Orion Energy Systems Reports Q2 2022 Results

MANITOWOC, Wisc. — Orion Energy Systems, Inc. (Orion Lighting), a provider of energy-efficient LED lighting, controls and IoT systems, including turnkey project implementation, program management and system maintenance, reported results for its fiscal 2022 second quarter (Q2’22).

Q2’22 Financial Highlights

• Q2’22 revenue increased to $36.5M reflecting strong national account activity, versus $26.3M in Q2’21, which was impacted by COVID-19 project delays, and $35.1M in Q1’22.
• Gross profit improved to $10.8M in Q2’22, including an $0.8M employee retention payroll tax credit, compared to $7.3M in Q2’21.
• Gross profit percentage improved to 29.5%, inclusive of the payroll tax credit, compared to 27.6% In Q2’21.
• Q2’22 net income improved to $3.7M, or $0.12 per share, including the $1.6M payroll tax credit, compared to net income of $1.9M, or $0.06 per share, in Q2’21.
• Q2’22 EBITDA improved to $5.4M vs. $2.3M in Q2’21, primarily due to earnings flow through on higher revenue, ongoing operating cost management and the benefit of the payroll tax credit.
• Orion ended Q2’22 with nearly $40M of liquidity, including $14.7M of cash and cash equivalents and full availability on its $25M credit facility.

CEO Commentary
Mike Altschaefl, Orion’s CEO and Board Chair, commented, “As expected, Orion delivered solid top-line and bottom-line improvements over Q2’21, as project activity improved versus the prior-year period, which was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Importantly, we were able to translate higher revenue into improved net income and EBITDA performance. Our Q2’22 results also benefitted from a $1.6M employee retention payroll tax credit provided under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

“We continue to see significant opportunities with our major national accounts; however, there has been some slippage in the timing and pace of projects as our customers react to changing business conditions. Our team has been able to deliver solid results year-to-date despite increasing supply chain challenges related to shipping and logistics issues, component availability, generally rising input costs, and a tight labor market. Through proactive planning and management, including expanded component and raw materials sourcing, we have so far been successful in meeting the needs of our customers. Additionally, as a domestic manufacturer of LED lighting fixtures, we have been able to move more quickly to respond to customer needs relative to competitors facing significant delays sourcing fixtures from Asia.

“To keep abreast of some inflationary cost pressures, we recently implemented our second price increase of the year, which should gradually benefit our results as we progress into calendar 2022. We believe our price move is in-line with industry trends, keeping us competitive on a relative value basis. We expect supply chain issues will continue to affect many companies, including our business and our customers, but we feel confident in our ability to remain nimble and actively manage our business to mitigate these challenges.

“We are also encouraged by progress in our lighting maintenance services business where our monthly activity continues to build. This business leverages our expertise, turnkey project management strengths, and national reach to serve both new and existing accounts, while also providing recurring revenue, regular customer touchpoints and meaningful growth potential.

“While business and economic turbulence related to supply chain issues is impacting customer project timelines in the near term, we remain confident in the strong industry position we have built for Orion to achieve our long-term growth goals. With our cash position and untapped access to our $25M credit facility, Orion has a very sound financial base to support our growth. To this end, we continue to explore M&A opportunities to expand our capabilities and growth potential and believe this remains an exciting avenue to strengthen our customer offerings and build stakeholder value.”

Business Outlook
Orion expects to achieve FY 2022 revenue of at least $150M, compared to FY 2021 revenue of $116.8M. However, achievement of this goal is increasingly less certain because of broad-based supply chain challenges impacting all aspects of the economy, including Orion, its customers and vendors. Orion expects to have more visibility on its ability to achieve this goal after the end of its third quarter.

Orion cautions investors that its business outlook is subject to a range of factors that are difficult to predict, including but not limited to supply chain disruptions, shipping and logistics issues, component availability, rising input costs, labor supply challenges, the COVID-19 pandemic, and other potential business and economic impacts.

Financial Results
Orion’s Q2’22 revenue improved by $10.2M, or 38.9%, to $36.5M from $26.3M in Q2’21, on continued strong business activity, primarily for national accounts. Q2’21 was impacted by COVID-19 related project disruptions. Q2’22 benefitted from large national account projects for large retailers and several other projects in the academic, logistics and the healthcare sectors. Revenue for the first half of FY 2022 increased $34.5M, or 93%, from the first half of FY 2021 as business activity rebounded from the pandemic.

Gross profit percentage increased 191 bps to 29.5% in Q2’22 from 27.6% in Q2’21. The increase is principally attributable to a $0.8M employee retention payroll tax credit, pursuant to the American Rescue Plan Act.

Total operating expenses were $5.8M in Q2’22 vs. $5.4M in Q2’21, primarily related to scaling the business for higher revenue volume, offset by the $0.8M payroll tax credit. As a percent of sales, operating expenses improved to 15.8% in Q2’22 as compared to 20.5% in Q2’21.

Net income improved by $1.7M to $3.7M, or $0.12 per share, in Q2’22, as compared to $1.9M, or $0.06 per share, in Q2’21. Net income increased by $6.5M to $6.2M, or $0.20 per share, in the first half of FY 2022 from a loss of $(0.3)M, or $(0.01) per share, in the first half of FY 2021. Improved bottom line results are attributable to the items discussed, including sales volume, operating leverage and the employee retention tax credit.

Q2’22 net income included an income tax provision of $ 1.3M, though the Company does not expect to pay meaningful cash taxes due to significant tax assets, including net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $69M at prior year end. Orion generated EBITDA of $5.4M in Q2’22 and $9.2M for the first half of FY 2022.

Cash Flow & Balance Sheet
Orion used $4.0M of cash in operating activities in the first half of FY 2022, as compared to a use of $14.1M in the first half of FY 2021. The improvement was primarily attributable to higher revenue and net income in the current year.

Orion ended Q2’22 with $39.7M of liquidity, comprised of $14.7M of cash and cash equivalents and full availability on its $25M credit facility. Orion’s net working capital balance improved to $34.7M at quarter end, as compared to $26.2M at March 31, 2021 and $27.4M at September 30, 2020.