Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue for Q1 FY26 reached $240 million, representing a 28% increase quarter over quarter and a 355% increase year over year [18] - Adjusted EBITDA was $92 million, reflecting continued margin strength despite higher payroll tax expenses [18][19] - Operating expenses increased primarily due to higher depreciation and SG&A expenses, with $63 million attributed to unrealized gains on financial instruments [18][19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company announced a significant $9.7 billion AI cloud contract with Microsoft, expected to generate approximately $1.94 billion in annual recurring revenue [6][7] - The expansion plan includes scaling the GPU fleet from 23,000 to 140,000 GPUs by the end of 2026, which is projected to support an annualized run rate revenue of approximately $3.4 billion [8][10] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The demand for AI cloud services is increasing, with strong interest from various customer segments, including hyperscalers and AI enterprises [51][52] - The company is experiencing robust pricing dynamics in the cloud market, with expectations of rising pricing per GPU hour [44][50] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on vertical integration, controlling the entire stack from power generation to GPU deployment, which is seen as a key competitive advantage [9][10] - Future expansions will leverage existing data centers to maintain capital efficiency while meeting growing customer demand [11][12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in delivering on the Microsoft contract and highlighted the strategic value of the partnership [19][20] - The company is optimistic about future growth opportunities, with plans to monetize substantial power and land capacity available [101] Other Important Information - The company has secured $1 billion in zero-coupon convertible notes and an additional $200 million in GPU financing to support its expansion [23] - The construction of data centers is designed to meet hyperscale requirements, ensuring long-term operational efficiency and reliability [13][14] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you expand on the strategic value of the Microsoft deal? - Management highlighted the validation of their proprietary data center design and the ability to service a major technology company as significant strategic value [28][29] Question: What is the expected return profile of the Microsoft deal? - The unlevered IRR is expected to be in the low double digits, with a levered IRR potentially reaching 25-30% depending on financing structures [31][32] Question: How many GPUs will be deployed as part of the Microsoft deal? - Each phase of the Horizon project will accommodate 19,000 GPUs, with four phases planned [39] Question: What are the pricing dynamics in the cloud market? - There is a strong demand for GPU services, leading to increased pricing per GPU hour, with a focus on risk-adjusted returns [44][50] Question: What is the level of interest in the Sweetwater site? - There is strong interest across all sites, including Sweetwater, with discussions ongoing about various service offerings [55] Question: How does the company view risk in cloud deals versus colocation deals? - Management believes cloud deals present a better risk proposition compared to colocation, especially with the backing of a strong counterparty like Microsoft [82][84]
Iris Energy (IREN) - 2026 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript