Symantec 2016 Annual Report Download - page 112

• The tax effects of purchase accounting for acquisitions and restructuring charges that may cause
fluctuations between reporting periods;
• Tax assessments, or any related tax interest or penalties that could significantly affect our income tax
expense for the period in which the settlements take place; and
• Taxes arising in connection with the recent divestiture of Veritas.
The price of our common stock could decline if our financial results are materially affected by an adverse change
in our effective tax rate.
We report our results of operations based on our determination of the aggregate amount of taxes owed in the tax
jurisdictions in which we operate. From time to time, we receive notices that a tax authority in a particular
jurisdiction believes that we owe a greater amount of tax than we have reported to such authority. We are
regularly engaged in discussions and sometimes disputes with these tax authorities. We are engaged in disputes
of this nature at this time. If the ultimate determination of our taxes owed in any of these jurisdictions is for an
amount in excess of the tax provision we have recorded or reserved for, our operating results, cash flows, and
financial condition could be adversely affected.
Our stock price may be volatile in the future, and you could lose the value of your investment.
The market price of our common stock has experienced significant fluctuations in the past and may continue to
fluctuate in the future, and as a result you could lose the value of your investment. The market price of our
common stock may be affected by a number of factors, including:
• Announcements of quarterly operating results and revenue and earnings forecasts by us that fail to meet
or be consistent with our earlier projections or the expectations of our investors or securities analysts;
• Announcements by either our competitors or customers that fail to meet or be consistent with their
earlier projections or the expectations of our investors or securities analysts;
• Rumors, announcements or press articles regarding our or our competitors’ operations, management,
organization, financial condition, or financial statements;
• Changes in revenue and earnings estimates by us, our investors or securities analysts;
• Accounting charges, including charges relating to the impairment of goodwill;
• Announcements of planned acquisitions or dispositions by us or by our competitors;
• Announcements of new or planned products by us, our competitors, or our customers;
• Gain or loss of a significant customer, partner, reseller or distributor;
• Inquiries by the SEC, NASDAQ, law enforcement, or other regulatory bodies;
• Acts of terrorism, the threat of war, and other crises or emergency situations; and
• Economic slowdowns or the perception of an oncoming economic slowdown in any of the major
markets in which we operate.
The stock market in general, and the market prices of stocks of technology companies in particular, have
experienced extreme price volatility that has adversely affected, and may continue to adversely affect, the market
price of our common stock for reasons unrelated to our business or operating results.
Unforeseen catastrophic or other global events could harm our operating results and financial condition.
We are a global company and conduct our business inside and outside the U.S. Our business operations and
financial results could be adversely impacted by unforeseen catastrophic or other global events, including an
epidemic or a pandemic, acts of war or terrorist attacks, cyber-attacks, natural disasters, or political unrest or
turmoil. Unforeseen political turmoil, military escalations, and armed conflict pose a risk of economic disruption
in the countries in which they occur and in other countries, which may increase our operating costs. Such
incidences of uncertainty could disrupt customers’ spending on our products and services which may adversely
affect our revenue. In addition, our corporate headquarters are located in the Silicon Valley area of Northern
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