetry to deliver actionable insight, we continue to prevent attacks at hundreds of millions of enterprise and consumer endpoints.”

“As the market leader in endpoint security, our enterprise endpoint protection revenue grew 5 percent year-over-year in constant currency. Over the next few quarters, we will deliver more powerful advanced threat protection capabilities that will better detect and remediate attacks.”

“Our information management business, recently rebranded as Veritas, is experiencing accelerating growth, driven by double-digit revenue growth for both our NetBackup appliances and NetBackup software.”

Thomas Seifert, executive vice president and CFO, said, “Driving operational efficiencies across the company has allowed us to achieve our 30 percent operating margin target. We saw implied billings growth for three consecutive quarters on a constant currency basis, in addition to a 21 percent increase in large deals, underlining that the momentum in our businesses is strong.”

       

Results for the Third Quarter of Fiscal Year 2015 (Dollars in millions, except EPS)

      3Q15   3Q14  

ReportedY/YChange

 

FXAdjustedY/Y Change

GAAP                 Revenue   $1,638   $1,705   (4%)   0% Operating Margin   20.0%   23.8%   (380) bps   (270) bps Net Income   $222   $283   (22%)   N/A Deferred Revenue   $3,494   $3,654   (4%)   1% EPS (Diluted)   $0.32   $0.40   (20%)   N/A CFFO   $358   $329   9%   N/A Non-GAAP                 Operating Margin   30.4%   29.9%   50 bps   140 bps Net Income   $367   $367   0%   N/A EPS (Diluted)   $0.53   $0.52   2%   N/A    

Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2015 Guidance (Dollars in millions, except EPS and FX rate)

      4Q15   FY15     At Expected

FX Rate

  At Previous

FX Rate

  At Expected

FX Rate

  At Previous

FX Rate

GAAP                 Revenue   $1,525 - $1,585   $1,620 - $1,680   $6,515 - $6,575   $6,700 - $6,760 Operating Margin  

14.9% - 15.9%

 

17.9% - 18.9%

 

18.8% - 19.0%

 

20.1% - 20.3%

EPS (Diluted)   $0.22 - $0.25   $0.29 - $0.32   $1.23 - $1.26   $1.36 - $1.39 Non-GAAP                 Operating Margin  

26.5% - 27.5%

 

28.9% - 29.9%

 

27.5% - 27.7%

 

28.6% - 28.8%

EPS (Diluted)   $0.42 - $0.45   $0.48 - $0.51   $1.87 - $1.90   $2.00 - $2.03 Tax Rate  

25.5%

 

25.5%

 

24.8%

 

24.8%

Share Count   693 million   693 million   696 million   696 million FX Rate (€/$)   $1.16   $1.38   $1.28   $1.38        

Symantec's Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 per common share to be paid on March 18, 2015 to all shareholders of record as of the close of business on February 26, 2015. The ex-dividend date will be February 24, 2015.

In a separate press release today, the company also announced that its Board of Directors has approved a new $1 billion share repurchase program.

Conference Call

Symantec has scheduled a conference call for 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT today to discuss results from the third quarter of fiscal year 2015, ended January 2, 2015 and to review guidance. Interested parties may access the conference call on the Internet at http://www.symantec.com/invest. To listen to the live call, please go to the website at least 15 minutes early to register, download and install any necessary audio software. A replay and our prepared remarks will be available on the investor relations home page shortly after the call is completed.

About Symantec

Symantec Corporation (NASDAQ: SYMC) is an information protection expert that helps people, businesses and governments seeking the freedom to unlock the opportunities technology brings -- anytime, anywhere. Founded in April 1982, Symantec, a Fortune 500 company, operating one of the largest global data-intelligence networks, has provided leading security, backup and availability solutions for where vital information is stored, accessed and shared. The company's more than 20,000 employees reside in more than 50 countries. Ninety-nine percent of Fortune 500 companies are Symantec customers. In fiscal 2014, it recorded revenues of $6.7 billion. To learn more go to www.symantec.com or connect with Symantec at: http://www.symantec.com/social/

NOTE TO EDITORS: If you would like additional information on Symantec Corporation and its products, please visit the Symantec News Room at http://www.symantec.com/news. All prices noted are in U.S. dollars and are valid only in the United States.

Symantec and the Symantec Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Symantec Corporation or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This press release contains statements regarding our financial and business results and plans, which may be considered forward-looking within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. These include statements regarding our plan to separate into two publicly traded companies, as well as projections of future revenue, operating margin and earnings per share, amortization of acquisition-related intangibles, stock-based compensation, and restructuring, separation and transition charges. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from results expressed or implied in this press release. Such risk factors include those related to: general economic conditions; risks related to the planned separation of the company into the security business and the information management business; maintaining customer and partner relationships; the anticipated growth of certain market segments, particularly with regard to security and storage; the competitive environment in the software industry; changes to operating systems and product strategy by vendors of operating systems; fluctuations in currency exchange rates; the timing and market acceptance of new product releases and upgrades; the successful development of new products and integration of acquired businesses, and the degree to which these products and businesses gain market acceptance. Actual results may differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements in this press release. We assume no obligation, and do not intend, to update these forward-looking statements as a result of future events or developments. Additional information concerning these and other risks factors is contained in the Risk Factors sections of our Form 10-K for the year ended March 28, 2014 and our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 3, 2014.

USE OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION: Our results of operations have undergone significant change due to the impact of stock-based compensation, charges related to the amortization of intangible assets, and certain other income and expense items that management considers unrelated to the Company’s core operations, including restructuring, separation and transition costs. To help our readers understand our past financial performance and our future results, we supplement the financial results that we provide in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, with non-GAAP financial measures. The method we use to produce non-GAAP results is not computed according to GAAP and may differ from the methods used by other companies. Non-GAAP financial measures are supplemental, should not be considered a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with GAAP and should be read only in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. Our management team uses these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing the Company’s operating results, as well as when planning, forecasting and analyzing future periods. Investors are encouraged to review the reconciliation of our non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP results, which is attached to our quarterly earnings release and which can be found, along with other financial information, on the investor relations page of our website at http://www.symantec.com/invest.

              SYMANTEC CORPORATION Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Dollars in millions, unaudited)           January 2, March 28,

2015

 

2014(1)

  ASSETS   Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 2,764 $ 3,707 Short-term investments 976 377 Trade accounts receivable, net 982 1,007 Inventories, net 12 14 Deferred income taxes 143 142 Deferred commissions 120 115 Other current assets   258     290   Total current assets   5,255     5,652     Property and equipment, net 1,186 1,116 Intangible assets, net 669 768 Goodwill 5,854 5,858 Long-term deferred commissions 25 21 Other long-term assets   113     124   Total assets $ 13,102   $ 13,539     LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY   Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 212 $ 282 Accrued compensation and benefits 382 365 Deferred revenue 2,961 3,322 Current portion of long-term debt 350 - Other current liabilities   328     337   Total current liabilities   4,233     4,306     Long-term debt 1,745 2,095 Long-term deferred revenue 533 581 Long-term deferred tax liabilities 465 425 Long-term income taxes payable 133 252 Other long-term obligations   83     83   Total liabilities   7,192     7,742         Total stockholders' equity   5,910     5,797   Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 13,102   $ 13,539               (1) Derived from audited consolidated financial statements.                             SYMANTEC CORPORATION Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (In millions, except per share data, unaudited)                   Year-Over-Year Three Months Ended   Growth Rate January 2, December 27,

Constant

2015

  2013   Actual  

Currency (1)

  Net revenue: Content, subscription, and maintenance $ 1,412 $ 1,508 -6 % -3 % License   226       197     15 %   20 % Total net revenue   1,638       1,705     -4 %   0 %   Cost of revenue: Content, subscription, and maintenance 239 244 License 28 26

Amortization of intangible assets

  12       13           Total cost of revenue   279       283     -1 %   1 % Gross profit   1,359       1,422     -4 %   -1 %   Operating expenses: Sales and marketing 563 610 Research and development 267 252 General and administrative 94 98 Amortization of intangible assets 27 28

Restructuring, separation, and transition

 

81

     

29

   

 

    Total operating expenses   1,032       1,017     1 %   4 % Operating income   327       405     -19 %   -12 %   Interest income 3 3 Interest expense (20 ) (20 )

Other income (loss), net

  2       (1 )         Income before income taxes   312       387     -19 %   N/A     Provision for income taxes   90       104           Net income $ 222     $ 283     -22 %   N/A     Net income per share -- basic $ 0.32 $ 0.41   Net income per share -- diluted $ 0.32 $ 0.40   Weighted-average shares outstanding -- basic 689 696   Weighted-average shares outstanding -- diluted 697 702   Cash dividends declared per common share   $ 0.15     $ 0.15             (1) Management refers to growth rates adjusting for currency so that the business results can be viewed without the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. We compare the percentage change in the results from one period to another period in order to provide a framework for assessing how our underlying businesses performed excluding the effect of foreign currency rate fluctuations. To present this information, current and comparative prior period results for entities reporting in currencies other than United States dollars are converted into United States dollars at the actual exchange rates in effect during the respective prior periods.                             SYMANTEC CORPORATION Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (In millions, except per share data, unaudited)                   Year-Over-Year Nine Months Ended  

Growth Rate (1)

January 2, December 27, Constant

 

2015

  2013   Actual   Currency (2)   Net revenue: Content, subscription, and maintenance $ 4,431 $ 4,527 -2 % -1 % License   559       524     7 %   8 % Total net revenue   4,990       5,051     -1 %   0 %   Cost of revenue: Content, subscription, and maintenance 748 759 License 80 67 Amortization of intangible assets   38       41          

Total cost of revenue

  866       867     0 %   1 % Gross profit   4,124       4,184     -1 %   0 %   Operating expenses: Sales and marketing 1,772 1,854 Research and development 851 762 General and administrative 290 331 Amortization of intangible assets 83 128 Restructuring, separation, and transition   131       232           Total operating expenses   3,127       3,307     -5 %   -5 % Operating income   997       877     14 %   16 %   Interest income 9 9 Interest expense (60 ) (65 ) Other income, net   4       37           Income before income taxes   950       858     11 %   N/A     Provision for income taxes   248       177           Net income $ 702     $ 681     3 %   N/A     Net income per share -- basic $ 1.02 $ 0.98   Net income per share -- diluted $ 1.01 $ 0.96   Weighted-average shares outstanding -- basic 690 697   Weighted-average shares outstanding -- diluted 697 706   Cash dividends declared per common share   $ 0.45     $ 0.45             (1) We have a 52/53-week fiscal accounting year. The nine months ended January 2, 2015 consisted of 40 weeks, whereas the nine months ended December 27, 2013 consisted of 39 weeks.   (2) Management refers to growth rates adjusting for currency so that the business results can be viewed without the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. We compare the percentage change in the results from one period to another period in order to provide a framework for assessing how our underlying businesses performed excluding the effect of foreign currency rate fluctuations. To present this information, current and comparative prior period results for entities reporting in currencies other than United States dollars are converted into United States dollars at the actual exchange rates in effect during the respective prior periods.       SYMANTEC CORPORATION Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Dollars in millions, unaudited)         Nine Months Ended January 2,   December 27, 2015   2013   OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Net income $ 702 $ 681 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

Depreciation

213

207

Amortization of intangible assets 121 170 Amortization of debt issuance costs and discounts 3 6 Stock-based compensation expense 140 111 Deferred income taxes 28 9 Excess income tax benefit from the exercise of stock options (6 ) (13 ) Net gain from sale of short-term investments - (32 ) Other 8 8 Net change in assets and liabilities, excluding effects of acquisitions: Trade accounts receivable, net (7 ) 145 Inventories, net 1 11 Deferred commissions (16 ) 27 Accounts payable (65 ) (54 ) Accrued compensation and benefits 28 (83 ) Deferred revenue (232 ) (470 ) Income taxes payable (94 ) 30 Other assets 22 30 Other liabilities   (22 )     49   Net cash provided by operating activities   824       832     INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Purchases of property and equipment (300 ) (183 ) Payments for acquisitions, net of cash acquired, and purchases of intangibles (39 ) (17 ) Purchases of short-term investments (1,429 ) (174 ) Proceeds from maturities of short-term investments 495

99

Proceeds from sales of short-term investments   270      

67

  Net cash used in investing activities   (1,003 )     (208 )   FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Repayments of debt and other obligations (19 ) (1,189 ) Proceeds from convertible note hedge - 189 Net proceeds from sales of common stock under employee stock benefit plans 78 183 Excess income tax benefit from the exercise of stock options 6 13 Tax payments related to restricted stock units (37 ) (32 ) Dividends paid, net (311 ) (314 ) Repurchases of common stock (375 ) (375 ) Proceeds from other financing, net   36       -   Net cash used in financing activities   (622 )     (1,525 )   Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash and cash equivalents   (142 )     29   Change in cash and cash equivalents (943 ) (872 ) Beginning cash and cash equivalents   3,707       4,685   Ending cash and cash equivalents $ 2,764     $ 3,813         SYMANTEC CORPORATION

Reconciliation of Selected GAAP Measures to Non-GAAP Measures (1) (2)

(In millions, except per share data, unaudited)                 Year-Over-Year Three Months Ended Non-GAAP Growth Rate January 2, 2015 December 27, 2013   Constant GAAP   Adj   Non-GAAP GAAP   Adj   Non-GAAP Actual Currency (3)   Net revenue $ 1,638   $ -   $ 1,638 $ 1,705   $ -   $ 1,705 -4% 0%   Gross profit $ 1,359 $ 18 $ 1,377 $ 1,422 $ 18 $ 1,440 -4% -1% Stock-based compensation 6 5 Amortization of intangible assets       12           13           Gross margin %   83.0%     1.1%     84.1%   83.4%     1.1%     84.5% -40 bps -30 bps   Operating expenses: $ 1,032 $ 153 $ 879 $ 1,017 $ 86 $ 931 -6% -3% Stock-based compensation 45 29 Amortization of intangible assets 27 28 Restructuring, separation, and transition       81           29           Operating expenses as a % of revenue   63.0%     -9.3%     53.7%   59.6%     -5.0%     54.6% -90 bps -170 bps   Operating income $ 327   $ 171   $ 498 $ 405   $ 104   $ 509 -2% 4%   Operating margin %   20.0%     10.4%     30.4%   23.8%     6.1%     29.9% 50 bps 140 bps   Net income: $ 222 $ 145 $ 367 $ 283 $ 84 $ 367 0% N/A Gross profit adjustment 18 18 Operating expense adjustment 153 86 Income tax effect on above items       (26)           (20)           Diluted net income per share $ 0.32   $ 0.21   $ 0.53 $ 0.40   $ 0.12   $ 0.52 2% N/A   Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding     697     -     697     702     -     702   -1%   N/A   (1) This presentation includes non-GAAP measures. Non-GAAP financial measures are supplemental and should not be considered a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with GAAP. For a detailed explanation of these non-GAAP measures, please see Appendix A.   (2) Non-GAAP measures for fiscal 2015 have been revised to reflect a change in methodology that reduces the number of adjustments to GAAP measures. For a detailed explanation of this change in methodology, please see “Change in non-GAAP methodology” in Appendix A.   (3) Management refers to growth rates adjusting for currency so that the business results can be viewed without the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. We compare the percentage change in the results from one period to another period in order to provide a framework for assessing how our underlying businesses performed excluding the effect of foreign currency rate fluctuations. To present this information, current and comparative prior period results for entities reporting in currencies other than United States dollars are converted into United States dollars at the actual exchange rates in effect during the respective prior periods.               SYMANTEC CORPORATION Revenue and Deferred Revenue Detail (Dollars in millions, unaudited)         Three Months Ended January 2, 2015 December 27, 2013 GAAP Revenue         Content, subscription, and maintenance $ 1,412 $ 1,508 License     226       197   Total Revenue   $ 1,638     $ 1,705   GAAP Revenue - Y/Y Growth Rate         Content, subscription, and maintenance -6 % -1 % License     15 %     -27 % Total Y/Y Growth Rate     -4 %     -5 % GAAP Revenue - Y/Y Growth Rate in Constant Currency (1)         Content, subscription, and maintenance -3 % 0 % License     20 %     -27 % Total Y/Y Growth Rate in Constant Currency (1)     0 %     -4 % GAAP Revenue by Segment (2)         Consumer Security $ 461 $ 517 Enterprise Security 509 528 Information Management     668       660   GAAP Revenue by Segment - Y/Y Growth Rate (2)         Consumer Security -11 % -2 % Enterprise Security -4 % -5 % Information Management     1 %     -6 % GAAP Revenue by Segment - Y/Y Growth Rate in Constant Currency (1) (2)         Consumer Security -7 % -2 % Enterprise Security 0 % -4 % Information Management     5 %     -7 % GAAP Revenue by Geography         International $ 830 $ 904 U.S. 808 801 Americas (U.S., Latin America, Canada) 907 914 EMEA 464 494 Asia Pacific & Japan     267       297   GAAP Revenue by Geography - Y/Y Growth Rate         International -8 % -4 % U.S. 1 % -6 % Americas (U.S., Latin America, Canada) -1 % -4 % EMEA -6 % -1 % Asia Pacific & Japan     -10 %     -12 % GAAP Revenue by Geography - Y/Y Growth Rate in Constant Currency (1)         International -1 % -3 % U.S. 1 % -6 % Americas (U.S., Latin America, Canada) -1 % -4 % EMEA 2 % -5 % Asia Pacific & Japan     -3 %     -4 %           GAAP Deferred Revenue   $ 3,494     $ 3,654   GAAP Deferred Revenue - Y/Y Growth Rate     -4 %     -6 % GAAP Deferred Revenue - Y/Y Growth Rate in Constant Currency (1)     1 %     -5 %   (1) Management refers to growth rates adjusting for currency so that the business results can be viewed without the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. We compare the percentage change in the results from one period to another period in order to provide a framework for assessing how our underlying businesses performed. To exclude the effects of foreign currency rate fluctuations, current and comparative prior period results for entities reporting in currencies other than United States dollars are converted into United States dollars at the actual exchange rates in effect during the respective prior periods (or, in the case of deferred revenue, converted into United States dollars at the actual exchange rate in effect at the end of the prior period).   (2) This presentation includes revised amounts from a change in segment reporting. Please see Appendix A for more details.               SYMANTEC CORPORATION Operating Margin by Segment Detail (1) (2) (3) (Dollars in millions, unaudited)       Three Months Ended January 2, December 27,     2015   2013 Operating Income by Segment         Consumer Security $ 245 $ 224 Enterprise Security 85 107 Information Management     168       178   Total Operating Income by Segment     498       509   Reconciling Items: Stock-based compensation 51 34 Amortization of intangible assets 39 41 Restructuring, separation, and transition     81       29   Total Consolidated Operating Income   $ 327     $ 405             Operating Margin by Segment         Consumer Security 53 % 43 % Enterprise Security 17 % 20 % Information Management     25 %     27 %   (1) This presentation includes non-GAAP measures. Non-GAAP financial measures are supplemental and should not be considered a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with GAAP. For a detailed explanation of these non-GAAP measures, please see Appendix A.   (2) Non-GAAP measures for fiscal 2015 have been revised to reflect a change in methodology that reduces the number of adjustments to GAAP measures. For a detailed explanation of this change in methodology, please see “Change in non-GAAP methodology” in Appendix A.   (3) This presentation includes revised amounts from a change in segment reporting. Please see Appendix A for more details.                   SYMANTEC CORPORATION Guidance and Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Operating Margin and Earnings Per Share (1) (2) (Dollars in millions, except per share data, unaudited)               Fiscal Year 2015 Revenue Guidance   Year Ended April 3, 2015   Year-Over-Year Growth Rate (3) (4) Range Actual   Constant Currency (5)   Revenue range $6,515 - $6,575 (2.8)% - (1.9)% (0.8)% - 0.2%               Year Ended April 3, 2015 Year-Over-Year Increase (3) Operating Margin Guidance and Reconciliation Range Actual Constant Currency (5)   GAAP operating margin

18.8% - 19.0%

110 bps - 130 bps

198 bps - 221 bps

Add back: Stock-based compensation 3.0% Other non-GAAP adjustments 5.7%     Non-GAAP operating margin

27.5% - 27.7%

10 bps - 30 bps

85 bps - 109 bps

              Year Ended April 3, 2015 Year-Over-Year Growth Rate (3) Earnings Per Share Guidance and Reconciliation Range Actual   GAAP diluted earnings per share range $1.23 - $1.26 (3.9)% - (1.6)% Add back: Stock-based compensation, net of taxes $0.21 Other non-GAAP adjustments, net of taxes $0.43   Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share range $1.87 - $1.90 (4.1)% - (2.6)%               Fourth Quarter Fiscal Year 2015 Revenue Guidance Three Months Ended April 3, 2015 Year-Over-Year Growth Rate (4) Range Actual Constant Currency (5)   Revenue range $1,525 - $1,585 (7.6)% - (3.9)% (2.2)% - 1.7%               Three Months Ended April 3, 2015 Year-Over-Year Increase (Decrease) Operating Margin Guidance and Reconciliation Range Actual Constant Currency (5)   GAAP operating margin

14.9% - 15.9%

(390) bps - (290) bps

(110) bps - (8) bps

Add back: Stock-based compensation 3.6% Other non-GAAP adjustments 8.0%     Non-GAAP operating margin

26.5% - 27.5%

(70) bps - 30 bps

153 bps - 249 bps

              Three Months Ended April 3, 2015 Year-Over-Year Growth Rate Earnings Per Share Guidance and Reconciliation Range Actual   GAAP diluted earnings per share range $0.22 - $0.25 (29.0)% - (19.4)% Add back: Stock-based compensation, net of taxes $0.06 Other non-GAAP adjustments, net of taxes $0.14   Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share range   $0.42 - $0.45   (12.5)% - (6.2)%   (1) This presentation includes non-GAAP measures. Non-GAAP financial measures are supplemental and should not be considered a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with GAAP. For a detailed explanation of these non-GAAP measures, please see Appendix A.   (2) Non-GAAP measures for fiscal 2015 have been revised to reflect a change in methodology that reduces the number of adjustments to GAAP measures. For a detailed explanation of this change in methodology, please see “Change in non-GAAP methodology” in Appendix A.   (3) We have a 52/53-week fiscal accounting year. The fiscal year ended April 3, 2015 consists of 53 weeks, whereas the fiscal year ended March 28, 2014 consisted of 52 weeks.   (4) Growth rates are calculated using fiscal year 2014 non-GAAP revenue.   (5) Management refers to growth rates adjusting for currency fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates so that the business results can be viewed without the impact of these fluctuations. We compare the percent change of the results from one period to another period in order to provide a consistent framework for assessing how our underlying businesses performed. To exclude the effects of foreign currency rate fluctuations, current and comparative prior period results for entities reporting in currencies other than United States dollars are converted into United States dollars at the actual exchange rates in effect during the respective prior periods.  

SYMANTEC CORPORATIONExplanation of Non-GAAP Measures and Other ItemsAppendix A

Segment Reporting: In fiscal 2015, we are focused on managing our businesses as a portfolio and optimizing certain businesses for margin or growth. As a result, we formed a new consumer group and we consolidated our enterprise security businesses into a segment. We modified our segment reporting structure to match our operating structure in the second quarter of fiscal 2015. The historical periods presented have been adjusted to reflect the new reporting structure, which is now:

• Consumer Security• Enterprise Security• Information Management

Consumer Security consists of our consumer security businesses that were previously reported in User Productivity & Protection. Enterprise Security consists of our enterprise security businesses that were previously reported in User Productivity & Protection and Information Security. There were no changes to the Information Management segment.

Objective of non-GAAP measures: We believe our presentation of non-GAAP financial measures, when taken together with corresponding GAAP financial measures, provides meaningful supplemental information regarding the Company’s operating performance for the reasons discussed below. Our management team uses these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing the Company’s operating results, as well as when planning, forecasting and analyzing future periods. We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures also facilitate comparisons of the Company’s performance to prior periods and to our peers and that investors benefit from an understanding of the non-GAAP financial measures. Non-GAAP financial measures are supplemental and should not be considered a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with GAAP.

Change in non-GAAP methodology: From time to time, the Company performs a comprehensive review of its non-GAAP financial measures. Effective in the first quarter of fiscal 2015, non-GAAP financial measures are adjusted for the following items: stock-based compensation expense; charges related to the amortization of intangible assets; certain other income and expense items that management considers unrelated to the Company’s core operations; and the associated income tax effects of the adjustments. By limiting the number and nature of adjustments, our management team believes this supplemental information will provide more meaningful insight into the performance of the Company’s core business and enhance investors’ ability to compare the Company’s performance to its peers. The adoption of the change in methodology has been applied retrospectively to prior periods to facilitate comparability across periods.

Stock-based compensation: Consists of expenses for employee stock options, restricted stock units, restricted stock awards, performance based awards and our employee stock purchase plan determined in accordance with the authoritative guidance on stock-based compensation. When evaluating the performance of our individual business units and developing short- and long-term plans, we do not consider stock-based compensation charges. Our management team is held accountable for cash-based compensation, but we believe that management is limited in its ability to project the impact of stock-based compensation and accordingly is not held accountable for its impact on our operating results. Although stock-based compensation is necessary to attract and retain quality employees, our consideration of stock-based compensation places its primary emphasis on overall shareholder dilution rather than the accounting charges associated with such grants. In addition, for comparability purposes, we believe it is useful to provide a non-GAAP financial measure that excludes stock-based compensation in order to better understand the long-term performance of our core business and to facilitate the comparison of our results to the results of our peer companies. Furthermore, unlike cash-based compensation, the value of stock-based compensation is determined using complex formulas that incorporate factors, such as market volatility, that are beyond our control.

                Three Months Ended January 2,   December 27, 2015 2013 Cost of revenue $ 6 $ 5 Sales and marketing 20 15 Research and development 17 9 General and administrative 8 5 Total stock-based compensation $ 51 $ 34  

Amortization of intangible assets: When conducting internal development of intangible assets, accounting rules require that we expense the costs as incurred. In the case of acquired businesses, however, we are required to allocate a portion of the purchase price to the accounting value assigned to intangible assets acquired and amortize this amount over the estimated useful lives of the acquired intangible assets. The acquired company, in most cases, has itself previously expensed the costs incurred to develop the acquired intangible assets, and the purchase price allocated to these assets is not necessarily reflective of the cost we would incur in developing the intangible asset. We eliminate these amortization charges from our non-GAAP operating results to provide better comparability of pre- and post-acquisition operating results and comparability to results of businesses utilizing internally developed intangible assets.

Restructuring, separation, and transition: We have engaged in various restructuring, separation, and transition activities over the past several years that have resulted in costs associated with severance, facilities, transition, and other related costs. Separation and other related costs consist of consulting and disentanglement costs incurred to split the Company into two, independent publicly traded companies, as well as costs to prune selected product lines that do not fit either the Company’s growth or margin objectives. Transition and other related costs consist of consulting charges associated with the implementation of new Enterprise Resource Planning systems. Each restructuring, separation, and transition activity has been a discrete event based on a unique set of business objectives or circumstances, and each has differed from the others in terms of its operational implementation, business impact and scope. We do not engage in restructuring, separation, or transition activities in the ordinary course of business. While our operations previously benefited from the employees and facilities covered by our various restructuring and separation charges, these employees and facilities have benefited different parts of our business in different ways, and the amount of these charges has varied significantly from period to period. We believe that it is important to understand these charges and we believe that investors benefit from excluding these charges from our operating results to facilitate a more meaningful evaluation of current operating performance and comparisons to past operating performance.

Symantec Corp.Media Contact:Kristen Batch, 650-527-5152Kristen_Batch@symantec.comInvestor Contact:Helyn Corcos, 650-527-5523hcorcos@symantec.com