Fiber optics components supplier Finisar (FNSR +0.00%) took a heavy beating in November last year after its key customer, Cisco (CSCO +2.89%), trimmed its revenue guidance. Cisco had accounted for 17% of Finisar's revenue in fiscal 2013, which is why a weak outlook from the networking bellwether was enough to send Finisar shares lower. However, Finisar's second-quarter results proved that there is more to it than just Cisco.
A sizzling performance
Finisar's second-quarter results topped estimates. Revenue was up 25% over the prior-year period as Finisar saw strength in both of its end markets -- telecom and datacom. Net income showed a massive improvement from $271,000 in the year-ago quarter to $30 million in the previous quarter.
Finisar now expects revenue of $290 million to $305 million in the third quarter, ahead of the consensus estimate of $290 million. On earnings, the company is looking at $0.43 to $0.47 per share, while analysts expected $0.38 per share. A look at Finisar's robust performance and terrific outlook makes Cisco's troubles look like a mutually exclusive event.
Diversification helps
Given that Cisco made up close to a fifth of Finisar's top line last fiscal year, the networking giant's trimming of its three-to-five-year revenue growth target from 5%-7% to 3%-6% should have pulled Finisar down.
Cisco is facing some tough times due to a difficult economic environment and the recent government shutdown. Additionally, Reuters reports that Cisco's fortunes in the emerging markets are now shaky after the recent surveillance allegations, since most of the data is transmitted through Cisco's equipment. Also, Cisco is reportedly facing political backlash in China. But Finisar seems to be negotiating Cisco's weakness quite well due to its diversified customer base.
Finisar has a wide range of customers, including Ciena (CIEN +8.91%), Alcatel-Lucent, Huawei, Nokia-Siemens, and others. Most of its customers are key players in the telecom and networking infrastructure industry. That's helped Finisar enjoy good growth in both its end markets.
For example, Ciena opens Finisar's access to both domestic and international service providers. Ciena is a key supplier to AT&T and Verizon in the U.S., and it has also been expanding its network internationally. Ciena recently inked a global partnership with Vodafone, while also landing Tier 1 customer wins in emerging markets such as Brazil and India. In addition, Ciena will be upgrading the broadband network of Cablevision Argentina.
Ciena finished its last fiscal year with a backlog of more than $1 billion on the back of key customer wins. If Finisar sees weak business from Cisco, it can make up for it with better business from other clients such as Ciena.
Also, Finisar seems to be winning share from peer JDS Uniphase. Uniphase cited poor telecom demand in the previous quarter, due to weak orders from North American customers. On the other hand, Finisar has recorded growth in this business due to impressive product-development moves. The company started delivering a record number of new products to its customers in the previous quarter while Uniphase seems to be struggling.
Datacom's outperformance continues
The datacom business has been progressing quite well for some time. In the previous quarter, datacom revenue was up close to 11%, sequentially, as Finisar saw strong demand for 10G products and Ethernet switches. Looking ahead, Finisar is quite optimistic about the performance of this business and expects the growing complexity of data centers to aid growth.
Infonetics reports that there are more than 500,000 data centers across the globe. As these data centers expand in size, Finisar will aim to grab higher optical content in them. Additionally, according to TechNavio, global data center construction is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 15.8% through 2016. Since Finisar counts most of the important networking and infrastructure companies as clients, it seems well-positioned to benefit from the growing data-center market.
The bottom line
Finisar put in a strong performance in 2013. It appreciated close to 40%, but there could be more upside in store in the future as its prospects look strong. At a forward P/E of 14 and a PEG ratio of 0.54, investors who still haven't bought in to this growth story should definitely consider scooping up some shares.
