FREMONT, Calif., April 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Enphase Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENPH), a global energy technology company and the world's leading supplier of microinverter-based solar and battery systems, announced today financial results for the first quarter of 2024, which included the summary below from its President and CEO, Badri Kothandaraman. We reported quarterly revenue of $263.3 million in the first quarter of 2024, along with 46.2% for non-GAAP gross margin. We shipped 1,382,195 microinverters, or approximately 603.6 megawatts DC, and 75.5 megawatt hours of IQ® Batteries. Financial highlights for the first quarter of 2024 are listed below: Quarterly revenue of $263.3 million GAAP gross margin of 43.9%; non-GAAP gross margin of 46.2% with net IRA benefit Non-GAAP gross margin of 41.0%, excluding net IRA benefit of 5.2% GAAP operating loss of $29.1 million; non-GAAP operating income of $39.0 million, which excludes $60.8 million of stock-based compensation and $7.3 million for amortization of intangible assets and restructuring GAAP net loss of $16.1 million; non-GAAP net income of $48.0 million GAAP diluted loss per share of $0.12; non-GAAP diluted earnings per share of $0.35 Free cash flow of $41.8 million; ending cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities of $1.63 billion Our revenue and earnings for the first quarter of 2024 are provided below, compared with the prior quarter: (In thousands, except per share and percentage data)   GAAP   Non-GAAP   Q1 2024   Q4 2023   Q1 2023   Q1 2024   Q4 2023   Q1 2023 Revenue $ 263,339     $ 302,570     $ 726,016     $ 263,339     $ 302,570     $ 726,016   Gross margin   43.9 %     48.5 %     45.0 %     46.2 %     50.3 %     45.7 % Operating expenses $ 144,607     $ 156,893     $ 158,708     $ 82,587     $ 86,551     $ 98,375   Operating income (loss) $ (29,099 )   $ (10,231 )   $ 167,663     $ 38,994     $ 65,587     $ 233,562   Net income (loss) $ (16,097 )   $ 20,919     $ 146,873     $ 47,956     $ 73,474     $ 192,319   Basic EPS $ (0.12 )   $ 0.15     $ 1.07     $ 0.35     $ 0.54     $ 1.41   Diluted EPS $ (0.12 )   $ 0.15     $ 1.02     $ 0.35     $ 0.54     $ 1.37                                                   Total revenue for the first quarter of 2024 was $263.3 million, compared to $302.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. Our revenue in the United States for the first quarter of 2024 decreased approximately 34%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2023. Our revenue in Europe increased approximately 70%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2023. The decline in revenue for the first quarter of 2024 compared to the fourth quarter of 2023 was the result of seasonality and a further softening in U.S. demand, while we continued to reduce shipments to manage channel inventory. Our non-GAAP gross margin was 46.2% in the first quarter of 2024, compared to 50.3% in the fourth quarter of 2023, primarily driven by lower net IRA benefit. Our non-GAAP gross margin, excluding net IRA benefit, was 41.0% in the first quarter of 2024, compared to 41.8% in the fourth quarter of 2023, primarily driven by lower volume. Our non-GAAP operating expenses were $82.6 million in the first quarter of 2024, compared to $86.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. Our non-GAAP operating income was $39.0 million in the first quarter of 2024, compared to $65.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. We exited the first quarter of 2024 with $1.63 billion in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities and generated $49.2 million in cash flow from operations in the first quarter of 2024. Our capital expenditures were $7.4 million in the first quarter of 2024, compared to $20.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. Capital expenditure requirements decreased due to a reduction in our U.S. manufacturing spending. In the first quarter of 2024, we repurchased 332,735 shares of our common stock at an average price of $126.21 per share for a total of approximately $42.0 million. We also spent approximately $60.0 million dollars by withholding shares to cover taxes for employee stock vesting and options in the first quarter of 2024 that reduced the diluted shares by 480,735 shares. We are now shipping IQ8P™ Microinverters with peak output AC power of 480 W for the small-commercial market in North America, and grid-tied residential applications in South Africa, Mexico, Brazil, India, Thailand, the Philippines, France, and Spain. We currently ship IQ8™ Microinverters into 24 countries worldwide. We shipped 75.5 megawatt hours of IQ Batteries in the first quarter of 2024. We now ship our third generation of IQ Batteries, the IQ® Battery 5P™, to the United States, Puerto Rico, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Italy. More than 4,900 installers worldwide are certified to install our IQ Batteries. During the first quarter of 2024, we shipped approximately 506,000 microinverters from our contract manufacturing facilities in the United States that qualified for 45X production tax credits. Once fully ramped, we expect to have a global capacity of approximately 7.25 million microinverter units per quarter, of which 5 million units of capacity will be in the United States. BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS On April 22, 2024, Enphase Energy announced a new strategic relationship with Octopus Energy Group, a global energy and tech company, focused on deploying Enphase IQ8 Microinverters and IQ Battery 5P in the United Kingdom. On April 18, 2024, Enphase Energy announced the launch of the IQ® Combiner Lite in the Netherlands to simplify installation and commissioning of small-scale solar installations on homes categorized as "social housing," where rent is capped by the Dutch government to increase accessibility for people with low incomes. On April 11, 2024, Enphase Energy announced the launch of Enphase Power Control software that can integrate with the Enphase® Energy System™ in North America, enabling Enphase Power Control to dynamically control the power produced by an Enphase Energy System. On April 2, 2024, Enphase Energy announced that it started shipping IQ8P Microinverters, with a peak output AC power of 480 W, in France and Spain to support newer, high-powered solar modules. On March 28, 2024, Enphase Energy announced that it started shipping IQ8P Microinverters, with a peak output AC power of 480 W, in Thailand and the Philippines to support newer, high-powered solar modules. On March 7, 2024, Enphase Energy announced an expanded strategic relationship with Semper Solaris focused on deploying Enphase's IQ8 Microinverters and the IQ Battery 5P.  On Feb. 26, 2024, Enphase Energy announced that it started shipping the IQ Battery 5P and IQ8 Microinverters, to customers in Italy. On Feb. 20, 2024, Enphase Energy announced key improvements and new features for Solargraf®, its cloud-based design, proposal, and permitting software platform which is used by solar installers to create system proposals and design documents for residential and commercial customers. On Feb. 14, 2024, Enphase Energy applauded the Dutch Senate's decision on Feb. 13, 2024 to provide certainty for the solar energy market in the Netherlands by rejecting a bill that would have phased out net energy metering (NEM). SECOND QUARTER 2024 FINANCIAL OUTLOOK For the second quarter of 2024, Enphase Energy estimates both GAAP and non-GAAP financial results as follows: Revenue to be within a range of $290.0 million to $330.0 million, which includes shipments of 100 to 120 megawatt hours of IQ Batteries GAAP gross margin to be within a range of 42.0% to 45.0% with net IRA benefit Non-GAAP gross margin to be within a range of 44.0% to 47.0% with net IRA benefit and 39.0% to 42.0% excluding net IRA benefit. Non-GAAP gross margin excludes stock-based compensation expense and acquisition related amortization Net IRA benefit to be within a range of $14.0 million to $17.0 million based on estimated shipments of 500,000 units of U.S. manufactured microinverters GAAP operating expenses to be within a range of $134.0 million to $138.0 million Non-GAAP operating expenses to be within a range of $78.0 million to $82.0 million, excluding $56.0 million estimated for stock-based compensation expense and acquisition related amortization, and restructuring and asset impairment charges For 2024, GAAP and non-GAAP annualized effective tax rate with IRA benefit, excluding discrete items, is expected to be within a range of 17.0% to 19.0%. Follow Enphase Online Read the Enphase blog. Follow @Enphase on X (formerly Twitter). Visit us on Facebook and LinkedIn. Watch Enphase videos on YouTube. Use of non-GAAP Financial Measures Enphase Energy has presented certain non-GAAP financial measures in this press release. Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company's performance, financial position, or cash flows that either exclude or include amounts that are not normally excluded or included in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP). Reconciliation of each non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure can be found in the accompanying tables to this press release. Non-GAAP financial measures presented by Enphase Energy include non-GAAP gross profit, gross margin, operating expenses, income from operations, net income, net income per share (basic and diluted), net IRA benefit, and free cash flow. These non-GAAP financial measures do not reflect a comprehensive system of accounting, differ from GAAP measures with the same captions and may differ from non-GAAP financial measures with the same or similar captions that are used by other companies. In addition, these non-GAAP measures have limitations in that they do not reflect all of the amounts associated with Enphase Energy's results of operations as determined in accordance with GAAP. As such, these non-GAAP measures should be considered as a supplement to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. Enphase Energy uses these non-GAAP financial measures to analyze its operating performance and future prospects, develop internal budgets and financial goals, and to facilitate period-to-period comparisons. Enphase Energy believes that these non-GAAP financial measures reflect an additional way of viewing aspects of its operations that, when viewed with its GAAP results, provide a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting its business. As presented in the "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" tables below, each of the non-GAAP financial measures excludes one or more of the following items for purposes of calculating non-GAAP financial measures to facilitate an evaluation of Enphase Energy's current operating performance and a comparison to its past operating performance: Stock-based compensation expense. Enphase Energy excludes stock-based compensation expense from its non-GAAP measures primarily because they are non-cash in nature. Moreover, the impact of this expense is significantly affected by Enphase Energy's stock price at the time of an award over which management has limited to no control. Acquisition related expenses and amortization. This item represents expenses incurred related to Enphase Energy's business acquisitions, which are non-recurring in nature, and amortization of acquired intangible assets, which is a non-cash expense. Acquisition related expenses and amortization of acquired intangible assets are not reflective of Enphase Energy's ongoing financial performance. Restructuring and asset impairment charges. Enphase Energy excludes restructuring and asset impairment charges due to the nature of the expenses being unusual and arising outside the ordinary course of continuing operations. These costs primarily consist of fees paid for cash-based severance costs and asset write-downs of property and equipment and acquired intangible assets, and other contract termination costs resulting from restructuring initiatives. Non-cash interest expense. This item consists primarily of amortization of debt issuance costs and accretion of debt discount because these expenses do not represent a cash outflow for Enphase Energy except in the period the financing was secured and such amortization expense is not reflective of Enphase Energy's ongoing financial performance. Non-GAAP income tax adjustment. This item represents the amount adjusted to Enphase Energy's GAAP tax provision or benefit to exclude the income tax effects of GAAP adjustments such as stock-based compensation, amortization of purchased intangibles, and other non-recurring items that are not reflective of Enphase Energy ongoing financial performance. Non-GAAP net income per share, diluted. Enphase Energy excludes the dilutive effect of in-the-money portion of convertible senior notes as they are covered by convertible note hedge transactions that reduce potential dilution to our common stock upon conversion of the Notes due 2025, Notes due 2026, and Notes due 2028, and includes the dilutive effect of employee's stock-based awards and the dilutive effect of warrants. Enphase Energy believes these adjustments provide useful supplemental information to the ongoing financial performance. Net IRA benefit. This item represents the advanced manufacturing production tax credit ("AMPTC") from the IRA for manufacturing microinverters in the United States, partially offset by the incremental manufacturing cost incurred in the United States relative to manufacturing in Mexico, India, and China. The AMPTC is accounted for by Enphase Energy as an income-based government grants that reduces cost of revenues in the consolidated statements of operations. Free cash flow. This item represents net cash flows from operating activities less purchases of property and equipment. Conference Call Information Enphase Energy will host a conference call for analysts and investors to discuss its first quarter 2024 results and second quarter 2024 business outlook today at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time (1:30 p.m. Pacific Time). The call is open to the public by dialing (833) 634-5018. A live webcast of the conference call will also be accessible from the "Investor Relations" section of Enphase Energy's website at https://investor.enphase.com. Following the webcast, an archived version will be available on the website for approximately one year. In addition, an audio replay of the conference call will be available by calling (877) 344-7529; replay access code 9400626, beginning approximately one hour after the call. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements related to Enphase Energy's expectations as to its second quarter of 2024 financial outlook, including revenue, shipments of IQ Batteries by megawatt hours, gross margin with net IRA benefit and excluding net IRA benefit, estimated shipments of U.S. manufactured microinverters, operating expenses, and annualized effective tax rate with IRA benefit; its expectations regarding the expected net IRA benefit; its expectations about the global capacity of microinverter units per quarter; its expectations on the timing of the introduction of new products into new countries globally; and the capabilities, advantages, features, and performance of its technology and products. These forward-looking statements are based on Enphase Energy's current expectations and inherently involve significant risks and uncertainties. Enphase Energy's actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of certain risks and uncertainties including those risks described in more detail in its most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and other documents on file with the SEC from time to time and available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Enphase Energy undertakes no duty or obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events or changes in its expectations, except as required by law. A copy of this press release can be found on the investor relations page of Enphase Energy's website at https://investor.enphase.com. About Enphase Energy, Inc. Enphase Energy, a global energy technology company based in Fremont, CA, is the world's leading supplier of microinverter-based solar and battery systems that enable people to harness the sun to make, use, save, and sell their own power—and control it all with a smart mobile app. The company revolutionized the solar industry with its microinverter-based technology and builds all-in-one solar, battery, and software solutions. Enphase has shipped approximately 75 million microinverters, and over 4.1 million Enphase-based systems have been deployed in more than 150 countries. For more information, visit https://enphase.com/. © 2024 Enphase Energy, Inc. All rights reserved. Enphase Energy, Enphase, the "e" logo, IQ, IQ8, Solargraf, and certain other marks listed at https://enphase.com/trademark-usage-guidelines are trademarks or service marks of Enphase Energy, Inc. Other names are for informational purposes and may be trademarks of their respective owners. Contact: Zach FreedmanEnphase Energy, Inc.Investor ENPHASE ENERGY, INC.CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS(In thousands, except per share data)(Unaudited)     Three Months Ended   March 31,2024   December 31,2023   March 31,2023 Net revenues $ 263,339     $ 302,570     $ 726,016   Cost of revenues   147,831       155,908       399,645   Gross profit   115,508       146,662       326,371   Operating expenses:           Research and development   54,211       55,291       57,129   Sales and marketing   53,307       53,409       64,621   General and administrative   35,182       33,379       36,265   Restructuring and asset impairment charges   1,907       14,814       693   Total operating expenses   144,607       156,893       158,708   Income (loss) from operations   (29,099 )     (10,231 )     167,663   Other income, net           Interest income   19,709       20,493       13,040   Interest expense   (2,196 )     (2,268 )     (2,156 ) Other income, net   87       4,233       426   Total other income, net   17,600       22,458       11,310   Income (loss) before income taxes   (11,499 )     12,227       178,973   Income tax (provision) benefit   (4,598 )     8,692       (32,100 ) Net income (loss) $ (16,097