Core Viewpoint - PainReform's acquisition of DeepSolar positions the company as a potential leader in the high-growth, high-margin AI solar energy management sector while maintaining its focus on pharmaceutical innovation [1][4]. Company Overview - PainReform is a clinical-stage specialty pharmaceutical company focused on reformulating established therapeutics, particularly in post-surgical pain relief [9]. - The company has successfully acquired 100% of DeepSolar, an AI-driven solar analytics platform, from BladeRanger Ltd [1][2]. Acquisition Details - The acquisition allows PainReform to enter the clean energy sector, leveraging DeepSolar's software to optimize solar farm efficiency and profitability [2]. - DeepSolar's AI analytics platform enhances energy production and reduces operational inefficiencies, integrating with SCADA systems for monitoring and predictive maintenance [3][6]. - The transaction involved PainReform issuing 178,769 ordinary shares and 223,792 pre-funded warrants to BladeRanger Ltd as part of the acquisition [7]. Market Potential - The solar energy market is projected to grow at an annual rate of 25.32%, generating over 1 terawatt (TW) of energy from 2021 to 2026 [3]. - The residential solar market reached a valuation of $94.2 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow at 8% annually through 2034 [3]. Strategic Goals - PainReform aims to broaden DeepSolar's customer base, targeting utility-scale solar operators, independent power producers, and residential solar users [2]. - The company plans to explore strategic partnerships with utility companies, solar technology providers, and smart grid operators to drive revenue growth [4][5]. - DeepSolar's SaaS model is expected to generate steady, high-margin revenue streams while reducing operational costs for customers by up to 30% [6]. Technological Differentiation - DeepSolar's AI capabilities provide a competitive advantage in the renewable energy market, positioning PainReform as a potential technology leader in solar asset optimization [6].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company achieved $275 million in revenue for Q4 2024 and $916 million for the full year, exceeding the midpoint of previously communicated guidance [12][52] - Q4 adjusted gross margin improved by 410 basis points year-on-year to 29.8%, while full year adjusted gross margin reached 34.1%, an increase of 680 basis points compared to 2023 [12][53] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q4 was $45.2 million, with a full year total of $173.6 million, down from $288.1 million in the prior year [12][54] - The net loss attributable to common shareholders for Q4 was $141.2 million, compared to a net income of $6 million in the prior year [51][54] - Free cash flow for the year was $135 million, ending with a cash balance of $364 million [12][55] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The order book ended the year at $2 billion, up 10% from 2023, with over 20% growth in the domestic portion [17] - The OmniTrack terrain following tracker contributed almost 10% of 2024 revenue, reflecting strong market traction [18] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Utility scale solar remains the cheapest and fastest-growing energy source, with solar and solar plus battery storage representing 64% of new electricity deployment in the U.S. [21] - The U.S. market stabilized towards the end of 2024, with expectations for continued momentum in 2025 despite previous headwinds [22][29] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on supply chain resiliency, with a new manufacturing facility in Albuquerque aimed at reducing costs and risks [13] - Continued investment in innovation, including partnerships with companies like SWAP Robotics, to enhance operational efficiency and project cycle times [37][38] - The company aims to provide 100% domestic content trackers in the U.S. by the first half of 2025 [26][40] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the utility scale solar industry's value proposition and demand, expecting 20% top-line growth in 2025 [29][66] - The company is taking a conservative approach to forecasting for 2025, with expectations for revenue between $1.05 billion and $1.15 billion [59] Other Important Information - The company experienced significant impairment charges related to the 2022 STI acquisition, impacting operating expenses [49] - The company is actively monitoring developments regarding the Inflation Reduction Act and its implications for the solar industry [24][26] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you discuss the EBITDA margin in Q1 compared to the rest of the year? - Management indicated that Q1 EBITDA margins are expected to be lower due to the continuation of large shipments from Q4 and the roll-off of some amortization [70] Question: What initiatives are being taken to grow the backlog? - Management noted a strong win rate for new orders, with a book-to-bill ratio of 1.5 in North America, despite some debookings in Brazil [78] Question: What pricing dynamics are expected in 2025? - Management stated that pricing remains disciplined, with commodity prices impacting ASPs rather than aggressive pricing strategies [82] Question: How does the competitive environment look after Soltec's exit in Europe? - Management acknowledged gaining market share in Brazil but noted legal constraints in Spain preventing immediate project takeovers [108] Question: Are there plans to sell off any 45X credits? - Management indicated that selling credits is not a near-term plan, as most credits are filed by vendors, but they would evaluate selling excess credits in the future [113]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company achieved $275 million in revenue for Q4 2024 and $916 million for the full year 2024, exceeding the midpoint of previously communicated guidance [12][52] - Q4 adjusted gross margin improved by 410 basis points year-on-year to 29.8%, while full year adjusted gross margin reached 34.1%, an increase of 680 basis points compared to 2023 [12][53] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q4 was $45.2 million, with a margin of 16.4%, compared to $48.2 million and a margin of 14.1% in Q4 2023 [50] - The net loss attributable to common shareholders in Q4 was $141.2 million, compared to a net income of $6 million in the prior year [51] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The order book ended the year at $2 billion, up 10% from 2023, with over 20% growth in the domestic portion [17] - The OmniTrack terrain following tracker contributed almost 10% of 2024 revenue, reflecting strong market traction [18] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Utility scale solar remains the cheapest and fastest-growing energy source, with a projected 50% increase in annual electricity production needed by 2035 [20] - Solar and solar plus battery storage accounted for 64% of all new electricity deployment in the U.S. [21] - The Brazilian market is experiencing slow growth due to currency devaluation and tariffs, expected to continue for 3 to 4 more quarters [27] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on supply chain resiliency, with a new manufacturing facility in Albuquerque, New Mexico, aimed at reducing costs and risks [13] - Continued investment in innovation, including a significant investment in SWAP robotics to enhance operational efficiency [37] - The company aims to provide 100% domestic content trackers in the U.S. by the first half of 2025 [26][40] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the stabilization of the market towards the end of 2024 and expects continued momentum in 2025 [22][29] - The company anticipates a 20% top-line growth in 2025, driven by a recovery in market share and shipments from delayed projects [29][59] - Management noted that the competitive environment remains disciplined, particularly in North America, despite challenges in other regions [82] Other Important Information - The company ended 2024 with a strong cash balance of $364 million, an increase of $115 million from the previous year [55] - Total operating expenses for Q4 were $220.7 million, significantly impacted by noncash impairment charges related to the 2022 STI acquisition [49] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you discuss the EBITDA margin in Q1 compared to the rest of the year? - Management indicated that Q1 EBITDA margins are forecasted to be lower due to the continuation of large shipments from Q4 and the roll-off of some amortization [70] Question: Were there any safe harbor orders received in Q4 or into Q1? - Management noted that less than 10% of the order book consists of safe harbor orders, with no new orders currently in the book but ongoing discussions with customers [72][74] Question: Why did the new orders backlog lag behind despite a growing pipeline? - Management explained that while the win rate for new orders is improving, there were debookings in Brazil that masked strength in the North American order book [78][80] Question: What pricing dynamics are expected in 2025? - Management stated that pricing remains disciplined, with ASP declines primarily driven by commodity prices rather than market competition [82] Question: How does the company view the competitive environment following Soltec's exit in Europe? - Management acknowledged a change in competition in Brazil, with opportunities to pick up projects, but noted legal constraints in Spain [108][110]

RONKONKOMA, N.Y., Feb. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SUNation Energy, Inc. (Nasdaq: SUNE), a leading provider of sustainable solar energy and backup power solutions for households, businesses, and municipalities, today announced that it has entered into a securities purchase agreement with certain institutional investors for the purchase and sale of 17,391,306 shares of the Company’s common stock (or common stock equivalents in lieu thereof) Series A warrants to purchase up to an aggregate 17,391,306 shares ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In 2024, First Solar reported net sales of $4.2 billion, a 27% increase year-on-year, with a diluted EPS of $12.02, up from $7.74 in 2023 [7][31][88] - Gross margin for the full year was 44%, an increase of 5 percentage points from 2023, but Q4 gross margin dropped to 37% from 50% in the prior quarter [21][22] - The company ended 2024 with a cash balance of $1.8 billion, an increase of $0.5 billion from the prior quarter [32] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - First Solar sold a record 14.1 gigawatts of modules in 2024, with a year-end contracted backlog of 68.5 gigawatts valued at $20.5 billion [6][12] - Manufacturing output included 15.5 gigawatts, comprising 9.6 gigawatts of Series 6 modules and 5.9 gigawatts of Series 7 modules [8][10] - The company began producing CuRe modules in Q4 2024 and is on track to ramp up production capacity to over 25 gigawatts by 2026 [10][72] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The contracted backlog included 37.1 gigawatts with potential adjusters that could generate an additional $0.7 billion in revenue [15] - The total pipeline of potential bookings decreased to 80.3 gigawatts, with mid to late-stage opportunities at 21 gigawatts [15][16] - The company faced challenges in international markets due to policy uncertainties and competition, particularly in Europe and India [67][68] Company Strategy and Development Direction - First Solar's strategy focuses on technology differentiation, emphasizing thin-film technologies and a three-pillar approach to innovation [36][41] - The company aims to leverage its strong balance sheet to support growth and navigate macroeconomic uncertainties [85] - The management plans to continue a selective approach to contracting, prioritizing long-term relationships with customers [17][56] Management Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management highlighted the need for decisive actions to address China's dominance in the solar supply chain and the importance of US manufacturing [51][52] - The uncertain policy environment post-US elections is causing caution among customers, impacting procurement and project timelines [60][62] - Despite near-term challenges, management remains optimistic about long-term growth in solar demand due to its low-cost profile and speed to deployment [60][61] Other Important Information - The company is constructing a $1.1 billion manufacturing facility in Louisiana, expected to begin operations in the second half of 2025 [11] - Warranty charges related to Series 7 manufacturing issues are estimated to range from $56 million to $100 million [23][84] - The company has filed a lawsuit against JinkoSolar for patent infringement, reinforcing its commitment to protecting its intellectual property [44] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are the expectations for module sales in 2025? - First Solar expects module sales of 18 to 20 gigawatts in 2025, with a significant portion produced in the US [75][90] Question: How is the company addressing the challenges in international markets? - The company is reducing output from its Southeast Asian factories due to policy uncertainties and is focusing on optimizing its domestic production capabilities [72][67] Question: What is the outlook for gross margin in 2025? - Gross margin is expected to be between 47% for the full year 2025, factoring in ramp costs and the impact of Section 45X tax credits [88][90]

Financial Performance - In 2024, the company achieved net sales of $4.2 billion, a 27% increase year-on-year, with diluted EPS at $12.02, which was below the low end of guidance due to an after-tax impact from tax credits [3][19] - Gross margin for Q4 was 37%, down from 50% in the previous quarter, while the full year gross margin was 44%, an increase of five percentage points from 2023 [11][12] Business Line Performance - The company secured full year net bookings of 4.4 gigawatts, leading to a year-end contracted backlog of 68.5 gigawatts [3][5] - A record 14.1 gigawatts of modules were sold in 2024, with production reaching 15.5 gigawatts, including 9.6 gigawatts of Series six modules and 5.9 gigawatts of Series seven modules [3][4] Market Data - The contracted backlog at the end of 2023 was 78.3 gigawatts, valued at approximately $23.3 billion, which decreased to 68.5 gigawatts valued at $20.5 billion by the end of 2024 [5][6] - The total pipeline of potential bookings remains strong at 80.3 gigawatts, although mid to late stage bookings opportunities decreased to 21 gigawatts [8][9] Company Strategy and Industry Competition - The company is focused on a technology strategy centered around three pillars: improvements to core semiconductor technology, development of next-generation thin film semiconductors, and the next generation TANDER device [22][23] - The company emphasizes a selective approach to contracting, prioritizing long-term relationships and value differentiation [9][10] Management Commentary on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management highlighted significant near-term uncertainty due to unresolved policy environments following the U.S. elections, which is affecting customer procurement and project timelines [41][42] - The company expects to face challenges in balancing supply and demand due to project delays and contract terminations, particularly in international markets [46][48] Other Important Information - The company is constructing a $1.1 billion manufacturing facility in Louisiana, expected to begin operations in the second half of 2025, which will increase global manufacturing capacity to over 25 gigawatts by 2026 [4][20] - The company recorded warranty charges related to manufacturing issues affecting Series seven modules, with total charges estimated between $56 million and $100 million [14][16] Q&A Session Summary Question: What are the expectations for 2025 production and sales? - The company forecasts total production of 18 to 19 gigawatts for 2025, with module sales expected to be between 18 to 20 gigawatts [54][55] Question: How is the company addressing the challenges in the current policy environment? - The company is actively monitoring the policy landscape and adjusting its strategies to mitigate risks associated with potential tariffs and trade regulations [48][49] Question: What are the anticipated impacts of the new manufacturing facilities? - The new facilities are expected to enhance production capacity and efficiency, contributing to the company's long-term growth strategy [51][52]