NYSE$MSI

Motorola Solutions, Inc. · Q3 2021 earnings

Q3 2021 earnings · · Investor relations

Briefing

Motorola Solutions' Q3 2021 financial results were reported, with the company raising full-year revenue and EPS guidance again following record revenue and earnings.

Motorola Solutions reported an excellent Q3, marked by double-digit revenue growth and strong operating margin expansion in both segments. The company's record Q3 ending backlog and continued business momentum position it well to finish the year with record sales, earnings, and cash flow.

  • Sales reached $2.1 billion, a 13% increase compared to the previous year, driven by growth in both North America and International.
  • GAAP earnings per share (EPS) stood at $1.76.
  • Non-GAAP EPS was $2.35, reflecting a 21% increase compared to the previous year.
  • The company achieved a record Q3 ending backlog of $11.4 billion, up 7% versus a year ago.

Headline financials

Total Revenue

$2.11B

Previous: $1.87B+12.8%
EPS (adj)

$2.35

Previous: $1.95+20.5%
GAAP Operating Margin

21.4%

Previous: 18.9%+13.2%
GAAP Effective Tax Rate

24.0%

Previous: 18.0%+33.3%
Ending Backlog

$11.4B

Previous: $10.7B+6.5%
Free Cash Flow

$307M

Previous: $205M+49.8%
Net Income

$307M

Previous: $205M+49.8%
Operating Income

$451M

Previous: $352M+28.1%
Gross Profit

$1.05B

Previous: $909M+15.0%
Cash & Equivalents

$1.65B

Previous: $1.01B+64.2%
Total Assets

$11.4B

Previous: $10.4B+10.2%
Stock-Based Comp

$34M

Previous: $31M+9.7%

Revenue & EPS history

Motorola · Revenue · Quarterly

$2.11B

Q3 2021+12.8%vs Q3 2020
Beat estimate in 15 of 16 quarters(94%)
ActualEstimate

Revenue by segment

Motorola · $2.11B total across 2 segments · Q3 2021

  • Products & Systems Integration
    $1.33B+13.9%
  • Software & Services
    $782M+10.9%

Forward guidance

Motorola Solutions now expects revenue growth of 10% to 10.25%, up from the prior guidance of growth of 9.5% to 10%, and non-GAAP EPS in the range of $9.00 to $9.04, up from the prior guidance of $8.88 to $8.98. This assumes current foreign exchange rates, approximately 174 million fully diluted shares, and an effective tax rate of approximately 21.5%.

Historical earnings impact

How earnings announcements have historically affected this stock's price.

Avg. return before/after earnings

Based on 20 quarterly earnings reports · overlaid with Q3 2021

Historical avgQ3 2021

+0.9%

Avg return

Earnings day

+1.6%

Avg return

5 days after

+4.2%

Avg return

30 days after

59%

43 / 73 earnings

Positive

+12.4%

Q4 2018

Best reaction

-9.3%

Q3 2025

Worst reaction

Earnings price reactions
QuarterReport dateReaction (Day 0)+5 days+30 days
Q1 2026-1.1%-8.7%-5.2%
Q4 2025+7.7%+8.7%+12.3%
Q3 2025-9.3%-8.7%-14.4%
Q2 2025+1.9%+5.6%+7.6%
Q1 2025-7.6%-5.5%-5.4%
Q4 2024-6.0%-5.8%-10.3%
Q3 2024+7.6%+6.0%+4.4%
Q2 2024+2.9%+1.0%+10.8%
Q1 2024+5.3%+6.6%+8.6%
Q4 2023+0.9%-2.7%+2.3%
Q3 2023+6.7%+8.7%+16.0%
Q2 2023-3.1%-3.4%-1.4%
Q1 2023-2.4%-0.7%-2.0%
Q4 2022+5.2%+4.8%+1.3%
Q3 2022+6.2%+7.0%+13.7%
Q2 2022+4.9%+4.5%+2.2%
Q1 2022+6.6%+5.7%+3.6%
Q4 2021-6.1%-9.6%-6.2%
Q3 2021-2.1%-1.3%-1.8%
Q2 2021+2.6%+3.1%+9.9%
Q1 2021+7.2%+8.6%+13.0%
Q4 2020+1.5%+2.1%-0.3%
Q3 2020-3.9%+0.9%+5.5%
Q2 2020+4.3%+3.3%+10.6%
Q1 2020-3.0%-3.0%+15.2%
Q4 2019+1.6%+4.4%-0.4%
Q3 2019+1.0%-2.5%+1.5%
Q2 2019+2.5%+3.4%+9.0%
Q1 2019+0.6%-0.7%+5.1%
Q4 2018+12.4%+13.9%+15.3%
Q3 2018+5.1%+2.7%+7.1%
Q2 2018-2.7%+0.1%+6.2%
Q1 2018+0.4%+0.2%+1.4%
Q4 2017+4.4%+3.3%+6.9%
Q3 2017+4.1%+1.7%+2.7%
Q2 2017-0.1%-2.0%-2.8%
Q1 2017-2.2%-1.9%+0.3%
Q4 2016+2.0%-3.4%+0.6%
Q3 2016+6.1%+9.8%+11.1%
Q2 2016+6.1%+7.2%+12.5%
Q1 2016-5.0%
Q4 2015+7.2%
Q3 2015-5.5%
Q2 2015+5.9%
Q1 2015+2.4%
Q4 2014-0.0%
Q3 2014-0.3%
Q2 2014-4.5%
Q1 2014+3.0%
Q4 2013-2.6%
Q3 2013+3.4%
Q2 2013+0.7%
Q1 2013-8.7%
Q4 2012+0.9%
Q3 2012+0.5%
Q2 2012+4.8%
Q1 2012-0.0%
Q4 2011+3.0%
Q3 2011+3.6%
Q2 2011+1.3%
Q1 2011-0.2%
Q4 2010-2.3%
Q3 2010+0.4%
Q2 2010-0.7%
Q1 2009-3.2%
Q1 2010+1.4%
Q4 2009-0.6%
Q3 2009+2.5%
Q3 2008+2.5%
Q2 2009-2.5%
Q2 2008-2.5%
Q4 2007-2.5%
Q4 2008-2.5%

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