Bloom Energy Announces Fourth Quarter 2021 and Full Year 2021 Financial Results and Updates Long-term Growth Prospects

Bloom Energy Corporation (NYSE: BE) today announced financial results for its fourth quarter ended December 31, 2021.

Fourth Quarter Highlights

• Revenue of $342.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2021, an increase of 37.3% compared to $249.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2020.
• Record acceptances of 735 systems in the fourth quarter of 2021, an increase of 63.3% compared to the fourth quarter of 2020.
• Cash flows from operating activities of $47.2 million, compared to ($18.7) million in the fourth quarter of 2020.
• Ending cash balance of $615.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2021, compared to $416.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2020.

Total Year Highlights

• Record ending backlog of 6,549 systems in the fourth quarter of 2021, compared to 1,994 in 2020.
• Revenue of $972.2 million in 2021, an increase of 22.4% compared to $794.2 million in 2020.
• Record acceptances of 1,879 systems in 2021, an increase of 41.8% compared to 2020.
• GAAP gross margin of 20.3% in 2021, a decline of 0.6 percentage points compared to a gross margin of 20.9% in 2020.
• Non-GAAP gross margin of 21.7% in 2021, a decline of 1.3 percentage points compared to gross margin of 23.1% in 2020.
• Launched commercial availability of Bloom Electrolyzer and Hydrogen Energy Server starting in 2022 to establish leadership position in unlocking a net zero emissions future.
• In the fourth quarter of 2021, announced an expansion of the strategic partnership with SK ecoplant Co., Ltd. to accelerate hydrogen commercialization resulting in 450 MW of equipment backlog to be recognized over the next three years.

Commenting on the fourth quarter and full year earnings, KR Sridhar, founder, chairman, and CEO of Bloom Energy said, “This was a record quarter and year for Bloom Energy. With nearly $1 billion in revenue, we are now at an inflection point. In many ways, as the energy industry transforms, we are in a category of our own with growing revenue, margin expansion, strong backlog and the best, most innovative solutions for customers who want low-carbon and resilient power today and a zero-emissions energy tomorrow. We are poised to capitalize on demand for clean energy, decarbonization, and the growth of the hydrogen and renewable fuels economy.”

Greg Cameron, executive vice president and CFO of Bloom Energy added, “This year was about execution, and we are in an excellent position both operationally and financially. We had another record year for revenue and acceptances. Our backlog is up nearly 100% year-on-year, our pipeline is stronger than it has ever been, and our balance sheet is sound. We have the products, team, strategy, and track-record to execute on our growth plans.”

Summary of Key Financial Metrics

Preliminary Summary GAAP Profit and Loss Statements

Preliminary Summary Non-GAAP Financial Information¹

Outlook

• Bloom increases long-term revenue growth outlook five points to 30-35% over next 10 years.

• Bloom provides the following outlook for the full-year 2022:
  • Revenue: $1.1 - $1.15 billion
  • Product & Service Revenue: ~27%
  • Non-GAAP Gross Margin*: ~24%
  • Non-GAAP Operating Margin*: ~1%
  • Cash Flow from Operations: Positive

*Non-GAAP gross margin and non-GAAP operating margin only exclude stock-based compensation.

Acceptances

We use acceptances as a key operating metric to measure the volume of our completed Energy Server installation activity from period to period. Acceptance typically occurs upon transfer of control to our customers, which, depending on the contract terms, is when the system is: shipped and delivered to our customers; when the system is shipped and delivered and is physically ready for startup and commissioning; or when the system is shipped and delivered and is turned on and producing power.

Balance Sheet Highlights

Bloom Energy’s cash position, including restricted cash, as of December 31, 2021 was $615.1 million, compared to $416.7 million as of December 31, 2020. Unrestricted cash as of December 31, 2021 was $396.0 million, compared to $246.9 million as of December 31, 2020. Bloom ended the fourth quarter of 2021 with $539.7 million of total debt, an increase of $23.7 million from the third quarter of 2021. Recourse debt as of December 31, 2021 was $300.0 million, unchanged from September 30, 2021.

Conference Call Details

Bloom will host a conference call today, February 10, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (5:00 p.m. Eastern Time) to discuss its financial results. To participate in the live call, analysts and investors may call +1 (844) 200-6205 and enter the passcode: 689359. Those calling from outside the United States may dial +1 (833) 950-0062 and enter the same passcode: 689359. A simultaneous live webcast will also be available under the Investor Relations section on our website at https://investor.bloomenergy.com/. Following the webcast, an archived version will be available on Bloom’s website for one year. A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available for one week following the call, by dialing +1 (866) 813-9403 or + 1 (226) 621-4642 entering passcode 219118.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This release includes certain non-GAAP financial measures as defined by the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These non-GAAP financial measures are in addition to, and not a substitute for or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. There are a number of limitations related to the use of these non-GAAP financial measures versus their nearest GAAP equivalents. For example, other companies may calculate non-GAAP financial measures differently or may use other measures to evaluate their performance, all of which could reduce the usefulness of our non-GAAP financial measures as tools for comparison. Bloom urges you to review the reconciliations of its non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures set forth in this press release, and not to rely on any single financial measure to evaluate our business. With respect to Bloom’s expectations regarding its 2022 Outlook, Bloom is not able to provide a quantitative reconciliation of non-GAAP gross margin and non-GAAP operating margin measures to the corresponding GAAP measures without unreasonable efforts.

About Bloom Energy

Bloom Energy empowers businesses and communities to responsibly take charge of their energy. The company’s leading solid oxide platform for distributed generation of electricity and hydrogen is changing the future of energy. Fortune 100 companies around the world turn to Bloom Energy as a trusted partner to deliver lower carbon energy today and a net-zero future. For more information, visit www.bloomenergy.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, which are subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or our future financial or operating performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “should,” “will” and “would” or the negative of these words or similar terms or expressions that concern Bloom’s expectations, strategy, priorities, plans or intentions. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, Bloom’s expectations regarding revenue growth, margin expansion and its innovative solutions; Bloom’s expectations regarding its growth plans; and Bloom’s financial outlook for 2022. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are only predictions and may differ materially from actual future events or results due to a variety of factors including, but not limited to, Bloom’s limited operating history; the emerging nature of the distributed generation market and rapidly evolving market trends; the significant losses Bloom has incurred in the past; the significant upfront costs of Bloom’s Energy Servers and Bloom’s ability to secure financing for its products; Bloom’s ability to drive cost reductions and to successfully mitigate against potential price increases; Bloom’s ability to service its existing debt obligations; Bloom’s ability to be successful in new markets; the ability of the Bloom Energy Server to operate on the fuel source a customer will want; the success of the strategic partnership with SK ecoplant in the United States and international markets; timing and development of an ecosystem for the hydrogen market, including in the South Korean market; continued incentives in the South Korean market; the timing and pace of adoption of hydrogen for stationary power; the risk of manufacturing defects; the accuracy of Bloom’s estimates regarding the useful life of its Energy Servers; delays in the development and introduction of new products or updates to existing products; Bloom’s ability to secure partners in order to commercialize its electrolyzer and carbon capture products; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy and its potential impact on Bloom’s business; the availability of rebates, tax credits and other tax benefits; changes in the regulatory landscape; Bloom’s reliance on tax equity financing arrangements; Bloom’s reliance upon a limited number of customers; Bloom’s lengthy sales and installation cycle, construction, utility interconnection and other delays and cost overruns related to the installation of its Energy Servers; business and economic conditions and growth trends in commercial and industrial energy markets; global economic conditions and uncertainties in the geopolitical environment; overall electricity generation market; Bloom’s ability to protect its intellectual property; and other risks and uncertainties detailed in Bloom’s SEC filings from time to time. More information on potential factors that may impact Bloom’s business are set forth in Bloom’s periodic reports filed with the SEC, including our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended on September 30, 2021 as filed with the SEC on November 5, 2021, as well as subsequent reports filed with or furnished to the SEC from time to time. These reports are available on Bloom’s website at www.bloomenergy.com and the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Bloom assumes no obligation to, and does not currently intend to, update any such forward-looking statements.

The Investor Relations section of Bloom’s website at investor.bloomenergy.com contains a significant amount of information about Bloom Energy, including financial and other information for investors. Bloom encourages investors to visit this website from time to time, as information is updated and new information is posted.

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures (preliminary & unaudited) (in thousands)

Gross Profit and Gross Margin to Gross Profit Excluding Stock-Based Compensation and Gross Margin Excluding Stock-Based Compensation

Gross profit and gross margin excluding stock-based compensation (SBC) are supplemental measures of operating performance that do not represent and should not be considered alternatives to gross profit or gross margin, as determined under GAAP. These measures remove the impact of stock-based compensation. We believe that gross profit and gross margin excluding stock-based compensation supplement the GAAP measures and enable us to more effectively evaluate our performance period-over-period. A reconciliation of gross profit and gross margin excluding stock-based compensation to gross profit and gross margin, the most directly comparable GAAP measures, and the computation of gross margin excluding stock-based compensation are as follows:

Cost of Revenue and Operating Expenses to Cost of Revenue and Operating Expenses Excluding Stock-Based Compensation

Cost of revenue and operating expenses excluding stock-based compensation are a supplemental measure of operating performance that does not represent and should not be considered an alternative to cost of revenue and operating expenses, as determined under GAAP. This measure removes the impact of stock-based compensation. We believe that cost of revenue and operating expenses excluding stock-based compensation supplements the GAAP measure and enables us to more effectively evaluate our performance period-over-period. A reconciliation of cost of revenue and operating expenses excluding stock-based compensation to cost of revenue and operating expenses, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, are as follows:

Operating Loss to Operating Income (Loss) Excluding Stock-Based Compensation

Operating loss excluding stock-based compensation is a supplemental measure of operating performance that does not represent and should not be considered an alternative to operating loss, as determined under GAAP. This measure removes the impact of stock-based compensation. We believe that operating income (loss) excluding stock-based compensation supplements the GAAP measure and enables us to more effectively evaluate our performance period-over-period. A reconciliation of operating income (loss) excluding stock-based compensation to operating loss, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, and the computation of operating income (loss) excluding stock-based compensation are as follows:

Net Loss to Adjusted Net Loss and Computation of Adjusted Net Loss per Share (EPS)

Adjusted net loss and adjusted net loss per share are supplemental measures of operating performance that do not represent and should not be considered alternatives to net loss and net loss per share, as determined under GAAP. These measures remove the impact of the non-controlling interests associated with our legacy PPA entities, the revaluation of derivatives, fair market value adjustment for the PPA derivatives, the loss on termination of interest rate swaps related to PPA V debt that was extinguished, contingent consideration related to the BE Japan acquisition, and stock-based compensation, all of which are non-cash charges. We believe that adjusted net loss and adjusted net loss per share supplement GAAP measures and enable us to more effectively evaluate our performance period-over-period. A reconciliation of adjusted net loss to net loss, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, and the computation of adjusted net loss per share are as follows:

Net Loss to Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP supplemental measure of operating performance that does not represent and should not be considered an alternative to operating loss or cash flow from operations, as determined by GAAP. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income (loss) before interest expense, income tax expense, non-controlling interest, revaluations, stock-based compensation and depreciation and amortization expense. We use Adjusted EBITDA to measure the operating performance of our business, excluding specifically identified items that we do not believe directly reflect our core operations and may not be indicative of our recurring operations. Adjusted EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures provided by other companies due to potential differences in methods of calculations. A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net loss is as follows:

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