Energy Recovery Reports its First Quarter 2026 Financial Results and Organizational Updates
Energy Recovery, Inc. (NASDAQ:ERII) ("Energy Recovery", "Company", "we", and "our") today announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026. Management has released a letter to shareholders reviewing business and financial updates from the first quarter and discussing our outlook for 2026. This letter is located under "News and Events" in the "Investors" section on the Energy Recovery website (https://ir.energyrecovery.com/news-events/shareholder-letters).
Key Business Updates
- Today, Energy Recovery is announcing that David Moon, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, has notified the Board of Directors (the "Board") of his intention to retire following the appointment of his replacement. Mr. Moon will remain as President and Chief Executive Officer until a successor is appointed and has committed to support the Company in an advisory capacity during the transition period for as long as is deemed necessary by the Board. The Company has begun a search for Mr. Moon's successor.
- The Company is also announcing that Mike Mancini has resigned as Chief Financial Officer, effective today, to pursue a new professional opportunity. Aidan Ryan, current VP of Finance who joined in 2024, has been named Interim Chief Financial Officer. Please refer to the Company's letter to shareholders and Form 8-K for additional information.
- The Board has authorized a new share repurchase plan to purchase up to $25.0 million of common stock over the next 12 months. Since November 2024, the Company has now announced $130.0 million of aggregate share repurchase authorizations.
First Quarter Highlights
- Revenue of $9.7 million, an increase of $1.6 million, as compared to Q1'2025.
- Gross margin of 27.8%, a decrease of 2,750 bps, as compared to Q1'2025 due primarily to $1.6 million of restructuring charges booked to inventory associated with the wind down of the CO2 retail grocery business, which reduced gross margin by 17%, as well as increased costs related to product and channel mix, pricing, tariffs and indirect manufacturing costs.
- Operating expenses of $17.6 million, an increase of 3.2%, as compared to Q1'2025, due primarily to impairment of goodwill and restructuring charges incurred as part of the wind down of the CO2 retail grocery business.
- Loss from operations of $14.9 million, a decrease of 18.3%, as compared to Q1'2025, due primarily to impairment of goodwill and restructuring charges incurred as part of the wind down of the CO2 retail grocery business.
- Net loss of $12.3 million and adjusted EBITDA(1) loss of $7.1 million.
- Cash and investments of $92.1 million, which includes cash, cash equivalents, and short- and long-term investments.
Financial Highlights |
|||||
|
Quarter-to-Date |
||||
|
Q1'2026 |
|
Q1'2025 |
|
vs. Q1'2025 |
|
(In millions, except net loss per share, percentages and basis points) |
||||
Revenue |
$9.7 |
|
$8.1 |
|
up 20% |
Gross margin |
27.8% |
|
55.3% |
|
down 2750 bps |
Operating margin |
(153.1%) |
|
(155.8%) |
|
up 270 bps |
Net loss |
($12.3) |
|
($9.9) |
|
down 24% |
Diluted loss per share |
($0.23) |
|
($0.18) |
|
down $0.05 |
Effective tax rate |
12.7% |
|
14.0% |
|
|
Cash provided by operations |
$21.0 |
|
$10.7 |
|
|
Non-GAAP Financial Highlights (1) |
|||||
|
Quarter-to-Date |
||||
|
Q1'2026 |
|
Q1'2025 |
|
vs. Q1'2025 |
|
(In millions, except adjusted net loss per share, percentages and basis points) |
||||
Adjusted operating margin |
(83.1%) |
|
(120.4%) |
|
up 3730 bps |
Adjusted net loss |
($6.0) |
|
($7.0) |
|
up 15% |
Adjusted loss per share |
($0.11) |
|
($0.13) |
|
up $0.02 |
Adjusted EBITDA |
($7.1) |
|
($8.7) |
|
|
Free cash flow |
$20.2 |
|
$10.5 |
|
|
| ____________ | ||
| (1) | Refer to the sections "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" for definitions of our non-GAAP financial measures and reconciliations of GAAP to non-GAAP amounts, respectively. |
|
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain matters discussed in this press release and on the conference call are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of 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 are based on information currently available to the Company and on management's beliefs, assumptions, estimates, or projections and are not guarantees of future events or results. Potential risks and uncertainties include risks relating to the future demand for the Company's products, risks relating to performance by our customers and third-party partners, risks relating to the timing of revenue, and any other factors that may have been discussed herein regarding the risks and uncertainties of the Company's business, and the risks discussed under "Risk Factors" in the Company's Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") for the year ended December 31, 2025, as well as other reports filed by the Company with the SEC from time to time. Because such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, the Company's actual results may differ materially from the predictions in these forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are made as of today, and the Company assumes no obligation to update such statements.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This press release includes certain non-GAAP financial measures, including adjusted operating margin, adjusted net loss, adjusted loss per share, adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow. Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company's performance, financial position, or cash flows that either exclude or include amounts that are not normally excluded or included in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, or GAAP. These non-GAAP financial measures do not reflect a comprehensive system of accounting, differ from GAAP measures with the same captions, and may differ from non-GAAP financial measures with the same or similar captions that are used by other companies. As such, these non-GAAP measures should be considered as a supplement to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. The Company uses these non-GAAP financial measures to analyze its operating performance and future prospects, develop internal budgets and financial goals, and to facilitate period-to-period comparisons. The Company believes these non-GAAP financial measures reflect an additional way of viewing aspects of its operations that, when viewed with its GAAP results, provide a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting its business.
Notes to the Financial Results
- Adjusted operating margin is a non-GAAP financial measure that the Company defines as loss from operations which excludes i) stock-based compensation; ii) restructuring charges, iii) restructuring - inventory reserve, iv) impairment of long-lived assets, and v) impairment of goodwill, divided by revenues.
- Adjusted net loss is a non-GAAP financial measure that the Company defines as net loss which excludes i) stock-based compensation; ii) restructuring charges; iii) restructuring - inventory reserve, iv) impairment of long-lived assets; v) impairment of goodwill and vi) the applicable tax effect of the excluded items including the stock-based compensation discrete tax item.
- Adjusted loss per share is a non-GAAP financial measure that the Company defines as net loss, which excludes i) stock-based compensation; ii) restructuring charges; iii) restructuring - inventory reserve, iv) impairment of long-lived assets; v) impairment of goodwill and vi) the applicable tax effect of the excluded items including the stock-based compensation discrete tax item, divided by basic shares outstanding.
- Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure that the Company defines as net loss which excludes i) depreciation and amortization; ii) stock-based compensation; iii) restructuring charges; iv) restructuring - inventory reserve, v) impairment of long-lived assets; vi) impairment of goodwill vii) other income, net, such as interest income and other non-operating income, net; and viii) benefit from income taxes.
- Free cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure that the Company defines as net cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures.
Conference Call to Discuss Financial Results
LIVE CONFERENCE Q&A CALL:
Wednesday, May 6, 2026, 2:00 PM PT / 5:00 PM ET
US / Canada Toll-Free: +1 (877) 709-8150
Local / International Toll: +1 (201) 689-8354
CONFERENCE Q&A CALL REPLAY:
Available approximately three hours after conclusion of the live call.
Expiration: Saturday, June 6, 2026
US / Canada Toll-Free: +1 (877) 660-6853
Local / International Toll: +1 (201) 612-7415
Access code: 13760218
Investors may also access the live call and the replay over the internet on the "Events" page of the Company's website located at https://ir.energyrecovery.com/news-events/ir-calendar.
Disclosure Information
Energy Recovery uses the investor relations section on its website as means of complying with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Accordingly, investors should monitor Energy Recovery's investor relations website in addition to following Energy Recovery's press releases, SEC filings, and public conference calls and webcasts.
About Energy Recovery
Energy Recovery (NASDAQ:ERII) designs and manufactures world-class energy-saving technology for critical infrastructure that communities rely on every day, driving a more resilient and sustainable future. Grounded in more than 30 years of leadership in the desalination industry, today we use our proprietary pressure exchanger technology to help customers in multiple industries improve their operations and lower their emissions. Headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, we operate manufacturing and R&D facilities throughout California, with sales and on-site technical support available globally. For more information, please visit www.energyrecovery.com
ENERGY RECOVERY, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) |
|||||
|
March 31,
|
|
December 31,
|
||
|
(In thousands) |
||||
ASSETS |
|
|
|
||
Cash, cash equivalents and investments |
$ |
92,142 |
|
$ |
83,283 |
Accounts receivable and contract assets |
|
40,642 |
|
|
78,286 |
Inventories, net |
|
30,886 |
|
|
24,260 |
Prepaid expenses and other assets |
|
3,383 |
|
|
3,416 |
Property, equipment and operating leases |
|
19,955 |
|
|
20,635 |
Goodwill |
|
11,128 |
|
|
12,790 |
Deferred tax assets and other assets |
|
10,852 |
|
|
8,844 |
TOTAL ASSETS |
$ |
208,988 |
|
$ |
231,514 |
|
|
|
|
||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY |
|
|
|
||
Liabilities |
|
|
|
||
Accounts payable, accrued expenses, and other liabilities, current |
$ |
13,680 |
|
$ |
13,784 |
Contract liabilities and other liabilities, non-current |
|
2,178 |
|
|
2,109 |
Lease liabilities |
|
8,845 |
|
|
9,429 |
Total liabilities |
|
24,703 |
|
|
25,322 |
|
|
|
|
||
Stockholders' equity |
|
184,285 |
|
|
206,192 |
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY |
$ |
208,988 |
|
$ |
231,514 |
ENERGY RECOVERY, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) |
|||||||
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
||||||
|
2026 |
|
2025 |
||||
|
(In thousands, except per share data) |
||||||
Revenue |
$ |
9,706 |
|
|
$ |
8,065 |
|
Cost of revenue |
|
5,372 |
|
|
|
3,607 |
|
Restructuring - inventory reserve |
|
1,632 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Gross profit |
|
2,702 |
|
|
|
4,458 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
||||
Operating expenses |
|
|
|
||||
General and administrative |
|
6,455 |
|
|
|
8,574 |
|
Sales and marketing |
|
5,119 |
|
|
|
4,906 |
|
Research and development |
|
2,789 |
|
|
|
3,001 |
|
Restructuring charges |
|
1,536 |
|
|
|
539 |
|
Impairment of goodwill |
|
1,662 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Total operating expenses |
|
17,561 |
|
|
|
17,020 |
|
Loss from operations |
|
(14,859 |
) |
|
|
(12,562 |
) |
|
|
|
|
||||
Other income, net |
|
833 |
|
|
|
1,079 |
|
Loss before income taxes |
|
(14,026 |
) |
|
|
(11,483 |
) |
Benefit from income taxes |
|
(1,775 |
) |
|
|
(1,603 |
) |
Net loss |
$ |
(12,251 |
) |
|
$ |
(9,880 |
) |
|
|
|
|
||||
Net loss per share |
|
|
|
||||
Basic and diluted |
$ |
(0.23 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.18 |
) |
|
|
|
|
||||
Number of shares used in per share calculations |
|
|
|
||||
Basic and diluted |
|
52,660 |
|
|
|
54,902 |
|
ENERGY RECOVERY, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) |
|||||||
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
||||||
|
2026 |
|
2025 |
||||
|
(In thousands) |
||||||
Cash flows from operating activities: |
|
|
|
||||
Net loss |
$ |
(12,251 |
) |
|
$ |
(9,880 |
) |
Non-cash adjustments |
|
4,269 |
|
|
|
1,427 |
|
Net cash provided by operating assets and liabilities |
|
29,019 |
|
|
|
19,131 |
|
Net cash provided by operating activities |
|
21,037 |
|
|
|
10,678 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Cash flows from investing activities: |
|
|
|
||||
Net investment in marketable securities |
|
(6,805 |
) |
|
|
12,855 |
|
Capital expenditures |
|
(814 |
) |
|
|
(191 |
) |
Proceeds from sales of fixed assets |
|
13 |
|
|
|
10 |
|
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities |
|
(7,606 |
) |
|
|
12,674 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Cash flows from financing activities: |
|
|
|
||||
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock |
|
— |
|
|
|
1,092 |
|
Tax payment for employee shares withheld |
|
(682 |
) |
|
|
(476 |
) |
Repurchase of common stock and payment of excise tax |
|
(10,694 |
) |
|
|
(4,490 |
) |
Net cash used in financing activities |
|
(11,376 |
) |
|
|
(3,874 |
) |
|
|
|
|
||||
Effect of exchange rate differences |
|
(15 |
) |
|
|
33 |
|
Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
$ |
2,040 |
|
|
$ |
19,511 |
|
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period |
$ |
50,116 |
|
|
$ |
49,268 |
|
ENERGY RECOVERY, INC. SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Unaudited) |
|||||||
Channel Revenue |
|||||||
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
||||||
|
2026 |
|
2025 |
|
vs. 2025 |
||
|
(In thousands, except percentages) |
||||||
Original equipment manufacturer |
$ |
6,588 |
|
$ |
4,001 |
|
up 65% |
Aftermarket |
|
2,754 |
|
|
4,028 |
|
down 32% |
Megaproject |
|
364 |
|
|
36 |
|
up 911% |
Total revenue |
$ |
9,706 |
|
$ |
8,065 |
|
up 20% |
Segment Activity |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
2026 |
|
2025 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Desalination |
|
Wastewater |
|
Emerging
|
|
Corporate |
|
Total |
|
Desalination |
|
Wastewater |
|
Emerging
|
|
Corporate |
|
Total |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
(In thousands) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenue |
$ |
8,907 |
|
|
$ |
601 |
|
|
$ |
198 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
9,706 |
|
|
$ |
7,759 |
|
$ |
305 |
|
|
$ |
1 |
|
|
$ |
— |
|
|
$ |
8,065 |
|
Cost of revenue |
|
4,942 |
|
|
|
370 |
|
|
|
60 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
5,372 |
|
|
|
3,382 |
|
|
179 |
|
|
|
46 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
3,607 |
|
Restructuring - inventory reserve |
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
1,632 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
1,632 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Gross profit (loss) |
|
3,965 |
|
|
|
231 |
|
|
|
(1,494 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
2,702 |
|
|
|
4,377 |
|
|
126 |
|
|
|
(45 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
4,458 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Operating expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
General and administrative |
|
756 |
|
|
|
981 |
|
|
|
348 |
|
|
|
4,370 |
|
|
|
6,455 |
|
|
|
845 |
|
|
728 |
|
|
|
755 |
|
|
|
6,246 |
|
|
|
8,574 |
|
Sales and marketing |
|
2,485 |
|
|
|
1,163 |
|
|
|
858 |
|
|
|
613 |
|
|
|
5,119 |
|
|
|
2,108 |
|
|
1,037 |
|
|
|
1,270 |
|
|
|
491 |
|
|
|
4,906 |
|
Research and development |
|
1,616 |
|
|
|
136 |
|
|
|
1,037 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
2,789 |
|
|
|
849 |
|
|
329 |
|
|
|
1,823 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
3,001 |
|
Restructuring charges |
|
335 |
|
|
|
18 |
|
|
|
1,140 |
|
|
|
43 |
|
|
|
1,536 |
|
|
|
107 |
|
|
103 |
|
|
|
123 |
|
|
|
206 |
|
|
|
539 |
|
Impairment of goodwill |
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
1,662 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
1,662 |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
Total operating expenses |
|
5,192 |
|
|
|
2,298 |
|
|
|
5,045 |
|
|
|
5,026 |
|
|
|
17,561 |
|
|
|
3,909 |
|
|
2,197 |
|
|
|
3,971 |
|
|
|
6,943 |
|
|
|
17,020 |
|
Operating income (loss) |
$ |
(1,227 |
) |
|
$ |
(2,067 |
) |
|
$ |
(6,539 |
) |
|
$ |
(5,026 |
) |
|
|
(14,859 |
) |
|
$ |
468 |
|
$ |
(2,071 |
) |
|
$ |
(4,016 |
) |
|
$ |
(6,943 |
) |
|
|
(12,562 |
) |
Other income, net |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
833 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,079 |
|
|||||||||||||||
Loss before income taxes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
(14,026 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
(11,483 |
) |
|||||||||||||||
Stock-based Compensation |
|||||
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
||||
|
2026 |
|
2025 |
||
|
(In thousands) |
||||
Stock-based compensation expense charged to: |
|
|
|
||
Cost of revenue |
$ |
98 |
|
$ |
148 |
General and administrative |
|
969 |
|
|
870 |
Sales and marketing |
|
671 |
|
|
679 |
Research and development |
|
225 |
|
|
266 |
Total stock-based compensation expense |
$ |
1,963 |
|
$ |
1,963 |
ENERGY RECOVERY, INC.
|
|||||||
This press release includes certain non-GAAP financial information because we plan and manage our business using such information. The following table reconciles the GAAP financial information to the non-GAAP financial information. |
|||||||
|
Quarter-to-Date |
||||||
|
Q1'2026 |
|
Q1'2025 |
||||
|
(In millions, except shares, per share and percentages) |
||||||
Operating margin |
|
(153.1 |
)% |
|
|
(155.8 |
)% |
Stock-based compensation |
|
20.2 |
|
|
|
24.3 |
|
Restructuring charges |
|
15.8 |
|
|
|
6.7 |
|
Impairment of long-lived assets |
|
— |
|
|
|
4.4 |
|
Restructuring - inventory reserve |
|
16.8 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Impairment of goodwill |
|
17.1 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Adjusted operating margin |
|
(83.1 |
)% |
|
|
(120.4 |
)% |
|
|
|
|
||||
Net loss |
$ |
(12.3 |
) |
|
$ |
(9.9 |
) |
Stock-based compensation |
|
2.0 |
|
|
|
2.0 |
|
Restructuring charges (2) |
|
1.3 |
|
|
|
0.5 |
|
Impairment of long-lived assets (2) |
|
— |
|
|
|
0.3 |
|
Restructuring - inventory reserve(2) |
|
1.4 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Impairment of goodwill (2) |
|
1.4 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Stock-based compensation discrete tax item |
|
0.1 |
|
|
|
0.1 |
|
Adjusted net loss |
$ |
(6.0 |
) |
|
$ |
(7.0 |
) |
|
|
|
|
||||
Net loss per share |
$ |
(0.23 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.18 |
) |
Adjustments to net loss per share (3) |
|
0.12 |
|
|
|
0.05 |
|
Adjusted loss per share |
$ |
(0.11 |
) |
|
$ |
(0.13 |
) |
|
|
|
|
||||
Net loss |
$ |
(12.3 |
) |
|
$ |
(9.9 |
) |
Stock-based compensation |
|
2.0 |
|
|
|
2.0 |
|
Depreciation and amortization |
|
1.0 |
|
|
|
1.0 |
|
Restructuring charges |
|
1.5 |
|
|
|
0.5 |
|
Impairment of long-lived assets |
|
— |
|
|
|
0.4 |
|
Restructuring - inventory reserve |
|
1.6 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Impairment of goodwill |
|
1.7 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Other income, net |
|
(0.8 |
) |
|
|
(1.1 |
) |
Benefit from income taxes |
|
(1.8 |
) |
|
|
(1.6 |
) |
Adjusted EBITDA |
$ |
(7.1 |
) |
|
$ |
(8.7 |
) |
|
|
|
|
||||
Free cash flow |
|
|
|
||||
Net cash provided by operating activities |
$ |
21.0 |
|
|
$ |
10.7 |
|
Capital expenditures |
|
(0.8 |
) |
|
|
(0.2 |
) |
Free cash flow |
$ |
20.2 |
|
|
$ |
10.5 |
|
| ____________ | ||
| (1) | Amounts may not total due to rounding. |
|
| (2) | Amounts presented are net of tax. |
|
| (3) | Refer to the sections "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" for description of items included in adjustments. |
|
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260506137414/en/
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