Sunrun Inc. (NASDAQ:RUN) reported fourth-quarter 2019 earnings of 10 cents per share, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 27 cents by 63%. However, the bottom line improved from a loss of 5 cents per share in the prior-year quarter.
The year-over-year upside can be attributed to income tax benefits worth $8.1 million that the company gained in the reported quarter.
For 2019, the company generated earnings of 21 cents per share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 18 cents by 16.7%. However, the bottom line declined 8.9% from 23 cents per share generated in 2018.
Revenues
Sunrun’s revenues of $243.9 million in the quarter surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $218.4 million by 11.7%. Revenues also rose 1.6% from the year-ago quarter’s $240.1 million.
In 2019, the company generated revenues of $858.6 million, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $824.2 million by 4.2%. Revenues also rose 13% from $760 million in 2018.
Operational Highlights
Total operating expenses were $292.4 million in the fourth quarter, up 18.5% year over year. Operating expenses in the reported quarter grew on escalated cost of customer agreements and incentives, solar energy systems and product sales, increased sales and marketing expenses as well as higher general and administrative costs.
Interest expenses were $46.7 million, up approximately 25.4% on a year-over-year basis.
Total cost of revenues was $182.2 million, increasing 18% year over year.
Key Highlights
In the reported quarter, Megawatt (MW) deployed grew 1.7% to 117 MW from 115 MW in the fourth quarter of 2018.
Creation cost per watt was $2.87 in the fourth quarter of 2019 compared with $3.17 in the year-ago quarter. Net present value (NPV) created in the quarter was $100 million, reflecting 13.8% year-over-year decline from $116 million in the fourth quarter of 2018.
Sunrun’s net earning assets as of Dec 31, 2019 were $1.5 billion, up 8% from the prior-year quarter.
The company’s customer base expanded 22% year over year to 285,000.
Financial Performance
Sunrun had $102 million of cash, as of Dec 31, 2019, up $66.3 million from 2018.
Net cash outflow from operating activities was $204.5 million at the end of 2019 compared with $62.5 million used for operating activities in 2018.
Total recourse and non-recourse debt, net of current portion, was $2,219.6 million at the end of 2019 compared with $1,713.4 million as of Dec 31, 2018.
Q1 Guidance
For the first quarter of 2020, Sunrun expects deployments of 102 MW.
Zacks Rank
Sunrun currently carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Recent Solar Releases
SolarEdge Technologies (NASDAQ:SEDG) reported fourth-quarter 2019 adjusted earnings of $1.65 per share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.30 by 26.9%.
Enphase Energy (NASDAQ:ENPH) reported fourth-quarter 2019 adjusted earnings of 39 cents per share, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 33 cents by 18.2%.
First Solar (NASDAQ:FSLR) reported fourth-quarter 2019 adjusted earnings of $2.02 per share, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.79 by 27.6%.
5 Stocks Set to Double
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First Solar, Inc. (FSLR): Free Stock Analysis Report
Enphase Energy, Inc. (ENPH): Free Stock Analysis Report
SolarEdge Technologies, Inc. (SEDG): Free Stock Analysis Report
Sunrun Inc. (RUN): Free Stock Analysis Report
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