Energy, Automobile, EV, Renewable News | Sunnova Reports Third Quarter 2023 Financial Results

Sunnova Reports Third Quarter 2023 Financial Results

October 26, 2023

Third Quarter 2023 and Recent Highlights

Added over 37,000 customers in the third quarter; bringing total customer count to 386,200 as of September 30, 2023;
Took several actions to increase corporate liquidity and thereby lowered our forecasted 2024 corporate capital need from $500 million to $0;
Priced our first U.S. Department of Energy guaranteed loan securitization resulting in the residential solar industry’s first AAA rated securitization;
Entered into a $145 million tax credit transfer transaction that involves the sale of investment tax credits to a tax credit buyer with $14.4 million in sales completed as of September 30, 2023; and
Initiated 2024 full year guidance of $800 million at the midpoint for Adjusted EBITDA together with the interest income and principal proceeds from customer notes receivable.

HOUSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Sunnova Energy International Inc. (“Sunnova”) (NYSE: NOVA), a leading energy services company, today announced financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2023.

“Maintaining a strong focus on liquidity, increasing operating leverage and profitability, and growing cash flow remain the top objectives of management,” said William J. (John) Berger, the founder and CEO of Sunnova. “As we navigate this higher interest rate and lower liquidity environment, it’s essential to recognize the unique opportunity that arises from the convergence of declining solar equipment prices and the steady uptick in utility rates, creating a distinct wedge of value for our customers. This same wedge of value enables us to continue to increase our pricing power, which is reflected in our increased fully burdened unlevered return.

“In the third quarter, Sunnova entered into a tax credit transfer transaction involving the sale of up to $145 million in investment tax credits. We are proud to be among the pioneers embracing the newly introduced transferred credit program under the Inflation Reduction Act. Sunnova is dedicated to shaping and supporting the growth of this nascent market, reaffirming our position as a market leader in our industry.

“We have undertaken a multitude of initiatives to better position Sunnova for a prolonged period of challenging macroeconomic conditions, including a concerted effort to reduce working capital demands, stringently managing our operating expenses, reducing our future corporate capital needs, and integrating advanced software and artificial intelligence applications to maximize operational efficiency. This comprehensive approach is geared towards improving cash flow, increasing overall profitability, and fortifying our liquidity position, all of which we are confident will establish a solid foundation for our enduring success in this elevated interest rate environment.”

Third Quarter 2023 Results

Revenue increased to $198.4 million, or by $49.0 million, for the three months ended September 30, 2023 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2022. This increase was primarily the result of an increased number of solar energy systems in service, higher inventory sales revenue from the sale of inventory to our dealers or other parties, and an increase in service revenue primarily due to an increased focus on direct sales of additional services to existing customers.

Revenue increased to $526.5 million, or by $164.4 million, for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2022. This increase was primarily the result of an increased number of solar energy systems in service, an increase in service revenue primarily due to an increased focus on direct sales of additional services to existing customers, and higher inventory sales revenue from the sale of inventory to our dealers or other parties, which began in April 2022.

Total operating expense, net increased to $236.6 million, or by $59.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2022. This increase was primarily the result of an increased number of solar energy systems in service, higher general and administrative expense, higher cost of revenue – inventory sales from the sale of inventory to our dealers and other parties, and higher cost of revenue – other due to an increased focus on direct sales of additional services to existing customers. This was partially offset by a decrease in other operating expense due to changes in the fair value of certain financial instruments and contingent consideration.

Total operating expense, net increased to $673.2 million, or by $246.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2022. This increase was primarily the result of an increased number of solar energy systems in service, higher general and administrative expense, higher cost of revenue – other due to an increased focus on direct sales of additional services to existing customers, and an increase in cost of revenue – inventory sales from the sale of inventory to our dealers or other parties, which began in April 2022.

Adjusted Operating Expense increased to $96.4 million, or by $42.7 million, for the three months ended September 30, 2023 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2022. This increase was primarily the result of an increased number of solar energy systems in service and higher general and administrative expense.

Adjusted Operating Expense increased to $261.6 million, or by $111.0 million, for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2022. This increase was primarily the result of an increased number of solar energy systems in service and higher general and administrative expense.

Sunnova incurred a net loss of $56.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023 compared to a net loss of $32.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022. This higher net loss was primarily the result of an increase in interest expense, net of $36.8 million and higher general and administrative expense. This was partially offset by an increase in interest income of $14.4 million due to our larger customer loan portfolio, a decrease in other operating expense due to changes in the fair value of certain financial instruments and contingent consideration, and an increase in income tax benefit primarily due to investment tax credit sales that resulted in an income tax benefit offset by an increase in taxable income related to tax gains recognized on the sale of solar energy systems and energy storage systems located in separate tax-reporting jurisdictions.

Sunnova incurred a net loss of $267.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to a net loss of $68.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. This higher net loss was primarily the result of an increase in interest expense, net of $155.8 million and higher general and administrative expense. This was partially offset by an increase in interest income of $41.2 million due to our larger customer loan portfolio and an increase in income tax benefit primarily due to investment tax credit sales that resulted in an income tax benefit offset by an increase in taxable income related to tax gains recognized on the sale of solar energy systems and energy storage systems located in separate tax-reporting jurisdictions.

Adjusted EBITDA was relatively unchanged at $40.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023 compared to $41.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022.

Adjusted EBITDA was $83.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to $93.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. This decrease was primarily the result of an increase in spending related to higher than expected growth.

Principal proceeds from customer notes receivable (net of amounts recorded in revenue) and proceeds from investments in solar receivables was $40.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023 compared to $26.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022. Principal proceeds from customer notes receivable (net of amounts recorded in revenue) and proceeds from investments in solar receivables was $111.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to $76.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. These increases were due to our larger customer loan portfolio.

Interest income from customer notes receivable was $26.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023 compared to $15.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2022. Interest income from customer notes receivable was $69.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 compared to $39.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2022. These increases were due to our larger customer loan portfolio.

Liquidity & Capital Resources

As of September 30, 2023, Sunnova had total cash of $725.1 million, including restricted and unrestricted cash.

2023 Full Year Guidance

Sunnova management is reaffirming its 2023 full year guidance for customer additions, Adjusted EBITDA, interest income from customer notes receivable, and principal proceeds from customer notes receivable, net of amounts recorded in revenue, and proceeds from investments in solar receivables.

Customer additions between 135,000 and 145,000 reaffirmed;
Adjusted EBITDA between $235 million and $255 million reaffirmed;
Interest income from customer notes receivable between $110 million and $120 million reaffirmed; and
Principal proceeds from customer notes receivable, net of amounts recorded in revenue, and proceeds from investments in solar receivables between $150 million and $190 million reaffirmed.

2024 Full Year Guidance

Sunnova management initiates its 2024 full year guidance.

Customer additions between 185,000 and 195,000;
Adjusted EBITDA between $350 million and $450 million;
Interest income from customer notes receivable between $150 million and $190 million; and
Principal proceeds from customer notes receivable, net of amounts recorded in revenue, and proceeds from investments in solar receivables between $210 million and $250 million.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We present our operating results in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“GAAP”). We believe certain financial measures, such as Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Operating Expense, which are non-GAAP measures, provide users of our financial statements with supplemental information that may be useful in evaluating our business. We use Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Operating Expense as performance measures and believe investors and securities analysts also use Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Operating Expense in evaluating our performance. While Adjusted EBITDA effectively captures the operating performance of our leases and PPAs, it only reflects the service portion of the operating performance under our loan agreements. Therefore, we separately show customer P&I payments. Adjusted EBITDA is also used by our management for internal planning purposes, including our consolidated operating budget, and by our board of directors in setting performance-based compensation targets. We believe that such non-GAAP measures, when read in conjunction with our operating results presented under GAAP, can be used both to better assess our business from period to period and to better assess our business against other companies in our industry, without regard to financing methods, historical cost basis or capital structure. Our calculation of these non-GAAP financial measures may differ from similarly-titled non-GAAP measures, if any, reported by other companies. In addition, other companies may not publish these or similar measures. Such non-GAAP measures should be considered as a supplement to, and not as a substitute for, financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. Sunnova is unable to reconcile projected Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Operating Expense to the most comparable financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP because of fluctuations in interest rates and their impact on our unrealized and realized interest rate hedge gains or losses. Sunnova provides a range for the forecasts of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Operating Expense to allow for the variability in the timing of cash receipts and disbursements, customer utilization of our assets, and the impact on the related reconciling items, many of which interplay with each other. Therefore, the reconciliation of projected Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Operating Expense to projected net income (loss) and total operating expense, as the case may be, is not available without unreasonable effort.

Third Quarter Conference Call Information

Sunnova is hosting a conference call for analysts and investors to discuss its third quarter 2023 results at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time, on October 26, 2023. The conference call can be accessed live over the phone by dialing 833-470-1428, or for international callers, 929-526-1599. The access code for the live call is 663505.

A replay will be available two hours after the call and can be accessed by dialing 866-813-9403, or for international callers, +44 204-525-0658. The access code for the replay is 520385. The replay will be available until November 2, 2023.

Interested investors and other parties may also listen to a simultaneous webcast of the conference call by logging onto the Investor Relations section of Sunnova’s website.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains 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. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or Sunnova’s future financial or operating performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “going to,” “could,” “intends,” “target,” “projects,” “contemplates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “potential” or “continue” or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions that concern Sunnova’s expectations, strategy, priorities, plans or intentions. Forward-looking statements in this release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our level of growth, customer value propositions, technological developments, service levels, the ability to achieve our 2023 operational and financial targets, operating performance, including its outlook and guidance, demand for Sunnova’s products and services, future financing and ability to raise capital therefrom, and references to Adjusted EBITDA and customer P&I payments from solar loans. Sunnova’s expectations and beliefs regarding these matters may not materialize, and actual results in future periods are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, including risks regarding our ability to forecast our business due to our limited operating history, the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on our business and operations, supply chain uncertainties, results of operations and financial position, our competition, changes in regulations applicable to our business, fluctuations in the solar and home-building markets, availability of capital, and our ability to attract and retain dealers and customers and manage our dealer and strategic partner relationships. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are also subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those more fully described in Sunnova’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Sunnova’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The forward-looking statements in this release are based on information available to Sunnova as of the date hereof, and Sunnova disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

About Sunnova

Sunnova Energy International Inc. (NYSE: NOVA) is an industry-leading energy services company focused on making clean energy more accessible, reliable, and affordable for homeowners and businesses. Through its adaptive energy platform, Sunnova provides a better energy service at a better price to deliver its mission of powering energy independence. For more information, visit www.sunnova.com.


SUNNOVA ENERGY INTERNATIONAL INC. UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands, except share amounts and share par values)

	As of September 30, 2023			As of December 31, 2022
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	467,902		$	360,257
Accounts receivable—trade, net		40,170			24,435
Accounts receivable—other		101,907			212,397
Other current assets, net of allowance of $4,276 and $3,250 as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively		383,961			351,300
Total current assets		993,940			948,389

Property and equipment, net		5,119,027			3,784,801
Customer notes receivable, net of allowance of $106,385 and $77,998 as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively		3,531,083			2,466,149
Intangible assets, net		141,175			162,512
Goodwill		13,150			13,150
Other assets		986,930			961,891
Total assets (1)	$	10,785,305		$	8,336,892

Liabilities, Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests and Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	194,551		$	116,136
Accrued expenses		107,140			139,873
Current portion of long-term debt		470,133			214,431
Other current liabilities		96,949			71,506
Total current liabilities		868,773			541,946

Long-term debt, net		6,710,734			5,194,755
Other long-term liabilities		1,003,922			712,741
Total liabilities (1)		8,583,429			6,449,442

Redeemable noncontrolling interests		124,082			165,737

Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock, 122,405,788 and 114,939,079 shares issued as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively, at $0.0001 par value		12			11
Additional paid-in capital—common stock		1,749,419			1,637,847
Accumulated deficit		(191,513	)		(364,782	)
Total stockholders’ equity		1,557,918			1,273,076
Noncontrolling interests		519,876			448,637
Total equity		2,077,794			1,721,713
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests and equity	$	10,785,305		$	8,336,892

(1) The consolidated assets as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 include $4,712,182 and $3,201,271, respectively, of assets of variable interest entities (“VIEs”) that can only be used to settle obligations of the VIEs. These assets include cash of $51,260 and $40,382 as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively; accounts receivable—trade, net of $13,789 and $8,542 as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively; accounts receivable—other of $1,198 and $810 as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively; other current assets of $805,774 and $422,364 as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively; property and equipment, net of $3,778,707 and $2,680,587 as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively; and other assets of $61,454 and $48,586 as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively. The consolidated liabilities as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022 include $88,275 and $66,441, respectively, of liabilities of VIEs whose creditors have no recourse to Sunnova Energy International Inc. These liabilities include accounts payable of $17,502 and $9,015 as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively; accrued expenses of $77 and $287 as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively; other current liabilities of $6,112 and $4,420 as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively; and other long-term liabilities of $64,584 and $52,719 as of September 30, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively.

SUNNOVA ENERGY INTERNATIONAL INC. UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

	Three Months Ended September 30,						Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2023			2022			2023			2022
Revenue	$	198,398		$	149,364		$	526,471		$	362,098

Operating expense:
Cost of revenue—depreciation		33,743			24,663			92,262			69,935
Cost of revenue—inventory sales		50,694			40,917			129,016			89,884
Cost of revenue—other		30,981			15,567			81,599			32,974
Operations and maintenance		18,702			9,774			59,306			23,787
General and administrative		111,545			75,897			314,190			214,362
Other operating (income) expense		(9,051	)		10,267			(3,134	)		(4,186	)
Total operating expense, net		236,614			177,085			673,239			426,756

Operating loss		(38,216	)		(27,721	)		(146,768	)		(64,658	)

Interest expense, net		57,601			20,824			200,155			44,380
Interest income		(30,590	)		(16,185	)		(81,670	)		(40,428	)
Other (income) expense		561			(12	)		3,969			(327	)
Loss before income tax		(65,788	)		(32,348	)		(269,222	)		(68,283	)

Income tax benefit		(9,325	)		—			(1,632	)		—
Net loss		(56,463	)		(32,348	)		(267,590	)		(68,283	)
Net income (loss) attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests and noncontrolling interests		6,684			32,195			(37,269	)		72,455
Net loss attributable to stockholders	$	(63,147	)	$	(64,543	)	$	(230,321	)	$	(140,738	)

Net loss per share attributable to stockholders—basic and diluted	$	(0.53	)	$	(0.56	)	$	(1.97	)	$	(1.23	)
Weighted average common shares outstanding—basic and diluted		119,554,008			114,816,879			116,971,318			114,293,251

SUNNOVA ENERGY INTERNATIONAL INC. UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (in thousands)

	Nine Months Ended September 30,
		2023			2022
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net loss	$	(267,590	)	$	(68,283	)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation		107,957			78,401
Impairment and loss on disposals, net		24,930			2,971
Amortization of intangible assets		21,324			21,333
Amortization of deferred financing costs		17,007			9,690
Amortization of debt discount		12,971			6,273
Non-cash effect of equity-based compensation plans		19,812			20,059
Non-cash direct sales revenue		(43,034	)		(4,448	)
Provision for current expected credit losses and other bad debt expense		35,085			28,773
Unrealized gain on derivatives		(10,208	)		(27,580	)
Unrealized (gain) loss on fair value instruments and equity securities		846			(4,136	)
Other non-cash items		2,633			(38,412	)
Changes in components of operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		99,753			(100,537	)
Other current assets		(77,976	)		(139,946	)
Other assets		(95,321	)		(84,142	)
Accounts payable		(6,711	)		1,403
Accrued expenses		(35,193	)		41,571
Other current liabilities		9,604			(4,243	)
Other long-term liabilities		(10,680	)		(4,542	)
Net cash used in operating activities		(194,791	)		(265,795	)

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchases of property and equipment		(1,315,192	)		(637,556	)
Payments for investments and customer notes receivable		(716,972	)		(902,773	)
Proceeds from customer notes receivable		126,980			79,870
Proceeds from investments in solar receivables		8,708			9,388
Other, net		4,707			(282	)
Net cash used in investing activities		(1,891,769	)		(1,451,353	)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from long-term debt		2,859,489			2,308,033
Payments of long-term debt		(1,090,338	)		(571,261	)
Payments on notes payable		(4,356	)		—
Payments of deferred financing costs		(60,336	)		(24,748	)
Purchase of capped call transactions		—			(48,420	)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net		81,329			(3,345	)
Contributions from redeemable noncontrolling interests and noncontrolling interests		520,611			236,661
Distributions to redeemable noncontrolling interests and noncontrolling interests		(30,159	)		(20,847	)
Payments of costs related to redeemable noncontrolling interests and noncontrolling interests		(8,475	)		(10,380	)
Proceeds from sales of investment tax credits for redeemable noncontrolling interests and noncontrolling interests		4,950			—
Other, net		(6,662	)		(601	)
Net cash provided by financing activities		2,266,053			1,865,092
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash		179,493			147,944
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period		545,574			391,897
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period		725,067			539,841
Restricted cash included in other current assets		(30,307	)		(14,584	)
Restricted cash included in other assets		(226,858	)		(112,676	)
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	467,902		$	412,581