Brian Lee's questions to Fluence Energy Inc (FLNC) leadership • Q3 2025
Question
Brian Lee from Goldman Sachs inquired about the drivers for the lower implied Q4 gross margin, the margin outlook for the 2026 backlog, and the company's strategy for navigating Foreign Entity of Concern (FEOC) restrictions related to its AESC partnership.
Answer
President and CEO Julian Nebreda explained that Q4 margins are impacted by approximately $30 million in tariff costs on existing U.S. contracts. He stated that the 2026 backlog margin is in line with the 10-12% target. Regarding FEOC, Nebreda asserted that Fluence views the domestic content push as a confirmation of its strategy, not a threat, and is working with partners on compliance without needing to raise additional equity. CFO Ahmed Pasha confirmed the new 80-90% backlog coverage for future guidance is to ensure higher confidence.