Earnings Labs

FuelCell Energy, Inc. (FCEL)

Q3 2025 Earnings Call· Tue, Sep 9, 2025

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Transcript

Jason Few

Management

Good morning, everyone. Thank you for joining us on our call today. We continue to execute with discipline in our third fiscal quarter, delivering meaningful revenue growth while focusing on expanding our sales pipeline and improving our cost structure. The decisive restructuring actions we implemented in June are already yielding results, lowering costs, sharpening our focus on distributed power generation, and positioning us for investment in technologies and partnerships that can unlock future growth. I want to begin by underscoring what makes FuelCell Energy, Inc. distinctive. From our headquarters in Connecticut, we have established a global leadership position in electrochemical technology, delivering large-scale, always-on power, and advanced emissions management. We believe we see a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape the transition to a clean energy economy that leverages abundant natural resources, and we believe we are positioned to play a meaningful role in empowering that future. Today, we live in a world where energy demand is accelerating at an unprecedented pace, driven by the exponential growth of AI, data centers, and technology. This is not a distant trend; it is a structural shift reshaping global energy markets today. A world where the existing grid cannot keep pace with these demands, requiring new approaches to provide firm, resilient, and clean power both in the near term and in decades to come. The need is clear, urgent, and investable. A world where we believe FuelCell Energy's people, innovations, and proven utility-scale distributed power platforms are uniquely positioned to meet these challenges. We bring decades of experience and differentiated technology. In connection with the implementation of our restructuring plan, our strategies and business plans have evolved. At the center is our carbonate power generation platform, the core of our business and the expected engine of our growth. We believe that broader deployment of this…

Mike Bishop

Operator

Thank you, Jason. And good morning to everyone on the call today. Let's begin by reviewing the financial highlights for the quarter shown on Slide 11. In 2025, we reported total revenues of $46.7 million compared to revenues of $23.7 million in the prior year quarter, representing a 97% increase. We reported a loss from operations in the quarter of $95.4 million compared to $33.6 million in 2024. This increase is mainly attributable to noncash impairment expenses of $64.5 million and restructuring expenses of $4.1 million incurred as a result of our previously announced restructuring plan. The net loss attributable to common stockholders in the quarter was $92.5 million compared to a net loss attributable to common stockholders of $33.5 million in 2024. The resulting net loss per share attributable to common stockholders in 2025 was $3.78 compared to $1.99 in the prior year period. Adjusted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, which excludes the noncash impairment expenses, restructuring expenses, and certain other noncash items, was 95¢ compared to $1.74 in 2024. Net loss was $91.9 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2025 compared to a net loss of $35.1 million in 2024. Adjusted EBITDA totaled negative $16.4 million in 2025 compared to adjusted EBITDA of negative $20.1 million in 2024. Please refer to the appendix of the earnings release, which provides a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures adjusted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders and adjusted EBITDA. Finally, as of 07/31/2025, the company had cash, restricted cash, and cash equivalents of $236.9 million. Next, on Slide 12, you will see additional details on our financial performance and backlog. In the graph on the left-hand side, revenue is broken down by category. Product revenues were $26 million compared to $300,000 for the comparable…

Operator

Operator

We will now begin the question and answer session.

Matt

Analyst

Hi, everyone. Good morning. Thank you for taking my question. I have Matt here on for George. So I just want to start. You know, congrats on the Inuverse deal. It seems like the data center opportunity is really strong. Can you provide a little bit more of an update on your momentum in the data center space, how this partnership is going along, and any other customer conversations that are in the pipeline?

Jason Few

Management

Yeah, Matt. This is Jason. Thank you for the question. I think the Inuverse announcement is a reflection of the strength that we have been able to demonstrate in Korea with large-scale utility platforms and having multiple years of experience running platforms, almost 60 megawatts as an example. This is really important when you think about data centers as they try to shift the way in which they think about purchasing power, which historically has always been relying on the grid. Now, as they look for on-site generation, having assurance around the technology is important. Having a long-term track record at a utility scale is important. The added benefit that we bring is our ability to deliver thermal energy for absorption chilling. If you look at the opportunity with Inuverse, we are talking about potentially up to 100 megawatts in these initial phases as they look to build the largest data center in Korea. We think our platform and what we have demonstrated is the reason why we were able to secure that relationship with Inuverse. As we look across the board, we are seeing significant strength in the data centers. If you look at our pipeline today, there has been a significant shift in the opportunities around data centers that we see in our pipeline. We are engaged across everything from colocated data centers to the hyperscalers around our technology. We are excited about the momentum for data and the market opportunity it represents.

Matt

Analyst

That's great. Thank you. As a follow-up to that, what's been the breakdown of those data center conversations geographically? It sounds like Korea demand has been very strong, but have you seen domestic demand?

Jason Few

Management

We are seeing strong US domestic demand in addition to Korea and broader Asia as an opportunity set for where we are focused on that data center opportunity, but really strong demand in the US. If you look at the market or the macro environment, the grid is short power. The grid is short transmission. Permitting is a challenge. If you think about our technology being a behind-the-meter solution, we are easy to site, easy to air permit. We can be sited in edge data centers because of our size and noise profile. We have negligible particulate emissions. We see significant opportunity in the US. On top of that, the policy tailwinds we see from the ITC being fully back and available to us until at least 2032 and potentially as far out as 2035 give investors and data center developers certainty around the tax policy and how they can take advantage of that. For us, we have been able to prove our ability to monetize ITC and recycle that cash. We think that supports strong tailwinds for data centers overall.

Matt

Analyst

That's great. Thank you, guys. I'll hop back in the queue. Thanks, Matt.

Operator

Operator

We'll move next to Jeff Osborne at TD Cowen.

Jeffrey Osborne

Analyst

Great. Thank you. Good morning. A lot of detail on data centers there in prepared remarks on South Korea. Jason, I was wondering if you could give us a quick update on the more singles and doubles, if you will, on the sort of legacy commercial business for you folks now that the tax credit in the US has been reinstated. What's the funnel and pipeline there look like?

Jason Few

Management

Yeah. So we continue, Jeff, to see opportunity outside of the data center space, and I would characterize it more as just distributed power generation overall. We see the ability to leverage ITC as a way to hit some of those singles and doubles as you refer to them. If you look at our not too long ago, now some of what we are doing in Hartford, we have opportunities around grid resiliency and reliability as a theme that's clearly emerging. Leveraging our technology, we think that we are starting to see the shift in the way utilities think about deploying power and really gaining an appreciation for the value of distributed power generation as opposed to centralized generation, especially when you begin to look at the challenges around permitting. We know there's a lot of activity happening at the federal level, but at the end of the day, permitting is local. We think that's a significant advantage for us. As we focus and shift our focus, we think about data centers, distributed power generation, and leveraging our multi-fuel capability to include things like biofuels. That's really where our sales team is very focused in leveraging the strength of our mobile permanent platform.

Jeffrey Osborne

Analyst

Got it. That's helpful. And then either for yourself or Mike, I think you mentioned, what was it, eight units or modules to GGE in the quarter. Can you give us a reminder of how many are remaining, like your expectations for Q4 and Q1?

Mike Bishop

Operator

Sure, Jeff. Good morning. I'll take that. This is Mike. Yes, as we had said in our previous quarter, we had 16 modules left for this fiscal year. We delivered on time eight modules this quarter, which would leave a balance of another eight in the fourth fiscal quarter and then another 16 next fiscal year. On top of that, we signed a repowering agreement with CGN in the third quarter, and those module deliveries would start in fiscal 2026 as well.

Jeffrey Osborne

Analyst

Is there something specific with the number eight for this quarter and next, Mike, that that's sort of the staffing capability, so the remaining 16 for next year is it safe to assume eight in Q1 and eight in Q2? Just in terms of a cadence?

Mike Bishop

Operator

So we haven't provided specifics on the timing of those 16, but as we sit here today, it's basically paced by our current production rate in our factory in Torrington.

Jeffrey Osborne

Analyst

Got it. And my last question is just you mentioned the 100 megawatts to EBITDA breakeven in terms of Torrington output. I may have missed it. What is the facility running at now, or what's your expectation for the next six months or so just in light of the growth as it relates to the two Korean contracts?

Mike Bishop

Operator

So, yeah, today. So the facility is in between the 30 to 40 megawatt range. We'll operate at that range given our current backlog, and we'll certainly look to adjust that as other backlog materializes. To your point around EBITDA positive, yes, I would confirm that when the company gets to 100 megawatts of production volume, we expect to be at adjusted EBITDA positive, and that will be paced by the timing of building up backlog.

Jeffrey Osborne

Analyst

Perfect. And the last, just clarification on that topic. Is it safe to assume sort of the forty to forty-five megawatt annualized run rate is sort of a gross margin breakeven run rate?

Mike Bishop

Operator

So from a product perspective, yes. You can see gross margin excluding what I call capacity costs, overhead costs, that type of thing for the product sale business. So yes, at this current run rate. And then if you look at generation, generation negative gross margin on the P&L, but when you back out depreciation and derivative type charges, generation from an EBITDA perspective is positive this quarter when you back out those numbers were north of 30% for an adjusted EBITDA perspective.

Jeffrey Osborne

Analyst

Got it. That's all I had. Thank you.

Mike Bishop

Operator

Thanks, Jeff.

Operator

Operator

And as a reminder, if you would like to ask a question, press 1. We'll go next to Ryan Pfingst at B. Riley.

Ryan Pfingst

Analyst

Hey, guys. Thanks for taking my questions. I'll ask a follow-up on INUVERSE and maybe timing there. Could you talk about your expectation for when that MOU might convert to an order and what the steps are to get there?

Jason Few

Management

Yes, Ryan. Thank you for your question. If you look at the MOU with Inuverse, part of what you think about in these data center developments, and particularly for folks trying to develop hyperscale data centers, you can think about solving a few challenges as you build to secure securing offtake agreements from your data center customers themselves. That's all about creating or delivering effectively powered land. If you think about Inuverse, what they're doing is ensuring gas supply with us and working with us. They've ensured power supply for that facility. Now it's all about securing all of the offtake agreements to really deliver against their overall development plans. Those activities are ongoing. They are working aggressively to secure those offtake agreements, now having lined up the power and gas supply for that site. We expect that to be an ongoing development and more to say here in the coming quarters. They're following the process that we need to be able to secure those agreements.

Ryan Pfingst

Analyst

Got it. Appreciate that, Jason. And then on carbon capture, can you remind us what some of the next milestones are there with that Exxon and the Rotterdam project?

Jason Few

Management

Sure. So the next milestones are we are in the conditioning phase for the carbon capture modules that will be shipped to Rotterdam to be part of this project. Exxon has publicly disclosed their progress that they're making at the Esso Facility in Rotterdam to be able to execute the project. We expect the project to be up and operational in 2026. The project is in parallel in construction to ready the site. We're finalizing the conditioning of the modules. We'll ship the modules. So I would say if you think about next milestones, you might look at our shipping modules and then really look at the completion of the construction and getting the COD on the site to demonstrate the technology.

Ryan Pfingst

Analyst

Great. I appreciate it. I'll turn it back. Thank you.

Operator

Operator

We'll move next to Noel Parks at Tuohy Brothers.

Noel Parks

Analyst

Hi. Good morning. There was a mention near the end of the prepared remarks about at least looking for strategic financing for projects such as some of the power projects in Korea. Can you talk a little bit more about what that process looks like, whether you're thinking of doing deals on an individual project-by-project scale or looking for more large, spanning deals?

Mike Bishop

Operator

Sure, Noel. Good morning. This is Mike. Thanks for the question. When we look at Korea specifically, if you take the GGE order, for example, when we announced that order, it was a $160 million order to the company, and you can see we've been executing on that now over the last several quarters. You may recall at the end of last fiscal year, we entered into a financing agreement with the USXM Import Bank. That financing yielded about $10 million to the company. So when you look at the opportunity around the contract like GGE, there are certainly additional financing opportunities on that contract to recycle capital back to the company. That's essentially what we were about with the Korea repowering opportunity. Certainly, now you add the CGN project into that, and there are additional repowering opportunities in Korea that, in our perspective, are quite financeable. That's how I'd answer Korea. But I'd also like to make a comment regarding the US opportunities as well and maybe reflect back on the partnership that we have with Dedicated Power Partners that we've established with Diversified and Tessiak. As these data center opportunities emerge, we see a significant opportunity for commercial financing against these opportunities through that partnership, which would attract capital for multiple projects. What that does for FuelCell Energy is turn those orders into product sales, relatively short-term product sale orders as we're delivering on building out the data center projects. Long-term, twenty-year service agreements. It really starts to simplify FuelCell Energy's model and working with our partners to scale up a financing model around these commercial opportunities in the US.

Noel Parks

Analyst

Terrific. Thanks. And thinking about the data center market, of course, there's such a whirlwind of activity going on industry-wide around everything having to do with power and energy to supply that demand growth. I'm just curious, because you talked maybe about the degree of decisiveness or urgency you're seeing when you're talking with data center hyperscaler customers, I'm wondering if you can envision what the sweet spot, the type of customer or arrangement that is the best fit, would you say, for fuel cell technology looking near term?

Jason Few

Management

This is Jason. Thank you. We're seeing obviously, there's a tremendous amount of activity happening around the data center space. As I commented earlier, we're seeing that from everything from colocation all the way through into hyperscalers. As we think about where we fit as a company and how we can participate in that, I would tell you in a few different ways. One way would be if you think about a greenfield site, we certainly offer that data center developer the ability to get what we think is time to power faster through our ability to deliver our platform in addition to our ability to minimize the constraints or friction points that generally are around permitting related issues, such as air permitting, and or needing interconnection as an example for the electricity grid. You can think about us as being a great first set of power or first set of power blocks into that opportunity to get that data center going. Our modularity gives us the ability to scale with that data center as incremental power is needed so they can take the power they actually need as opposed to just taking what power is available, and we think that gives us an advantage. The second area where we think that we offer tremendous value to data center customers is our ability to deliver absorption chilling. If you think about that and you just take as an example, a 50 megawatt data center, we're delivering 9,000 tons of chilling capacity. Effectively taking away almost five megawatts of mechanical cooling requirements for that data center, which delivers a tremendous amount of value. We're doing that at roughly 70% efficiency when you think about the electrical efficiency and using the thermal energy. We think that's also a big advantage for us…

Noel Parks

Analyst

And just one last one for me. Given all those factors which sound incredibly favorable, any inkling of whether you might have some pricing power heading into some of the new agreements you're looking at?

Jason Few

Management

No. That's a great question. I think if you look at what some of these hyperscalers are willing to pay for nuclear, the answer to that would probably be yes. But I think that we're really thinking about how do we add value and deliver time to power to those customers. Then how do we price all of the value that we deliver, not just the electricity to those customers. We think there is value to time. There's clearly value to baseload, reliable, clean, efficient electricity. There's clearly value to the thermal energy. As we think about overall pricing and economics around the deal, domestically, our ability to take advantage of the ITC at 30% is another form of value that we can deliver overall in terms of how we think about pricing and overall economics for those deals.

Noel Parks

Analyst

Terrific. Thanks a lot.

Operator

Operator

And as a final reminder, please press 1 if you have a question. We'll pause just a moment. And at this time, we have no further questions. I would like to turn the conference back over to Jason Few for closing remarks.

Jason Few

Management

Thank you, Audra. Thank you all for listening in today. I look forward to sharing more progress updates on our strategy and restructuring plans and actions in the next quarter. Thank you for joining.

Operator

Operator

And this concludes today's conference call. Thank you for your participation. You may now disconnect.