HASI Announces Third Quarter 2024 Results

08 Nov HASI Announces Third Quarter 2024 Results

ANNAPOLIS, Md.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–HA Sustainable Infrastructure Capital, Inc. (“HASI,” “we,” “our” or the “Company”) (NYSE: HASI), a leading investor in climate solutions, today reported results for the third quarter of 2024.

Key Highlights

• Closed transactions with multiple new clients over the last few months, including Lightsource bp and Vision RNG.
• Funded additional investments for CCH1 with partnership progressing as expected.
• Managed assets increased 14% year-over-year to $13.1 billion and our Portfolio grew 15% year-over-year to $6.3 billion.
• Transactions totaled $396 million in the third quarter of 2024 and $1.2 billion through the first three quarters of 2024.
• Yields on new portfolio investments through the first three quarters of 2024 were approximately 10.5%, with total portfolio yield rising to 8.1% at the end of the quarter.
• GAAP EPS of $(0.17), compared with $0.20 a year ago, and Adjusted EPS of $0.52, compared to $0.62 a year ago.
• Guidance for Adjusted EPS growth from 2024 to 2026 confirmed and quarterly dividend declared of $0.415 per share.

“Our Q3 and 2024 YTD results underscore the resiliency and consistency of our business,” said Jeffrey A. Lipson, president and CEO of HASI. “We expect to continue to deliver growth in our adjusted earnings and managed assets amidst ongoing volatility in interest rates and uncertainties related to public policy.”

A summary of our financial results is detailed in the table below:

Sustainability and Impact Highlights

An estimated 70,000 metric tons of carbon emissions will be avoided annually by our transactions closed this quarter, equating to a CarbonCount^® score of 0.18 metric tons per $1,000 invested. All in, including assets we have not retained in our portfolio, our managed assets are avoiding approximately 8 million metric tons of carbon emissions annually, based on our proprietary CarbonCount score.

Investment Activity

We closed new investments totaling approximately $396 million in the third quarter, bringing total closed transactions to more than $1.2 billion for the first three quarters of 2024. Weighted average yields on new portfolio investments have been underwritten at approximately 10.5% through the first three quarters of the year.

As of September 30, 2024, our managed assets totaled $13.1 billion, up 14% year-over-year, and our portfolio of assets on our balance sheet was approximately $6.3 billion, up 15% year-over-year. Our portfolio remains well-diversified across established clean energy end markets with approximately $3.0 billion of behind-the-meter assets and approximately $2.4 billion of grid-connected assets, with the remainder in fuels, transport, and nature assets.

The following is an analysis of the performance ratings of our portfolio as of September 30, 2024:

Financial Results

“Our 2024 Adjusted EPS remains on track to grow in line with our expectations, supported by the onboarding of approximately 10 new clients,” said Marc Pangburn, Chief Financial Officer of HASI. “Our successful asset rotation initiative where we have replaced lower yielding for higher yielding investments, at a gain, has contributed to a more profitable Portfolio.”

GAAP Earnings and EPS

Total revenue of $82 million in the third quarter of 2024 decreased by 9% year-over-year, from $90 million in the third quarter of 2023, driven by a $15 million decrease in gain on sale income, the result of a change in the mix and volume of assets being securitized. Interest and securitization asset income increased $13 million, driven by a higher average receivables and securitization assets balance and higher average interest rate. Rental income decreased by $6 million due to the sale of real estate assets in 2023 and 2024.

Interest expense of $59 million increased $16 million year-over-year, primarily due to a larger average outstanding debt balance and a higher average interest rate. We recorded a $1 million provision for loss on receivables and securitization assets, due primarily to new loans and loan commitments made during the quarter. Compensation and benefits and general and administrative expenses increased by a combined $1 million, primarily due to the growth of the company.

Income from equity method investments decreased by approximately $26 million in the third quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023 primarily due to the mark-to-market impact of power purchase agreements entered into by some of the projects in which we invest. Income tax benefit increased by approximately $2 million due to lower GAAP pre-tax income (loss) this period.

GAAP net income (loss) to controlling shareholders in the third quarter of 2024 was $(20) million, compared to $21 million in the same period in 2023.

Adjusted Earnings and EPS

In addition to our GAAP results, we also present non-GAAP measures to enhance the usefulness of financial information and allow for greater transparency with respect to key metrics used by management internally for planning, forecasting, and evaluating our operating performance.

GAAP net investment income in the third quarter of 2024 of $5 million includes all of our interest expense but only the portion of our investment returns that is reflected in GAAP interest income and rental income revenue. Because it does not include the portion of our investment returns recognized through our Equity Method investments, GAAP net investment income fails to capture all of the economic returns earned by our Portfolio.

Given that GAAP net investment income, and in turn GAAP net income, does not reflect such economic returns, our non-GAAP measures Adjusted net investment income and Adjusted Earnings are utilized by management to monitor and evaluate our business as we believe they are a helpful indicator of the underlying economics of our investments. We also believe they provide investors and analysts with useful supplemental information to understand the financial performance of our business and to analyze financial and business trends and enable a useful comparison of financial results between periods.

Adjusted net investment income is calculated using an Equity Method Investments Earnings Adjustment. The Equity Method Investments Earnings Adjustment is calculated using our underwritten project cash flows discounted back to the net present value, based on a target investment rate, with the cash flows to be received in the future reflecting both a return on the capital (based upon the underwritten investment rate) and a return of the capital we have committed to our renewable energy equity method investments, as adjusted to reflect the performance of the project and the cash distributed.

Adjusted net investment income was $65 million in the third quarter of 2024, compared to $59 million in the third quarter of 2023.

Adjusted Earnings is calculated using the same Equity Method Investments Earnings Adjustment that is used to calculate adjusted net investment income. Adjusted Earnings excludes the recognition of income using HLBV, which uses profit and loss allocations that may differ materially from the agreed upon allocations of a project’s cash flows, and in turn reflects income that can differ substantially from the economic returns achieved by a project in any given period.

Adjusted Earnings also excludes non-cash equity compensation expense, provisions for loss on receivables, amortization of intangibles, non-cash provision (benefit) for taxes, and earnings attributable to non-controlling interests, and also makes an adjustment to eliminate our portion of fees we earn from related-party co-investment structures. Please refer to the Explanatory Notes in this press release for a more detailed explanation of Adjusted Earnings.

Adjusted earnings in the third quarter of 2024 was approximately $63 million, a decrease of $6 million over the same period in 2023, primarily driven by lower gain on sale income, offset partially by growth in adjusted net investment income due to a larger portfolio. Adjusted EPS was $0.52, compared to $0.62 a year ago.

Leverage

As of September 30, 2024, cash and cash equivalents were $44 million and total debt outstanding was $4.1 billion. Our debt-to-equity ratio at September 30, 2024, was 1.8, within our target range of 1.5 to 2.0 and below our internal limit of 2.5.

Our weighted average interest cost, as measured by GAAP interest expense divided by average debt outstanding, was 5.7% in the third quarter of 2024, as compared to 4.9% in the third quarter of 2023.

The calculation of our fixed-rate debt and leverage ratios as of September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 are shown in the table below:

Guidance

We confirm our guidance for both adjusted earnings per share and dividend payout ratio. We continue to expect annual adjusted earnings per share to grow at a compounded annual rate of 8% to 10% from 2024 to 2026, relative to the 2023 baseline of $2.23 per share, which is equivalent to a 2026 midpoint of $2.89 per share. We also expect distributions of annual dividends per share from 2024 to 2026 at a payout ratio of between 60% and 70% of annual adjusted earnings per share. This guidance reflects our judgments and estimates of (i) yield on our existing portfolio; (ii) yield on incremental portfolio investments, inclusive of our existing pipeline; (iii) the volume and profitability of transactions; (iv) amount, timing, and costs of debt and equity capital to fund new investments; (v) changes in costs and expenses reflective of our forecasted operations; and (vi) the general interest rate and market environment. In addition, distributions are subject to approval by our Board of Directors on a quarterly basis. We have not provided GAAP guidance as discussed in the Forward-Looking Statements section of this press release.

Dividend

Finally, our Board of Directors today approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.415 per share of common stock. This dividend will be paid on January 10, 2025, to stockholders of record as December 30, 2024.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

HASI will host an investor conference call today, Thursday, November 7, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The conference call can be accessed live over the phone by dialing 1-877-407-0890 (Toll-Free) or +1-201-389-0918 (toll). Participants should inform the operator you want to be joined to the “HASI Third Quarter 2024 Results” call. The conference call will also be accessible as an audio webcast with slides on our website. A replay after the event will be accessible as on-demand webcast on our website.

About HASI

HASI (NYSE: HASI) is a leading climate positive investment firm that actively partners with clients to deploy real assets that facilitate the energy transition. With more than $13 billion in managed assets, our vision is that every investment improves our climate future. For more information, please visit hasi.com.

Forward-Looking Statements:

Some of the information contained in this press release is 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, that are subject to risks and uncertainties. For these statements, we claim the protections of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in such Sections. These forward-looking statements include information about possible or assumed future results of our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, plans and objectives. When we use the words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “plan,” “continue,” “intend,” “should,” “may” or similar expressions, we intend to identify forward-looking statements. However, the absence of these words or similar expressions does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. All statements that address operating performance, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future are forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Investors are cautioned against placing undue reliance on such statements. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements include those discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K as well as in other periodic reports that we file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and we undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances, including, but not limited to, unanticipated events, after the date on which such statement is made, unless otherwise required by law. New factors emerge from time to time and it is not possible for management to predict all of such factors, nor can it assess the impact of each such factor on the business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained or implied in any forward-looking statement.

The Company has not provided GAAP guidance as forecasting a comparable GAAP financial measure, such as net income, would require that the Company apply the HLBV method to these investments. In order to forecast under the HLBV method, the Company would be required to make various assumptions related to expected changes in the net asset value of the various entities and how such changes would be allocated under HLBV. GAAP HLBV earnings over a period of time are very sensitive to these assumptions especially in regard to when a partnership transaction flips and thus the liquidation scenarios change materially. The Company believes that these assumptions would require unreasonable efforts to complete and if completed, the wide variation in projected GAAP earnings based upon a range of scenarios would not be meaningful to investors. Accordingly, the Company has not included a GAAP reconciliation table related to any adjusted earnings guidance.

Estimated carbon savings are calculated using the estimated kilowatt hours, gallons of fuel oil, million British thermal units of natural gas and gallons of water saved as appropriate, for each project. The energy savings are converted into an estimate of metric tons of CO2 equivalent emissions based upon the project’s location and the corresponding emissions factor data from the U.S. Government and International Energy Agency. Portfolios of projects are represented on an aggregate basis.

Contacts

Investor Contact:

Aaron Chew

investors@hasi.com
410-571-6189

Media Contact:

Gil Jenkins

media@hasi.com
443-321-5753

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