Real Goods Solar Reports First Quarter 2011 Results


  • Gross Margin Increases 200 Basis Points to 28.9%
  • Seventh Consecutive Quarter of Profitability

BOULDER, Colo., May 9, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Real Goods Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq:RSOL), a leading residential and commercial solar energy integrator, today announced results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2011.

Net revenue for the first quarter of 2011 increased 16.1% to $17.4 million from $15.0 million recorded in the same period last year. All of the year-over-year revenue growth was organic.

Gross profit increased to $5.0 million, or 28.9% of net revenue, for the first quarter of 2011 from $4.0 million, or 26.9% of net revenue, in the comparable period last year. The increase in gross profit percentage primarily reflects a shift in revenue mix towards higher margin residential installations and improved selling and installation practices.

Operating expenses as a percent of net revenue increased to 28.5% for the first quarter of 2011 from 26.7% in the comparable period last year. This primarily reflects a significant investment in commercial operations, partially offset by the leveraging of fixed costs.

Operating income for the first quarter of 2011 improved to $66 thousand, as compared to $27 thousand for the comparable period last year. EBITDA for the first quarter of 2011 was $288 thousand, or 1.7% of net revenue. Refer to the Non-GAAP Financial Measures table below.

Net income for the first quarter of 2011 improved to $37 thousand, or $0.00 per share, as compared to $17 thousand, or $0.00 per share, for the comparable period last year.

"We are pleased with our revenue performance, improved gross profit margin and profitability in our seasonally slowest quarter of the year," commented John Schaeffer, President. "We continue to see strong demand for both residential and commercial solar, and remain optimistic about seeing strong growth for the remainder of 2011. We continue to focus on building our backlog and on hiring installation crews where appropriate to expand our production capacity to keep up with demand."

"Our discipline and planning allowed us to show strong financial metrics across the board in what is usually our slowest quarter of the year," said Erik Zech, Chief Financial Officer. "This performance is particularly impressive given the production challenges experienced as a result of this being one of the rainiest winters in California history. Our ability to show both higher revenues and improved gross margins are indicative of the progress we have made in growing and optimizing our business. Our balance sheet remained strong at the end of the quarter with cash of $13.4 million and no debt."

Real Goods Solar will host a conference call tomorrow, May 10, 2011, at 8:30 a.m. PDT (11:30 a.m. EDT) to review the first quarter results.

Dial-in No.: 877-941-2069 (domestic) or 480-629-9713 (international)

Passcode:        Real Goods

A replay of the call will begin approximately two hours after the end of the call and will continue until midnight EDT on May 17, 2011. 

Replay number: 877-870-5176 (domestic) or 858-384-5517 (international)

Pin:      4435976

About Real Goods Solar, Inc.

Real Goods Solar, Inc. is a leading residential and commercial solar energy integrator, having installed over 7,000 solar systems. Real Goods Solar offers turnkey solar energy services, and has 33 years of experience in solar energy, beginning with the sale in 1978 of the first solar photovoltaic, or PV, panels in the United States. For more information about Real Goods Solar, please visit www.realgoodssolar.com, or call (888) 507-2561.

The Real Goods Solar, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=6455

This press release includes forward-looking statements relating to matters that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "expect," "intend," "believe," "will," "should" or comparable terminology or by discussions of strategy. While Real Goods Solar believes its assumptions and expectations underlying forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that actual results will not be materially different. Risks and uncertainties that could cause materially different results include, among others, introduction of new products and services, completion and integration of acquisitions, the possibility of negative economic conditions, and other risks and uncertainties included in Real Goods Solar's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Real Goods Solar assumes no duty to update any forward-looking statements.  

REAL GOODS SOLAR, INC. 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS 
(Unaudited) 
(In thousands, except per share data) 
         
  Three Months Ended  Three Months Ended
  March 31, 2011  March 31, 2010
         
Net revenue  $17,425 100.0% $15,005 100.0%
         
Cost of goods sold  12,396 71.1% 10,974 73.1%
         
Gross profit  5,029 28.9% 4,031 26.9%
         
Operating expenses  4,963 28.5% 4,003 26.7%
         
Income from operations  66 0.4% 28 0.2%
         
Interest income  2 0.0% —  0.0%
         
Income before income taxes  68 0.4% 28 0.2%
         
Income tax expense  31 0.2% 11 0.1%
         
Net income  $37 0.2% $17 0.1%
         
Weighted-average shares outstanding:        
Basic  18,310   18,290  
Diluted  18,310   18,364  
         
Net income per share:        
Basic  $0.00   $0.00  
Diluted  $0.00   $0.00  

 

REAL GOODS SOLAR, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands)
   
     
Assets March 31,
2011
December 31,
2010
Current assets:    
Cash $ 13,355  $ 11,123 
Accounts receivable, net  15,625   19,259 
Inventory, net  5,809   6,394 
Deferred costs on uncompleted contracts  183   215 
Deferred advertising costs  16   49 
Deferred tax assets  1,647   1,861 
Other current assets  793   687 
     
Total current assets  37,428   39,588 
Property and equipment, net  5,348   5,401 
Goodwill  732   732 
Deferred tax assets  1,992   1,744 
Other assets  385   498 
     
Total assets $ 45,885  $ 47,963 
     
Liabilities and shareholders' equity    
Current liabilities:    
Accounts payable $ 8,128  $ 10,000 
Accrued liabilities  2,573   2,630 
Deferred revenue on uncompleted contracts  36  534
Payable to Gaiam  3,100   2,865 
     
Total current liabilities  13,837   16,029 
Total shareholders' equity  32,048   31,934 
     
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 45,885  $ 47,963 

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We have utilized the non-GAAP information set forth below as an additional device to aid in understanding and analyzing our financial results for the three and twelve months ended March 31, 2011. We believe that these non-GAAP measures will allow for a better evaluation of the operating performance of our business and facilitate meaningful comparison of the results in the current period to those in prior periods and future periods. Reference to these non-GAAP measures should not be considered a substitute for results that are presented in a manner consistent with GAAP.

Reconciliations of our three and twelve months ended March 31, 2011 GAAP income from operations to our non-GAAP earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and share-based compensation are set forth below (unaudited, in thousands):

  For the Three
Months Ended
March 31, 2011
For the Twelve
Months Ended
March 31, 2011
     
Income from operations $66 $2,060
Exclusion of depreciation 140 355
Exclusion of share-based compensation 82 547
     
Non-GAAP EBITDA $288 $2,962


            

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