Hyliion Holdings Reports Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year 2023 Financial Results
- Successful testing of KARNO reactor technology on unprocessed Permian Basin gas showed emissions standards surpassed by 98% for CO and 76% for NOx.
- Hyliion ended the year with $291 million in total cash and investments, announcing a $20 million Stock Repurchase Program.
- The company confirmed plans to deliver initial KARNO generator units to customers in late 2024 and appointed Govindaraj Ramasamy as Chief Commercial Officer.
- None.
Insights
Hyliion's strategic pivot from powertrain operations to the KARNO generator signifies a significant shift in the company's business model. The expected qualification for a tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act could enhance the product's marketability by lowering the effective cost for potential customers. The non-binding letters of intent with companies like Detmar Logistics and GTL Leasing indicate early commercial interest, which is a positive signal for investor confidence. However, these are non-binding and do not guarantee future revenue.
The financial guidance for 2024 suggests a substantial reduction in cash burn from $131 million in 2023 to an estimated $40-$50 million allocated for KARNO development. This improved capital efficiency could be a result of the wind-down of the less profitable powertrain segment. Nonetheless, investors should remain cautious as the company's projections for 2025 indicate break-even or slightly negative gross margins, which could imply a longer path to profitability. The $20 million stock repurchase program could be seen as a sign of confidence by management in the company's future prospects, although it may also raise questions about the best use of capital at this stage of development.
The KARNO generator's technology is positioned to tap into the growing demand for sustainable energy solutions, particularly in the commercial power market. The ability of the KARNO generator to operate on waste flare gas without pre-treatment could offer a competitive advantage in the oil & gas industry, where flaring is a significant environmental concern. This could potentially open up a new revenue stream for Hyliion, tapping into the need for more environmentally friendly power generation in the sector.
Hyliion's appointment of Govindaraj Ramasamy as Chief Commercial Officer, with his background at Cummins, could bring valuable industry experience to the commercialization efforts. The market will be watching closely to see if the company can translate its technological advancements and early expressions of interest into firm orders and long-term contracts, which are critical for sustained growth and market penetration.
The KARNO generator's reported emissions surpassing EPA Tier 4 standards by significant margins represents a notable advancement in power generation technology with potential environmental benefits. The focus on fuel flexibility and the ability to use unprocessed flare gas could position Hyliion as a leader in reducing emissions in the energy sector. Additive manufacturing technology used in the production of the KARNO generator could also contribute to more efficient production processes and potentially lower maintenance requirements, aligning with industry trends towards more sustainable manufacturing practices.
However, the technology's actual environmental impact will depend on its scalability and adoption rate, which are yet to be proven. The late 2024 delivery timeline for initial units means that any tangible environmental benefits and market validation are still some time away. Stakeholders should monitor the progress of the BETA design validation and subsequent customer deployments to gauge the real-world efficacy and market acceptance of the KARNO generator.
Key Business Highlights
-
Announced today, the KARNOTM generator is expected to qualify for up to a
40% tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act’s Infrastructure Tax Credit (ITC) - Announced today, Detmar Logistics executed a letter of intent for an initial KARNO unit to be deployed in the Permian Basin to operate on waste flare gas
- Executed a letter of intent to provide KARNO generators to GTL Leasing
- Confirmed plans to deliver initial KARNO generator units to customers in late 2024
- Began printing production-intent design components of the KARNO generator
-
Successfully tested KARNO reactor technology on unprocessed Permian Basin gas; results surpassed emissions standards by
98% for CO and76% for NOx - Appointed Govindaraj Ramasamy as Chief Commercial Officer
-
Announced
$20 million -
Ended the year with
$291 million -
Guidance of
$40 $50 million
Executive Commentary
“I’m pleased to report that the company’s strategic shift to wind down powertrain operations and focus on our KARNO generator is on track, with significant achievements made in advancing our generator technology and engaging prospective customers during the quarter,” said Hyliion’s Founder and CEO, Thomas Healy. “We expect to deliver the initial KARNO generator deployment units with customers late in 2024 followed by a ramp-up in production and additional deliveries in 2025.”
KARNO Commercial Updates
Today, the company announced that, under the Inflation Reduction Act, the KARNO generator is expected to be characterized the same as a fuel cell, enabling customers to qualify for up to a
Hyliion is addressing the commercial power market first with a locally-deployable 200kW generating system which it intends to deliver to initial deployment customers in late 2024. To lead these efforts, Hyliion recently hired former Cummins powergen executive, Govi Ramasamy, as Chief Commercial Officer.
Hyliion also announced today that Detmar Logistics has executed a non-binding letter of intent for a KARNO generator and to be part of Hyliion’s early adopter program. Detmar, who supplied Hyliion with test gas from the Permian Basin, intends to operate their unit on waste flare gas to produce electricity at oil & gas sites, without the need for pre-treating the gas.
In addition to Detmar, Hyliion also announced a non-binding letter of intent with GTL Leasing to deliver two KARNO generators for their portable electric vehicle recharging business. Other customers’ letters of intent are in place or being finalized to represent the remaining planned deployments in 2024 and initial deliveries in 2025. Hyliion plans for initial deployments to represent a broad range of applications, including vehicle charging, waste gas fuel sourcing, and prime power generation.
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 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. Hyliion hosted a Technology Fireside Chat in December 2023 during which Thomas Healy and Josh Mook, Chief Technology Officer, explained the capabilities and advantages of the generator.
Recent technological advancements include beginning to print production-intent design parts of the BETA design of the KARNO generator. The BETA generator design will go through validation throughout 2024 and then is expected to be ready for customer deployments later this year.
The company also tested unprocessed flare gas that was collected from the Permian Basin and confirmed the ability for the KARNO reactor to operate on this fuel, showcasing the fuel agnostic characteristics of the generator. Recent test results on this fuel highlight that the KARNO’s flameless oxidation process is expected to surpass current EPA Tier 4 emissions standards by
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 the KARNO generator technology. The company intends to retain the powertrain technology, enabling it to explore future use or sale of the technology and tangible assets. Most wind-down activities are expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2024 while efforts to monetize powertrain assets and technology continue.
Financial Highlights and Guidance
Fourth quarter operating expenses totaled
Full-year expenses totaled
For 2024, total cash consumed by the KARNO generator business is expected to be between
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
Forward Looking Statements
The information in this press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included in this press release, regarding Hyliion and its future financial and operational performance, as well as its strategy, future operations, estimated financial position, estimated revenues, and losses, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward looking statements. When used in this press release, including any oral statements made in connection therewith, the words “could,” “should,” “will,” “may,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” the negative of such terms and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions about future events and are based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, Hyliion expressly disclaims any duty to update any forward-looking statements, all of which are expressly qualified by the statements herein, to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release. Hyliion cautions you that these forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of Hyliion. These risks include, but are not limited to, our status as an early stage the Company with a history of losses, and our expectation of incurring significant expenses and continuing losses for the foreseeable future; our ability to develop key commercial relationships with suppliers and customers; our ability to retain the services of Thomas Healy, our Chief Executive Officer; the expected performance of the KARNO generator and system; the execution of the strategic shift from our powertrain business to our KARNO business, and the other risks and uncertainties described under the heading “Risk Factors” in our SEC filings including in our Annual Report (See item 1A. Risk Factors) on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 13, 2024 for the year ended December 31, 2023. Given these risks and uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties described in this press release occur, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and plans could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning these and other factors that may impact Hyliion’s operations and projections can be found in its filings with the SEC. Hyliion’s SEC Filings are available publicly on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, and readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made in such filings.
HYLIION HOLDINGS CORP. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Dollar amounts in thousands, except share and per share data) |
|||||||||||||||
|
Three Months Ended December 31, |
|
Year Ended December 31, |
||||||||||||
|
|
2023 |
|
|
|
2022 |
|
|
|
2023 |
|
|
|
2022 |
|
|
(Unaudited) |
|
|
|
|
||||||||||
Revenues |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Product sales and other |
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
1,095 |
|
|
$ |
672 |
|
|
$ |
2,106 |
|
Total revenues |
|
— |
|
|
|
1,095 |
|
|
|
672 |
|
|
|
2,106 |
|
Cost of revenues |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Product sales and other |
|
41 |
|
|
|
1,618 |
|
|
|
1,716 |
|
|
|
8,778 |
|
Total cost of revenues |
|
41 |
|
|
|
1,618 |
|
|
|
1,716 |
|
|
|
8,778 |
|
Gross loss |
|
(41 |
) |
|
|
(523 |
) |
|
|
(1,044 |
) |
|
|
(6,672 |
) |
Operating expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Research and development |
|
8,768 |
|
|
|
21,827 |
|
|
|
82,240 |
|
|
|
110,370 |
|
Selling, general and administrative |
|
12,346 |
|
|
|
9,733 |
|
|
|
42,611 |
|
|
|
41,988 |
|
Exit and termination costs |
|
11,474 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
11,474 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Total operating expenses |
|
32,588 |
|
|
|
31,560 |
|
|
|
136,325 |
|
|
|
152,358 |
|
Loss from operations |
|
(32,629 |
) |
|
|
(32,083 |
) |
|
|
(137,369 |
) |
|
|
(159,030 |
) |
Interest income |
|
3,463 |
|
|
|
2,658 |
|
|
|
13,808 |
|
|
|
5,724 |
|
Gain (loss) on impairment and disposal of assets |
|
— |
|
|
|
70 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
(19 |
) |
Other income (expense), net |
|
36 |
|
|
|
(32 |
) |
|
|
50 |
|
|
|
(32 |
) |
Net loss |
$ |
(29,130 |
) |
|
$ |
(29,387 |
) |
|
$ |
(123,510 |
) |
|
$ |
(153,357 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Net loss per share, basic and diluted |
$ |
(0.16 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.16 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.68 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.87 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Weighted-average shares outstanding, basic and diluted |
|
182,885,328 |
|
|
|
179,719,018 |
|
|
|
181,411,069 |
|
|
|
175,400,486 |
|
HYLIION HOLDINGS CORP. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Dollar amounts in thousands, except share data) |
||||||
|
December 31, |
|||||
|
|
2023 |
|
|
|
2022 |
Assets |
|
|
|
|||
Current assets |
|
|
|
|||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ |
12,881 |
|
|
$ |
119,468 |
Accounts receivable, net |
|
40 |
|
|
|
1,136 |
Inventory |
|
— |
|
|
|
74 |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
18,483 |
|
|
|
9,795 |
Short-term investments |
|
150,297 |
|
|
|
193,740 |
Total current assets |
|
181,701 |
|
|
|
324,213 |
|
|
|
|
|||
Property and equipment, net |
|
9,987 |
|
|
|
5,606 |
Operating lease right-of-use assets |
|
7,070 |
|
|
|
6,470 |
Intangible assets, net |
|
— |
|
|
|
200 |
Other assets |
|
1,439 |
|
|
|
1,686 |
Long-term investments |
|
128,186 |
|
|
|
108,568 |
Total assets |
$ |
328,383 |
|
|
$ |
446,743 |
|
|
|
|
|||
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity |
|
|
|
|||
Current liabilities |
|
|
|
|||
Accounts payable |
$ |
4,224 |
|
|
$ |
2,800 |
Current portion of operating lease liabilities |
|
847 |
|
|
|
347 |
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities |
|
10,051 |
|
|
|
11,535 |
Total current liabilities |
|
15,122 |
|
|
|
14,682 |
|
|
|
|
|||
Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion |
|
6,792 |
|
|
|
6,972 |
Other liabilities |
|
203 |
|
|
|
1,515 |
Total liabilities |
|
22,117 |
|
|
|
23,169 |
|
|
|
|
|||
Commitments and contingencies |
|
|
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|||
Stockholders’ equity |
|
|
|
|||
Common stock, |
|
18 |
|
|
|
18 |
Additional paid-in capital |
|
404,045 |
|
|
|
397,810 |
Treasury stock, at cost; 37,062 and no shares as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively |
|
(33 |
) |
|
|
— |
(Accumulated deficit) retained earnings |
|
(97,764 |
) |
|
|
25,746 |
Total stockholders’ equity |
|
306,266 |
|
|
|
423,574 |
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity |
$ |
328,383 |
|
|
$ |
446,743 |
HYLIION HOLDINGS CORP. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Dollar amounts in thousands) |
|||||||
|
Year Ended December 31, |
||||||
|
|
2023 |
|
|
|
2022 |
|
Cash flows from operating activities |
|
|
|
||||
Net loss |
$ |
(123,510 |
) |
|
$ |
(153,357 |
) |
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: |
|
|
|
||||
Depreciation and amortization |
|
3,511 |
|
|
|
1,227 |
|
Amortization and accretion of investments, net |
|
(2,868 |
) |
|
|
1,250 |
|
Noncash lease expense |
|
1,496 |
|
|
|
1,244 |
|
Inventory write-down |
|
1,139 |
|
|
|
5,641 |
|
(Gain) loss on impairment and disposal of assets |
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
19 |
|
Share-based compensation |
|
6,217 |
|
|
|
6,979 |
|
Provision for doubtful accounts |
|
— |
|
|
|
114 |
|
Acquired in-process research and development |
|
— |
|
|
|
28,752 |
|
Change in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of business acquisition: |
|
|
|
||||
Accounts receivable |
|
1,096 |
|
|
|
(1,180 |
) |
Inventory |
|
(1,065 |
) |
|
|
(5,601 |
) |
Prepaid expenses and other assets |
|
463 |
|
|
|
(571 |
) |
Accounts payable |
|
1,356 |
|
|
|
(4,660 |
) |
Accrued expenses and other liabilities |
|
(3,020 |
) |
|
|
4,571 |
|
Operating lease liabilities |
|
(1,776 |
) |
|
|
(1,305 |
) |
Net cash used in operating activities |
|
(116,962 |
) |
|
|
(116,877 |
) |
|
|
|
|
||||
Cash flows from investing activities |
|
|
|
||||
Purchase of property and equipment and other |
|
(7,401 |
) |
|
|
(2,885 |
) |
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment |
|
2 |
|
|
|
152 |
|
Purchase of in-process research and development |
|
— |
|
|
|
(14,428 |
) |
Payments for security deposit, net |
|
(45 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
Purchase of investments |
|
(189,670 |
) |
|
|
(268,584 |
) |
Proceeds from sale and maturity of investments |
|
215,422 |
|
|
|
263,723 |
|
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities |
|
18,308 |
|
|
|
(22,022 |
) |
|
|
|
|
||||
Cash flows from financing activities |
|
|
|
||||
Proceeds from exercise of common stock options |
|
257 |
|
|
|
79 |
|
Taxes paid related to net share settlement of equity awards |
|
(239 |
) |
|
|
(157 |
) |
Repurchase of treasury stock |
|
(33 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
Net cash used in financing activities |
|
(15 |
) |
|
|
(78 |
) |
|
|
|
|
||||
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash |
|
(98,669 |
) |
|
|
(138,977 |
) |
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period |
|
120,133 |
|
|
|
259,110 |
|
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period |
$ |
21,464 |
|
|
$ |
120,133 |
|
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240213373401/en/
Hyliion Holdings Corp.
press@hyliion.com
Investor Relations
ir@hyliion.com
Source: Hyliion Holdings Corp.
FAQ
What were Hyliion's fourth-quarter and full-year 2023 financial results?
What tax credit is the KARNO generator expected to qualify for?
Who was appointed as Chief Commercial Officer at Hyliion?
What were the results of the testing of the KARNO reactor technology on unprocessed Permian Basin gas?
How much cash and investments did Hyliion end the year with?
