GE
Genie Energy Ltd. (GNE)·Q2 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Revenue grew 16.0% year over year to $105.3M, but gross margin contracted 1,445 bps to 22.3% as GRE’s wholesale power costs spiked, driving adjusted EBITDA down to $3.0M and diluted EPS to $0.11 .
- GRE’s customer base expanded to ~419k meters (+14.8% YoY) and 414k RCEs (+20.5% YoY), while churn improved to 4.8% from 5.5% in Q1; GREW revenue rose 57.3% YoY to $6.3M and the segment neared breakeven .
- Management reaffirmed FY2025 consolidated adjusted EBITDA guidance of $40–$50M, contingent on “normalized” retail margin conditions and continued GREW momentum; Lansing community solar expected to commission in Q3 .
- Capital returns continued: 159k shares repurchased ($2.7M) and a $0.075 quarterly dividend declared for Q2 (paid Aug 19; record Aug 11) .
- Estimates context: S&P Global consensus for Q2 2025 EPS/revenue was unavailable; coverage appears thin—consensus exists for forward quarters but only one estimate per metric, limiting robustness* [GetEstimates Q2 2025].
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Customer growth and retention: Meters rose to ~419k (+14.8% YoY) and RCEs to 414k (+20.5% YoY); churn improved to 4.8% vs 5.5% in Q1, supporting volume growth .
- Renewables execution: GREW revenue increased 57.3% YoY to $6.3M, led by Diversegy (+59.5% YoY) and Genie Solar; segment approached breakeven as losses narrowed to ~$0.2M .
- Strategic and shareholder returns: Reaffirmed FY2025 adjusted EBITDA $40–$50M; repurchased ~159k shares and paid $0.075 dividend; commissioning of Lansing community solar in Q3 on track .
- Quote: “We continue to expect that Genie will generate $40 to $50 million of consolidated Adjusted EBITDA in 2025.” .
What Went Wrong
- Margin compression: Gross margin fell to 22.3% (from 36.8%); GRE operating income dropped 73% to $4.0M and GRE adjusted EBITDA fell to $4.4M (from $14.9M), driven by elevated wholesale prices and early-summer heat .
- Cost spikes by region and commodity: Cost of electricity per kWh sold increased ~20% YoY, particularly in PJM and MISO; cost per therm of gas +52% YoY, overwhelming revenue growth .
- Profitability deterioration: Consolidated income from operations declined to $2.0M (vs $10.6M), adjusted EBITDA to $3.0M (vs $12.0M), and diluted EPS to $0.11 (vs $0.36) .
Financial Results
Consolidated Performance vs Prior Periods
Notes: CFO commentary referenced comparative figures that modestly differ from the 8‑K (e.g., prior adjusted EBITDA); table reflects official 8‑K values .
Segment Breakdown
KPIs (GRE Operations)
Balance sheet snapshot: Cash, restricted cash, and marketable equity securities totaled $201.6M; total assets $383.1M; liabilities $195.9M; working capital $115.0M at June 30, 2025 .
Guidance Changes
Management also indicated a pause in early-stage solar development following accelerated phase-out of federal ITCs under the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” reassessing pipeline viability; not quantitative guidance but strategically material .
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- CEO on quarter mix: “Our second quarter yielded mixed results with solid operational progress and double-digit topline growth, while significant margin compression at GRE weighed on our bottom-line.” .
- On GREW and Lansing: “We expect to commission [Lansing] in the third quarter… following the enactment of the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’, we… paused new development projects.” .
- CFO on cost drivers: “Cost of electricity per kilowatt hour sold increased 20% YoY... particularly within the PJM and MISO interconnection zones. Our cost per therm of gas also increased, up 52% YoY.” .
- On guidance: “We confirm Genie’s 2025 consolidated adjusted EBITDA guidance at $40 million to $50 million.” .
Q&A Highlights
- Margin normalization confidence: Management attributed margin compression mainly to early-season heat and indicated wholesale price trends are easing; reiterated high-hedge strategy but noted residual weather variance can materially impact margins .
- Hedging approach: GRE hedges expected load at a “very high percentage,” but significant deviations vs historical weather can affect the unhedged portion (~20%) and margins .
- Solar development economics: Early-stage pipeline exposures minimal; most capital outlays occur at construction; paused new adds pending clarity on ITC sunsets under federal legislation .
- Captive insurance/brokerage: Conservative treasury management “mostly sits in cash”; began health insurance brokerage leveraging marketing channels, with potential expansion over time .
Estimates Context
- Q2 2025 comparison: S&P Global consensus for Q2 2025 EPS and revenue was unavailable; Genie reported revenue of $105.251M and consolidated adjusted EBITDA of $3.0M for Q2 2025 .
- Forward coverage: For Q3/Q4 2025, S&P Global shows single-estimate coverage per metric, limiting robustness; use caution interpreting implied expectations*.
Values marked with * retrieved from S&P Global.
Key Takeaways for Investors
- The quarter’s narrative is margin compression despite strong volume growth; wholesale price spikes (PJM/MISO) and early-season heat drove gross margin down to 22.3%, pressuring EPS and adjusted EBITDA .
- GREW is becoming a more meaningful contributor: revenue +57% YoY, loss narrowed, with Lansing commissioning as near-term catalyst; Diversegy momentum continues .
- Customer metrics remain a strength (RCEs +20.5% YoY; churn 4.8%), setting up operating leverage if retail margins normalize as management expects .
- FY2025 adjusted EBITDA guidance $40–$50M was reaffirmed; if margins revert and GREW executes, upward estimate revisions are plausible, but coverage is thin (single-estimate forward consensus)* .
- Capital returns persist (buybacks, dividends), underpinned by ~$201.6M in cash/restricted/securities and $115.0M working capital—providing flexibility to weather commodity volatility and invest in renewables .
- Near-term trading implications: Watch wholesale power trends and weather into late summer/early fall; margin normalization would be a positive surprise vs Q2’s compression .
- Medium-term thesis: Scale in retail and disciplined renewables development (utility-scale focus, selective pipeline pruning post-ITC changes) can support stable cash generation and capital returns if margin volatility is managed .