Canadian Solar Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2016 Results

GUELPH, Ontario, March 21, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Canadian Solar Inc. ("Canadian Solar" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: CSIQ), one of the world's largest solar power companies, today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2016. 

Fourth Quarter 2016 Highlights

• Total solar module shipments set a record high at 1,612 MW, of which 1,581 MW were recognized in revenue, compared to 1,161 MW recognized in revenue in the third quarter of 2016, and fourth quarter 2016 guidance in the range of 1,400 MW to 1,500 MW.
• Net revenue was $668.4 million, compared to $657.3 million in the third quarter of 2016, and fourth quarter 2016 guidance in the range of $600 million to $750 million.
• Gross margin was 7.3% including an anti-dumping and countervailing duties (AD/CVD) true-up provision of $44.1 million associated with the prior years' module sales. If excluding this charge, the gross margin would be 13.9%, compared to 17.8% in the third quarter of 2016, and fourth quarter guidance in the range of 11.0% to 16.0%.
• Net loss attributable to Canadian Solar was $13.3 million, or $0.23 per diluted share, compared to net income of $15.6 million, or $0.27 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2016.
• Non-GAAP adjusted net income attributable to Canadian Solar, which is adjusted to exclude the AD/CVD true-up provision of $44.1 million, net of income tax effect, was $14.2 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2016. (For a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results, see accompanying tables "Reconciliation of U.S. GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures.")
• During the quarter the Company completed the sale of two solar power plants in Canada for over C$152.5 million ($115 million) and two solar power plants in China for RMB223.5 million ($32.2 million). The Company completed three additional solar power plant sales in Canada for over C$257 million ($195.32 million) on February 1, 2017.
• The Company's portfolio of operating solar power plants was 1,195.5 MWp as of February 28, 2017, with an estimated total resale value of approximately $1.6 billion.

Full Year 2016 Results

• Total solar module shipments set a record high at 5,232 MW in 2016, compared to 4,706 MW in 2015, with 5,204 MW recognized in revenue in 2016, compared to 4,384 MW recognized in revenue in 2015, and full year 2016 guidance in the range of 5,073 MW to 5,173 MW.
• Net revenue was $2.85 billion, compared to $3.47 billion in 2015, and full year 2016 guidance in the range of $2.78 billion to $2.94 billion.
• Net income attributable to Canadian Solar was $65.2 million, or $1.12 per diluted share, compared to $171.9 million, or $2.93 per diluted share, in 2015.
• Non-GAAP adjusted net income attributable to Canadian Solar, which is adjusted to exclude the AD/CVD true-up provision of $44.1 million, net of income tax effect, was $92.7 million, or $1.60 per diluted share.

"Results for the fourth quarter and full year 2016 were inline with our expectations, other than the unfavorable preliminary ruling on AD/CVD rates by U.S. Department of Commerce. We achieved record high total solar module shipments in the fourth quarter and the full year 2016. Despite strong demand levels, our revenue for both the fourth quarter and full year was lower compared to the prior year's periods due to the industry-wide declines in average selling price that have been persistent all year.  We will continue to work to offset any negative impact of future declines in average selling price with the introduction of new products and through our supply chain and manufacturing efficiency programs. Importantly, we are actively monetizing our operating solar power plant assets. This includes the recent sale of five operating solar power plants in Canada for over $310 million (two sales closed in the fourth quarter of 2016; three additional sales closed in the first quarter of 2017). In addition, we closed the sales of two operating solar power plants in China in the fourth quarter of 2016 for over $32 million. We are also well underway in the sale process of our operating solar power plants in the U.S. and are targeting closure in the coming months. We plan to continue to execute on our strategy in the downstream energy business of developing solar power projects for sale to end customers, so as to deleverage our balance sheet and redeploy our capital to support the profitable growth of our business." - Dr. Shawn Qu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Solar.

View this news release in its entirety on the Canadian Solar website.