SMA Solar Technology AG increases sales considerably in the first quarter of 2020 and makes profit again

• Inverter output sold more than doubled at 4.4 GW (Q1 2019: 1.8 GW)
• Sales increased to €288 million (Q1 2019: €168 million) and EBITDA to €12 million (Q1 2019: €1 million)
• Financial stability thanks to solid equity ratio of 40% (December 31, 2019: 38%)
• High order backlog of €797 million, of which €376 million is attributable to the product business
• Managing Board confirms its sales and earnings guidance for the 2020 fiscal year

In the first quarter of 2020, SMA Solar Technology AG (SMA/FWB: S92) sold PV inverters with a total output of around 4.4 GW (Q1 2019: 1.8 GW). Sales increased by 72% compared with the first three months of the previous year to €288 million (Q1 2019: €168 million). The growth is mainly the result of the strong project business in the U.S. and the ongoing positive trade business in Europe. From January to March 2020, EBITDA amounted to €12 million, considerably higher than the comparative figure for the previous year (EBITDA margin: 4.3%; Q1 2019: €1 million, 0.4%). Order intake developed positively in all segments in the first quarter.

Net income broke even in the first quarter of 2020 (Q1 2019: –€11 million). Earnings per share thus amounted to –€0.01 (Q1 2019: –€0.30). With net cash of €243 million (December 31, 2019: €303 million) and an equity ratio of 40.3% (December 31, 2019: 37.6%), SMA continues to have a solid balance-sheet structure.

“SMA made a good start to 2020,” said SMA CEO Jürgen Reinert. “We increased sales and earnings considerably in the first quarter and generated positive EBIT of €1.6 million. Order intake also continued to develop very well at €330 million in the first three months of the year. Through active management and process adjustments, we have maintained our supply chain and our production capacity in the coronavirus crisis and suffered only minor supply shortages. The sales and product-related order backlog of the first quarter already cover over 60% of the Managing Board’s sales guidance for the 2020 fiscal year. On this basis, we continue to assume that we will meet our sales and earnings targets and increase our market shares in key target markets.”

Despite the current coronavirus crisis, the SMA Managing Board is confirming its sales and earnings guidance for the 2020 fiscal year published on February 7, 2020. It predicts a sales increase to between €1.0 billion and €1.1 billion. SMA is well positioned to gain market shares even in the current circumstances. In addition, the Managing Board is implementing further cost reduction measures. In this context, the SMA Managing Board is still expecting an increase in EBITDA of between €50 million and €80 million.

The quarterly statement for January to March 2020 can be found at www.SMA.de/…. SMA’s Annual General Meeting will be held on June 4, 2020.

Disclaimer:
This press release serves only as information and does not constitute an offer or invitation to subscribe for, acquire, hold or sell any securities of SMA Solar Technology AG (the “Company”) or any present or future subsidiary of the Company (together with the Company, the “SMA Group”) nor should it form the basis of, or be relied upon in connection with, any contract to purchase or subscribe for any securities in the Company or any member of the SMA Group or commitment whatsoever. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States of America absent registration or an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

This press release can contain future-oriented statements. Future-oriented statements are statements which do not describe facts of the past. They also include statements about our assumptions and expectations. These statements are based on plans, estimations and forecasts which the Managing Board of SMA Solar Technology AG (SMA or company) has available at this time. Future-oriented statements are therefore only valid on the day on which they are made. Future-oriented statements by nature contain risks and elements of uncertainty. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors can lead to considerable differences between the actual results, the financial position, the development or the performance of the corporation and the estimates given here. These factors include those which SMA has discussed in published reports. These reports are available on the SMA website at www.SMA.de. The company accepts no obligation whatsoever to update these future-oriented statements or to adjust them to future events or developments.