Ameresco Reports First Quarter 2024 Financial Results

CEO George Sakellaris commented, “Ameresco’s strong execution during the first quarter demonstrates the early results of the actions we have taken to optimize our organization and platform to capture the significant growth opportunities ahead of us. Our new corporate structure has brought greater uniformity and scalability across our geographies and enabled faster and better project conversion and execution, which helped to drive stronger than expected revenues in the first quarter. We are also seeing the early results from our strategic focus on better win rates and improved margins in our core Federal and MUSH markets.

“While compressing execution timelines remains a priority, we continued to further build our substantial long-term visibility, achieving record levels of Project Backlog and Assets in Development and Construction in the first quarter. Our total Project Backlog exceeded $4 billion at the end of the quarter, an increase of 35% or over $1 billion from one year ago. Our success in converting awards to contracts drove a 45% increase in our contracted backlog. The Energy Asset business continued to add high return assets to our development pipeline, ending the quarter with a record 762 MWe, while also bringing 13 MWe into operation during the quarter. These metrics, along with our strong and growing O&M backlog, give the Company significant profitable revenue visibility for years to come.”

First Quarter Financial Results

(All financial result comparisons made are against the prior year period unless otherwise noted.)

Total revenue increased 10.1% to $298.4 million led by 11.5% growth in Projects revenue, as faster implementation and contract conversions allowed for continued execution on our growing contracted backlog. Energy Asset revenue grew 5.9% driven by growth in operating assets placed in service, improved production and stronger RIN prices. O&M revenue increased 13.8% reflecting timing of long-term O&M contracts. Other revenue increased 3.2% primarily due to strength in our consulting business. Gross margin of 15.7% was lower than expected as higher than normal project cost adjustments during the quarter outweighed higher margins in our O&M business. SG&A decreased 4.2% due to higher labor utilization which also resulted in lower project development costs. Net loss attributable to common shareholders was $2.9 million compared to net income of $1.1 million during the same period last year driven by higher interest expenses, with GAAP and Non-GAAP EPS of ($0.06) and ($0.10), respectively. Adjusted EBITDA of $30.8 million increased 12.6%.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Metrics

The Company ended the quarter with $77.7 million in cash. Our total corporate debt including our term loans and drawn amounts on our revolving line of credit continued to decline to $268.1 million, with a corporate leverage ratio as calculated under our Sr. Secured Credit Facility of 3.0x, below our 3.5x bank covenant level. Our Energy Asset Debt was $1.3 billion with an Energy Debt Advance rate of 72% on the Energy Asset Book Value. Our Adjusted Cash from Operations during the quarter was $40.4 million. Our 8-quarter rolling average Adjusted Cash from Operations was $29.5 million. We are providing this number given the volatility of quarterly Adjusted Cash from Operations as it better represents our average implementation cycle. The Company’s access to attractive capital remained very strong during the quarter highlighted by numerous draws from our existing financings as well as an investment by Republic Services in the Roxana RNG plant.

• Ameresco’s Assets in Development ended the quarter at 762 MWe. After subtracting Ameresco’s partners’ minority interests, Ameresco’s owned capacity of Assets in Development at quarter end was 756 MWe.
• Ameresco increased net assets in development by 45 MWe in the first quarter driven by increased solar and BESS activity.
• Ameresco continued to drive significant asset activity in the state of Hawaii with the award of a 40 MWe biofuel-powered facility in Maui. This marks Ameresco’s fourth asset award with Hawaiian Electric, building on the success of Kūpono Solar, a 42 MWe AC solar and 42MWe/168MWh battery storage facility on Oahu expected to come online in Q2 2024, Pu`uloa Energy, a 99 MWe firm renewable generation facility on Oahu expected to come online in 2027, and Pu`uloa Solar, a 6MWe solar and 6MWe/30MWh battery storage facility on Oahu expected to come online in 2026.
• During the quarter Ameresco began operations of the 5.2 MWe RNG plant at Republic Services’ Brickyard Landfill.
• The education market continued to show significant activity driven by the numerous available state and federal grants and incentives to provide comprehensive solutions including energy efficiency, renewable energy and energy storage technologies.

Summary and Outlook

“Our robust first quarter results represented a strong start to the year supporting our expectations for substantial growth in 2024. Demand for our solutions continues to be strong and broad based across technologies and our diversified customer base. Additionally, our strong projects backlog metrics, together with our substantial asset portfolio and growing O&M backlog provide Ameresco with multi-year visibility on profitable revenue growth,” Mr. Sakellaris concluded.

Ameresco reaffirms its full year 2024 guidance which is included in the table below and reflects an expected revenue and Adjusted EBITDA growth of 20% and 38%, respectively, at the midpoints. The Company expects to place approximately 200 MWe of energy assets in service for all of 2024. Our expected capex for 2024 is $350 million to $400 million, the majority of which we expect to fund with project financing.

The Company’s Adjusted EBITDA and Non-GAAP EPS guidance excludes the impact of redeemable non-controlling interest activity, one-time charges, asset impairment charges, changes in contingent consideration, restructuring activities, as well as any related tax impact.

We have completed performance testing and are working closely with Southern California Edison Company on the final checklist for substantial completion for two of the three projects. Commissioning activities have begun on the third project, which was significantly impacted by the heavy rainfall in California in 2023. This last site is expected to reach substantial completion in the summer of 2024.

Conference Call/Webcast Information

The Company will host a conference call today at 4:30 p.m. ET to discuss first quarter 2024 financial results, business and financial outlook and other business highlights. Participants may access the earnings conference call by pre-registering here at least fifteen minutes in advance. A live, listen-only webcast of the conference call will also be available over the Internet. Individuals wishing to listen can access the call through the “Investors” section of the Company’s website at www.ameresco.com. If you are unable to listen to the live call, an archived webcast will be available on the Company’s website for one year.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release and the accompanying tables include references to adjusted EBITDA, Non- GAAP EPS, Non-GAAP net income and adjusted cash from operations, which are Non-GAAP financial measures. For a description of these Non-GAAP financial measures, including the reasons management uses these measures, please see the section following the accompanying tables titled “Exhibit A: Non-GAAP Financial Measures”. For a reconciliation of these Non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP, please see Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Non-GAAP Financial Guidance in the accompanying tables.

About Ameresco, Inc.

Founded in 2000, Ameresco, Inc. (NYSE:AMRC) is a leading cleantech integrator and renewable energy asset developer, owner and operator. Our comprehensive portfolio includes solutions that help customers reduce costs, decarbonize to net zero, and build energy resiliency while leveraging smart, connected technologies. From implementing energy efficiency and infrastructure upgrades to developing, constructing, and operating distributed energy resources – we are a trusted sustainability partner. Ameresco has successfully completed energy saving, environmentally responsible projects with Federal, state and local governments, utilities, healthcare and educational institutions, housing authorities, and commercial and industrial customers. With its corporate headquarters in Framingham, MA, Ameresco has more than 1,500 employees providing local expertise in North America and Europe. For more information, visit www.ameresco.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Any statements in this press release about future expectations, plans and prospects for Ameresco, Inc., including statements about market conditions, pipeline, visibility, and backlog, as well as estimated future revenues, net income, adjusted EBITDA, Non-GAAP EPS, gross margin, effective tax rate, capital investments, other financial guidance and longer term outlook, statements about our financing plans including the status of discussion related to raising subordinated debt and our ability to finalize such a debt financing, the impact the IRA, supply chain disruptions, shortage and cost of materials and labor, and other macroeconomic and geopolitical challenges; our expectations related to our agreement with SCE including the impact of delays and any requirement to pay liquidated damages, and other statements containing the words “projects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” “will” and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward looking statements as a result of various important factors, including: demand for our energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions; the timing of, and ability to, enter into contracts for awarded projects on the terms proposed or at all; the timing of work we do on projects where we recognize revenue on a percentage of completion basis; the ability to perform under signed contracts without delay and in accordance with their terms and related liquidated and other damages we may be subject to; the fiscal health of the government and the risk of government shutdowns; our ability to complete and operate our projects on a profitable basis and as committed to our customers; our cash flows from operations and our ability to arrange financing to fund our operations and projects our customers’ ability to finance their projects and credit risk from our customers; our ability to comply with covenants in our existing debt agreements including the requirement to raise additional subordinated debt; the impact of macroeconomic challenges, weather related events and climate change on our business; our reliance on third parties for our construction and installation work; availability and cost of labor and equipment particularly given global supply chain challenges and global trade conflicts; global supply chain challenges, component shortages and inflationary pressures; changes in federal, state and local government policies and programs related to energy efficiency and renewable energy; the ability of customers to cancel or defer contracts included in our backlog; the output and performance of our energy plants and energy projects; cybersecurity incidents and breaches; regulatory and other risks inherent to constructing and operating energy assets the effects of our acquisitions and joint ventures; seasonality in construction and in demand for our products and services; a customer’s decision to delay our work on, or other risks involved with, a particular project; the addition of new customers or the loss of existing customers; market price of our Class A Common stock prevailing from time to time; the nature of other investment opportunities presented to our Company from time to time; risks related to our international operation and international growth strategy; and other factors discussed in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent our views as of the date of this press release. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause our views to change. However, while we may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.