Financial News

Energy Recovery Reports Product Revenue Growth of 26% for Fiscal Year 2020

$50 Million Share Buyback Program Announced

SAN LEANDRO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / March 11, 2021 / Energy Recovery, Inc. (NASDAQ:ERII) today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2020. The Company achieved 26% product revenue growth for the fiscal year 2020 across all business segments, which includes a 27% year-over-year growth in our core seawater desalination business.

Strong 2020 results combined with projected growth in 2021 and 2022 will likely increase Energy Recovery's cash balances. As a result, the Board of Directors of the Company approved a share repurchase program on March 9, 2021. Under this program, the Company may repurchase up to $50.0 million of the Company's outstanding common stock. The repurchases will take place in open-market transactions and will focus on maximizing the number of shares purchased by Energy Recovery.

"We ended a difficult 2020 stronger than we started," said Bob Mao, Chairman of the Board, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Energy Recovery. "We kept our employees safe while keeping our production running, grew our base water business and achieved record revenue despite the pandemic, launched our new Ultra PX™ energy recovery device for industrial wastewater treatment, and issued our first Environmental, Social and Governance ("ESG") report."

Mr. Mao continued, "I believe 2021 is going to be an even more exciting year for Energy Recovery. In early March, we deployed the VorTeq at a live well with one of the largest independent oil producers in the U.S., a key step towards demonstrating the value proposition of the product and ensuring readiness for commercial deployment. We continue to work on the other critical hurdle for profitable commercialization - extending the service life of the VorTeq cartridges."

Mr. Mao concluded, "We also continue to push the boundaries of our core technology, the pressure exchanger, to handle new operating environments and industrial applications, including actively developing capabilities to handle gases. With this broader operating range, our first target is to address the challenges faced in industrial and commercial refrigeration. We are taking a disciplined approach to incubating new products, with clear financial and time bounds on each of our initiatives, which we believe will enable us to more rapidly drive shareholder value."

Financial Results

  Three Months Ended December 31,  Years Ended December 31, 
  2020  2019  Variance  2020  2019  Variance 
  (in millions, except earnings per share, percentages and basis points) 
Product revenue $26.4  $15.8   67% $92.1  $72.8   26%
License and development revenue  -   3.7   (100%)  26.9   14.1   91%
Total revenue $26.4  $19.5   36% $119.0  $86.9   37%
                         
Product gross profit $18.2  $11.3   61% $63.8  $52.5   22%
Product gross margin  69.0%  71.5% (250)bps   69.3%  72.1% (280) bps 
                         
Operating Expense $14.4  $15.9   (9%) $59.4  $56.2   6%
Operating income (loss) $3.8  $(0.9)  519% $31.3  $10.4   202%
                         
Net income (loss) $3.5  $(0.6)  667% $26.4  $10.9   142%
Diluted earnings (deficit) per share $0.06  $(0.01) $0.07  $0.47  $0.19  $0.28 
                         
Operating cash flow $6.5  $4.8   37% $16.9  $5.3   220%
Cash and securities $114.7  $100.5   14% $114.7  $100.5   14%

Product Channel Revenue

  Three Months Ended December 31, 2020  Years Ended December 31, 
  2020  2019  Variance  2020  2019  Variance 
  (In millions, except percentages) 
Megaproject $19.6  $6.2   215%  $66.8  $38.2   75% 
Original equipment manufacturer  4.1   6.8   (39%)   15.8   23.0   (31%) 
Aftermarket  2.7   2.7   (3%)   9.5   11.7   (19%) 
Total product revenue $26.4  $15.8   67%  $92.1  $72.8   26% 

"We beat our 2020 water guidance by more than 1%, a growth target that we first communicated in October 2019 and later reaffirmed once we understood the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic," said Joshua Ballard, Chief Financial Officer of Energy Recovery. "In addition, we achieved our product gross margin target in 2020, and operating expenditures grew only 6% compared to a guidance of 10-12% in 2019, despite a $2.3 million one-time impairment charge. More importantly, in-line with our third quarter comments, VorTeq-related research and development ("R&D) spend fell 17% for the year, and 45% year-on-year in the fourth quarter. These OPEX results underscore our commitment to disciplined R&D, as well our ability to leverage our existing operations as we grow while increasing profitability. You can expect this disciplined approach to OPEX and new product introduction in 2021."

Fiscal Year 2020

Revenues

For the year ended December 31, 2020, our total revenue increased 37% as compared to prior year driven by two primary factors: 27% growth in our core water desalination business, and a 91% increase in our oil & gas license development revenue due to the accelerated recognition of revenue associated with the termination of the Schlumberger exclusivity agreement.

For the 5th consecutive year, our Water segment achieved record revenue for the year ended December 31, 2020, with the megaproject ("MPD") channel as the main driver of our revenue growth. In 2020, large scale desalination projects were generally unaffected by COVID-19 and the decline in economic conditions. Strong growth in our MPD channel is indicative of the growing demand for potable water globally, as well as the technological conversion occurring within the industry as thermal desalination plants begin to be decommissioned and replaced with reverse osmosis plants.

Our original equipment manufacturer ("OEM") and aftermarket ("AM") channels, which contain projects of shorter duration, were negatively affected by COVID-19 and the resulting decline in the economic conditions in fiscal year 2020, which ultimately delayed certain new installation and upgrade projects, as well as non-critical plant maintenance. Specifically, in our OEM channel, we sell into a number of industries, including tourism and hospitality, which were greatly affected by COVID-19.

In our Oil & Gas segment we accelerated revenue recognition from the termination of the license agreement between us and Schlumberger in the second quarter of 2020. No revenue was recognized in the second half of 2020, and there will be no future license revenue recognized associated with this contract.

Product Gross Margin

For the year ended December 31, 2020 product gross margin decreased 280 basis points as compared to prior year. This decrease was primarily a result of costs associated with reduced utilization of our manufacturing facilities due to COVID-19, increased costs related to COVID-19 safety protocols, and overhead costs of our Tracy, California facility. The increasing size and volume of MPD customer projects has also exerted downward pressure on our average per unit selling price, which contributed to product gross margin reductions.

Operating Expenses

For the year ended December 31, 2020, operating expenses increased $3.2 million as compared to prior year. Excluding the $2.3 million impairment expense of certain long-lived assets that were directly related to the termination of the VorTeq License Agreement, the increase in operating expense was due primarily to growth in general and administrative ("G&A") expenses. The increase in our G&A expenses is largely due to increased investment to protect our employees from COVID-19, full year effect of hires that occurred in 2019, increased facility costs, and professional fees related to our ESG efforts.

Sales and marketing ("S&M") expenses decreased as compared to prior year due primarily to COVID-19, as we temporarily reduced a majority of travel-related marketing events.

Research and development ("R&D") expenses were relatively flat as compared to prior year. Expenditures related to the development of the VorTeq peaked in the first half of 2020, but fell 17% for the fiscal year as compared to prior year. This decrease in spending was partially offset by costs to support other incubation initiatives.

Bottom Line Summary

On an annual basis, we reported a net income of $26.4 million, or $0.47 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to a net income of $10.9 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2019.

Fourth Quarter 2020

Revenues

For the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2020, total revenue increased 36% compared to the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2019. This increase was due primarily to 67% growth in product revenue in the Water segment, as compared to the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2019. In the Oil & Gas segment, there was no license and development revenue recognized as a result of the termination of the VorTeq License Agreement.

The Water desalination business growth in the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2020 was driven by strong performance of our MPD channel. We continued to observe COVID-19 related slowdowns in our OEM and AM channels as industries such as tourism and hospitality deferred reverse osmosis projects. In our AM channel, some customers sought to delay non-critical maintenance.

Product Gross Margin

For the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2020, product gross margin decreased 250 basis points as compared to the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2019. The decrease in product gross margin was primarily related to lower average selling price of our PX as the growing magnitude of MPD projects exerted downward pressure on per unit pricing.

Operating Expenses

For the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2020 operating expenses decreased $1.5 million as compared to the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2019. This decrease was due primarily to lower R&D expenditures, driven by a 45% decrease in VorTeq-related testing activities, and partially offset by our continued investment in our incubation initiatives.

G&A expenses increased as compared to the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2019, due primarily to higher personnel and facility-related costs and partially offset by lower travel and professional services expenditures.

S&M expenses decreased as compared to the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2019, due primarily to COVID-19 related slowdowns in marketing and travel related activities.

Bottom Line Summary

On a quarterly basis, we reported a net income of $3.5 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2020, compared to a net deficit of $0.6 million, or ($0.01) per diluted share, for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2019.

Cash Flow Highlights

We finished the year ended December 31, 2020 with cash and cash equivalents of $94.3 million, and short-term investments of $20.4 million, which represents a combined total of $114.7 million. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, our customer collections, and therefore cash flows, remain strong, indicative of the overall strength of the desalination market in 2020.

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 projected growth in 2021 and 2022 will increase the Company's cash balances; that the deployment of the VorTeq at a live well will help demonstrate the value proposition of the VorTeq; that the Company will ever commercialize the VorTeq; that the Company will be able to extend the service life of the VorTeq cartridges; that the Company will be able to develop the pressure exchanger's capabilities to handle gases; that the Company will be able to develop products to address challenges faced in industrial and commercial refrigeration; that the Company will be able to drive shareholder value; and that the Company will introduce new products in 2021. 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 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.

Conference Call to Discuss Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year End 2020 Financial Results

LIVE CONFERENCE CALL:

Thursday, March 11, 2021, 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: 13714951

CONFERENCE CALL REPLAY:

Expiration: Sunday, April 11, 2021

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

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

Access code: 13714951

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

Energy Recovery creates technologies that solve complex challenges for industrial fluid-flow markets worldwide. Building on our pressure exchanger technology platform, we design and manufacture solutions that make industrial processes more efficient and sustainable. What began as a game-changing invention for desalination has grown into a global business advancing the environmental sustainability of customers' operations in multiple industries. Headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, Energy Recovery has manufacturing, research and development facilities across California and Texas with sales and on-site technical support available globally. For more information, please visit www.energyrecovery.com.

CONTACT:
Investor Relations
ir@energyrecovery.com
+1 (281) 962-8105

ENERGY RECOVERY, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

 December 31, 2020 December 31, 2019
  (In thousands) 
ASSETS      
Current assets:      
Cash and cash equivalents $94,255  $26,387 
Short-term investments  20,446   58,736 
Accounts receivable, net  11,792   12,979 
Inventories, net  11,748   10,317 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets  4,950   4,548 
Total current assets  143,191   112,967 
Long-term investments  -   15,419 
Deferred tax assets, non-current  11,030   16,897 
Property and equipment, net  20,176   18,843 
Operating lease, right of use asset  16,090   11,195 
Goodwill and other intangible assets  12,839   12,855 
Other assets, non-current  988   598 
Total assets $204,314  $188,774 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY        
Current liabilities:        
Accounts payable $1,118  $1,192 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities  11,816   9,869 
Lease liabilities  1,243   1,023 
Contract liabilities  1,552   15,746 
Total current liabilities  15,729   27,830 
Lease liabilities, non-current  16,443   11,533 
Contract liabilities, non-current  88   13,120 
Other non-current liabilities  430   278 
Total liabilities  32,690   52,761 
         
Stockholders' equity:        
Common stock  62   61 
Additional paid-in capital  179,161   170,028 
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)  53   (37) 
Treasury stock  (30,486)   (30,486) 
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)  22,834   (3,553) 
Total stockholders' equity  171,624   136,013 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $204,314  $188,774 

 

ENERGY RECOVERY, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

  Three Months Ended December 31,  Years Ended December 31, 
  2020  2019  2020  2019 
  (In thousands, except per share data) 
Product revenue $26,426  $15,784  $92,091  $72,834 
Product cost of revenue  8,200   4,492   28,249   20,335 
Product gross profit  18,226   11,292   63,842   52,499 
                 
License and development revenue  -   3,717   26,895   14,108 
                 
Operating expenses:                
General and administrative  6,768   6,042   25,519   22,832 
Sales and marketing  2,351   2,724   8,127   9,434 
Research and development  5,290   7,048   23,449   23,402 
Amortization of intangible assets  4   106   16   575 
Impairment of long-lived assets  -   -   2,332   - 
Total operating expenses  14,413   15,920   59,443   56,243 
Income (loss) from operations  3,813   (911)   31,294   10,364 
                 
Other income:                
Interest income  104   459   913   2,010 
Other non-operating expense, net  (15)   (41)   (74)   (118) 
Total other income, net  89   418   839   1,892 
Income (loss) before income taxes  3,902   (493)   32,133   12,256 
Provision for income taxes  449   116   5,746   1,343 
Net income (loss) $3,453  $(609)  $26,387  $10,913 
                 
Earnings (deficit) per share:                
Basic $0.06  $(0.01)  $0.47  $0.20 
Diluted $0.06  $(0.01)  $0.47  $0.19 
                 
Number of shares used in per share calculations:                
Basic  56,113   55,201   55,709   54,740 
Diluted  57,261   55,201   56,637   56,067 

 

ENERGY RECOVERY, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)

  Years Ended December 31, 
  2020  2019 
  (In thousands) 
Cash flows from operating activities:      
Net income $26,387  $10,913 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities        
Stock-based compensation  4,787   5,676 
Depreciation and amortization  5,299   4,395 
Amortization of premiums and discounts on investments  390   65 
Deferred income taxes  5,867   1,421 
Provision for warranty claims  403   402 
Impairment of long-lived assets  2,332   - 
Other non-cash adjustments  (8)   92 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:        
Accounts receivable, net  1,098   (2,679) 
Contract assets  (1,200)   3,391 
Inventories, net  (1,622)   (3,256) 
Prepaid and other assets  415   (263) 
Accounts payable  (205)   (373) 
Accrued expenses and other liabilities  164   (600) 
Income taxes  (11)   27 
Contract liabilities  (27,226)   (13,943) 
Net cash provided by operating activities  16,870   5,268 
Cash flows from investing activities:        
Sales of marketable securities  10,573   7,608 
Maturities of marketable securities  55,667   78,100 
Purchases of marketable securities  (12,855)   (85,207) 
Capital expenditures  (6,785)   (7,382) 
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities  46,600   (6,881) 
Cash flows from financing activities:        
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock  4,397   6,073 
Tax payment for employee shares withheld  (23)   (110) 
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities  4,374   5,963 
Effect of exchange rate differences on cash and cash equivalents  26   - 
Net change in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash  67,870   4,350 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of year  26,488   22,138 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of year $94,358  $26,488 

 

ENERGY RECOVERY, INC.
SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION
(Unaudited)
  Three Months Ended December 31, 2020  Three Months Ended December 31, 2019 
  Water  Oil & Gas  Corporate  Total  Water  Oil & Gas  Corporate  Total 
  (In thousands) 
Product revenue $26,396  $30  $-  $26,426  $15,784  $-  $-  $15,784 
Product cost of revenue  8,190   10   -   8,200   4,493   (1)   -   4,492 
Product gross profit  18,206   20   -   18,226   11,291   1   -   11,292 
                                 
License and development revenue  -   -   -   -   -   3,717   -   3,717 
                                 
Operating expenses                                
General and administrative  729   457   5,582   6,768   45   369   5,628   6,042 
Sales and marketing  1,651   6   694   2,351   2,014   67   643   2,724 
Research and development  388   3,139   1,763   5,290   1,031   5,750   267   7,048 
Amortization of intangible assets  4   -   -   4   106   -   -   106 
Total operating expenses  2,772   3,602   8,039   14,413   3,196   6,186   6,538   15,920 
                                 
Operating income (loss) $15,434  $(3,582)  $(8,039)   3,813  $8,095  $(2,468)  $(6,538)   (911) 
Other income, net              89               418 
Income before income taxes             $3,902              $(493) 

 

  Year Ended December 31, 2020  Year Ended December 31, 2019 
  Water  Oil & Gas  Corporate  Total  Water  Oil & Gas  Corporate  Total 
  (In thousands) 
Product revenue $92,061  $30  $-  $92,091  $72,730  $104  $-  $72,834 
Product cost of revenue  28,239   10   -   28,249   20,148   187   -   20,335 
Product gross profit (loss)  63,822   20   -   63,842   52,582   (83)  -   52,499 
                                 
License and development revenue  -   26,895   -   26,895   -   14,108   -   14,108 
                                 
Operating expenses                                
General and administrative  2,196   2,058   21,265   25,519   1,501   1,576   19,755   22,832 
Sales and marketing  5,958   112   2,057   8,127   7,072   741   1,621   9,434 
Research and development  2,973   15,859   4,617   23,449   3,825   19,085   492   23,402 
Amortization of intangible assets  16   -   -   16   575   -   -   575 
Impairment of long-lived assets  -   2,332   -   2,332   -   -   -   - 
Total operating expenses  11,143   20,361   27,939   59,443   12,973   21,402   21,868   56,243 
                                 
Operating income (loss) $52,679  $6,554  $(27,939)  31,294  $39,609  $(7,377) $(21,868)  10,364 
Other income, net              839               1,892 
Income before income taxes             $32,133              $12,256 
 SOURCE: Energy Recovery

View source version on accesswire.com:
https://www.accesswire.com/635051/Energy-Recovery-Reports-Product-Revenue-Growth-of-26-for-Fiscal-Year-2020

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