Energy

Why SolarEdge Is Thursday's Biggest Earnings Winner

Chris Lange

Published: February 15, 2018 12:15 pm

Last Updated: January 12, 2020 3:20 am

SolarEdge Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: SEDG) saw its shares make a huge gain on Thursday after the company reported its most recent quarterly results late on Wednesday. The company said that it had $0.85 in earnings per share (EPS) on $189.3 million in revenue. Consensus estimates had called for $0.63 in EPS and $179.8 million in revenue.

During the quarter, revenues reached a record level, adding 14% sequentially and 70% year over year.

At the same time, the company shipped 766 megawatts (AC) of inverters. For the full year, SolarEdge shipped 2.5 gigawatts (AC) of inverters.

Looking ahead to the first quarter, the company expects to see revenues in the range of $200 million to $210 million and gross margin of 36% to 38%. The consensus estimates call for $0.56 in EPS on $168.94 million in revenue.

Cash flow from operating activities was $45.8 million, up from $33.6 million in the prior quarter and from $24.7 million a year ago. On the books, SolarEdge cash and cash equivalents totaled $163.16 million at the end of the quarter, up from $104.7 million in the same period from last year.

Guy Sella, founder, board chair and chief executive of SolarEdge, commented:

We ended the fourth quarter and full year of 2017 with record results in our key financial and operational metrics. We grew our revenues in each of the geographies in which we operate and overcame a challenging year in terms of industry-wide component availability and growing our manufacturing capacity to support the growing demand for our products. We expanded our gross margin by keeping our ASP stable, continuing our cost reduction initiatives and increased profitability and cash flow generation while maintaining and even increasing our investments in R&D and customer support and growing our geographic footprint.

Shares of SolarEdge were last seen up about 22% at $44.92 on Thursday, with a consensus analyst price target of $39.90 and a 52-week trading range of $13.50 to $45.45.