EXCERPTS from an Annex Research analysis of CSC's 4Q05 results (May 25, 2005)

Annex Bulletin 2005-16 May 25, 2005

Excerpts from Confidential Client Edition

IT SERVICES

Analysis of CSC’s Fiscal Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2005 Results

Harvesting Records

Strong Results During Calendar First Quarter, Especially in Europe

PHOENIX, May 25 – What European slump? Computer Sciences Corp.’s (CSC) fourth quarter of fiscal 2005 results, ended March 31, should dispel any doubts that IBM’s problems in Europe were pervasive.

CSC European revenues were up 19% (up 14% in constant currency) to $1.3 billion, a new record. The new business awards from the Old Continent contributed to record new signings (from continuing operations) in the fourth quarter and the full year. And all that happened during the calendar first quarter of 2005, which was supposed to be weak, based on IBM’s results (see “Slammed and Dunked,” Apr 2005).

[snip]

Full Year Results

For the full year, CSC reported revenues from continuing operations of just over $14 billion, up 5% from a year ago total. The main reason for a (mere) single digit growth were the divestitures of two DynCorp units (see “Gearing Down on Purpose, Feb 2005). But the sale dropped $314 million to CSC’s bottom line, boosting its total net earnings for the year to $810 million, up 56% from a year ago.

[snip]

Strong Balance Sheet – Hint of Acquisitions

The redemption of $1 billion of debt to which the CSC CEO referred above cost the company $18.4 million in after-tax charges in the latest period, but it also significantly enhanced its balance sheet. The debt-to-total capitalization ratio improved from 30% last year, to 17.6% in the latest period, boasted Leon Level, the CSC’s CFO.

The company also set a record annual free cash flow of $475 million.

So stand by for CSC to put some of the money it saved and it made to work.

[snip]

Summary & Outlook

During the fiscal year 2005, CSC faced a number of challenges, both internal and external. Internally, the company digested its 2003 DynCorp acquisition and sold off some of its parts. Externally, the company faced soft demand for professional services, and a temporary reduction in federal government spending on projects that represent CSC’s sweet spots.

“Despite these challenges, we delivered record revenues, record earnings per share, record new business awards, record free cash flow, and a balance sheet that afford, for all practical purposes, unlimited flexibility,” said Level, the company’s CFO. He had good reasons to be boastful. For, it is in hard times that management’s mettle is tested.

So what can we expect in fiscal year 2006?

[snip]

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For additional Annex Research reports, check out...

2005 IT: CSC: Harvesting Records (May 2005); IBM Trumps Trump (May 2005); Tweaking Big Blue (May 2005); Dell Rings the Bell (May 2005); Stock Buybacks: The Phantom Is Back (May 2005); EDS Misfiring on All Cylinders (May 2005); HP Surges, Dell Slumps; Lenovo Completes IBM Deal (May 2005); Capgemini Jettisons Healthcare in N.A. (Apr 2005); HP: From India to Poland (Apr 2005); IBM: Slammed and Dunked (Apr 2005); Accenture: Roaring Ahead (Apr 2005); Fujitsu Unveils New Servers (Mar 2005); EDS Executive Suite; HP's New CEO (Mar 2005); An iSeries Revival (Mar 2005); EDS Booster Club Fees Rise (Mar 2005); An Upside-Down View (Mar 2005); The Worst of Both Worlds (Mar 2005); Octathlon 2005: Accenture Wins (Mar 2005); IBM Global Services: Smaller, Shorter - Better? (Mar 2005); IBM 5-yr Forecast: Quality over Quantity (Mar 2005); Rumor Lifts EDS', Fujitsu's Shares (Mar 2005); Capgemini: Turning the Corner (Feb 2005); IBM Servers to Grow Again (Feb 2005); Carly's Fickle Fans (Feb 2005); CSC: Gearing Down on Purpose (Feb 2005); EDS: Grossly Overpriced Stock (Feb 2005); IBM Historical Update: 2004 Shot in the Arm (Feb 2005); New HeadTurners Series #1 (Feb 2005); IBM: A Crescendo Finale! (Jan 2005); Accenture: Strong Finish, Better Start (Jan 2005); Annex Coverage 2004: IT Services Dominate (Jan 2005)

2004 IT: EDS: The Titanium Stock (and other Wall Street tales) (Dec 2004); IBM PC: Good Riddance (Dec 2004); Fujitsu: Recovery Continues (Nov 2004); IBM Server Renaissance (Nov 2004); HP Hits Home Run (Nov 2004); Capgemini: Revenue, Stock Soars (Nov 2004); EDS: Jordan's Swan Song? (Nov 2004); To Russia with Love and $ (Oct 2004); IBM: Slow Quarter No Longer (Oct 2004); Accenture: Revenues, Profits Up, Stock Down (Oct 2004); Capgemini: A Takeover Target? (Oct 2004); Sellout of America (Oct 2004); Spy Wars (Sep 2004); Outsourcing Boomerang (Sep 2004); EDS to Cut Up to 20,000 More Jobs (Sep 2004); Capgemini Stock Plummets on Unexpected Loss (Sep 2004); HP Savaged by Wall Street (Aug 2004); Moody's Lowers the Boon on EDS (July 2004); HP: Delivering Value Horizontally (June 2004); Accenture: Revving Up a Notch (June 2004); Beware Your CFO! (May 2004); IBM: Changing of the Guard (May 2004); Capgemini: Texas-size Home Run (May 2004); Following the Money (May 2004); EDS: On a Wink and a Prayer (Apr 2004); HPS Wins by a Nose! (Octathlon 2004); Accenture: Burning the Track (Mar 2004); IGS: "Crown Jewel" Restored? (Mar 2004); HP: Still No Cigar (Feb 2004); Cap Gemini: Another, Smaller Loss (Feb 2004); CSC: Good Quarter Gets Boos (Feb 2004); EDS: "Hot Air Jordan" Flaunts Flop as Feat (Feb 2004); IT Industry: Whither Goeth It? (Jan 2004); Cronyism Is Alive and Well at EDS" (Jan 2004)

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Volume XXI, Annex Bulletin 2005-16
May 25, 2005

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