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Canadian Solar Reports Third Quarter 2008 Results

    TORONTO, Canada, Nov. 21 /PRNewswire/ --

    Q308 Highlights
    -- Q308 net revenues of $252.4 million, up 160% from Q307 net revenue of
       $97.4 million; and up 18.7% sequentially from Q208 net revenues of
       $212.6 million
    -- Q308 gross margin of 15.5%, consistent with Q208 of 15.8%
    -- Q308 GAAP net income per diluted share of $0.31 including foreign
       exchange loss of $17.3 million and offset by change in fair value of
       derivatives of $7.4 million; compared to Q208 GAAP net income per
       diluted share of $0.36.
    -- Q308 non-GAAP net income per diluted share of $0.41, which excludes
       charges related to stock-based compensation.
    -- Q308 shipments of approximately 60 MW, up 27.3% from Q208 shipments of
       47.1 MW
    -- Q308 shipments included about 10MW of proprietary low-cost e-Module
       products

Canadian Solar Inc. ("the Company", "CSI" or "we") (Nasdaq: CSIQ) today reported financial information for the third quarter 2008.

Net revenues for the quarter were $252.4 million, compared to net revenues of $97.4 million for the third quarter of 2007 and $212.6 million for the second quarter of 2008.

Net income for the quarter on a GAAP basis was $11.1 million, or $0.31 per diluted share, compared to $0.5 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2007 and $10.5 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2008. The non-GAAP net income for the quarter was $0.41 per diluted share and excludes stock based compensation.

Dr. Shawn Qu, Chairman and CEO of CSI, commented: "We are pleased with our top line, gross margin and operating income results for the quarter. These results directly reflected our conservative approach to the business and our balanced financial management. This marks our sixth consecutive quarter of sequential top-line growth. We have successfully ramped up the production of our proprietary low-cost e-Modules products, which helped us to maintain our gross margin in the quarter. We are, however, operating in a challenging macroeconomic environment with a very volatile foreign exchange situation, which continues to impact our bottom line. In July, we took measures to hedge against our currency risk, which we believe will help to offset the impact of Euro against US Dollar foreign exchange fluctuations in Q4 and in Q1 2009."



                 Revenue by Geographical Location (US $ millions)

                            Q308              Q208            Q307
    Region           Revenue     %     Revenue      %   Revenue     %
    Europe             222.4  88.1%      188.3   88.6%     93.0   95.5%
    Asia                16.5   6.5%       13.1    6.2%      4.1    4.2%
    America             13.5   5.4%       11.2    5.2%       --     --
    Others                --    --          --     --       0.3    0.3%
    Total Net Revenue  252.4   100%      212.6    100%     97.4    100%



    Outlook

    -- On the basis of Q4 expectations the Company is reverting to May
       guidance for FY 2008 of $650-750 million in revenue.
    -- Guiding down Q4 expectations for shipments, margins and earnings.
    -- Conditionally re-iterating 2009 shipment and margin guidance of
       500 to 550 MW with margins of 13-15%.
    -- E-Module average conversion efficiency is now 14.2% with improved
       production yield. Further improvements are expected.
    -- Capacity expansions will be slowed or delayed pending further
       evaluation of supply and demand environment.

Given the uncertainty of project and customers' financing coupled with softening solar market demand inEurope andUSA at the year-end, the Company has shifted its short-term operational emphasis to preserving cash and minimizing risk from the credit environment. Based on this adjustment, Q4 shipments are estimated to be approximately 20 - 25 MW. This will result in revenues of approximately $70 million to $85 million. Accordingly, the Company is returning to its previously stated May annual revenue estimate of $650-750 million.

The Company continues to achieve significant progress on its proprietary low-price e-Modules with average UMG e-cell conversation efficiency increasing to 14.2% in recent weeks. The yield also continues to improve and raw materials cost per watt has declined. We expect these improvements to continue in the coming quarters. While the Company has secured sufficient UMG feedstock to produce at least 25 MW of e-Modules in Q4, market and credit conditions may lead the Company to implement a more conservative production plan and ship only 6~8 MW.

Our ingot and wafer plant will be completed to support the e-Module program, but on a more modest schedule. We have postponed further expansions of our cell plant past the current capacity of approximately 270 MW. We will revisit our capital expenditures in the coming months, depending on the market demand, margins and supply prices.

Due to the present market environment, adjustments to the balance sheet may be necessary in order to reflect the market value of inventory and receivables that could result in a net loss for the 4th quarter of 2008.

The Company has maintained a sound cash position and one of the best debt- equity ratios in the solar industry. In Q4, the expectation is to be operationally cash-flow positive and to maintain a cash position of approximately $100M. The Company anticipates that it will have $40 million available in unused credit lines by the end of Q4 and is actively negotiating more credit facilities with local banks. The Company believes that its balanced financial management strategy will help to mitigate risks, and preserve an adequate cash position in order to respond to future growth opportunities.

For 2009, The Company is maintaining its guidance of 500-550 MW. Based on discussions with its long-term customers and suppliers it believes that it can price both its traditional high-efficiency modules and the low-price e-Modules competitively while maintaining gross margins of 13 - 15%. These estimates are contingent on the following factors: First, wafer and silicon prices decline to a realistic level, consistent with the Company's expectations; and second, the availability and the cost of project financing. PV projects are a highly creditworthy asset class, and customers have to date been able to finance their 2009 projects under reasonable terms. However, a substantial increase in the cost of capital could put further pressure on module prices, while a decline in availability of debt or equity would impact demand. It is anticipated that the PV market will recover starting in Q2 or Q3 of 2009 with fewer but stronger players. The Company believes that the decline in average selling prices of solar modules has already prompted rapid pricing adjustments across the entire supply chain. This is a healthy development for the industry in the longer term. Canadian Soar, as one of the major world-wide solar cell and module producer we expect to benefit from this development and further solidify our industry position.

Shawn Qu CEO, remarked: "Canadian Solar is the first and probably the only major solar company to adopt and maintain a flexible vertical integration business model. This model is an important component of our strategy and has proven to be a key advantage in a volatile environment as it allows us to quickly adjust our expenditures and to take advantage of cost declines at any point in the supply chain. Our unique product mix is another component of our strategy and a key differentiator in the industry for Canadian Solar. Our e- Modules are a lower priced and higher margin product line, even with significantly lower poly-silicon costs. Third, our modest capital plant and low fixed costs enables us to quickly turn operational cash positive in a market downturn. These three components together allow us to rapidly change our purchasing mix, our product mix and our total output depending on the market conditions. We will use this flexibility to protect our margins and preserve cash so that we can capitalize on opportunities to capture market share once the market resumes growing."

Arthur Chien, CFO of CSI, noted: "We have delayed our capital expenditures temporarily in order to conserve cash as the Company currently has both ample capacity and wafer supply to match the current market demand. We do not foresee the need for additional capital expenditures until the first or second quarter of next year. We will revisit capital expenditures as the market conditions warrant it. We currently have a sound cash position with more than $100 M cash in hand, positive cash flow and additional lines of credit with local banks. We established an active hedge against the Euro in July, with a current hedge of more than 100 M Euro for Q4 cash flow, which will be settled November through January. We will continue our hedging policy going forward, which will provide visibility and some mitigation of foreign exchange risks."

Investor Conference Call / Webcast Details

A conference call has been scheduled for Friday, November 21, 2008 at 8:00 a.m. ET or Friday, November 21, 2008, 9:00 p.m.Jiangsu time. During the call, time will be set-aside for analysts and interested investors to ask questions of senior executive officers of the Company.

The dial-in number for the live audio call is +1-800-299-7098 (U.S) or +1- 617-801-9715 (International). The passcode is 14729383. A live webcast of the conference call will be available on Canadian Solar's website at http://www.csisolar.com .

A replay of the call will be available 1 hour after the conclusion of the conference call, for one week, through 11:00 p.m. on Friday, November 28, 2008 (inJiangsu) or 10:00 a.m. on Friday, November 28, 2008 (inNew York) at http://www.csisolar.com and by telephone at +1-888-286-8010 (U.S.) or +1-617- 801-6888 (International). The passcode to access the replay is 22054834.

About Canadian Solar Inc. (Nasdaq: CSIQ)

Founded in 2001, Canadian Solar Inc. (CSI) is a vertically integrated manufacturer of solar cell, solar module and custom-designed solar application products serving customers worldwide. CSI is incorporated inCanada and conducts its businesses worldwide and manufacturing operations inChina. Backed by years of experience and knowledge in the solar power market and the silicon industry, CSI has become a major global provider of solar power products for a wide range of applications. For more information, please visit http://www.csisolar.com .

Safe Harbor/Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release including statements regarding expected future financial and industry growth are forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. These statements are made under the "Safe Harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by such terms as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "estimates," the negative of these terms, or other comparable terminology. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include general business and economic conditions and the state of the solar industry; governmental support for the deployment of solar power; future shortage or availability of the supply of high-purity silicon; demand for end-use products by consumers and inventory levels of such products in the supply chain; changes in demand from significant customers, including customers of our silicon materials sales; changes in demand from major markets such asGermany; changes in customer order patterns; changes in product mix; capacity utilization; level of competition; pricing pressure and declines in average selling price; delays in new product introduction; continued success in technological innovations and delivery of products with the features customers demand; shortage in supply of materials or capacity requirements; availability of financing; exchange rate fluctuations; litigation and other risks as described in the Company's SEC filings, including its annual report on Form 20-F originally filed on May 29, 2007. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee future results, level of activity, performance, or achievements. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. All information provided in this press release is as of today's date, unless otherwise stated, and Canadian Solar undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.


                            FINANCIAL TABLES BELOW



                          Q3 2008     Q2 2008   Q3 2007   2008 1~9   2007 1~9
    Net Revenues -
     Products             252,362     212,585    97,437    636,183    175,339
    Cost Of Revenues -
     Products             213,256     179,509    91,088    535,765    166,172
    Gross Profit           39,106      33,076     6,349    100,418      9,167
    Operating Expenses:
    Selling Expenses        3,482       2,852     2,214      8,839      4,560
    General And
     Administrative
    Expenses                9,267       6,485     4,527     21,178     11,378
    Research And
     Development
    Expenses                  603         447       287      1,352        677
    Total Operating
     Expenses              13,352       9,784     7,028     31,369     16,615
    Income/(Loss) From
     Operations            25,754      23,292      (679)    69,049     (7,448)
    Other
     Income/(Expenses):
    Interest Expenses      (3,379)     (3,162)     (601)    (8,787)      (943)
    Interest Income           819          59        70        979        396
    Debt Conversion
     Expenses                  --     (10,170)       --    (10,170)        --
    Gain On Change In
     fair Value Of
    Derivatives             7,424          --        --      7,424         --
    Others - Net          (17,298)       (600)    1,716     (9,724)     1,716
    Income/(Loss) Before
     Taxes                 13,320       9,419       506     48,771     (6,279)
    Income Taxes           (2,250)      1,127        16     (8,158)        77
    Net Income/(Loss)      11,070      10,546       522     40,613     (6,202)

    Basic
    Earnings/(Loss) Per
     Share                  $0.32       $0.38     $0.02      $1.35     ($0.23)
    Basic Weighted
     Average Number
     of Outstanding
     Shares            34,802,363 28,085,875 27,290,298 30,110,549 27,279,021
    Diluted
    Earnings/(Loss) Per
     Share                  $0.31      $0.36      $0.02      $1.30     ($0.23)
    Diluted Weighted
     Average Number
     of Outstanding
     Shares            35,580,187 29,384,701 27,416,859 31,146,591 27,279,021



                               Canadian Solar Inc.
     Reconciliation of US GAAP Gross Profit, Operating Income (Loss) and Net
                                 Income (Loss) to
     Non-US GAAP Gross Profit, Operating Income (Loss) and Net Income (Loss)
                                   (Unaudited)
                      Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information

    To supplement its condensed consolidated financial statements presented in
    accordance with GAAP, CSI uses the following measures as defined as non-
    GAAP financial measures by the SEC: adjusted gross profit, adjusted
    operating income (loss) and adjusted net income (loss), each excluding
    share-based compensation and other one-time non-cash charges, expenses or
    gains, which we refer to as special items.  CSI believes that non-GAAP
    adjusted gross profit, adjusted operating income (loss) and adjusted net
    income (loss) measures indicate the company's baseline performance before
    subtracting those charges.  In addition, these non-GAAP measures are among
    the primary indicators used by the management as a basis for its planning
    and forecasting of future periods.  The presentation of these non-GAAP
    measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute
    for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with
    GAAP.


                                Q3 2008                     Q2 2008
                       Gross   Operating   Net     Gross    Operating   Net
                      Profit     Income   Income   Profit    Income   Income
                                  (Loss)   (Loss)             (Loss)   (Loss)
    US GAAP
     Profit/(Loss)     39,106    25,754   11,070   33,076    23,292   10,546
     Share-Based
      Compensation         86     3,538    3,538       88     2,336    2,336
     Debt Conversion
      Expenses             --        --       --       --        --   10,170
    Total Special
     Items                 86     3,538    3,538       88     2,336   12,506
    Non-US GAAP
     Profit            39,192    29,292   14,608   33,164    25,628   23,052
    Non-US GAAP
     Earnings Per
     Diluted Share                         $0.41                       $0.78
    Adjusted Gross
     Margin             15.53%                      15.60%
    Adjusted
     Operating Margin             11.61%                      12.06%


                                                    Q3 2007
                                       Gross       Operating        Net
                                       Profit       Income        Income
                                                     (Loss)       (Loss)
    US GAAP Profit/(Loss)               6,349         (679)         522
      Share-Based Compensation             36        2,428        2,428
      Debt Conversion Expenses             --           --           --
    Total Special Items                    36        2,428        2,428
    Non-US GAAP Profit                  6,385        1,749        2,950
    Non-US GAAP Earnings Per
     Diluted Share                                                $0.11
    Adjusted Gross Margin                6.55%
    Adjusted Operating Margin                         1.80%



                              2008 Q1-Q3                  2007 Q1-Q3
                       Gross   Operating   Net     Gross   Operating   Net
                      Profit    Income   Income   Profit    Income   Income
                                (Loss)   (Loss)             (Loss)   (Loss)
    US GAAP
     Profit/(Loss)    100,418    69,049   40,613    9,167    (7,448)  (6,202)
     Share-Based          265     8,073    8,073      162     7,018    7,018
      Compensation
     Debt Conversion       --        --   10,170       --        --       --
      Expenses
    Total Special Items   265     8,073   18,243      162     7,018    7,018
    Non-US GAAP       100,683    77,122   58,856    9,329      (430)     816
     Profit/(Loss)
    Non-US GAAP
     Earnings Per
     Diluted Share                         $1.89                       $0.03
    Adjusted Gross      15.83%                       5.32%
     Margin
    Adjusted
     Operating Margin             12.12%                      -0.25%


     Non-US GAAP adjusted condensed consolidated statements of operations are
     intended to present the Company's operating results, excluding special
     items.




                               Canadian Solar Inc.
                 Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
                          (In Thousands of U.S. Dollars)


                                            30-Sep-2008          31-Dec-2007
    ASSETS
    Current assets:
    Cash And Cash Equivalents                   108,914               37,667
    Restricted Cash                              28,190                1,625
    Accounts Receivable, Net                    153,117               58,637
    Inventories                                 101,631               70,921
    Value-Added Tax Recoverable                  21,177               12,247
    Advances To Suppliers                        44,855               28,745
    Financial Instruments Related To
     Foreign Currency Options                     7,424                   --
    Prepaid and Other Current Assets             14,674               10,058
    Total Current Assets                        479,982              219,900
    Property, Plant and Equipment, Net          137,609               51,486
    Intangible Assets                               230                  136
    Long-Term Deferred Assets                        39                3,296
    Long-Term Portion Of Advances To
     Suppliers                                   42,666                4,103
    Prepaid Lease Payments                       12,549                1,616
    Deferred Tax Assets - Non-Current             7,561                3,966
    TOTAL ASSETS                                680,636              284,503

    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY
    Current Liabilities:
    Short-Term Borrowings                       127,234               40,374
    Accounts Payable                             19,086                8,251
    Other Payables                               21,411                6,153
    Advances From Customers                       9,446                1,962
    Income Tax Payable                            5,502                  143
    Amounts Due To Related Parties               30,266                  209
    Other Current Liabilities                     8,903                2,121
    Total Current Liabilities                   221,848               59,213
    Accrued Warranty Costs                       10,191                3,879
    Provision For Uncertain Tax Issue             3,530                2,278
    Convertible Notes                             1,000               75,000
    Long-Term Debt                               63,165               17,866
    TOTAL LIABILITIES                           299,734              158,236

    Stockholders' Equity
    Common Shares                               293,947               97,454
    Additional Paid-In-Capital                   34,509               26,436
    Retained Earnings/(Losses)                   37,008               (3,604)
    Accumulated Other Comprehensive
     Income                                      15,438                5,981
    TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY                  380,902              126,267
    TOTAL LIABILITIES AND
     STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY                       680,636              284,503



    For more information, please contact:

    In Canada
     Alex Taylor, IR Director
     Canadian Solar Inc.
     Tel:   +1-905-530-2334
     Fax:   +1-905-530-2001
     Email: ir@csisolar.com

    In the U.S.
     John Robertson
     The Ruth Group
     Tel:   +1-646-536-7024
     Email: jrobertson@theruthgroup.com

SOURCE Canadian Solar Inc.

Tags: ,CST,ENV,OIL,CCA,ERN,CSIQ-Reports-Q3
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