· First quarter 2024 total revenues increased 73% to $37.6 million compared to $21.7 million in first quarter of 2023
· 68% increase in product revenues to $27.5 million in first quarter of 2024 compared to $16.4 million in first quarter of 2023
· 72% increase in service revenues to $8.2 million in first quarter of 2024 compared to $4.8 million in first quarter 2023
· 195% increase in gross profit to $13.4 million in first quarter of 2024 compared to $4.5 million in first quarter of 2023
· 36% gross margin in first quarter of 2024 compared to 21% gross margin in first quarter of 2023
· 4,555 charging stations contracted, deployed or sold in first quarter of 2024
Bowie, MD (May 9, 2024) – Blink Charging Co. (Nasdaq: BLNK) (“Blink” or the “Company”), a leading manufacturer, owner, operator, and provider of electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment and services, today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024.
“Blink achieved record first quarter revenues of $38 million with gross margin of 36%. Our performance outpaced the industry, demonstrating Blink’s growing leadership role in the EV infrastructure market. Importantly, our progress demonstrates the ongoing success of our strategic initiatives to leverage vertical integration capabilities and increased scale, while optimizing operations for continuous improvement across all levels of our organization.
“We have been focused on structurally adjusting our operations to position Blink to continue winning business and also to adjust our ongoing operating expenses so that, if needed, we can respond effectively to longer-than-anticipated changes in market conditions. It is encouraging to see that our vertical integration strategy is yielding results and making Blink more resilient, with production of our 'Buy-American' chargers well underway at our Maryland manufacturing facility. Additionally, we are constructing components and global chargers at our facility in India, with the in-sourcing of these manufacturing lines positively impacting product quality and reducing operational costs. As we started to move through the second quarter, we have seen lower bookings in April. That said, we have multiple opportunities in our pipeline and expect additional opportunities due to several companies pulling back or exiting the charging space. Therefore, we are maintaining our 2024 revenue target of between $165 and $175 million. We regularly review our pipeline and will provide an update, if necessary, in the future.”
“As previously mentioned, we are continuing to consolidate several facilities within the U.S., and our corporate global headquarters are now located in the D.C. area, giving us proximity to decision-makers funding the expansion of our nation's EV charging infrastructure. With the increasing number of EVs on the roads, it's evident that current U.S. charging infrastructure is poised to expand, and Blink is actively promoting our capabilities as a partner of choice in the build-out of reliable and accessible EV charging. We believe our flexible business models, innovative high-quality products, and focus on continuous improvement and profitability position us well as we progress through 2024 and beyond,” commented Brendan S. Jones, President and Chief Executive Officer of Blink Charging.
2024 Company Targets
For the full year 2024, the Company maintains its target of revenues between $165 million and $175 million and reiterates its target of achieving a positive adjusted EBITDA run rate by December 2024. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below for further information.
The Company targets gross margin for full year 2024 of approximately 33%.
First Quarter Financial Results
Revenues
Total Revenues increased 73% to $37.6 million for the first quarter of 2024 compared to the first quarter of 2023, an increase of $15.9 million.
Product Sales increased 68% to $27.5 million in the first quarter of 2024, an increase of $11.1 million from the same period in 2023, primarily driven by strong demand for our charging equipment and services and our ability to satisfy demand.
Service Revenues, which consist of charging service revenues, network fees, and car-sharing service revenues, increased 72% to $8.2 million in the first quarter of 2024, an increase of $3.4 million from the first quarter of 2023, primarily driven by greater utilization of chargers in the U.S. and internationally, an increased number of chargers on the Blink networks, and revenues associated with the car-sharing service programs.
Other Revenues, which are comprised of warranty fees, grants and rebates, and other revenues, increased 264% to $1.9 million in the first quarter of 2024, an increase of $1.4 million from the first quarter of 2023.
Gross Profit
Gross Profit increased 195% to $13.4 million, or 36% of revenues, in the first quarter of 2024, compared to gross profit of $4.5 million, or 21% of revenues, in the first quarter of 2023. Gross margin increased in the first quarter of 2024 primarily due to shift to higher margin products, increased vertical integration of charger manufacturing as well as higher gross margins from Service revenues.
Operating Expenses
Operating expenses in the first quarter of 2024 decreased 13% to $30.9 million compared to $35.4 million in the first quarter of 2023. Operating expenses in the quarter include a non-cash charge of $1.7 million related to the change in fair value of consideration payable. Excluding the non-cash charge, operating expenses were $29.2 million, a decrease of 18% compared to first quarter of 2023.
Net Loss and Loss Per Share
Net Loss for the first quarter of 2024 was $17.2 million, or $(0.17) per share, compared to a net loss of $29.8 million, or $(0.53) per share in the first quarter of 2023. As of March 31, 2024, the weighted average shares outstanding was 99.9 million. As of March 31, 2023, the weighted average shares outstanding was 56.5 million.
Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EPS
Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter of 2024 was a loss of $(10.2) million compared to an adjusted EBITDA loss of $(17.8) million in the first quarter of 2023, an improvement of 43%.
Adjusted EBITDA (defined as earnings/loss before interest income/expense, provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, acquisition related costs, estimated loss related to underperforming assets of subsidiary, and change in fair value related to consideration payable) is a non-GAAP financial measure management uses as a proxy for net income/loss. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for a reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP financial measures included at the end of this release.
Adjusted EPS for the first quarter of 2024 was a loss of $(0.13) compared to an adjusted EPS loss of $(0.49) in the first quarter of 2023.
Adjusted EPS (defined as earnings/loss per diluted share) is a non-GAAP financial measure management uses to assess earnings per diluted share excluding non-recurring items such as amortization expense of intangible assets, acquisition related costs, estimated loss related to underperforming assets of subsidiary, and change in fair value related to consideration payable. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for a reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP financial measures included at the end of this release.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
As of March 31, 2024, Cash and Cash Equivalents totaled $93.5 million, a decrease of $28.2 million compared to $121.7 million at December 31, 2023. As of March 31, 2024, Blink fully paid off promissory notes and interest of $45.5 million related to the SemaConnect acquisition. Subsequent to the end of first quarter of 2024, Blink paid off in full $7 million of the notes payable associated with the acquisition of Envoy.
Recent Quarter Highlights:
· Selected as one of the official EV charger and network services providers for the State of New York
· Collaborated with Evri, the UK’s largest dedicated parcel delivery company, to install one of Evri’s first EV charging hubs in Rugby, UK
· Partnered with Keystone Purchasing Network, a cooperative purchasing program, to become its exclusive provider of EV charging services
· Promoted Jenifer Yokley to Chief Marketing Officer
· Established global corporate headquarters and announced expansion of manufacturing facility in Bowie, Maryland
· Chosen by the City of Frederick, Maryland to install chargers across four downtown parking garages to be utilized by residents and visitors
· Named as the official EV charging provider for Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders, providing much-needed reliable EV charging solutions for stadium attendees
· Collaborated with McArthurGlen, the leading owner, developer, and manager of designer outlets in the Netherlands, to provide customers state-of-the-art EV charging solutions
· Continued to support Blink’s partner, AES, in efforts to provide EV drivers throughout the country of El Salvador with accessible and easy EV charging
Earnings Conference Call
Blink Charging will host a conference call and webcast to discuss first quarter 2024 results today, May 9, 2024, at 4:30 PM, Eastern Time.
To access the live webcast, log onto the Blink Charging website at www.blinkcharging.com, and click on the News/Events section of the Investor Relations page. Investors may also access the webcast via the following link:
https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/2468/50520
To participate in the call by phone, dial (888) 506-0062 approximately five minutes prior to the scheduled start time. International callers please dial (973) 528-0011. Callers should use access code: 189266.
A replay of the teleconference will be available until June 8, 2024, and may be accessed by dialing (877) 481-4010. International callers may dial (919) 882-2331. Callers should use conference ID: 50520.
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Blink Charging Co. publicly reports its financial information in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”). To facilitate external analysis of the Company’s operating performance, Blink Charging also presents financial information that is considered “non-GAAP financial measures” under Regulation G and related reporting requirements promulgated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Non-GAAP measures should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, Net Income (Loss) or other measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP and may be different than those presented by other companies, including Blink Charging’s competitors. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not performance measures calculated in accordance with GAAP and are therefore considered non-GAAP measures. Reconciliation tables are presented above.
EBITDA is defined as earnings (loss) attributable to Blink Charging before interest income (expense), provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization. Blink Charging believes EBITDA is useful to its management, securities analysts, and investors in evaluating operating performance because it is one of the primary measures used to evaluate the economic productivity of the Company’s operations, including its ability to obtain and maintain its customers, its ability to operate its business effectively, the efficiency of its employees and the profitability associated with their performance. It also helps Blink Charging’s management, securities analysts, and investors to meaningfully evaluate and compare the results of the Company’s operations from period to period on a consistent basis by removing the impact of its merger and acquisition expenses, financing transactions, and the depreciation and amortization impact of capital investments from its operating results.
The Company also believes that Adjusted EBITDA, defined as EBITDA adjusted for non-recurring items such as stock-based compensation, acquisition related costs, estimated loss related to underperforming assets of subsidiary, and change in fair value related to consideration payable, is useful to securities analysts and investors to evaluate the Company’s core operating results and financial performance because it excludes items that are significant non-cash or non-recurring expenses reflected in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Our definition of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EPS may differ from other companies reporting similarly named measures. These measures should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, other measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP, such as Net Loss, and Diluted Earnings per Share.
About Blink Charging
Blink Charging Co. (Nasdaq: BLNK) is a global leader in electric vehicle (EV) charging equipment and services, enabling drivers, hosts, and fleets to easily transition to electric transportation through innovative charging solutions. Blink’s principal line of products and services include Blink’s EV charging networks (“Blink Networks”), EV charging equipment, and EV charging services. Blink Networks use proprietary, cloud-based software that operates, maintains, and tracks the EV charging stations connected to the network and the associated charging data. Blink has established key strategic partnerships for rolling out adoption across numerous location types, including parking facilities, multifamily residences and condos, workplace locations, health care/medical facilities, schools and universities, airports, auto dealers, hotels, mixed-use municipal locations, parks and recreation areas, religious institutions, restaurants, retailers, stadiums, supermarkets, and transportation hubs.
For more information, please visit https://blinkcharging.com/
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined within Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements, and terms such as “anticipate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “will,” “should” or other comparable terms, involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. Those statements include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of Blink and members of its management, as well as the assumptions on which such statements are based. Prospective investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, including achieving its 2024 revenue and gross margin targets and its projected 2024 adjusted EBITDA run rate, and the risk factors described in Blink’s periodic reports filed with the SEC, and that actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. Except as required by federal securities law, Blink Charging undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect changed conditions.
Blink Investor Relations Contact
Vitalie Stelea
IR@BlinkCharging.com
305-521-0200 ext. 446
Blink Media Contact
Nipunika Coe
PR@BlinkCharging.com
305-521-0200 ext. 266