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Energy Recovery Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year End 2019 Financial Results

Thursday, 05 March 2020 04:00 PM

Energy Recovery

Topic:
Earnings

SAN LEANDRO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / March 5, 2020 / Energy Recovery Inc. (Nasdaq:ERII) ("Energy Recovery," "we," "our," or the "Company"), a leader in pressure energy technology for industrial fluid flows, today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.

Fiscal Year 2019 Highlights:

  • Total product revenue of $72.8 million, an increase of 19% year-over-year
  • Total revenue of $86.9 million, an increase of 17% year-over-year
  • Product gross margin of 72.1%, an increase of 140 basis points year-over-year
  • Income from operations of $10.4 million, an increase of 4% year-over-year
  • Net income of $10.9 million, or diluted earnings per share of $0.19, a decrease of $0.21 year-over-year due to a tax benefit of $11.2 million recognized in 2018
  • Adjusted net income(1) of $9.9 million, or non-GAAP diluted earnings per share(1) of $0.18, a decrease of $0.02 year-over-year

Chairman and Interim President and Chief Executive Officer Robert Mao remarked, "2019 was a year of new highs for Energy Recovery. In our water business, we achieved our third consecutive year of record-setting revenues, we signed our largest-ever desalination project contract, and we enter 2020 with a high degree of confidence based on closed deals that are expected to ship over the next two years. In addition, we executed our largest to date contract for a thermal to seawater reverse osmosis ("SWRO") desalination replacement project. Thanks to technologies such as our PX® Pressure Exchanger®, SWRO is now much more cost-effective than thermal, encouraging thermal plant owners and operators to replace thermal with SWRO technologies. We estimate this potential TAM to be approximately half a billion dollars at today's prices and are focused on capturing as much of this opportunity as possible over the coming decade."

Mr. Mao continued, "The ability to test continually while iterating design enhancements all in our own facility in Katy, Texas has allowed us to improve the VorTeq's reliability and repeatability. Our ability to process sand in volumes and concentrations used in today's hydraulic fracturing environment gives me confidence that our testing protocol is working. We intend to continue testing the system in preparation for commercialization, which will include live well testing."

Mr. Mao concluded, "While the Company's near-term priorities remain water business growth and VorTeq commercialization, we also made strides in 2019 implementing a structure that will enable a disciplined approach to longer-term growth. I firmly believe Energy Recovery enters this new decade with the right elements in place for continued success."

Fiscal Year 2019

Revenues

For the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company generated total revenue of $86.9 million, an increase of $12.4 million, or 17%, compared to $74.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. This increase was due primarily to Water segment growth.

The Water segment generated total product revenue of $72.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, an increase of $12.2 million, or 20%, compared to $60.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. This significant increase was due primarily to the growth in our Mega-Project Development ("MPD") channel.

The Oil & Gas segment generated total revenue of $14.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, an increase of $0.2 million, or 1%, compared to $14.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, due primarily to an increase in license and development revenue, which is calculated as a percentage of Cost to Total Cost.

Product Gross Margin

For the year ended December 31, 2019, product gross margin was 72.1%, an increase of 140 basis points from 70.7% for the year ended December 31, 2018. This increase was due primarily to higher volume of products sold, favorable product mix, manufacturing equipment upgrades and process improvements.

Operating Expenses

For the year ended December 31, 2019, operating expenses were $56.2 million, an increase of $9.6 million, or 21%, compared to $46.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. This increase was due primarily to the Company's continued investment in research and development in both the Oil & Gas and Water segment, as well as growth in headcount and personnel-related costs.

Bottom Line Summary

To summarize the Company's financial performance, on an annual basis, the Company reported a net income of $10.9 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to a net income of $22.1 million, or $0.40 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2018. This decrease was due primarily to a discrete tax benefit of $11.2 million related to the reversal of a non-recurring tax benefit for the year ended December 31, 2018, partially offset by $1.0 million related to an increase in prior years U.S. federal research and development credits for the year ended December 31, 2019. On an adjusted basis, excluding the discrete tax benefit, the Company reported an adjusted net income(1) of $9.9 million, or $0.18 per non-GAAP diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2019.

Fourth Quarter 2019

Revenues

For the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2019, the Company generated total revenue of $19.5 million, an increase of $1.8 million, or 10%, compared to $17.7 million in the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2018.

The Water segment generated total product revenue of $15.8 million for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2019, an increase of $1.9 million, or 14%, compared to $13.9 million for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2018. This increase was due primarily to higher MPD shipments.

The Oil & Gas segment generated total revenue of $3.7 million for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2019, a decrease of $0.1 million, or (3%), compared to $3.8 million for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2018. The decrease in revenue was due primarily to no product revenue recognized for the Oil & Gas segment for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2019.

Product Gross Margin

For the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2019, product gross margin was 71.5%, a decrease of 300 basis points from 74.5% in the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2018. This decrease was due primarily to a change in the product mix.

Operating Expenses

For the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2019, GAAP operating expenses were $15.9 million, an increase of $3.2 million, or 25%, compared to $12.7 million for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2018. This increase was due primarily to the Company's continued investment in research and development in both the Oil & Gas and Water segment, as well as growth in headcount and personnel-related costs.

Bottom Line Summary

To summarize the Company's financial performance, on a quarterly basis, the Company reported a GAAP net loss of $0.6 million, or ($0.01) per diluted share for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2019, compared to a net income of $2.4 million, or $0.04 per diluted share for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2018.

Cash Flow Highlights

The Company finished the year ended December 31, 2019 with cash and cash equivalents of $26.4 million, and short-term and long-term investments of $74.2 million, which represents a combined total of $100.5 million.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain matters discussed in this press release and on the conference call are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including the Company's optimism for the long-term health of our Water business, the Company's belief that SWRO is more cost effective than thermal technologies, the Company's belief that thermal plant owners and operators are encouraged to convert to SWRO technologies, the Company's belief that potential thermal to SWRO conversions represent a half-billion dollar addressable market, the Company's intention to continue testing the VorTeq system in preparation for commercialization, including live well testing, the Company's belief that the Company will successfully commercialize the VorTeq system, and the Company's belief that our business will continue to grow over the next several years. These forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to us and on management's beliefs, assumptions, estimates, or projections and are not guarantees of future events or results. Potential risks and uncertainties include the Company's ability to achieve the milestones under the VorTeq license agreement, any other factors that may have been discussed herein regarding the risks and uncertainties of the Company's business, and the risks discussed under "Risk Factors" in the Company's Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") for the year ended December 31, 2019 as well as other reports filed by the Company with the SEC from time to time. Because such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, the Company's actual results may differ materially from the predictions in these forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are made as of today, and the Company assumes no obligation to update such statements.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release includes certain non-GAAP financial measures, including total gross margin, adjusted net income and non-GAAP earnings per share. Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company's performance, financial position, or cash flows that either exclude or include amounts that are not normally excluded or included in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, or GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures do not reflect a comprehensive system of accounting, differ from GAAP measures with the same captions, and may differ from non-GAAP financial measures with the same or similar captions that are used by other companies. As such, these non-GAAP measures should be considered as a supplement to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. The Company uses these non-GAAP financial measures to analyze its operating performance and future prospects, develop internal budgets and financial goals, and to facilitate period-to-period comparisons. The Company believes these non-GAAP financial measures reflect an additional way of viewing aspects of its operations that, when viewed with its GAAP results, provide a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting its business.

(1) "Total revenue," "Total gross margin," "Adjusted net income" and "Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share" are non-GAAP financial measures. Please refer to the discussion under headings "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and "Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Financial Measures."

Conference Call to Discuss Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year End 2019 Financial Results

LIVE CONFERENCE CALL:

Thursday, March 5, 2020, 2:00 PM PST / 5:00 PM EST

Listen-only, US / Canada Toll-Free: +1 (877) 709-8150

Listen-only, Local / International Toll: +1 (201) 689-8354

Access code: 13698251

CONFERENCE CALL REPLAY:

Expiration: Saturday, April 4, 2020

US / Canada Toll-Free: +1 (877) 660-6853

Local / International Toll: +1 (201) 612-7415

Access code: 13698251

Investors may also access the live call or the replay over the internet at ir.energyrecovery.com. The replay will be available approximately three hours after the live call concludes.

Disclosure Information

Energy Recovery uses the investor relations section on its website as means of complying with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Accordingly, investors should monitor Energy Recovery's investor relations website in addition to following Energy Recovery's press releases, SEC filings, and public conference calls and webcasts.

About Energy Recovery Inc.

For more than 20 years, Energy Recovery, Inc. (NASDAQ: ERII) has created technologies that solve complex challenges in industrial fluid-flow markets. We design and manufacture solutions that reduce waste, improve operational efficiencies, and lower the production costs of clean water and oil and gas. What began as a game-changing invention for water desalination has grown into a global business delivering solutions that enable more affordable access to these critical resources. Both our headquarters in San Leandro, California, and our Commercial Development Center in Katy, Texas house on-site research, development and manufacturing facilities. In addition, our worldwide sales and technical service organization provides on-site support for our line of water solutions. For more information, please visit www.energyrecovery.com.

Contact

Investor Relations|
[email protected]
(281) 962-8105

ENERGY RECOVERY, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

 
  December 31,
2019
    December 31,
2018
 
 
  (In thousands, except share data and par value)  
ASSETS
           
Current assets:
           
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
  26,387     22,052  
Short-term investments
    58,736       73,338  
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $308 and $396 at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively
    12,979       10,212  
Contract assets
    501       4,083  
Inventories, net
    10,317       7,138  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    4,047       2,825  
Total current assets
    112,967       119,648  
Contract assets, non-current
    191       -  
Long-term investments
    15,419       1,269  
Deferred tax assets, non-current
    16,897       18,318  
Property and equipment, net
    18,843       14,619  
Operating lease, right of use asset
    11,195       12,189  
Goodwill
    12,790       12,790  
Other intangible assets, net
    65       640  
Other assets, non-current
    407       368  
Total assets
  188,774     179,841  
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
Current liabilities:
               
Accounts payable
  1,192     1,439  
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
    9,869       8,497  
Lease liabilities
    1,023       926  
Contract liabilities
    15,746       16,270  
Total current liabilities
    27,830       27,132  
Lease liabilities, non-current
    11,533       12,556  
Contract liabilities, non-current
    13,120       26,539  
Other non-current liabilities
    278       236  
Total liabilities
    52,761       66,463  
Stockholders' equity:
               
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018
    -       -  
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized; 60,717,702 shares issued and 55,261,767 shares outstanding at December 31, 2019 and 59,396,020 shares issued and 53,940,085 shares outstanding at December 31, 2018
    61       59  
Additional paid-in capital
    170,028       158,404  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (37 )     (133 )
Treasury stock, at cost, 5,455,935 shares repurchased at December 31, 2019 and 2018
    (30,486 )     (30,486 )
Accumulated deficit
    (3,553 )     (14,466 )
Total stockholders' equity
    136,013       113,378  
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
  188,774     179,841  
                 

ENERGY RECOVERY, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

 
  Three Months Ended
December 31,
    Years Ended
December 31,
 
 
  2019     2018     2019     2018  
 
  (In thousands, except per share data)  
Product revenue
  15,784     13,983     72,834     61,025  
Product cost of revenue
    4,492       3,561       20,335       17,873  
Product gross profit
    11,292       10,422       52,499       43,152  
 
                               
License and development revenue
    3,717       3,723       14,108       13,490  
 
                               
Operating expenses:
                               
General and administrative
    6,042       5,446       22,832       21,476  
Sales and marketing
    2,724       1,903       9,434       7,546  
Research and development
    7,048       5,220       23,402       17,012  
Amortization of intangible assets
    106       156       575       630  
Total operating expenses
    15,920       12,725       56,243       46,664  
Income (loss) from operations
    (911 )     1,420       10,364       9,978  
 
                               
Other income (expense):
                               
Interest income
    459       500       2,010       1,543  
Interest expense
    -       -       -       (1 )
Other non-operating expense, net
    (41 )     (15 )     (118 )     (80 )
Total other income, net
    418       485       1,892       1,462  
Income (loss) before income taxes
    (493 )     1,905       12,256       11,440  
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes
    116       (516 )     1,343       (10,653 )
Net income (loss)
  (609 )   2,421     10,913     22,093  
 
                               
Earnings (deficit) per share:
                               
Basic
  (0.01 )   0.04     0.20     0.41  
Diluted
  (0.01 )   0.04     0.19     0.40  
 
                               
Number of shares used in per share calculations:
                               
Basic
    55,201       53,897       54,740       53,764  
Diluted
    55,201       55,217       56,067       55,338  
                                 

ENERGY RECOVERY, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

 
  Years Ended
December 31,
 
 
  2019     2018  
 
  (In thousands)  
Cash flows from operating activities:
           
Net income
  10,913     22,093  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities
               
Stock-based compensation
    5,676       5,240  
Depreciation and amortization
    4,395       3,869  
Amortization of premiums and discounts on investments
    65       362  
Foreign currency transactions
    (27 )     (10 )
Realized gain on sale of investments
    (10 )     -  
Provision for warranty claims
    402       326  
Reversal of accruals related to expired warranties
    (193 )     (180 )
Change in allowance for doubtful accounts
    (88 )     336  
Adjustments for excess or obsolete inventory
    21       197  
Deferred income taxes
    1,421       (10,385 )
Loss on disposal of fixed assets
    389       408  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
               
Accounts receivable, net
    (2,679 )     1,917  
Contract assets
    3,391       2,196  
Inventories, net
    (3,256 )     (1,872 )
Prepaid and other assets
    (263 )     (682 )
Accounts payable
    (373 )     (2,274 )
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
    (600 )     87  
Income taxes
    27       (447 )
Contract liabilities
    (13,943 )     (13,616 )
Net cash provided by operating activities
    5,268       7,565  
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Sales of marketable securities
    7,608       -  
Maturities of marketable securities
    78,100       81,268  
Purchases of marketable securities
    (85,207 )     (86,192 )
Capital expenditures
    (7,382 )     (5,235 )
Net cash used in investing activities
    (6,881 )     (10,159 )
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock
    6,073       4,291  
Tax payment for employee shares withheld
    (110 )     (150 )
Repayment of long-term debt
    -       (27 )
Repurchase of common stock
    -       (10,000 )
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    5,963       (5,886 )
Effect of exchange rate differences on cash and cash equivalents
    -       (8 )
Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
    4,350       (8,488 )
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of year
    22,138       30,626  
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of year
  26,488     22,138  
                 

ENERGY RECOVERY, INC.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION BY SEGMENT

(Unaudited)

 
  Three Months Ended
December 31, 2019
    Three Months Ended
December 31, 2018
 
 
  Water     Oil & Gas     Total     Water     Oil & Gas     Total  
 
  (In thousands)  
Product revenue
  15,784     -     15,784       13,884       99       13,983  
Product cost of revenue
    4,493       (1 )     4,492       3,497       64       3,561  
Product gross profit (loss)
    11,291       1       11,292       10,387       35       10,422  
 
                                               
License and development revenue
    -       3,717       3,717       -       3,723       3,723  
 
                                               
Operating expenses
                                               
General and administrative
    45       369       414       636       377       1,013  
Sales and marketing
    2,014       67       2,081       1,538       266       1,804  
Research and development
    1,031       5,750       6,781       692       4,526       5,218  
Amortization of intangibles
    106       -       106       156       -       156  
Total operating expenses
    3,196       6,186       9,382       3,022       5,169       8,191  
 
                                               
Operating income (loss)
  8,095     (2,468 )     5,627       7,365       (1,411 )     5,953  
 
                                               
Less: Corporate operating expenses
                    6,538                       (4,533 )
Income from operations
                    (911 )                     1,420  
Other income, net
                    418                       486  
Income before income taxes
                  (493 )                     1,906  
                                                 
 
  Year Ended December 31, 2019     Year Ended December 31, 2018  
 
  Water     Oil & Gas     Total     Water     Oil & Gas     Total  
 
  (In thousands)  
Product revenue
  72,730     104     72,834     60,512     513     61,025  
Product cost of revenue
    20,148       187       20,335       17,211       662       17,873  
Product gross profit (loss)
    52,582       (83 )     52,499       43,301       (149 )     43,152  
 
                                               
License and development revenue
    -       14,108       14,108       -       13,490       13,490  
 
                                               
Operating expenses
                                               
General and administrative
    1,501       1,576       3,077       2,078       1,771       3,849  
Sales and marketing
    7,072       741       7,813       5,783       1,264       7,047  
Research and development
    3,825       19,085       22,910       1,711       15,276       16,987  
Amortization of intangibles
    575       -       575       629       -       629  
Total operating expenses
    12,973       21,402       34,375       10,201       18,311       28,512  
 
                                               
Operating income (loss)
  39,609     (7,377 )     32,232     33,100     (4,970 )     28,130  
 
                                               
Less: Corporate operating expenses
                    21,868                       18,152  
Income from operations
                    10,364                       9,978  
Other income, net
                    1,892                       1,462  
Income before income taxes
                  12,256                     11,440  
                                                 

ENERGY RECOVERY, INC.
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

(Unaudited)

This press release includes non-GAAP financial information because we plan and manage our business using such information. Our non-GAAP Total Gross Margin is determined by adding back the license and development revenue associated with the amortization of the VorTeq exclusivity fee. Our non-GAAP adjusted net income or loss and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share is determined by adding back non-recurring operating and tax expenses/(benefits).

 
  Three Months Ended
December 31,
    Years Ended
December 31,
 
 
  2019     2018     2019     2018  
 
  (In thousands, except per share data)  
Product revenue
  15,784     13,983     72,834     61,025  
License and development revenue
    3,717       3,723       14,108       13,490  
Total revenue
  19,501     17,706     86,942     74,515  
 
                               
Product gross profit
  11,292     10,422     52,499     43,152  
License and development revenue
    3,717       3,723       14,108       13,490  
Total gross profit (non-GAAP)
  15,009     14,145     66,607     56,642  
 
                               
Product gross margin
    71.5 %     74.5 %     72.1 %     70.7 %
Total gross margin (non-GAAP)
    77.0 %     79.9 %     76.6 %     76.0 %
 
                               
Net income (loss)
  (609 )   2,418     10,913     22,093  
Reversal of non-recurring tax benefit
    -       (649 )     -       (11,159 )
Reversal of federal research and development tax credits
    -       -       (971 )     -  
Adjusted net income (loss) (non-GAAP)
  (609 )   1,769     9,942     10,934  
 
                               
Earnings (deficit) per share:
                               
Diluted
  (0.01 )   0.04     0.19     0.40  
Diluted (non-GAAP)
  (0.01 )   0.03     0.18     0.20  
 
                               
Number of diluted shares used in per share calculations:
                               
Diluted shares
    55,201       55,217       56,067       55,338  
Diluted shares (non-GAAP)
    55,201       55,217       56,067       55,338  

SOURCE: Energy Recovery Inc.

Topic:
Earnings
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