Genie Energy Ltd. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 Results

NEWARK, N.J., March 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Genie Energy Ltd. GNE GNEPRA))) reported fourth quarter 2020 loss of $0.06 per diluted share on revenue of $102.9 million, and full year 2020 earnings of $0.44 per diluted share on revenue of $379.3 million. 

4Q20 AND FULL YEAR 2020 FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
(Throughout this release, 4Q20 results are compared to 4Q19 results and FY 2020 results are compared to FY 2019 results unless otherwise noted)

• 4Q20 consolidated revenue increased 25.5% to $102.9 million. Full year 2020 consolidated revenue increased 20.3% to a company record of $379.3 million.
• 4Q20 consolidated loss from operations was $1.1 million compared to income from operations of $2.3 million in 4Q19. 4Q20 consolidated Adjusted EBITDA¹ decreased to $693 thousand from $815 thousand.
• Full year 2020 consolidated income from operations increased to $19.3 million from $9.8 million. Full year 2020 consolidated Adjusted EBITDA¹ increased to $24.0 million (the highest level in Genie Energy's history) from $10.1 million.
• 4Q20 diluted loss per share of $0.06 compared to breakeven. Full year 2020 diluted EPS increased to $0.44 from $0.10.
• In December 2020, Genie's Afek subsidiary ceased exploratory operations after finding no light oil resources suitable for commercial development.
• Genie Energy has suspended its common stock dividend

COMMENTS OF MICHAEL STEIN, CEO
"We capped an outstanding year with solid fourth quarter results.  Our domestic business again performed well despite the mixed impacts of COVID-19.  For the full year 2020, consolidated gross profit increased 18% to $98 million and EPS climbed to $0.44 from $0.10 in 2019. Our domestic retail supply business delivered over $37 million in adjusted EBITDA, a record performance.

"In light of the losses incurred from the unprecedented storm that hit Texas in mid-February, we are working to de-risk our business and narrow our strategic focus.  We expect to grow our cash-generating core business in the U.S., including our solar business, maximize near term cash flows, strengthen our balance sheet, and adapt our risk profile in light of the lessons learned.  Pursuant to this approach, we will undertake a strategic evaluation of our international investment businesses. As part of the effort to rebuild our cash position, we have suspended our dividend."

"During the fourth quarter, we concluded our oil and gas exploration program after finding no light oil in our last well tests.  Though disappointing, the result allows us to focus more tightly on our retail energy supply business.

UPDATE ON TEXAS WINTER STORM IMPACT
A series of severe winter storms (collectively, Winter Storm Uri) struck the Midwest in mid-February after the fourth quarter close.  The storm triggered unprecedented increases in electricity demand in combination with significant reductions in supply within the Electric Reliability Council of Texas ("ERCOT") service area.  Wholesale electricity prices reached or exceeded maximum allowed clearing prices for sustained periods and rolling blackouts impacted millions of residential and commercial customers across the State.

Because complete data on supply and related costs is not available, Genie Energy is not yet able to fully quantify the financial impact of the storm.  Invoices received to date as well as other costs incurred in connection with the disruptive period currently place the first quarter loss in Texas at approximately $12.8 million.  The company plans to provide an update when it has received all relevant price and volume settlement data. 

CHANGES TO REPORTING
Genie is modifying its reporting into three business segments: GRE, GRE International, and GES. Genie also reports corporate overhead. Following the completion of exploratory activities at GOGAS, GOGAS's results will be reported as part of the company's corporate overhead. 

To reflect Genie's purchase of the outstanding interest in its Orbit Energy joint venture operating in the United Kingdom from its former joint venture partner, Genie began to consolidate Orbit's results in its financial reporting under the GRE International segment effective October 8, 2020.  Prior to that date, Genie accounted for its investments in Orbit under the equity method of accounting. Revenue generated, and expenses incurred, were not reflected in segment revenue and operating expenses.

CONSOLIDATED RESULTS

GLOBAL METERS AND RCEs
Genie Energy's global customer base increased year-over-year driven by GRE International's investment in customer acquisition.  Genie Energy's global RCE and meter totals are provided in the chart below.

SEGMENT RESULTS

GRE - KPIs and Take-Aways:

• RCEs served at December 31, 2020 increased 9% to 337,000 from 309,000 a year earlier and decreased 4% from 350,000 at September 30, 2020.
• Meters served at December 31, 2020 was unchanged from a year earlier at 370,000 and decreased 1% from 375,000 at September 30, 2020.
• Gross meters added during 4Q20 totaled 58,000 compared to 56,000 in 4Q19 and 44,000 in 3Q20. For the full year 2020, gross meters added totaled 212,000 compared to 308,000 added in 2019.
• Average monthly customer churn was 5.3% in 4Q20 compared to 6.1% in 4Q19 and 3.7% in 3Q20. For the full year 2020, average monthly customer churn decreased to 4.4% from 5.3% in 2019, driven by reduced competitive activity due to COVID-19 during 2020.
• Electricity revenue decreased slightly in 4Q20 reflecting lower revenue per kilowatt hour. For the full year 2020, a significant increase in consumption per meter as a result of the move toward work-from-home was only partially offset by lower revenue per kilowatt hour.
• The year over year decreases in income from operations and Adjusted EBITDA¹ were driven by reduced gross profit per kilowatt hour partially offset by decreased customer acquisition expense as a result of COVID-19 related restrictions on in-person customer acquisition activities.

Genie Retail Energy International (GRE International)
To reflect Genie's purchase of the outstanding interest in its Orbit Energy joint venture operating in the United Kingdom from its former joint venture partner, Genie began to consolidate Orbit's results in its financial reporting under the GRE International segment effective October 8, 2020.  Prior to that date, Genie accounted for its investments in Orbit under the equity method of accounting. Revenue generated, and expenses incurred, were not reflected in segment revenue and operating expenses. However, Orbit Energy's customers are included in counts of Genie Energy's and GRE International's customer bases for all periods presented.

 GRE International – KPIs and Take-Aways: 

• RCE's served at December 31, 2020 increased 58% to 103,000 from 65,000 a year earlier and increased 12% from 92,000 at September 30, 2020 led by expansion in the U.K. and Scandinavian markets.  
• Meters served at December 31, 2020 increased 53% to 195,000 from 127,000 a year earlier and increased 7% from 182,000 at September 30, 2020.
• On a pro forma basis³, inclusive of Orbit Energy's revenue, GRE International's 4Q20 revenue increased to $33.6 million from $22.2 million in 4Q19.  Full year 2020 pro forma³ revenue increased to $101.1 million from $47.4 million in 2019.
• On a pro forma basis³, inclusive of Orbit Energy's loss from operations, GRE International's 4Q20 loss from operations decreased to $3.1 million from $6.4 million in 4Q19.  Full year 2020 pro forma³ loss from operations decreased to $17.4 million from $19.5 million in 2019.

Genie Energy Services (GES)
GES comprises Diversegy, a commercial energy consulting business, Genie's interest in Prism Solar, a supplier of solar panels and solutions, and Genie Solar Energy, a provider of custom solar energy solutions to commercial customers.

• GES' 4Q20 revenue of $0.9 million decreased from $2.1 million. Full year 2020 revenue increased to $24.4 million from $12.1 million primarily reflecting revenue from solar installation revenues for a large client recognized in the first half of 2020.
• GES' 4Q20 loss from operations was $1.0 million compared to a loss from operations of $1.2 million in 4Q19. The full year 2020 loss from operations was $2.5 million compared to $2.9 million in 2019.

Corporate
During 4Q20, Genie Oil and Gas completed its oil and gas exploration program.  As a result, GOGAS is no longer reported as a separate segment.  Results from activities formerly reported through the GOGAS segment are reported within Corporate for all periods presented.

• Corporate overhead in 4Q20 was $2.3 million compared to $1.5 million in 4Q19.  Full year 2020 corporate overhead was $7.0 million compared to $6.3 million in 2019.

BALANCE SHEET AND CASH FLOW HIGHLIGHTS
At December 31, 2020, Genie Energy had $187.3 million in total assets.  Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash marketable securities and short-term investments totaled $48.3 million at December 31, 2020 compared to $49.2 million at September 30, 2020.  Liabilities totaled $101.3 million and working capital (current assets less current liabilities) totaled $36.3 million compared to $54.9 million at September 30, 2020.  The reduction in working capital substantially reflects the consolidation of Orbit Energy in the fourth quarter including prepayments made by its customers.

Cash used in operating activities in 4Q20 was $0.9 million compared to cash provided by operating activities of $0.2 million in 4Q19.  Full year 2020 cash provided by operating activities increased to $23.1 million from $15.8 million in 2019.

GENIE ENERGY EARNINGS CONFERENCE CALL
This earnings press release is available for download in the "Investors" section of the Genie Energy website (https://genie.com/investors/investor-relations/) and has been filed on a current report (Form 8-K) with the SEC.  

At 8:30 AM Eastern today, Genie Energy's management will host a conference call to discuss financial and operational results, business outlook and strategy.  The call will begin with management's remarks followed by Q&A with investors. 

To participate in the conference call, dial 1-888-348-6472 (toll-free from the US) or 1-412-902-4240 (international) and request the Genie Energy conference call.

Approximately three hours after the call, a call replay will be accessible by dialing 1-844-512-2921 (toll-free from the US) or 1-412-317-6671 (international) and providing the replay PIN: 10151934. The replay will remain available through March 18, 2021.  A recording of the call - in MP3 format - will also be available for playback on the "Investors" section of the Genie Energy website.

Investors can sign up through the Genie Energy website to have earnings releases and other press releases e-mailed directly to them. 

ABOUT GENIE ENERGY LTD.
Genie Energy Ltd. GNE GNEPRA))), is a global provider of energy services.  The Genie Retail Energy division supplies electricity, including electricity from renewable resources, and natural gas to residential and small business customers in the United States. The Genie Retail Energy International division supplies customers in Europe and Asia.  The Genie Energy Services division includes Diversegy, a commercial and industrial brokerage and consultative services company, and Genie Solar Energy and Prism Solar, which design, supply and install commercial solar solutions. For more information, visit Genie.com.

In this press release, all statements that are not purely about historical facts, including, but not limited to, those in which we use the words "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "plan," "intend," "estimate, "target" and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  While these forward-looking statements represent our current judgment of what may happen in the future, actual results may differ materially from the results expressed or implied by these statements due to numerous important factors, including, but not limited to, those described in our most recent report on SEC Form 10-K (under the headings "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations"), which may be revised or supplemented in subsequent reports on SEC Forms 10-Q and 8-K.  We are under no obligation, and expressly disclaim any obligation, to update the forward-looking statements in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

FOOTNOTES:

¹ Adjusted EBITDA for all periods presented is a non-GAAP measure.  The 'Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures' at the end of this release provides an explanation of Adjusted EBITDA and reconciliations to its most directly comparable GAAP measures.

²Genie Energy formerly accounted for its investments in Orbit Energy, its joint venture operating in the U.K., under the equity method of accounting prior to Genie's purchase of the joint venture's outstanding interest.  Under the equity method, Genie Energy recorded its share in the net income or loss of the venture. Therefore, revenue generated and expenses incurred were not reflected in Genie Energy's consolidated revenue and expenses. Orbit Energy's customers were included in metrics regarding its global customer base for all periods presented.  To reflect Genie's purchase of the outstanding interest in Orbit Energy, Genie began to consolidate Orbit's results in its financial reporting under the Genie Retail Energy International (GRE International) segment effective October 8, 2020. 

³Pro forma results for all periods presented are non-GAAP measures intended to provide useful information that supplement the core operating results in accordance with GAAP of the relevant segment.  Please refer to the 'Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures' at the end of this release for an explanation of the pro forma results as well as for reconciliations to their most directly comparable GAAP measures. 

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures for the Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020

In addition to disclosing financial results that are determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (GAAP), Genie Energy also disclosed for the fourth quarter and full year 2020, as well as for comparable periods, pro forma revenue and income (loss) from operations for its Genie Retail Energy International (GRE International) segment and, for on a consolidated basis and for all segments, Adjusted EBITDA, which are non-GAAP measures. Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company's performance, financial position, or cash flows that either excludes or includes amounts that are not normally excluded or included in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.

Genie Energy's measures of pro forma results consist of the corresponding GAAP metric with the addition of the corresponding results for Orbit Energy, the company's joint venture operating in the United Kingdom. GAAP results for Orbit Energy are accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Under this method, Genie Energy records its share in the net income or loss of the venture. Therefore, revenue generated, expenses incurred and income (loss) from operations are not reflected in Genie Energy's consolidated revenue and expenses (although Orbit Energy's customers are included in metrics regarding our customer base).  Pro forma results are calculated by adding the result for Orbit Energy to its corresponding GAAP result.  Pro forma results are provided for the third quarter 2020 and third quarter 2019 to supplement the following results: revenue of the Genie Retail Energy International segment; and loss from operations for the Genie Retail Energy International segment.

Genie Energy's measure of Adjusted EBITDA consists of gross profit less selling, general and administrative expense, exploration expense and equity in the net loss of in equity method investees, net, plus depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation (which are included in selling, general and administrative expense). Another way of calculating Adjusted EBITDA is to start with income from operations and add depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation and impairment of goodwill and subtract equity in net loss in equity method investees, net.

Management believes that Genie Energy's pro forma results and Adjusted EBITDA provide useful information to both management and investors by excluding certain expenses that may not be indicative of Genie Energy's or the relevant segment's core operating results. Management uses the pro forma results and Adjusted EBITDA, among other measures, as relevant indicators of core operational strengths in its financial and operational decision making.

Pro forma revenue and pro forma income (loss) from operations are used specifically to evaluate the performance of its GRE International division.  Management also used Adjusted EBITDA to evaluate operating performance in relation to Genie Energy's competitors. Disclosure of these non-GAAP financial measure may be useful to investors in evaluating performance and allows for greater transparency to the underlying supplemental information used by management in its financial and operational decision-making. In addition, Genie Energy has historically reported Adjusted EBITDA and believes it is commonly used by readers of financial information in assessing performance.  Therefore, the inclusion of comparative numbers provides consistency in financial reporting at this time.

The pro forma results facilitate evaluation of the results of GRE International as if the results of its U.K joint venture, Orbit Energy, were fully consolidated, which provides useful information regarding the size, growth and financial performance of GRE International businesses in aggregate.  In contrast, GAAP results only include the company's equity in the results of the operations of its U.K. venture.

Management refers to pro forma results and Adjusted EBITDA, as well as the GAAP measures revenue, gross profit, income (loss) from operations and net income (loss), on a segment and/or consolidated level to facilitate internal and external comparisons to the segments' and Genie Energy's historical operating results, in making operating decisions, for budget and planning purposes, and to form the basis upon which management is compensated.

Although depreciation and amortization are considered operating costs under GAAP, they primarily represent the non-cash current period allocation of costs associated with long-lived assets acquired or constructed in prior periods. While Genie Energy's oil and gas exploration business may be capital intensive, Genie Energy does not expect to incur significant depreciation or depletion expense for the foreseeable future. Genie Energy's operating results exclusive of depreciation and amortization is therefore a useful indicator of its current performance.

Stock-based compensation recognized by Genie Energy and other companies may not be comparable because of the various valuation methodologies, subjective assumptions and the variety of types of awards that are permitted under GAAP. Stock-based compensation is excluded from Genie Energy's calculation of Adjusted EBITDA because management believes this allows investors to make more meaningful comparisons of the operating results of Genie Energy's core business with the results of other companies. However, stock-based compensation will continue to be a significant expense for Genie Energy for the foreseeable future and an important part of employees' compensation that impacts their performance.

Impairment of goodwill is a component of (loss) income from operations that is excluded from the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA. The impairment of goodwill is primarily dictated by events and circumstances outside the control of management that trigger an impairment analysis. While there may be similar charges in other periods, the nature and magnitude of these charges can fluctuate markedly and do not reflect the performance of Genie Energy's continuing operations.

Pro forma revenue and pro forma income (loss) from operations as well as Adjusted EBITDA should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, or superior to, revenue, gross profit, income from operations, cash flow from operating activities, net income, basic and diluted earnings per share or other measures of liquidity and financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, Genie Energy's measurements of pro forma revenue, pro forma income (loss) from operations and Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

Following are the reconciliations of GRE International's pro forma results and Adjusted EBITDA to its most directly comparable GAAP measure.  Pro forma revenue for the GRE International segment is reconciled to the segment's revenue, and GRE International's pro forma loss from operations is reconciled to the segment's loss from operation.  Adjusted EBITDA is reconciled to income from operations for Genie Energy's reportable segments and net income for Genie Energy on a consolidated basis.

Reconciliation of pro forma GRE International revenue and loss from operations

Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA

SOURCE Genie Energy Ltd.