Press Releases

SAN JOSE, Calif., May 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ:SPWR) today announced financial results for its first quarter ended April 1, 2018.

"Our solid execution, ability to meet project deadlines and commitment to controlling costs enabled us to exceed our forecasts across all of our business segments," said Tom Werner, SunPower CEO and chairman of the board. "In our distributed generation business (DG), we continued to gain share in both our residential and commercial end markets as we saw strong demand throughout the quarter.  In commercial, we completed and sold a number of key projects including our 7-megawatt (MW) Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling (JBAB) project as well as our 4-MW carport, rooftop and ground system for Campbell Soup.  Additionally, interest in our recently launched Helix commercial storage solution remained strong as we added to our pipeline during the quarter.  Demand for our high quality, industry leading residential solutions was also robust as we exceeded plan in all core markets with our U.S. residential business posting record first quarter results.  In our power plant business, we executed well as we met our project milestones including the sale of our 126-MW Guajiro development project in Mexico to Atlas Renewables.  Finally, we further expanded the global footprint of our SunPower Solutions (SPS) group as first quarter shipments exceeded 100 MW and we remain on plan to deploy up to 1 gigawatt (GW) in SPS this year.

"In our upstream business, we achieved our cost reduction targets and our Fabs remain at 100 percent utilization. We also continued tool installation for our first full-scale Next Generation Technology (NGT) production line at Fab 3 with first silicon expected in June and volume production planned in the fourth quarter. 

"Over a year ago, we embarked on a program to transform the company through the implementation of a number of key operational and strategic initiatives.  Operationally, our goal was to improve cash flow, delever the balance sheet, divest certain assets, reduce operating expenses and simplify our financial reporting.  Strategically, our initiatives have focused on improving our competitive position in a challenging industry environment while structuring the company for sustained profitability.  As a result, we made the decision to sell our remaining power plant development assets, expand our global equipment sales business through our SPS group and reallocate resources to our faster growing, higher margin global DG business.  Additionally, we committed to investing in those areas that offer further differentiation and growth potential including our industry leading cell and panel technology, our solar-plus-storage offerings, as well as our complete solutions product suite.     

"Given the strong progress of our transformation initiatives over the last 12 months, we have now turned our efforts to the next phase of our strategy: optimizing our corporate structure to further reduce costs, improve financial transparency and better position the company for sustained profitability.  As a result of these efforts, we believe that a model that more closely aligns us towards an upstream and downstream business unit structure offers us significant opportunities to maximize our core strengths in manufacturing, technology and products while streamlining decision making and simplifying our financial reporting. 

"Specifically, in upstream we will focus our efforts on further leveraging our proprietary back contact cell technology, including NGT, as well as the continued ramp of our unique P-Series product which we expect to reach multi-GW scale by the end of this year.  Also, with the recent announcement of our planned acquisition of SolarWorld Americas, we expect to expand our U.S. manufacturing footprint, adding additional cell and module capacity to serve growing demand in North America.  With a broad portfolio of high efficiency, high quality DG product offerings, we believe we can capture greater market share and superior margins in the residential and commercial segments due to our differentiated technology attributes.  In relation to the downstream, we plan on increasing investment in our U.S. DG business while leveraging our SPS group to continue to meet the demand of our global power plant and DG customer base.  With the DG industry forecasted to grow by 40 percent over the next five years, our extensive product portfolio, solar-plus-storage offerings and a strong global power plant and rooftop channel strategy through SPS, we believe the transition to our new business unit structure will position us to drive long term, sustained financial success for our shareholders.

"Finally, we are progressing on our corporate initiatives to delever our balance sheet.  For example, the sale of our ownership stake in 8point3 Energy Partners remains on plan with the shareholder vote on the proposed transaction scheduled for May 23, 2018.  Also, we expect to monetize more than 400 MW of SunPower leases that we currently hold on our balance sheet over the coming quarters.  In addition, we are in the process of actively divesting our North America power plant development assets in order to focus exclusively on leveraging our SPS group for power plant equipment sales.  We believe these actions, as well as others, will materially increase our liquidity, improve cash flow and simplify our financial statements," concluded Werner.       

"Our strong first quarter performance was driven by solid execution in all markets while prudently managing expenses," said Chuck Boynton, SunPower chief financial officer. "Financially, our efforts remain focused on improving cash flow, managing our working capital and executing on our restructuring initiatives.  With our asset monetization plans on track and continued cost control, we are well positioned to retire our $300 million convert in June as well as having the resources to fund our growth plans this year."  

First quarter fiscal 2018 non-GAAP results exclude net adjustments that, in the aggregate, improved non-GAAP earnings by $87.8 million, including $1.4 million related to sale-leaseback transactions, $45.1 million related to impairment of residential lease assets, $18.7 million related to cost of above market polysilicon, $11.2 million related to restructuring expense, $8.8 million related to stock-based compensation expense, and $2.6 million related to intangibles.

Financial Outlook
The company's second quarter GAAP guidance is as follows: revenue of $360 million to $410 million, gross margin of 2.5 percent to 4.5 percent and a net loss of $125 million to $100 million. Second quarter 2018 GAAP guidance includes the impact of revenue and timing deferrals due to sale-leaseback transactions as well as charges related to the company's restructuring initiatives. On a non-GAAP basis, the company expects revenue of $375 million to $425 million, gross margin of 6 percent to 8 percent, Adjusted EBITDA of $10 million to $35 million and megawatts deployed in the range of 350 MW to 380 MW.  Second quarter non-GAAP guidance reflects timing differences related to the revenue recognition of certain power plant projects during the quarter.

Also, the company now expects fiscal year 2018 Adjusted EBITDA to be in the range of $75 to $125 million.  Fiscal year 2018 Adjusted EBITDA guidance assumes a $55 million negative impact related to tariffs associated with the section 201 trade case as well as a reduction of approximately $50 million of non-controlling interest income resulting from the anticipated sale of the company's lease portfolio in the second half of the year.  On a comparative basis under the same assumptions, the company expects 10 to 15 percent year-over-year growth in 2018 Adjusted EBITDA.

The company will host a conference call for investors this afternoon to discuss its first quarter 2018 performance at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time. The call will be webcast and can be accessed from SunPower's website at http://investors.sunpower.com/events.cfm.

This press release contains both GAAP and non-GAAP financial information. Non-GAAP figures are reconciled to the closest GAAP equivalent categories in the financial attachment of this press release.  Please note that the company has posted supplemental information and slides related to its first quarter 2018 performance on the Events and Presentations section of SunPower's Investor Relations page at http://investors.sunpower.com/events.cfm. The capacity of power plants in this release is described in approximate megawatts on a direct current (dc) basis unless otherwise noted.

About SunPower
As one of the world's most innovative and sustainable energy companies, SunPower Corporation (NASDAQ:SPWR) provides a diverse group of customers with complete solar solutions and services. Residential customers, businesses, governments, schools and utilities around the globe rely on SunPower's more than 30 years of proven experience. From the first flip of the switch, SunPower delivers maximum value and superb performance throughout the long life of every solar system. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, SunPower has dedicated, customer-focused employees in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North and South America. For more information about how SunPower is changing the way our world is powered, visit www.sunpower.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, but not limited to, statements regarding: (a) expectations regarding demand and project and order pipelines; (b) our plans and expectations regarding manufacturing expansion, production goals, product focus and production ramps, and cost reduction efforts; (c) our strategic goals and plans, and our ability to achieve them; (d) our plans to optimize our corporate structure, reduce and control costs, improve financial transparency, maximize our core strengths, position our company for sustained profitability, streamline decision making, and the impact of these initiatives on our financial performance;  (e) our expectations and plans regarding product focus, growth and market share, profitability, margins, and financial performance in each of our business lines;  (f) our plans expansion of our U.S. distributed generation and SunPower Solutions business lines, and our ability to meet global demand; (g) our plans to invest in technologies and strategic initiatives and allocate resources; (h) our plans to align into upstream and downstream business units, and the financial impacts of such plans; (i) our expectations regarding our restructuring plan and associated initiatives, including plans to delever our balance sheet and complete planned divestiture transactions, and the impact of these initiatives on our liquidity, financial performance, cash flow, and operating expenses; (j) our ability to successfully complete key strategic transactions, including the sale of our remaining power plant development assets, the sale of our interest in 8point3 Partners, our planned monetization of our lease portfolio and associated accounting charges, and our expectations regarding the timing and proceeds of such transactions, and their impact on our liquidity, cash flow, and financial statements; (k) our plans and expectations with respect to acquisition and expansion activities, including the planned SolarWorld Americas acquisition; (l) our positioning for future success, long-term competitiveness, and our ability to return to sustained profitability;  (m) our ability to retire our 2018 convertible bonds,  and fund our planned growth initiatives; (n) our expectations for the solar industry and the markets we serve, including market conditions, tariff and associated impacts, demand and focus, and long-term prospects;  (o) our second quarter fiscal 2018 guidance, including GAAP revenue, gross margin, and net loss, as well as non-GAAP revenue, gross margin, Adjusted EBITDA, and MW deployed, including related assumptions; and (p) fiscal year 2018 guidance, Adjusted EBITDA, including related assumptions and projected year over year growth. These forward-looking statements are based on our current assumptions, expectations and beliefs and involve substantial risks and uncertainties that may cause results, performance or achievement to materially differ from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to: (1) competition in the solar and general energy industry and downward pressure on selling prices and wholesale energy pricing; (2) our liquidity, substantial indebtedness, and ability to obtain additional financing for our projects and customers; (3) changes in public policy, including the imposition and applicability of tariffs pursuant to the Section 201 trade action and the process for exemptions; (4) regulatory changes and the availability of economic incentives promoting use of solar energy; (5) the success of our ongoing research and development efforts and our ability to commercialize new products and services, including products and services developed through strategic partnerships; (6) fluctuations in our operating results; (7) appropriately sizing our manufacturing capacity and containing manufacturing and logistics difficulties that could arise; (8) challenges managing our joint ventures and partnerships; (9) challenges executing on our HoldCo and YieldCo strategies, including the risk that we may not be able to successfully monetize our interest in 8point3 Energy Partners; and (12) our ability to successfully implement actions to meet our cost reduction targets, reduce capital expenditures, and implement our restructuring plan and associated initiatives, including plans to sell projects, monetize assets, and streamline our business and focus.  A detailed discussion of these factors and other risks that affect our business is included in filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from time to time, including our most recent reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q, particularly under the heading "Risk Factors."  Copies of these filings are available online from the SEC or on the SEC Filings section of our Investor Relations website at investors.sunpower.com. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information currently available to us, and we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in light of new information or future events.

©2018 SunPower Corporation. All rights reserved. SUNPOWER, the SUNPOWER logo, EQUINOX and HELIX are trademarks or registered trademarks of SunPower Corporation in the U.S. and other countries as well.

Impact to Previously Reported Results

Adoption of ASC 606 impacted our previously reported results as follows:

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement its consolidated financial results presented in accordance with GAAP, the company uses non-GAAP measures that are adjusted for certain items from the most directly comparable GAAP measures, as described below. The specific non-GAAP measures listed below are: revenue; gross profit/margin; net income (loss); net income (loss) per diluted share; and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("Adjusted EBITDA"). Management believes that each of these non-GAAP measures is useful to investors, enabling them to better assess changes in each of these key elements of the company's results of operations across different reporting periods on a consistent basis, independent of certain items as described below. Thus, each of these non-GAAP financial measures provides investors with another method to assess the company's operating results in a manner that is focused on its ongoing, core operating performance, absent the effects of these items. Management uses these non-GAAP measures internally to assess the business, its financial performance, current and historical results, as well as for strategic decision-making and forecasting future results. Many of the analysts covering the company also use these non-GAAP measures in their analyses. Given management's use of these non-GAAP measures, the company believes these measures are important to investors in understanding the company's operating results as seen through the eyes of management. These non-GAAP measures are not prepared in accordance with GAAP or intended to be a replacement for GAAP financial data; the non-GAAP measures should be reviewed together with the GAAP measures and are not intended to serve as a substitute for results under GAAP, and may be different from non-GAAP measures used by other companies.

Non-GAAP revenue includes adjustments relating to 8point3, utility and power plant projects, and sale-leaseback transactions, each as described below. In addition to those same adjustments, Non-GAAP gross profit/margin includes adjustments relating to impairment of residential lease assets, cost of above-market polysilicon, stock-based compensation, amortization of intangible assets, depreciation of idle equipment, and non-cash interest expense, each as described below. In addition to those same adjustments, non-GAAP net income (loss) and non-GAAP net income (loss) per diluted share are adjusted for adjustments relating to, restructuring expense, IPO-related costs, the tax effect of these non-GAAP adjustments, and other items, each as described below. In addition to the same adjustments as non-GAAP net income (loss), Adjusted EBITDA includes adjustments relating to cash interest expense (net of interest income), provision for (benefit from) income taxes, and depreciation.

Non-GAAP Adjustments Based on International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS")

The company's non-GAAP results include adjustments to recognize revenue and profit under IFRS that are consistent with the adjustments made in connection with the company's reporting process as part of its status as a consolidated subsidiary of Total S.A., a foreign public registrant which reports under IFRS.  Differences between GAAP and IFRS reflected in the company's non-GAAP results are further described below. In these situations, management believes that IFRS enables investors to better evaluate the company's revenue and profit generation performance, and assists in aligning the perspectives of our management and noncontrolling shareholders with those of Total S.A., our controlling shareholder.

• 8point3. In 2015, 8point3 Energy Partners LP ("8point3 Energy Partners"), a joint YieldCo vehicle, was formed by the company and First Solar, Inc. ("First Solar" and, together with the company, the "Sponsors") to own, operate and acquire solar energy generation assets. Class A shares of 8point3 Energy Partners are now listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the trading symbol "CAFD."  Immediately after the IPO, the company contributed a portfolio of 170 MW of its solar generation assets (the "SPWR Projects") to 8point3 Operating Company, LLC ("OpCo"), 8point3 Energy Partners' primary operating subsidiary.  In exchange for the SPWR Projects, the company received cash proceeds as well as equity interests in several 8point3 Energy Partners affiliated entities: primarily common and subordinated units representing a 40.7% (since reduced to 36.5% via a secondary issuance of shares in fiscal 2016) stake in OpCo and a 50.0% economic and management stake in 8point3 Holding Company, LLC ("Holdings"), the parent company of the general partner of 8point3 Energy Partners and the owner of incentive distribution rights in OpCo.  Holdings, OpCo, 8point3 Energy Partners and their respective subsidiaries are referred to herein as the "8point3 Group" or "8point3."

The company includes adjustments related to the sales of projects contributed to 8point3 previously based on the difference between the fair market value of the consideration received and the net carrying value of the projects contributed, of which, a portion is deferred in proportion to the company's retained equity stake in 8point3. Prior to the adoption of ASC 606, these sales are recognized under either real estate, lease, or consolidation accounting guidance depending upon the nature of the individual asset contributed, with outcomes ranging from no, partial, or full profit recognition. The company adopted ASC 606 on January 1, 2018, using the full retrospective method, which required the company to restate each prior period presented. The company recorded a material amount of deferred profit associated with projects sold to 8point3 in 2015, the majority of which had previously been deferred under real estate accounting.  Accordingly, the company's carrying value in the 8point3 materially increased upon adoption which required the company to evaluate its investment in 8point3 for other-than-temporary impairment ("OTTI"). In accordance with such evaluation, the company recognized a non-cash impairment charge on the 8point3 investment balance in the prior periods that were affected.

• Utility and power plant projects. The company includes adjustments related to the revenue recognition of certain utility and power plant projects based the ratio of costs incurred to date to the total estimated costs at completion of the performance obligations and, when relevant, the allocation of revenue and margin to the company's project development efforts at the time of initial project sale. Prior to the adoption of ASC 606, such projects are accounted for under real estate accounting guidance, under which no separate allocation to the company's project development efforts occurs and the amount of revenue and margin that is recognized may be limited in circumstances where the company has certain forms of continuing involvement in the project. Under ASC 606, such projects are accounted for when the customer obtains control of the promised goods or services which generally results in earlier recognition of revenue and profit than previous GAAP. Over the life of each project, cumulative revenue and gross profit will eventually be equivalent under both ASC 606 and non-GAAP once these projects are completed.
• Sale-leaseback transactions. The company includes adjustments primarily related to the revenue recognition on certain sale-leaseback transactions based on the net proceeds received from the buyer-lessor. Under GAAP, these transactions are accounted for under the financing method in accordance with real estate accounting guidance. Under such guidance, no revenue or profit is recognized at the inception of the transaction, and the net proceeds from the buyer-lessor are recorded as a financing liability. Imputed interest is recorded on the liability equal to the company's incremental borrowing rate adjusted solely to prevent negative amortization.

Other Non-GAAP Adjustments

• Impairment of residential lease assets. In fiscal 2017, the company made the decision to sell its interest in the residential lease portfolio and as a result of this triggering event, determined it was necessary to evaluate the potential for impairment in its ability to recover the carrying amount of the residential lease portfolio. In accordance with such evaluation, the company recognized a non-cash impairment charge on its solar power systems leased and to be leased and an allowance for losses related financing receivables. In connection with the impairment loss, the carrying values of its solar power systems leased and to be leased were reduced which resulted in lower depreciation charges. Management believes that it is appropriate to exclude the impact of residential lease assets impairment and its corresponding depreciation savings from the company's non-GAAP financial measures as they are not reflective of ongoing operating results and do not contribute to a meaningful evaluation of a company's past operating performance.
• Cost of above-market polysilicon. The company has entered in previous years into multiple long-term, fixed-price supply agreements to purchase polysilicon for periods of up to 10 years. The prices in these supply agreements, which incorporate a cash portion and a non-cash portion attributable to the amortization of prepayments made under the agreements, significantly exceed market prices. Additionally, in order to reduce inventory and improve working capital, the company has periodically elected to sell polysilicon inventory in the marketplace at prices below the company's purchase price, thereby incurring a loss. Management believes that it is appropriate to exclude the impact of its above-market cost of polysilicon, including the effect of above-market polysilicon on product costs, losses incurred on sales of polysilicon to third parties, and inventory reserves and project asset impairments from the company's non-GAAP financial measures as they are not reflective of ongoing operating results and do not contribute to a meaningful evaluation of a company's past operating performance.
• Stock-based compensation. Stock-based compensation relates primarily to the company's equity incentive awards. Stock-based compensation is a non-cash expense that is dependent on market forces that are difficult to predict. Management believes that this adjustment for stock-based compensation provides investors with a basis to measure the company's core performance, including compared with the performance of other companies, without the period-to-period variability created by stock-based compensation.
• Amortization of intangible assets. The company incurs amortization of intangible assets as a result of acquisitions, which includes patents, purchased technology, project pipeline assets, and in-process research and development. Management believes that it is appropriate to exclude these amortization charges from the company's non-GAAP financial measures as they arise from prior acquisitions, are not reflective of ongoing operating results, and do not contribute to a meaningful evaluation of a company's past operating performance.
• Depreciation of idle equipment. In the fourth quarter of 2017, the company changed the deployment plan for its next generation of solar cell technology, which made certain then temporarily idle equipment obsolete, and therefore, retired that affected equipment. Such asset impairment is excluded from the company's non-GAAP financial measures as it is non-cash in nature and not reflective of ongoing operating results. Excluding this data provides investors with a basis to compare the company's performance against the performance of other companies without such charges.
• Non-cash interest expense. The company incurs non-cash interest expense related to the amortization of items such as original issuance discounts on its debt.  The company excludes non-cash interest expense because the expense does not reflect its financial results in the period incurred. Management believes that this adjustment for non-cash interest expense provides investors with a basis to evaluate the company's performance, including compared with the performance of other companies, without non-cash interest expense.
• Restructuring expense. The company incurs restructuring expenses related to reorganization plans aimed towards realigning resources consistent with the company's global strategy and improving its overall operating efficiency and cost structure.  Restructuring charges are excluded from non-GAAP financial measures because they are not considered core operating activities and such costs have historically occurred infrequently. Although the company has engaged in restructuring activities in the past, each has been a discrete event based on a unique set of business objectives. As such, management believes that it is appropriate to exclude restructuring charges from the company's non-GAAP financial measures as they are not reflective of ongoing operating results or contribute to a meaningful evaluation of a company's past operating performance.
• IPO-related costs. Costs incurred related to the IPO of 8point3 included legal, accounting, advisory, valuation, and other expenses, as well as modifications to or terminations of certain existing financing structures in preparation for the sale to 8point3.  As these costs are non-recurring in nature, excluding this data provides investors with a basis to evaluate the company's performance, including compared with the performance of other companies, without similar impacts.
• Other. The company combines amounts previously disclosed under separate captions into "Other" when amounts do not have a significant impact on the presented fiscal periods. Management believes that these adjustments provide investors with a basis to evaluate the company's performance, including compared with the performance of other companies, without similar impacts.
• Tax effect. This amount is used to present each of the adjustments described above on an after-tax basis in connection with the presentation of non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP net income per diluted share. The company's non-GAAP tax amount is based on estimated cash tax expense and reserves. The company forecasts its annual cash tax liability and allocates the tax to each quarter in a manner generally consistent with its GAAP methodology. This approach is designed to enhance investors' ability to understand the impact of the company's tax expense on its current operations, provide improved modeling accuracy, and substantially reduce fluctuations caused by GAAP to non-GAAP adjustments, which may not reflect actual cash tax expense.
• Adjusted EBITDA adjustments. When calculating Adjusted EBITDA, in addition to adjustments described above, the company excludes the impact during the period of the following items:
  • Cash interest expense, net of interest income
  • Provision for (benefit from) income taxes
  • Depreciation

Management presents this non-GAAP financial measure to enable investors to evaluate the company's performance, including compared with the performance of other companies.

For more information about these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the tables captioned "Reconciliations of GAAP Measures to Non-GAAP Measures" set forth at the end of this release, which should be read together with the preceding financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Q2 2018 and FY2018 GUIDANCE

The following supplemental data represent the adjustments, individual charges and credits that are included or excluded from SunPower's non-GAAP revenue, gross profit/margin, net income (loss) and net income (loss) per diluted share measures for each period presented in the Consolidated Statements of Operations contained herein.