GE
Genie Energy Ltd. (GNE)·Q1 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q1 2025 delivered double‑digit top-line growth with normalized retail margins: revenue rose 14.3% to $136.8M, diluted EPS increased to $0.40, and adjusted EBITDA rose 22.7% to $14.4M, driven by GRE customer growth and higher per‑meter consumption .
- GRE revenue grew 17.8% to $132.5M and income from operations increased 18.2% to $16.8M; churn held at 5.5% amid stable commodity pricing and retention initiatives .
- GREW revenue fell 40% to $4.3M due to the strategic exit from commercial projects, but Diversegy posted a record quarter and GREW’s margin mix improved (gross margin 33.7%) even as operating loss widened to $0.9M .
- Management confirmed FY 2025 consolidated adjusted EBITDA guidance of $40–$50M and reiterated active capital returns via repurchases and a $0.075 quarterly dividend—key narrative supports for the stock into the year .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Strong consolidated execution: revenue +14.3% to $136.8M, EPS +$0.10 to $0.40, adjusted EBITDA +22.7% to $14.4M YoY; “robust increases in revenue, profitability and cash generation” (CEO) .
- Retail energy growth with normalized margins: “GRE is back at a reasonable year‑over‑year comparative baseline” with meters up >48k YoY to ~413k and RCEs to 402k; churn stable at 5.5% .
- GREW mix improvement and project milestones: gross margin at 33.7% (up from 22.0% YoY) and Lansing community solar “on track for completion as early as the third quarter… EBITDA accretive immediately” (CEO) .
What Went Wrong
- Consolidated gross margin compressed to 27.3% (-90 bps YoY), driven by lower electricity margins and acquisition of lower‑margin municipal aggregation meters; average revenue per kWh declined 5.7% YoY .
- GREW top‑line decline (-40% YoY to $4.3M) reflecting the exit from commercial‑scale solar; segment operating loss widened to $0.9M .
- Renewables pipeline still early stage: only 10 MW operational out of 123 MW pipeline; continued investment weighed on near‑term GREW profitability .
Financial Results
Headline Metrics vs Prior Quarters
Narrative drivers:
- Q1 vs Q4: seasonal uplift (winter consumption), customer base expansion, and normalized retail margins lifted revenue and profitability; Q4 figures were depressed by a $30.9M non‑cash captive insurance reserve .
- Q1 YoY: electricity kWh sold +23.5% with average revenue per kWh -5.7%; natural gas revenue +26.8% on higher therms and rate; consolidated SG&A up 4.3% .
Segment Breakdown
KPIs (GRE Operational Metrics)
Balance Sheet/Cash Flow Highlights (Q1 2025)
- Cash, restricted cash, and marketable equity securities: $210.2M; total assets $384.4M; total liabilities $197.0M; working capital $121.2M .
- Cash from operating activities: $13.5M (continuing operations) .
Q1 2025 vs Estimates
*Values retrieved from S&P Global. S&P Global consensus for Q1 2025 EPS and revenue was unavailable (coverage was limited); tool returned actuals only.
Guidance Changes
No quantitative guidance provided for revenue, margins, OpEx, OI&E, or tax rate.
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- CEO: “GRE is back at a reasonable year‑over‑year comparative baseline with margins in what we believe to be a sustainable range… we ended the quarter with approximately 413,000 meters served comprising 402,000 RCEs” .
- CEO: “The [Lansing, NY] community solar project… is on track for completion as early as the third quarter… We expect it will become EBITDA accretive immediately once online” .
- CFO: “Consolidated revenue… increased 14.3% to $136.8 million… Electricity revenue climbed 16.4%… Kilowatt‑hours sold increased 23.5%… offset by a 5.7% decrease in average revenue per kilowatt‑hour sold” .
- CFO: “We are confirming our full‑year adjusted EBITDA guidance of $40 million to $50 million” .
- CEO: “With our strong balance sheet… we expect to continue to repurchase our shares in the coming quarters” .
Q&A Highlights
- The Q&A portion had no analyst questions; the call ended after prepared remarks .
- No incremental guidance beyond confirming the adjusted EBITDA range; no clarifications requested or provided .
Estimates Context
- S&P Global consensus for Q1 2025 EPS and revenue was unavailable; coverage around subsequent quarters shows limited estimates (e.g., only one estimate for certain Q3/Q4 2025 metrics).* Actual Q1 results: revenue $136.8M, adjusted EBITDA $14.4M, diluted EPS $0.40 .
- Implication: With sparse coverage, near‑term estimate revisions likely hinge on management’s “normalized” margin narrative and consumption dynamics; later‑quarter estimates may recalibrate as Lansing commissions and GREW mix evolves .
*Values retrieved from S&P Global.
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Q1 establishes a “normalized” margin baseline in GRE with strong meter/RCE growth, supporting EPS and EBITDA durability into the year .
- Electricity volume tailwinds (+23.5% kWh) combined with lower unit pricing (-5.7%) and aggregation mix compress gross margin; watch margin trajectory as mix shifts and municipal aggregation scales .
- Renewables pivot is progressing: Lansing commissioning in Q3 should add immediate EBITDA; Diversegy’s recurring, high‑margin contribution reduces GREW volatility .
- Balance sheet remains a strategic asset: $210.2M cash/restricted/securities and low net debt (~$9M) enable sustained buybacks and dividend continuity .
- Guidance is intact at $40–$50M adjusted EBITDA; absent Q1 consensus, the confirmation serves as a key narrative anchor—monitor Q2 weather/wholesale price impacts and Q3 Lansing ramp for guidance credibility .
- Short‑term trading: potential positive bias from normalized margins, EPS/EBITDA growth, and capital returns; sensitivity to wholesale commodity prices and aggregation mix remains the principal risk driver .
- Medium‑term thesis: meter/RCE expansion plus renewables commissioning can lift consolidated EBITDA while Diversegy stabilizes GREW; regulatory/program changes (e.g., tax credits) are a watch‑item for pipeline economics .
Appendix: Additional Context
- Q4 2024 featured a large non‑cash captive insurance reserve ($30.9M) impacting reported operating income and EPS; full‑year 2024 adjusted EBITDA achieved the high end of guidance ($48.5M) .
- Q2 2025 (subsequent period) showed margin compression from wholesale price increases and unseasonably hot weather; management still expects $40–$50M consolidated adjusted EBITDA for FY 2025 .