Hyliion Holdings Corp (HYLN)

[WeTheMarket]

Hyliion Holdings Reports First-Quarter 2024 Financial Results
April 30 2024
https://ih.advfn.com/stock-market/NYSE/hyliion-HYLN/stock-news/93751427/hyliion-holdings-reports-first-quarter-2024-financ

Hyliion Holdings Corp. (NYSE: HYLN) (“Hyliion”), a developer of sustainable electricity-producing technology, today reported its first-quarter 2024 financial results.

Key Business Highlights

- Announced that H2 Energy Group has executed a letter of intent to purchase up to 10 KARNO generator units that will operate on hydrogen rich syngas produced from sustainable processes
- Announced partnership with BayoTech to introduce Hyliion and BayoTech’s innovative solutions to each other’s customers
- Reiterated plans to deliver initial KARNO generator units to customers in late 2024
- Reported today that customer commitments are secured for 2024 production capacity and actively building a backlog of commitments for 2025 generator deliveries
- Hosted event with customers and other stakeholders to showcase KARNO technology and development progress
- Repurchased 8.7 million shares for $11.3 million as part of the company’s $20 million Stock Repurchase Program
- Ended the quarter with $264 million of cash and investments
- Reaffirmed guidance of $40 to $50 million cash expenditures in 2024 for KARNO development and capital investments

Executive Commentary

“I'm excited with the progress we've achieved in the past quarter as we remain on course for the initial deployment of KARNO generators to customers later this year," stated Thomas Healy, Hyliion’s Founder and CEO. "The growing interest from customers in our technology is promising, and we anticipate expanding our order backlog throughout this year for 2025. Additionally, we're swiftly increasing our production capacity by introducing additive printers to our Austin, Texas facility to meet rising demand."

KARNO Commercial Updates

Hyliion is initially developing a locally-deployable 200kW generating system which it intends to deliver to initial deployment customers in late 2024. Target markets in the commercial power space include EV Charging, Waste Gas, Prime Power and Mobility applications. Initial customer deployments will target each of these markets to demonstrate the versatility of the KARNO generator as well as key product attributes and differentiators versus competing technologies, including efficiency, emissions, fuel flexibility, and operating and maintenance costs.

Hyliion also recently announced that H2 Energy Group has executed a non-binding letter of intent for the purchase of up to 10 KARNO generators that will be fueled by hydrogen-rich syngas. H2 Energy specializes in the production of hydrogen using completely sustainable and renewable biomass. The letter of intent outlines the plan for five KARNO generator units to be installed in 2025 and includes an option for the purchase of five additional generators upon successful deployment of the initial units. Hyliion also announced a partnership with BayoTech, a full-service hydrogen supplier, allowing the companies to introduce their innovative solutions to each other’s customers, enhancing the product offerings of both companies.

Hyliion recently hosted a KARNO generator showcase event at its Cincinnati engineering and development facility, welcoming guests including customers, regulators, media representatives, government officials, supplier partners, and other stakeholders. Attendees had the opportunity to witness the KARNO generator in action and explore its underlying technology, including additive manufacturing and the fuel oxidation process with hydrogen. Additionally, the company provided updates on recent development progress, plans for initial generator deployments and the scaling up of production capacity.

KARNO Generator Development

Hyliion is developing a revolutionary new electrical generator powered by a linear heat motor that is expected to deliver step-change improvements in performance characteristics compared to conventional electricity generating systems, including efficiency, emissions, maintenance requirements, noise levels and fuel flexibility. The KARNO generator is enabled by the latest advances in additive manufacturing technology.

The development of the KARNO generator remains on track for initial customer deployments in late 2024. The company has been testing its Alpha version of the generator and earlier this year began printing components for its BETA version, which is the production-intent design. The company is taking delivery of additive manufacturing machines at its Austin, Texas facility, slated to become Hyliion’s primary KARNO generator printing, manufacturing and assembly center starting in 2025. Additive printers on hand and on order account for most of the capacity required for planned generator production in 2025.

Powertrain Wind-Down

In November 2023, Hyliion announced that it was winding down its powertrain business segment to maintain the company’s strong cash position as it furthers development of KARNO generator technology. The company has retained the powertrain technology, enabling it to explore future use or sale of the technology and tangible assets. Most wind-down activities were completed through the first quarter of 2024, while efforts to monetize powertrain assets and technology will continue throughout the year.

Financial Highlights and Guidance

First quarter operating expenses totaled $19.0 million, compared to $31.9 million in the prior-year quarter. First quarter expenses include $4.4 million of exit and termination charges directly related to the wind down of the powertrain business. Net loss in the quarter was $15.6 million, compared to $28.8 million in the first quarter of 2023.

The company repurchased 8.7 million shares of stock in the first quarter for $11.3 million as part of the $20 million share repurchase program announced in late 2023. Total cash expenditures for the quarter were $35.3 million, including share repurchases, $14.1 million for KARNO development, SG&A expenses, and capital spending and $9.9 million for outlays related to powertrain wind-down activities, net of asset sales. Total cash and investments remaining at the end of the quarter were $264 million.

For 2024, total cash consumed by KARNO development and capital investments is expected to be between $40 and $50 million, down compared to $131 million in cash consumed by the company in 2023. This estimate excludes cash payments associated with the stock repurchase program, payments associated with the ongoing wind down of powertrain operations, and cash generated from the sale of powertrain assets. Hyliion expects to achieve commercialization of the KARNO generator with the capital on hand.

Projections for 2025 include growth of KARNO generator deliveries with proceeds from sales in the low double-digit millions of dollars. The company also projects gross margins to be approximately break-even or slightly negative and cash spending to grow modestly compared to 2024.

About Hyliion

Hyliion is committed to creating innovative solutions that enable clean, flexible and affordable electricity production. The Company’s primary focus is to provide distributed power generators that can operate on various fuel sources to future-proof against an ever-changing energy economy. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, and with research and development in Cincinnati, Ohio, Hyliion is initially targeting the commercial and waste management industries with a locally deployable generator that can offer prime power as well as energy arbitrage opportunities. Beyond stationary power, Hyliion will address mobile applications such as vehicles and marine. The KARNO generator is a fuel-agnostic solution, enabled by additive manufacturing, that leverages a linear heat generator architecture. The Company aims to offer innovative, yet practical solutions that contribute positively to the environment in the energy economy. For further information, please visit www.hyliion.com.