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II

IDEANOMICS, INC. (IDEX)·Q3 2023 Earnings Summary

Executive Summary

  • Q3 2023 was marked by severe revenue compression and negative gross margin on a reported basis, with management emphasizing “continuing operations excluding a change in accounting estimate” to provide comparability; adjusted revenue was $3.5M (down 57% YoY), adjusted gross profit was -$0.5M and adjusted gross margin was -14.8% .
  • Reported GAAP showed total revenue of $0.665M, gross loss of $1.453M, and total diluted loss per share of $5.39; continuing-ops diluted loss per share was $5.19 .
  • Management is prioritizing divestitures and refocusing on last‑mile/local delivery fleets and charging solutions, citing capital constraints and sector turbulence; WAVE achieved an OEM‑approved wireless charging installation on a Kenworth medium‑duty BEV and Energica secured police fleet wins in France and Barbados .
  • No formal numeric guidance was issued; management highlighted ongoing cost reductions (Q3 opex ex impairments and contingent liability of $16.9M, down ~46% sequentially) and forthcoming shareholder proposals to enable financing flexibility; they also noted the small post‑reverse‑split float as a potential catalyst if execution improves .
  • Consensus estimates from S&P Global were unavailable, so beat/miss versus Street cannot be assessed; results and narrative likely drive trading around divestiture announcements and proof points in fleet deployments .

What Went Well and What Went Wrong

  • What Went Well

    • WAVE achieved an OEM‑approved installation of wireless charging on a Kenworth truck, underpinned by Ideanomics’ energy cloud platform, advancing commercial validation with a large logistics fleet customer .
    • Energica expanded public‑sector credibility, selected by police services in France and Barbados for electric motorcycles, supporting brand and pipeline development .
    • Operating discipline: Q3 operating expenses (continuing ops, excluding impairments and contingent liabilities) fell to $16.9M, a ~46% reduction from Q2, reflecting cost actions to preserve liquidity amid capital scarcity .
  • What Went Wrong

    • Material revenue decline: adjusted continuing‑ops revenue fell to $3.5M (‑57% YoY), with management attributing reduced sales conversion to limited capital availability and an accounting reserve update at Solectrac’s dealer program .
    • Negative margins: adjusted gross margin was ‑14.8% and reported GAAP gross loss was $1.453M on $0.665M revenue, underscoring poor absorption and mix .
    • Large net loss per share and equity erosion: diluted loss per share was $5.39 (total) and $5.19 (continuing ops) in Q3, with total stockholders’ equity declining to $16.431M by Sept 30, 2023 .

Financial Results

Reported GAAP and company‑defined adjusted figures are shown separately to reflect the change in accounting estimate and continuing‑ops focus.

  • Reported (GAAP) financials
MetricQ3 2022Q1 2023Q2 2023Q3 2023
Total Revenue ($USD Millions)$8.221 $10.562 $8.200 (continuing ops) $0.665
Gross Profit ($USD Millions)-$0.657 -$0.569 $0.700 (continuing ops) -$1.453
Gross Margin %N/A-5.4% 8.4% (continuing ops) N/A
Diluted EPS – Total ($USD)-$9.47 -$0.12 N/A-$5.39
Diluted EPS – Continuing Ops ($USD)-$8.07 N/AN/A-$5.19
Net Loss Attributable to Common ($USD Millions)-$37.414 -$84.317 N/A-$63.007
  • Adjusted (continuing operations, excluding change in accounting estimate)
Adjusted MetricQ2 2023Q3 2023
Revenue ($USD Millions)$8.2 $3.5
Gross Profit ($USD Millions)$0.7 -$0.5
Gross Margin %8.4% -14.8%
Operating Expenses (ex impairments & contingent liability, $USD Millions)$31.4 $16.9
  • Balance sheet snapshot
MetricDec 31, 2022Sep 30, 2023
Cash and Cash Equivalents ($USD Millions)$3.245 $1.884
Total Assets ($USD Millions)$242.801 $151.284
Total Liabilities ($USD Millions)$96.238 $128.151
Total Stockholders’ Equity ($USD Millions)$132.125 $16.431
  • KPI and segment notes (selected disclosures)
KPI/SegmentQ1 2023Q2 2023Q3 2023
EV revenue ($USD Millions)$5.9 Not disclosed in docs reviewedNot disclosed in docs reviewed
Highlights (non-financial)VIA transaction finalized; consolidation of charging under WAVE Pilot POCs with large logistics fleets; evaluating divestitures WAVE OEM‑approved Kenworth install; Energica police fleets

Notes: In Q3, a change in accounting estimate at Solectrac debited sales $2.8M and credited cost of goods sold $1.9M to establish reserves for returns, impacting reported GAAP revenue/COGS and necessitating adjusted comparisons .

Guidance Changes

No formal numeric guidance provided. Management focused commentary on divestitures, cost reduction, shareholder proposals enabling financing flexibility, and 2024 execution.

MetricPeriodPrevious GuidanceCurrent GuidanceChange
RevenueFY/Q4 2023NoneNoneMaintained: no formal guidance
Gross MarginFY/Q4 2023NoneNoneMaintained: no formal guidance
Operating ExpensesNear-termNot quantified previouslyCommentary: opex ex impairments & contingent liability cut to $16.9M in Q3 (sequential reduction) Reduction (execution update)
Financing/CapitalNear-termN/AShareholder vote proposals for financing optionality; focus on demonstrating proof points pre equity New governance items
Dividends/Tax/SegmentsFY/Q4 2023NoneNoneMaintained: no formal guidance

Earnings Call Themes & Trends

TopicPrevious Mentions (Q1 2023)Previous Mentions (Q2 2023)Current Period (Q3 2023)Trend
Capital constraints/financingPursuing debt, non‑dilutive options; cash $18.9M at Q1; sector funding tight Divesting Timios; winding down China; exploring strategic investors; continuing capital scarcity Capital scarcity constraining revenue conversion; push to complete divestitures; shareholder proposals for financing optionality Persistent headwind; mitigation via divestitures and cost cuts
Last‑mile/local delivery focusStrategic focus articulated; VIA platform target segment Emphasis on VIA Motors and three customer paths (fleet, upfitter, OEM licensing) Reiterated focus; Q&A underscores billion‑dollar opportunity vs dealer/distributor retail models Sharpening focus and messaging
WAVE charging & digital platformCharging consolidation under WAVE completed POCs with three large logistics fleets; reduce reliance on gov‑funded projects OEM‑approved Kenworth wireless charging install; telematics/energy cloud integration From consolidation → pilots → OEM‑backed validation
Energica tractionAPAC expansion (Japan, Australia, Pakistan) Distribution growth; lap record at Laguna Seca; “Energica Inside” partnerships Police fleet wins (France, Barbados); continued dealer expansion Broadening channels, public sector visibility
DivestituresConsidering asset sales; engaged advisers for Energica/Solectrac Process initiated; non‑dilutive capital options “Strong push” to complete by year‑end; expect realized capital > market cap Accelerating execution
Regulatory/governanceUpcoming shareholder vote with critical proposals; compensation reset tied to share price New governance actions
Macro EV sectorChallenging industry conditions Continued challenges Sector turbulence; consolidation; some peers cease operations Ongoing pressure

Management Commentary

  • Strategic refocus: “This is a strategic move to streamline our operations… focus on local and last mile delivery, as well as charging solutions.”
  • Capital and divestitures: “With the capital from these divestitures, we can begin addressing our remaining liabilities… invest into growing our business.”
  • Market conditions: “We’ve observed a great deal of turbulence… some companies ceasing operations and others consolidating.”
  • Accounting change detail: “This debited sales $2.8 million and credited cost of goods sold $1.9 million… reserve amounts will be assessed and adjusted.”
  • Cost actions and opex: “Operating expenses… excluding impairments and an adjustment to contingent liabilities were $16.9 million, a reduction of 46% from the $31.4 million spent in the second quarter.”
  • 2024 outlook and governance: “2024 is the time to thrive… executive compensation reset… rewards share price growth.”
  • WAVE validation: “OEM approved installation of wireless charging onto a medium‑duty BEV for testing by a mutual customer… as far as we know, the first in the industry.”

Q&A Highlights

  • Small float dynamics post reverse split: Management highlighted potential share price sensitivity to improved earnings and proof points given a “much smaller float,” expecting buyers to “compete harder in price” for limited shares .
  • Strategic focus rationale: Local last‑mile delivery and charging offer “the really big opportunity” versus dealer/distributor retail models; intent to sell some assets to fund core focus and liabilities, then invest behind the fleet opportunity .

Estimates Context

  • S&P Global consensus was unavailable for IDEX in our dataset due to missing CIQ mapping, so we could not retrieve Q3 2023 EPS and revenue consensus for beat/miss analysis. Where estimates are needed, note that Wall Street consensus from S&P Global could not be obtained at this time .

Key Takeaways for Investors

  • Execution proof points matter: WAVE’s OEM‑approved Kenworth installation and large logistics fleet pilots are tangible validations; further deployments and announced contracts could be stock catalysts .
  • Watch divestiture proceeds: Management expects realized capital potentially exceeding current market cap; announcements and terms will be critical for liquidity runway and equity value .
  • Operating discipline is improving: Sequential opex reduction to $16.9M (ex impairments/contingent liability) supports the pivot to a leaner model amid constrained capital; monitor sustainability of cuts and margin trajectory .
  • Revenue trajectory is the swing factor: Adjusted continuing‑ops revenue fell sharply sequentially (Q2 $8.2M → Q3 $3.5M) due to capital constraints; restoring conversion from pipeline to shipments hinges on funding and asset sales .
  • Margin path needs repair: Adjusted gross margin of ‑14.8% in Q3 underscores poor absorption/mix; near‑term focus should be on higher‑margin product revenue and scaled fleet programs .
  • Governance and financing optionality: Upcoming shareholder vote and compensation alignment to share price indicate intent to pursue financing when proof points are visible; watch timing and dilution risk .
  • Narrative for medium‑term thesis: If divestitures fund core businesses and fleet wins scale, the last‑mile/charging focus plus WAVE’s differentiated wireless charging and digital platform could support a path to profitable growth as EV commercial adoption matures .