Energy Recovery Reports Third Quarter 2018 Financial Results

News provided by

Energy Recovery, Inc.

Nov 01, 2018, 16:01 ET

SAN LEANDRO, Calif., Nov. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Energy Recovery, Inc.  (NASDAQ: ERII) ("Energy Recovery" or the "Company"), the leader in pressure energy technology for industrial fluid flows, today announced its financial results for the third quarter ended on September 30, 2018.

Third Quarter Summary:

  • Total revenue of $22.2 million, an increase of 30% year-over-year
  • Product gross margin of 73%
  • Total gross margin(1) of 77%
  • Net Income of $4.7 million, or $0.08 per diluted share

Year-to-Date Summary:

  • Total revenue of $56.8 million, an increase of 25% year-over-year
  • Product gross margin of 70%
  • Total gross margin(1) of 75%
  • Net Income of $19.7 million, or $0.36 per diluted share

President and CEO Chris Gannon remarked, "Our positive momentum for the first half of 2018 has continued into the third quarter, driven by strength in our Water business which generated 38% year-over-year growth in total revenue.  Our core water business is a phenomenal, healthy and vibrant enterprise and a key strategic area of focus and growth for our company moving forward. Market and project activity within desalination remain robust as we look to 2019 and, given our backlog and pipeline for large-scale Mega and OEM projects, we remain confident in the strength of our Water business moving forward into the future."

Mr. Gannon continued, "On the Oil & Gas side, our collective focus remains the full-scale commercialization of the VorTeq™ system.  We are working with both our product licensee and product partner, as well as independently, to advance the technology and shorten the path to commercialization.  Specifically, we have made significant progress on system-level design enhancements integral to the fully-commercialized VorTeq system."

Mr. Gannon concluded, "We remain proud of the company's financial performance through the first three quarters of 2018 and are excited about the opportunities in front of us both in 2019 and beyond.  We remain fully committed to executing on our initiatives to further drive growth in our Water business and bring our VorTeq and MTeq™ technologies to full commercialization."

Revenues
For the third quarter ended September 30, 2018, the Company generated total revenue of $22.2 million.  Total revenue for the quarter increased by $5.2 million, or 30%, from $17.1 million in the third quarter ended September 30, 2017.  The $5.2 million increase in total revenue is attributable to higher Water segment revenue.

The Water segment generated total product revenue of $18.5 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018, compared to $13.2 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017, an increase of $5.2 million, or 40%. This increase was due to higher Mega-Project ("MPD") shipments.

The Oil & Gas segment generated total revenue of $3.8 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018, on par with the third quarter ended September 30, 2017. While we recognized lower cost-to-total cost (previously known as percentage of completion) revenue recognition associated with the sale of multiple IsoBoost® systems this period, this was offset by an increase in license and development revenue during the period. The increase in license and development revenue was primarily due to higher costs incurred according to input measures, based on changes required due to the adoption of the new revenue recognition standard in the first quarter of 2018.

Gross Margin
For the third quarter ended September 30, 2018, product gross margin was 73%.  Product gross margin increased by 340 basis points from 69.6% in the third quarter ended September 30, 2017.  This increase was largely driven by higher MPD shipments. Including license and development revenue, total gross margin(1) was 77.4% for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018.  Total gross margin(1) increased by 210 basis points from 75.3% in the third quarter ended September 30, 2017.

The Water segment generated product gross margin of 73.7% for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018.  Water segment product gross margin increased by 220 basis points, compared to 71.5% in the third quarter ended September 30, 2017.  This increase was largely driven by higher MPD shipments.

The Oil & Gas segment generated product gross margin of (50.0%) for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018, compared to 30.0% in the third quarter ended September 30, 2017.  This decrease was attributable to higher project costs.  Including license and development revenue, the Oil & Gas segment total gross margin(1) for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018 was 95.5%.

Operating Expenses
For the third quarter ended September 30, 2018, operating expenses were $11.6 million, an increase of $2.3 million from $9.3 million for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017.  This increase in operating expenses was due to increases in Water segment, O&G segment and Corporate segment expenses.

The Water segment operating expenses for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018 were $2.6 million, $0.5 million higher than the third quarter ended September 30, 2017. This increase was driven by higher general and administrative, sales and marketing and research and development activities.

The Oil & Gas segment operating expenses for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018 were $4.4 million, $1.0 million higher than the third quarter ended September 30, 2017. This increase was driven by the Company's continued investment in research and development activities.

The Corporate operating expenses for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018 were $4.5 million, $0.8 million higher than the third quarter ended September 30, 2017. This increase was driven by higher tax planning expenses and higher employee expenses.

Bottom Line Summary
To summarize the Company's financial performance, on a quarterly basis, the Company reported a net income of $4.7 million, or $0.08 per diluted share for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018, compared to a net income of $3.5 million, or $0.06 per diluted share for the third quarter ended September 30, 2017. 

Cash Flow Highlights
The Company finished the third quarter ended September 30, 2018 with cash and cash equivalents of $33.4 million, restricted cash of $0.6 million, and short-term & long-term investments of $67.8 million, all of which represent a combined total of $101.8 million.  As of September 30, 2018, 1,193,102 shares of the Company's common stock were repurchased for $10.0 million under the stock repurchase program authorized by the Company's Board of Directors on March 7, 2018.

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 belief that the Company's Water business will continue to grow in the future, the Company's belief that the Company will be able to shorten the path to commercialization of the VorTeq, and the Company's belief that the Company  will be able to bring its VorTeq and MTeq technologies to full commercialization.  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, 2017 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.  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 gross margin" and "Adjusted net income" 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 Third Quarter 2018 Financial Results

LIVE CONFERENCE CALL:
Thursday, November 1, 2018, 2:00 PM PDT / 5:00 PM EDT
Listen-only, US / Canada Toll-free: +1 877-709-8150
Listen-only, Local / International Toll: +1 201-689-8354
Access code: 13684109

CONFERENCE CALL REPLAY:
Expiration: Saturday, December 1, 2018
US / Canada Toll-free: +1 877-660-6853
Local / International Toll: +1 201-612-7415
Access code: 13684109

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.
Energy Recovery, Inc. (ERII) is an energy solutions provider to industrial fluid flow markets worldwide. Energy Recovery solutions recycle and convert wasted pressure energy into a usable asset and preserve pumps that are subject to hostile processing environments. With award-winning technology, Energy Recovery simplifies complex industrial systems while improving productivity, profitability, and efficiency within the oil & gas, chemical processing, and water industries. Energy Recovery products save clients more than $1.8 billion (USD) annually. Headquartered in the Bay Area, Energy Recovery has offices in Houston, Shanghai, and Dubai. For more information about the Company, please visit www.energyrecovery.com.

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

ENERGY RECOVERY, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share data and par value)
(Unaudited)



September 30,
 2018


December 31,
 2017*


(In thousands, except share data and par value)

ASSETS




Current assets:




Cash and cash equivalents

$

33,394



$

27,780


Restricted cash

509



2,664


Short-term investments

65,446



70,020


Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $384 and $103 at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively

7,666



12,465


Contract assets

3,237



6,278


Inventories

6,275



5,514


Income Tax Receivable

205



—


Prepaid expenses and other current assets

2,329



1,342


Total current assets

119,061



126,063


Restricted cash, non-current

86



182


Contract assets, non-current

108



—


Long-term investments

2,341



—


Deferred tax assets, non-current

18,082



7,933


Property and equipment, net

15,634



13,393


Operating lease, right of use asset

12,428



2,843


Goodwill

12,790



12,790


Other intangible assets, net

796



1,269


Other assets, non-current

287



12


Total assets

$

181,613



$

164,485


LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY




Current liabilities:




Accounts payable

$

4,515



$

4,091


Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

6,646



7,948


Lease liabilities

764



1,603


Income taxes payable

—



432


Accrued warranty reserve

409



366


Contract liabilities

15,899



15,909


Current portion of long-term debt

12



11


Total current liabilities

28,245



30,360


Long-term debt, less current portion

7



16


Lease liabilities, non-current

12,797



1,698


Contract liabilities, non-current

30,727



40,517


Other non-current liabilities

242



—


Total liabilities

72,018



72,591


Commitments and Contingencies (Note 9)




Stockholders' equity:




Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017

—



—


Common stock, $0.001 par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized; 59,230,828 shares issued and 53,774,893 shares outstanding at September 30, 2018 and 58,168,433 shares issued and 53,905,600 shares outstanding at December 31, 2017

59



58


Additional paid-in capital

157,008



149,006


Accumulated comprehensive loss

(101)



(125)


Treasury stock, at cost, 5,455,935 shares repurchased at September 30, 2018 and 4,262,833 shares repurchased at December 31, 2017

(30,486)



(20,486)


Accumulated deficit

(16,885)



(36,559)


Total stockholders' equity

109,595



91,894


Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$

181,613



$

164,485










*Prior-period information has been retrospectively adjusted due to our adoption of ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) and ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) on January 1, 2018.


ENERGY RECOVERY, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per share data)

(Unaudited)






Three Months Ended September 30,


Nine Months Ended September 30,


2018


2017*


2018


2017*


(In thousands, except per share data)

Product revenue

$

18,578



$

13,860



$

47,042



$

36,969


Product cost of revenue

5,022



4,217



14,312



12,401


Product gross profit

13,556



9,643



32,730



24,568










License and development revenue

3,661



3,197



9,768



8,495










Operating expenses:








General and administrative

5,266



4,034



16,030



12,369


Sales and marketing

1,873



2,061



5,643



6,688


Research and development

4,270



3,038



11,792



8,624


Amortization of intangible assets

158



157



474



473


Total operating expenses

11,567



9,290



33,939



28,154


Income from operations

5,650



3,550



8,559



4,909










Other income (expense):








Interest income

369



243



1,043



612


Interest expense

—



(1)



(1)



(2)


Other non-operating expense, net

(22)



(10)



(66)



(150)


Total other income, net

347



232



976



460


Income before income taxes

5,997



3,782



9,535



5,369


(Benefit from) provision for income taxes

1,339



310



(10,140)



546


Net income

$

4,658



$

3,472



$

19,675



$

4,823










Income per share:








Basic

$

0.09



$

0.06



$

0.37



$

0.09


Diluted

$

0.08



$

0.06



$

0.36



$

0.09










Number of shares used in per share calculations:








Basic

53,665



53,580



53,719



53,717


Diluted

55,295



55,140



55,382



55,571



*Prior-period information has been retrospectively adjusted due to our adoption of ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) on January 1, 2018.

ENERGY RECOVERY, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)




Nine Months Ended September 30,


2018


2017*


(In thousands)

Cash Flows From Operating Activities:




Net income

$

19,675



$

4,823


Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:




Stock-based compensation

4,226



3,136


Depreciation and amortization

2,898



2,704


Amortization of premiums on investments

380



379


Provision for warranty claims

213



145


Reversal of accruals related to expired warranties

(171)



(237)


Unrealized loss on foreign currency translation

—



69


Provision for doubtful accounts

336



16


Adjustments for excess or obsolete inventory

132



(230)


Deferred income taxes

(10,150)



(244)


Loss on disposal of fixed assets

58



—


Other non-cash adjustments

—



(145)


Changes in operating assets and liabilities:




Accounts receivable

4,463



(186)


Contract assets

2,934



(2,956)


Inventories

(894)



(1,503)


Prepaid and other assets

(445)



(350)


Accounts payable

(2,198)



1,831


Accrued expenses and other liabilities

(1,270)



(2,232)


Income taxes

(638)



718


Contract liabilities

(9,800)



(7,910)


Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

9,749



(2,172)


Cash Flows From Investing Activities:




Maturities of marketable securities

62,213



30,977


Purchases of marketable securities

(60,334)



(64,530)


Capital expenditures

(2,029)



(6,843)


Net cash used in investing activities

(150)



(40,396)


Cash Flows From Financing Activities:




Net proceeds from issuance of common stock

3,873



3,722


Tax payment for employee shares withheld

(115)



(228)


Repayment of long-term debt

(8)



(8)


Repurchase of common stock

(10,000)



(4,276)


Net cash used in financing activities

(6,250)



(790)


Effect of exchange rate differences on cash and cash equivalents

14



(55)


Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

3,363



(43,413)


Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of year

30,626



65,748


Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period

$

33,989



$

22,335



*Prior-period information has been retrospectively adjusted due to our adoption of ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) and ASU No. 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows, Restricted Cash (Topic 230) on January 1, 2018.



ENERGY RECOVERY, INC.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION BY SEGMENT
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)



Three Months Ended September 30, 2018


Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018



Water


Oil & Gas


Total


Water


Oil & Gas


Total


Product revenue

$

18,464



$

114



$

18,578



$

46,628



$

414



$

47,042


Product cost of revenue

4,851



171



5,022



13,719



593



14,312


Product gross profit

13,613



(57)



13,556



32,909



(179)



32,730




















License and development revenue

—



3,661



3,661



—



9,768



9,768





















Operating expenses:



















General and administrative

470



373



843



1,441



1,395



2,836


Sales and marketing

1,435



335



1,770



4,243



997



5,240


Research and development

545



3,713



4,258



1,019



10,753



11,772


Amortization of intangibles

158



—



158



474



—



474


Operating expenses

2,608



4,421



7,029



7,177



13,145



20,322





















Operating income (loss)

$

11,005



$

(817)



10,188



$

25,732



$

(3,556)



22,176






















Less: Corporate operating expenses








4,538











13,617


Consolidated operating income








5,650











8,559


Non-operating income








347











976


Income before income taxes







$

5,997











$

9,535





Three Months Ended September 30, 2017*


Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017*


Water


Oil & Gas


Total


Water


Oil & Gas


Total

Product revenue

$

13,227



$

633



$

13,860



$

33,707



$

3,262



$

36,969


Product cost of revenue

3,774



443



4,217



10,003



2,398



12,401


Product gross profit

9,453



190



9,643



23,704



864



24,568





















License and development revenue

—



3,197



3,197



—



8,495



8,495





















Operating expenses:



















General and administrative

334



361



695



965



1,085



2,050


Sales and marketing

1,296



431



1,727



4,039



1,635



5,674


Research and development

316



2,669



2,985



810



7,734



8,544


Amortization of intangibles

157



—



157



473



—



473


Operating expenses

2,103



3,461



5,564



6,287



10,454



16,741

















Operating income (loss)

$

7,350



$

(74)



7,276



$

17,417



$

(1,095)



16,322




















Less: Corporate operating expenses







3,726









11,413


Consolidated operating income







3,550









4,909


Non-operating income







232









460


Income before income taxes







$

3,782









$

5,369


*Prior-period information has been retrospectively adjusted due to our adoption of ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) on January 1, 2018.

ENERGY RECOVERY, INC.
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
(In thousands, except per share data)
(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 is determined by adding back non-recurring operating and tax expenses/(benefits).


Three Months Ended

September 30,


Nine Months Ended

September 30,


2018


2017*


2018


2017*

Product revenue

$

18,578



$

13,860



$

47,042



$

36,969


License and development revenue

3,661



3,197



9,768



8,495


Total revenue

$

22,239



$

17,057



$

56,810



$

45,464










Product gross profit

$

13,556



$

9,643



$

32,730



$

24,568


License and development gross profit

3,661



3,197



9,768



8,495


  Total gross profit (non-GAAP)

$

17,217



$

12,840



$

42,498



$

33,063










Product gross margin

73.0

%


69.6

%


69.6

%


66.5

%

Total gross margin (non-GAAP)

77.4

%


75.3

%


74.8

%


72.7

%









Net income

$

4,658



$

3,472



$

19,675



$

4,823


Reversal of non-recurring expense (benefit) (non-GAAP)

—



—



(10,763)



—


  Adjusted net income (non-GAAP)

$

4,658



$

3,472



$

8,912



$

4,823










Income per share:








Diluted

$

0.08



$

0.06



$

0.36



$

0.09


Diluted (non-GAAP)

$

0.08



$

0.06



$

0.16



$

0.09










Number of diluted shares used in per share calculations












     Diluted shares

55,295



55,140



55,382



55,571



*Prior-period information has been retrospectively adjusted due to our adoption of ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) on January 1, 2018.

SOURCE Energy Recovery, Inc.