California-based solar energy service provider SolarCity (SCTY +0.00%) just reported third-quarter earnings, crushing Wall Street's revenue estimates but falling short of bottom-line targets.
Analysts were looking for a non-GAAP net loss of $0.38 per share on sales around $41 million. SolarCity reported a $0.43 adjusted loss per share on nearly $49 million in total sales.
The company reported strong operating cash flows of $100 million, nearly triple the year-ago period's figure, but also invested heavily in new customer installations. Capital expenses nearly doubled to $217 million, and free cash was strongly negative.
As a reminder, SolarCity installs solar panels free to customers, recouping the cost later via long-term lease contracts -- hence the high capital expenses and the ballooning long-term contracts. Management tracks a metric known as estimated nominal contract payments remaining, which accounts for the unpaid portions of long-term lease deals. That figure stood at $500 million in 2011, $1 billion in the year-ago period, and $1.7 billion right now.
Investors ignored the strong revenues and latched on to SolarCity's weak profitability, sending shares nearly 10% lower in after-hours market action.
The earnings-related sell-off puts SolarCity prices at roughly $54 per share, which is 360% above the stock's year-ago price.
