SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 10-Q (Mark One) [X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the quarterly period ended March 28, 2004 [ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 Commission File Number 0-14864 LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER) DELAWARE 94-2778785 (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF (I.R.S. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NO.) INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION) 1630 McCarthy Boulevard Milpitas, California 95035 (408) 432-1900 (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES, INCLUDING ZIP CODE AND TELEPHONE NUMBER) Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X] No [ ] Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes [X] No [ ] There were 309,417,329 shares of the Registrant's Common Stock issued and outstanding as of April 23, 2004. 1 LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION FORM 10-Q THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 28, 2004 INDEX Page ---- Part I: Financial Information Item 1. Financial Statements Consolidated Statements of Income for the three and nine months 3 ended March 28, 2004 and March 30, 2003 Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 28, 2004 and 4 June 29, 2003 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months 5 ended March 28, 2004 and March 30, 2003 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 6-8 Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial 8-11 Condition and Results of Operations Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 11 Item 4. Controls and Procedures 11 Part II: Other Information Item 2. Changes in Securities, Use of Proceeds and Issuer Purchases 12 of Equity Securities Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K 12 Signatures: 13 2 PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION Item 1. Financial Statements LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (In thousands, except per share amounts) (unaudited) Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended -------------------- ---------------------- March 28, March 30, March 28, March 30, 2004 2003 2004 2003 -------- -------- -------- -------- Net sales $209,133 $153,750 $569,231 $440,806 Cost of sales 47,596 39,390 132,782 114,611 -------- -------- -------- -------- Gross profit 161,537 114,360 436,449 326,195 -------- -------- -------- -------- Expenses: Research and development 26,633 22,609 75,960 67,014 Selling, general and administrative 20,553 15,916 57,364 49,345 -------- -------- -------- -------- 47,186 38,525 133,324 116,359 -------- -------- -------- -------- Operating income 114,351 75,835 303,125 209,836 Interest income, net 6,140 9,548 19,909 30,427 -------- -------- -------- -------- Income before income taxes 120,491 85,383 323,034 240,263 Provision for income taxes 34,942 24,761 93,679 69,676 -------- -------- -------- -------- Net income $ 85,549 $ 60,622 $229,355 $170,587 ======== ======== ======== ======== Basic earnings per share $ 0.27 $ 0.19 $ 0.73 $ 0.54 ======== ======== ======== ======== Shares used in the calculation of basic earnings per share 311,993 312,782 312,924 313,184 ======== ======== ======== ======== Diluted earnings per share $ 0.27 $ 0.19 $ 0.71 $ 0.53 ======== ======== ======== ======== Shares used in the calculation of diluted earnings per share 321,507 320,842 322,614 321,217 ======== ======== ======== ======== Cash dividends per share $ 0.08 $ 0.05 $ 0.20 $ 0.15 ======== ======== ======== ======== <FN> See accompanying notes </FN> 3 LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands, except per share amounts) March 28, June 29, 2004 2003 ----------- ----------- (unaudited) (audited) Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 214,184 $ 136,276 Short-term investments 1,434,203 1,457,291 Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,762 ($1,762 at June 29, 2003) 98,419 80,094 Inventories: Raw materials 2,947 3,196 Work-in-process 23,487 25,471 Finished goods 6,622 3,427 ----------- ----------- Total inventories 33,056 32,094 Deferred tax assets 48,925 51,181 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 18,455 19,064 ----------- ----------- Total current assets 1,847,242 1,776,000 ----------- ----------- Property, plant and equipment, at cost: Land, buildings and improvements 142,826 142,361 Manufacturing and test equipment 326,358 324,314 Office furniture and equipment 3,399 3,399 ----------- ----------- 472,583 470,074 Accumulated depreciation and amortization (273,564) (246,630) ----------- ----------- Net property, plant and equipment 199,019 223,444 ----------- ----------- Other non current assets 55,067 57,435 ----------- ----------- Total assets $ 2,101,328 $ 2,056,879 =========== =========== Liabilities and stockholders' equity Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 8,933 $ 7,480 Accrued payroll and related benefits 32,375 39,471 Deferred income on shipments to distributors 46,178 44,678 Income taxes payable 71,790 53,279 Other accrued liabilities 18,376 17,121 ----------- ----------- Total current liabilities 177,652 162,029 ----------- ----------- Deferred tax and other long-term liabilities 77,202 79,921 Commitments and contingencies Stockholders' equity: Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 2,000 shares authorized; none issued or outstanding -- -- Common stock, $0.001 par value, 2,000,000 shares authorized; 311,079 shares issued and outstanding at March 28, 2004 (312,706 shares at June 29, 2003) 311 313 Additional paid-in capital 801,241 740,084 Accumulated other comprehensive income, net 3,075 6,950 Retained earnings 1,041,847 1,067,582 ----------- ----------- Total stockholders' equity 1,846,474 1,814,929 ----------- ----------- Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 2,101,328 $ 2,056,879 =========== =========== <FN> See accompanying notes </FN> 4 LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In thousands) (unaudited) Nine Months Ended ---------------------- March 28, March 30, 2004 2003 --------- --------- Cash flow from operating activities: Net income $ 229,355 $ 170,587 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 36,725 33,494 Tax benefit from stock option transactions 29,466 18,103 Change in operating assets and liabilities: Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable (18,325) (2,153) Decrease (increase) in inventories (962) (2,424) Decrease (increase) in prepaid expenses and other current assets and deferred tax assets 2,865 2,706 Decrease (increase) in other non current assets (1,875) -- Increase (decrease) in accounts payable, accrued payroll and other accrued liabilities (6,852) (10,327) Increase (decrease) in deferred income on shipments to distributors 1,500 (1,242) Increase (decrease) in income taxes payable and deferred tax liabilities 20,682 (18,901) --------- --------- Cash provided by operating activities 292,579 189,843 --------- --------- Cash flow from investing activities: Purchase of short-term investments (687,291) (614,921) Proceeds from sales and maturities of short- term investments 704,078 553,458 Purchase of property, plant and equipment (8,057) (5,162) --------- --------- Cash provided by (used in) investing activities 8,730 (66,625) --------- --------- Cash flow from financing activities: Issuance of common shares under employee stock plans 44,212 27,353 Purchase of common stock (204,906) (165,659) Payment of cash dividends (62,707) (47,024) --------- --------- Cash provided by (used in) financing activities (223,401) (185,330) --------- --------- Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 77,908 (62,112) --------- --------- Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 136,276 211,706 --------- --------- Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 214,184 $ 149,594 ========= ========= Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: Cash paid during the period for income taxes $ 40,501 $ 68,999 ========= ========= <FN> See accompanying notes </FN> 5 LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited) 1. Interim financial statements and information are unaudited; however, in the opinion of management all adjustments necessary for a fair and accurate presentation of the interim results have been made. All such adjustments were of a normal recurring nature. The results for the three and nine months ended March 28, 2004 are not necessarily an indication of results to be expected for the entire fiscal year. All information reported in this Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the Company's annual consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 29, 2003 included in the Company's Annual Report to Stockholders. The accompanying balance sheet at June 29, 2003 has been derived from audited financial statements as of that date. Because the Company is viewed as a single operating segment for management purposes, no segment information has been disclosed. 2. The Company operates on a 52/53 week year ending on the Sunday nearest June 30. Fiscal years 2004 and 2003 are 52-week years. 3. Basic earnings per share is calculated using the weighted average shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is calculated using the weighted average shares of common stock outstanding, plus the dilutive effect of stock options calculated using the treasury stock method. The following table sets forth the reconciliation of weighted average common shares outstanding used in the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share: Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended ------------------- -------------------- March 28, March 30, March 28, March 30, 2004 2003 2004 2003 -------- -------- -------- -------- Numerator - Net income $ 85,549 $ 60,622 $229,355 $170,587 Denominator for basic earnings per share - weighted average shares 311,993 312,782 312,924 313,184 Effect of dilutive securities - employee stock options 9,514 8,060 9,690 8,033 -------- -------- -------- -------- Denominator for diluted earnings per share 321,507 320,842 322,614 321,217 Basic earnings per share $ 0.27 $ 0.19 $ 0.73 $ 0.54 ======== ======== ======== ======== Diluted earnings per share $ 0.27 $ 0.19 $ 0.71 $ 0.53 ======== ======== ======== ======== 4. Stock-Based Compensation As permitted by SFAS 148 and SFAS 123, the Company continues to apply the accounting provisions of APB 25, and related interpretations, with regard to the measurement of compensation cost for options granted under the Company's equity compensation plans. No employee compensation expense has been recorded as all options granted had an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant. Had expense been recognized using the fair value method described in SFAS 123, using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, the Company would have reported the following results of operations: 6 Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended ----------------------------- ---------------------------- March 28, March 30, March 28, March 30, 2004 2003 2004 2003 ------------- ------------- ------------- ----------- Net income as reported $ 85,549 $ 60,622 $229,355 $170,587 Deduct: total stock-based compensation expense determined under the fair value method, net of tax (19,238) (19,065) (56,800) (57,476) -------- -------- -------- -------- Pro forma net income $ 66,311 $ 41,557 $172,555 $113,111 ======== ======== ======== ======== Earning per share: Basic-as reported $ 0.27 $ 0.19 $ 0.73 $ 0.54 ======== ======== ======== ======== Basic-pro forma $ 0.21 $ 0.13 $ 0.55 $ 0.36 ======== ======== ======== ======== Diluted-as reported $ 0.27 $ 0.19 $ 0.71 $ 0.53 ======== ======== ======== ======== Diluted-pro forma $ 0.21 $ 0.13 $ 0.53 $ 0.35 ======== ======== ======== ======== 5. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income Accumulated other comprehensive income consists of unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities. The Company, in practice, primarily holds its cash and short-term investments until maturity. The components of comprehensive income were as follows: Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended --------------------- ---------------------- March 28, March 30, March 28, March 30, 2004 2003 2004 2003 --------- --------- --------- --------- Net income $ 85,549 $ 60,622 $ 229,355 $ 170,587 Increase (decrease) in unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities 123 (1,800) (3,875) 13,800 --------- --------- --------- --------- Total comprehensive income $ 85,672 $ 58,822 $ 225,480 $ 184,387 ========= ========= ========= ========= 6. Product Warranty and Indemnification The Company's warranty policy provides for the replacement of defective parts. In certain large contracts, the Company has agreed to negotiate in good faith a warranty expense in the event that an epidemic failure of its parts were to take place. To date there have been no such occurrences. Warranty expense historically has been negligible. The Company provides a limited indemnification of customers against intellectual property infringement claims related to the Company's products. In certain cases, there are limits on and exceptions to the Company's potential liability for indemnification relating to intellectual property infringement claims. To date, the Company has not incurred any significant indemnification expenses relating to intellectual property infringement claims. The Company cannot estimate the amount of potential future payments, if any, that the Company might be required to make as a result of these agreements, and accordingly, the Company has not accrued any amounts for its indemnification obligations. 7. Recent Accounting Pronouncements In January 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Interpretation No. 46 (FIN 46), "Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities." FIN 46 requires an investor with a majority of the variable interests (primary beneficiary) in a variable interest entity (VIE) to consolidate the entity and also requires majority and significant variable interest investors to provide certain disclosures. A VIE is an entity in which the voting equity investors do not have a controlling interest, or the equity 7 investment at risk is insufficient to finance the entity's activities without receiving additional subordinated financial support from other parties. FIN 46 clarifies the application of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51 and applies immediately to any variable interest entities created after January 31, 2003 and to variable interest entities in which an interest is obtained after that date. For variable interest entities created or acquired prior to February 1, 2003, the provisions of FIN 46 must be applied for the first interim or annual period ending after March 15, 2004. The adoption of FIN 46 did not have an impact on the Company's results of operations or financial position. Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Critical Accounting Policies Management believes there have been no significant changes to the Company's critical accounting policies during the quarter ended March 28, 2004 as compared to the previous disclosures in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 29, 2003. Results of Operations The table below states the income statement items for the three and nine months ended March 28, 2004 and March 30, 2003 as a percentage of net sales and provides the percentage change in absolute dollars of such items comparing the interim period ended March 28, 2004 to the corresponding period from the prior fiscal year: Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended ------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------- March 28, March 30, Increase/ March 28, March 30, Increase/ 2004 2003 (Decrease) 2004 2003 (Decrease) ------------ ----------- ------------ ----------- ---------- ---------- Net sales 100.0% 100.0% 36% 100.0% 100.0% 29% Cost of sales 22.8 25.6 21 23.3 26.0 16 ----- ----- ----- ----- Gross profit 77.2 74.4 41 76.7 74.0 34 ----- ----- ----- ----- Expenses: Research and development 12.7 14.7 18 13.3 15.2 13 Selling, general and administrative 9.8 10.4 29 10.1 11.2 16 ----- ----- ----- ----- 22.5 25.1 22 23.4 26.4 15 ----- ----- ----- ----- Operating income 54.7 49.3 51 53.3 47.6 44 Interest income, net 2.9 6.2 ( 36) 3.5 6.9 (35) ----- ----- ----- ----- Income before income taxes 57.6% 55.5% 41 56.8% 54.5% 34 ===== ===== ===== ===== Effective tax rate 29.0% 29.0% 29.0% 29.0% ===== ===== ===== ===== Net sales for the quarter ended March 28, 2004 were $209.1 million, an increase of $55.3 million or 36% over net sales of $153.8 million for the same quarter of the previous fiscal year. The increase in net sales was primarily due to the Company selling more units into a wide variety of end-markets in response to improving overall demand particularly in the industrial and communication markets. This increase in unit volume was enhanced by increases in sales of smaller packaged products that go into a wide variety of hand held products such as cellular phones. The change in sales mix to smaller packaged products has been the primary factor causing the average selling price to fall from $1.54 per unit in the third quarter of fiscal 2003 to $1.41 per unit in the third quarter of fiscal 2004. Geographically, international sales were $143.1 million or 69% of net sales, an increase of $37.8 million as compared to international sales of $105.3 million or 68% of net sales for the same period in fiscal 2003. Internationally, sales to Rest of the World (ROW), which is primarily Asia excluding Japan, represented $79.0 million or 38% of net sales, while sales to Europe and Japan were $35.6 million or 17% of net sales and $28.5 million or 14% of net sales, respectively. Domestic sales were $66.0 million or 31% of net sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2004 compared to $48.5 million or 32% of net sales in the same period in fiscal 2003. Net sales for the nine months ended March 28, 2004 were $569.2 million, an increase of $128.4 million or 29% over net sales of $440.8 million for the same period of the previous fiscal year. The increase in net sales for the nine-month period was due to similar factors as the three-month period increase discussed above. The change in sales mix to smaller packaged products has been the primary factor causing the average selling price to fall from $1.59 per unit in the first nine-month period of fiscal 2003 to $1.40 per unit in the same period of fiscal 2004. Geographically, international sales were $399.8 million or 70% of net sales for the first nine-month period of fiscal 2004, an increase of $102.4 million as compared to international sales of $297.4 million or 67% of net sales for the same period in fiscal 2003. Internationally, sales to ROW, represented 8 $217.3 million or 38% of net sales, while sales to Europe and Japan were $98.1 million or 17% of net sales and $84.4 million or 15% of net sales, respectively. Domestic sales were $169.4 million or 30% of net sales in the first nine-month period of fiscal 2004 compared to $143.4 million or 33% of net sales in the same period in fiscal 2003. Sales increased in absolute dollars both internationally and domestically, however the decline in domestic sales as a percentage of net sales and the increase in international sales as a percentage of net sales primarily resulted from the Company's domestic customers shifting more of their manufacturing operations overseas. In summary for the nine months ended March 28, 2004, 45% of the demand for the Company's sales was created in the USA of which roughly 15% was shipped overseas. Gross profit was $161.5 million and $436.4 million for the third quarter and first nine-month period of fiscal 2004, an increase of $47.2 million and $110.3 million, respectively, from the corresponding periods of fiscal 2003. Gross profit as a percentage of net sales increased to 77.2% of net sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2004 as compared to 74.4% of net sales for the same period in the previous fiscal year. Gross profit as a percentage of net sales increased to 76.7% of net sales for the first nine-month period of fiscal 2004 as compared to 74% of net sales for the same period of the previous fiscal year. The increase in gross profit as a percentage of net sales for the three and nine-month periods was primarily due to the favorable effect of fixed costs allocated across higher net sales. Net sales increased 36% and 29% for the three and nine-month period in fiscal 2004. The decrease in average selling price referred to above did not have a commensurate effect on gross margin. Most of the reduction in average selling price was due to a change in product mix as the Company has had increased sales of products with smaller die and package types, which have a smaller average selling price, but also lower costs. Research and development ("R&D") expenses for the quarter ended March 28, 2004 were $26.6 million, an increase of $4.0 million or 18% over R&D expenses of $22.6 million for the same period in the previous fiscal year. The increase in R&D was primarily due to a $3.0 million increase in compensation costs. Compensation costs increased as the result of increases to the profit sharing accrual, employee headcount and annual merit increases. Since the Company had better operating results, R&D profit sharing grew $1.5 million while compensation related to headcount and annual merit increases together totaled $1.5 million. In addition to compensation costs, the Company had a $1.0 million increase in R&D related expenses such as software maintenance amortization and depreciation. Research and development expenses for the nine month period ended March 28, 2004 were $76.0 million, an increase of $8.9 million or 13% over R&D expenses of $67.0 million for the same period in the previous fiscal year. The increase in R&D was primarily due to a $6.9 million increase in compensation costs. Compensation costs increased as the result of increases to the profit sharing accrual, employee headcount and annual merit increases. Since the Company had better operating results, R&D profit sharing grew $3.1 million while compensation related to headcount and annual merit increases totaled $3.8 million. In addition to compensation costs, the Company had a $2.0 million increase in R&D related expenses such as supplies, software maintenance amortization, mask costs and depreciation. Selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A") for the quarter ended March 28, 2004 were $20.5 million, an increase of $4.6 million or 29% over SG&A expenses of $15.9 million for the same period in the previous fiscal year. The increase in SG&A was primarily due to a $3.2 million increase in compensation costs. Compensation costs grew as the result of increases to the profit sharing accrual, employee headcount, annual merit increases and commissions. Since the Company had better operating results, SG&A profit sharing grew $1.1 million while compensation related to headcount, annual merit increases and commissions together totaled $2.1 million. In addition to compensation costs, the Company had a $1.4 million increase in expenses related to advertising, legal and travel costs. Selling, general and administrative expenses for the nine-month period ended March 28, 2004 were $57.3 million, an increase of $8.0 million or 16% over SG&A expenses of $49.3 million for the same period in the previous fiscal year. The increase in SG&A was due to a $6.6 million increase in compensation costs. Compensation costs grew as the result of increases to the profit sharing accrual, employee headcount, annual merit increase and commissions. Since the Company had better operating results, SG&A profit sharing grew $2.3 million while compensation related to headcount, annual merit increases and commissions together totaled $4.3 million. In addition to compensation costs, the Company had a $1.4 million increase in expenses related to advertising, outside services, legal and travel costs. Interest income, net was $6.1 million and $19.9 million for the third quarter and first nine-month period of fiscal 2004, a decrease of $3.4 million and $10.5 million, respectively, from the corresponding periods of fiscal 2003. Interest income, net declined primarily due to the decrease in the average interest rate earned on the Company's cash investment balance and due to imputed interest expense related to a long-term royalty agreement entered into in the third quarter of fiscal 2003. The total effect of these two factors was $4.1 million and $12.8 million for the three and nine month periods, respectively. Offsetting the decreases in interest income, net was interest earned on the higher average cash balance, which totaled $0.7 million and $2.3 million for the three and nine-month periods of fiscal 2004, respectively. 9 The Company's effective tax rate for the third quarter and first nine months of fiscal 2004 and 2003 was 29%. The tax rate is lower than the federal statutory rate primarily due to business activity in foreign jurisdictions with lower tax rates, tax-exempt interest income and the tax credits received by the Company for qualified R&D expenditures. During the third quarter of fiscal 2004 the Singapore government agreed to extend the Company's tax holiday for seven years, provided that the Company fulfills certain investment requirements in qualifying activities. With still additional investment in qualifying activities, the tax holiday may be extended to ten years. Factors Affecting Future Operating Results Except for historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this Form 10-Q, including the statements in the following paragraphs, are forward-looking statements that are dependent on certain risks and uncertainties including such factors, among others, as the timing, volume and pricing of new orders received and shipped during the quarter, the timely introduction of new processes and products, general conditions in the world economy and financial markets and other factors described below and in the Company's 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 29, 2003. During the quarter ended March 28, 2004, the Company exceeded its expectations by growing sales 12% sequentially over the December fiscal 2004 quarter. The conditions external to the Company appear to be improving; general economic news has improved as several companies in the semiconductor industry and within markets that the Company serves have reported upward trends. Looking forward, the Company will discontinue having quarterly production shutdowns at its Camas, Washington wafer fabrication plant and expects to add to the direct labor pool in Camas during the June quarter. In addition to Camas, the Company has added approximately 20% to headcount at its assembly and test operations in Malaysia and Singapore. The Company anticipates that the effect of no shutdowns and additional headcount on its cost structure will be negligible as the Company expects that the increase in costs will be offset by an increase in sales volume. The Company is experiencing good bookings momentum in all major geographies and all end-markets. The Company's inventory is well positioned and the Company continues to have responsive lead times. Consequently, should these positive trends continue, the Company estimates sales and profits to grow in the low double digit range sequentially in the June quarter, roughly similar percentages to that just achieved in sales growth in the March quarter. Estimates of future performance are uncertain, and past performance of the Company may not be a good indicator of future performance due to factors affecting the Company, its competitors, the semiconductor industry and the overall economy. The semiconductor industry is characterized by rapid technological change, price erosion, cyclical market patterns, periodic oversupply conditions, occasional shortages of materials, capacity constraints, variations in manufacturing efficiencies and significant expenditures for capital equipment and product development. Furthermore, new product introductions and patent protection of existing products, as well as exposure related to patent infringement suits if brought against the Company, are factors that can influence future sales growth and sustained profitability. The Company's headquarters and a portion of its manufacturing facilities and research and development activities and certain other critical business operations are located near major earthquake fault lines in California, consequently, the Company could be adversely affected in the event of a major earthquake. Although the Company believes that it has the product lines, manufacturing facilities and technical and financial resources for its current operations, sales and profitability could be significantly affected by factors described above and other factors. Additionally, the Company's common stock could be subject to significant price volatility should sales and/or earnings fail to meet expectations of the investment community. Furthermore, stocks of high technology companies are subject to extreme price and volume fluctuations that are often unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of these companies. Liquidity and Capital Resources At March 28, 2004, cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $1,648.4 million, and working capital was $1,669.6 million. Accounts receivable totaled $98.4 million at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2004, an increase of $18.3 million from the fourth quarter of fiscal 2003. The increase is due to higher sales while days sales outstanding (DSO) improved slightly from 44 days to 43 days at the end on the third quarter of fiscal 2004. During the first nine months of fiscal 2004, the Company generated $292.6 million of cash from operating activities, $44.2 million in proceeds from common stock issued under employee stock plans and $16.8 million from net sales and maturities of short-term investments. 10 During the first nine months of fiscal 2004, significant cash expenditures included repurchasing $204.9 million of common stock, payments of $62.7 million in cash dividends to stockholders, representing $0.06 per share per quarter for the first and second quarters and $0.08 per share per quarter for the third quarter, and $8.1 million for the purchase of capital assets. In April, the Company's Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.08 per share to be paid during the June quarter of fiscal 2004. The payment of future dividends will be based on quarterly financial performance. During the third quarter of fiscal 2004, the Company announced that it intends to commence with the development of certain leasehold property located in Singapore adjacent to its existing facility. The construction of a new building on this site is expected to cost approximately $9.0 to $11.0 million and is expected to be completed by the end of fiscal 2005. The new building will be used primarily for test operations and warehousing operations, supportive of final shipments to customers worldwide. As of March 28, 2004, the Company had no off-balance sheet financing arrangements. Historically, the Company has satisfied its liquidity needs through cash generated from operations and the placement of equity securities. Given its strong financial condition and performance, the Company believes that current capital resources and cash generated from operating activities will be sufficient to meet its liquidity and capital expenditures requirements for the foreseeable future. Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk For additional quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk affecting the Company, see item 7A of the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 29, 2003. There have been no material changes in the market risk affecting the Company since the filing of the Company's Form 10-K for fiscal 2003. At March 28, 2004, the Company's cash and cash equivalents consisted primarily of bank deposits, commercial paper and money market funds. The Company's short-term investments consisted of municipal bonds, federal agency bonds, commercial paper, and related securities. The Company did not hold any derivative financial instruments. The Company's interest income is sensitive to changes in the general level of interest rates. In this regard, changes in interest rates can affect the interest earned on cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments. The Company's sales outside the United States are predominantly transacted in U.S. dollars; accordingly the Company's sales are not generally impacted by foreign currency rate changes. To date, fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates have not had a material impact on the results of operations. Item 4. Controls and Procedures (a) Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures The Company's management evaluated, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Based on this evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information that the Company is required to disclose in reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms. (b) Changes in internal controls over financial reporting There was no change in the Company's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the third quarter of fiscal 2004 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, its internal control over financial reporting. 11 PART II. OTHER INFORMATION Item 2. Changes in Securities, Use of Proceeds and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities e) Stock Repurchases - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total Average Total Number of Shares Maximum Number of Number of Price Purchased as Part of Shares that May Yet be Shares Paid per Publicly Announced purchased Under the Period Purchased Share Plans or Programs Plans or Programs - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month #1 (December 29, 2003 - - January 25, 2004) 1,000,000 $ 42.98 1,000,000 7,015,152 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month #2 (January 26, 2004 - February 22, 2004) 1,500,000 $ 40.10 1,500,000 5,515,152 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Month #3 (February 22, 2004 - - March 28, 2004) 450,000 $ 40.14 450,000 5,065,152 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 2,950,000 $ 41.08 2,950,000 5,065,152 - ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- On October 15, 2002, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the Company to purchase up to 10,000,000 shares of it's outstanding common stock in the open market over a two year time period. Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K a) Exhibits: Exhibit 31.1 Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a), as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Exhibit 31.2 Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a), as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Exhibit 32.1 Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. b) Reports on Form 8-K: During the quarter ended March 28, 2004, the Company filed two reports on Form 8-K as follows: A report on Form 8-K was filed January 13, 2004, furnishing to the Securities and Exchange Commission a press release announcing the Company's quarterly financial results for the fiscal quarter ending December 28, 2003. A report on Form 8-K was filed February 9, 2004, furnishing to the Securities and Exchange Commission a press release announcing an increase in the Company's March quarter revenue and profit guidance. 12 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. LINEAR TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION DATE: May 7, 2004 BY /s/ PAUL COGHLAN ------------------------------------ Paul Coghlan Vice President, Finance & Chief Financial Officer (Duly Authorized Officer and Principal Financial Officer) 13