Exhibit 99.1

erilogoh4c.jpg
Energy Recovery Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year End 2019 Financial Results

San Leandro, Calif., March 5, 2020 - Energy Recovery Inc. (Nasdaq: ERII) (“Energy Recovery,” “we,” “our,” or the “Company”), a leader in pressure energy technology for industrial fluid flows, today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.

Fiscal Year 2019 Highlights:
•
Total product revenue of $72.8 million, an increase of 19% year-over-year
•
Total revenue of $86.9 million, an increase of 17% year-over-year
•
Product gross margin of 72.1%, an increase of 140 basis points year-over-year
•
Income from operations of $10.4 million, an increase of 4% year-over-year
•
Net income of $10.9 million, or diluted earnings per share of $0.19, a decrease of $0.21 year-over-year due to a tax benefit of $11.2 million recognized in 2018
•
Adjusted net income(1) of $9.9 million, or non-GAAP diluted earnings per share(1) of $0.18, a decrease of $0.02 year-over-year

Chairman and Interim President and Chief Executive Officer Robert Mao remarked, “2019 was a year of new highs for Energy Recovery. In our water business, we achieved our third consecutive year of record-setting revenues, we signed our largest-ever desalination project contract, and we enter 2020 with a high degree of confidence based on closed deals that are expected to ship over the next two years. In addition, we executed our largest to date contract for a thermal to seawater reverse osmosis (“SWRO”) desalination replacement project. Thanks to technologies such as our PX® Pressure Exchanger®, SWRO is now much more cost-effective than thermal, encouraging thermal plant owners and operators to replace thermal with SWRO technologies. We estimate this potential TAM to be approximately half a billion dollars at today’s prices and are focused on capturing as much of this opportunity as possible over the coming decade.”

Mr. Mao continued, “The ability to test continually while iterating design enhancements all in our own facility in Katy, Texas has allowed us to improve the VorTeq’s reliability and repeatability. Our ability to process sand in volumes and concentrations used in today’s hydraulic fracturing environment gives me confidence that our testing protocol is working. We intend to continue testing the system in preparation for commercialization, which will include live well testing.”

Mr. Mao concluded, “While the Company’s near-term priorities remain water business growth and VorTeq commercialization, we also made strides in 2019 implementing a structure that will enable a disciplined approach to longer-term growth. I firmly believe Energy Recovery enters this new decade with the right elements in place for continued success.”

Fiscal Year 2019

Revenues
For the year ended December 31, 2019, the Company generated total revenue of $86.9 million, an increase of $12.4 million, or 17%, compared to $74.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. This increase was due primarily to Water segment growth.

The Water segment generated total product revenue of $72.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, an increase of $12.2 million, or 20%, compared to $60.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. This significant increase was due primarily to the growth in our Mega-Project Development (“MPD”) channel.

The Oil & Gas segment generated total revenue of $14.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2019, an increase of $0.2 million, or 1%, compared to $14.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2018, due primarily to an increase in license and development revenue, which is calculated as a percentage of Cost to Total Cost.
 




Product Gross Margin
For the year ended December 31, 2019, product gross margin was 72.1%, an increase of 140 basis points from 70.7% for the year ended December 31, 2018. This increase was due primarily to higher volume of products sold, favorable product mix, manufacturing equipment upgrades and process improvements.

Operating Expenses
For the year ended December 31, 2019, operating expenses were $56.2 million, an increase of $9.6 million, or 21%, compared to $46.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2018. This increase was due primarily to the Company’s continued investment in research and development in both the Oil & Gas and Water segment, as well as growth in headcount and personnel-related costs.

Bottom Line Summary
To summarize the Company’s financial performance, on an annual basis, the Company reported a net income of $10.9 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2019, compared to a net income of $22.1 million, or $0.40 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2018. This decrease was due primarily to a discrete tax benefit of $11.2 million related to the reversal of a non-recurring tax benefit for the year ended December 31, 2018, partially offset by $1.0 million related to an increase in prior years U.S. federal research and development credits for the year ended December 31, 2019. On an adjusted basis, excluding the discrete tax benefit, the Company reported an adjusted net income(1) of $9.9 million, or $0.18 per non-GAAP diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2019.

Fourth Quarter 2019

Revenues
For the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2019, the Company generated total revenue of $19.5 million, an increase of $1.8 million, or 10%, compared to $17.7 million in the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2018.

The Water segment generated total product revenue of $15.8 million for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2019, an increase of $1.9 million, or 14%, compared to $13.9 million for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2018. This increase was due primarily to higher MPD shipments.

The Oil & Gas segment generated total revenue of $3.7 million for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2019, a decrease of $0.1 million, or (3%), compared to $3.8 million for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2018. The decrease in revenue was due primarily to no product revenue recognized for the Oil & Gas segment for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2019.
 
Product Gross Margin
For the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2019, product gross margin was 71.5%, a decrease of 300 basis points from 74.5% in the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2018. This decrease was due primarily to a change in the product mix.

Operating Expenses
For the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2019, GAAP operating expenses were $15.9 million, an increase of $3.2 million, or 25%, compared to $12.7 million for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2018. This increase was due primarily to the Company’s continued investment in research and development in both the Oil & Gas and Water segment, as well as growth in headcount and personnel-related costs.

Bottom Line Summary
To summarize the Company’s financial performance, on a quarterly basis, the Company reported a GAAP net loss of $0.6 million, or ($0.01) per diluted share for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2019, compared to a net income of $2.4 million, or $0.04 per diluted share for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2018.

Cash Flow Highlights
The Company finished the year ended December 31, 2019 with cash and cash equivalents of $26.4 million, and short-term and long-term investments of $74.2 million, which represents a combined total of $100.5 million.





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, including the Company’s optimism for the long-term health of our Water business, the Company’s belief that SWRO is more cost effective than thermal technologies, the Company’s belief that thermal plant owners and operators are encouraged to convert to SWRO technologies, the Company’s belief that potential thermal to SWRO conversions represent a half-billion dollar addressable market, the Company’s intention to continue testing the VorTeq system in preparation for commercialization, including live well testing, the Company’s belief that the Company will successfully commercialize the VorTeq system, and the Company’s belief that our business will continue to grow over the next several years. These forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to us and on management’s beliefs, assumptions, estimates, or projections and are not guarantees of future events or results. Potential risks and uncertainties include the Company’s ability to achieve the milestones under the VorTeq license agreement, 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, 2019 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 total gross margin, adjusted net income and non-GAAP earnings per share. 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.

(1) 
“Total revenue,” “Total gross margin,” “Adjusted net income” and “Non-GAAP diluted earnings per share” are non-GAAP financial measures. Please refer to the discussion under headings “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” and “Reconciliations of Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”

Conference Call to Discuss Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year End 2019 Financial Results
LIVE CONFERENCE CALL:
Thursday, March 5, 2020, 2:00 PM PST / 5:00 PM EST
Listen-only, US / Canada Toll-Free: +1 (877) 709-8150
Listen-only, Local / International Toll: +1 (201) 689-8354
Access code: 13698251

CONFERENCE CALL REPLAY:
Expiration: Saturday, April 4, 2020
US / Canada Toll-Free: +1 (877) 660-6853
Local / International Toll: +1 (201) 612-7415
Access code: 13698251

Investors may also access the live call or the replay over the internet at ir.energyrecovery.com. The replay will be available approximately three hours after the live call concludes.

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 Inc.
For more than 20 years, Energy Recovery, Inc. (NASDAQ: ERII) has created technologies that solve complex challenges in industrial fluid-flow markets. We design and manufacture solutions that reduce waste, improve operational efficiencies, and lower the production costs of clean water and oil and gas. What began as a game-changing invention for water desalination has grown into a global business delivering solutions that enable more affordable access to these critical resources. Both our headquarters in San Leandro, California, and our Commercial Development Center in Katy, Texas house on-site research, development and manufacturing facilities. In addition, our worldwide sales and technical service organization provides on-site support for our line of water solutions. For more information, please visit www.energyrecovery.com.

Contact
Investor Relations
ir@energyrecovery.com
(281) 962-8105





ENERGY RECOVERY, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
 
December 31,
2019
 
December 31,
2018
 
(In thousands, except share data and par value)
ASSETS
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
$
26,387

 
$
22,052

Short-term investments
58,736

 
73,338

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $308 and $396 at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively
12,979

 
10,212

Contract assets
501

 
4,083

Inventories, net
10,317

 
7,138

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
4,047

 
2,825

Total current assets
112,967

 
119,648

Contract assets, non-current
191

 
—

Long-term investments
15,419

 
1,269

Deferred tax assets, non-current
16,897

 
18,318

Property and equipment, net
18,843

 
14,619

Operating lease, right of use asset
11,195

 
12,189

Goodwill
12,790

 
12,790

Other intangible assets, net
65

 
640

Other assets, non-current
407

 
368

Total assets
$
188,774

 
$
179,841

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts payable
$
1,192

 
$
1,439

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
9,869

 
8,497

Lease liabilities
1,023

 
926

Contract liabilities
15,746

 
16,270

Total current liabilities
27,830

 
27,132

Lease liabilities, non-current
11,533

 
12,556

Contract liabilities, non-current
13,120

 
26,539

Other non-current liabilities
278

 
236

Total liabilities
52,761

 
66,463

Stockholders’ equity:
 
 
 
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding at December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018
—

 
—

Common stock, $0.001 par value; 200,000,000 shares authorized; 60,717,702 shares issued and 55,261,767 shares outstanding at December 31, 2019 and 59,396,020 shares issued and 53,940,085 shares outstanding at December 31, 2018
61

 
59

Additional paid-in capital
170,028

 
158,404

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(37
)
 
(133
)
Treasury stock, at cost, 5,455,935 shares repurchased at December 31, 2019 and 2018
(30,486
)
 
(30,486
)
Accumulated deficit
(3,553
)
 
(14,466
)
Total stockholders’ equity
136,013

 
113,378

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
188,774

 
$
179,841








ENERGY RECOVERY, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended December 31,
 
Years Ended December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
 
(In thousands, except per share data)
Product revenue
$
15,784

 
$
13,983

 
$
72,834

 
$
61,025

Product cost of revenue
4,492

 
3,561

 
20,335

 
17,873

Product gross profit
11,292

 
10,422

 
52,499

 
43,152

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
License and development revenue
3,717

 
3,723

 
14,108

 
13,490

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
General and administrative
6,042

 
5,446

 
22,832

 
21,476

Sales and marketing
2,724

 
1,903

 
9,434

 
7,546

Research and development
7,048

 
5,220

 
23,402

 
17,012

Amortization of intangible assets
106

 
156

 
575

 
630

Total operating expenses
15,920

 
12,725

 
56,243

 
46,664

Income (loss) from operations
(911
)
 
1,420

 
10,364

 
9,978

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other income (expense):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest income
459

 
500

 
2,010

 
1,543

Interest expense
—

 
—

 
—

 
(1
)
Other non-operating expense, net
(41
)
 
(15
)
 
(118
)
 
(80
)
Total other income, net
418

 
485

 
1,892

 
1,462

Income (loss) before income taxes
(493
)
 
1,905

 
12,256

 
11,440

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes
116

 
(516
)
 
1,343

 
(10,653
)
Net income (loss)
$
(609
)
 
$
2,421

 
$
10,913

 
$
22,093

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings (deficit) per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
$
(0.01
)
 
$
0.04

 
$
0.20

 
$
0.41

Diluted
$
(0.01
)
 
$
0.04

 
$
0.19

 
$
0.40

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Number of shares used in per share calculations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
55,201

 
53,897

 
54,740

 
53,764

Diluted
55,201

 
55,217

 
56,067

 
55,338





ENERGY RECOVERY, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
 
Years Ended December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
(In thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
Net income
$
10,913

 
$
22,093

Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities
 
 
 
Stock-based compensation
5,676

 
5,240

Depreciation and amortization
4,395

 
3,869

Amortization of premiums and discounts on investments
65

 
362

Foreign currency transactions
(27
)
 
(10
)
Realized gain on sale of investments
(10
)
 
—

Provision for warranty claims
402

 
326

Reversal of accruals related to expired warranties
(193
)
 
(180
)
Change in allowance for doubtful accounts
(88
)
 
336

Adjustments for excess or obsolete inventory
21

 
197

Deferred income taxes
1,421

 
(10,385
)
Loss on disposal of fixed assets
389

 
408

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts receivable, net
(2,679
)
 
1,917

Contract assets
3,391

 
2,196

Inventories, net
(3,256
)
 
(1,872
)
Prepaid and other assets
(263
)
 
(682
)
Accounts payable
(373
)
 
(2,274
)
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
(600
)
 
87

Income taxes
27

 
(447
)
Contract liabilities
(13,943
)
 
(13,616
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
5,268

 
7,565

Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
Sales of marketable securities
7,608

 
—

Maturities of marketable securities
78,100

 
81,268

Purchases of marketable securities
(85,207
)
 
(86,192
)
Capital expenditures
(7,382
)
 
(5,235
)
Net cash used in investing activities
(6,881
)
 
(10,159
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock
6,073

 
4,291

Tax payment for employee shares withheld
(110
)
 
(150
)
Repayment of long-term debt
—

 
(27
)
Repurchase of common stock
—

 
(10,000
)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
5,963

 
(5,886
)
Effect of exchange rate differences on cash and cash equivalents
—

 
(8
)
Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
4,350

 
(8,488
)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of year
22,138

 
30,626

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of year
$
26,488

 
$
22,138







ENERGY RECOVERY, INC.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION BY SEGMENT
(Unaudited)
 
Three Months Ended December 31, 2019
 
Three Months Ended December 31, 2018
 
Water
 
Oil & Gas
 
Total
 
Water
 
Oil & Gas
 
Total
 
(In thousands)
Product revenue
$
15,784

 
$
—

 
$
15,784

 
13,884

 
99

 
13,983

Product cost of revenue
4,493

 
(1
)
 
4,492

 
3,497

 
64

 
3,561

Product gross profit (loss)
11,291

 
1

 
11,292

 
10,387

 
35

 
10,422

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
License and development revenue
—

 
3,717

 
3,717

 
—

 
3,723

 
3,723

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
General and administrative
45

 
369

 
414

 
636

 
377

 
1,013

Sales and marketing
2,014

 
67

 
2,081

 
1,538

 
266

 
1,804

Research and development
1,031

 
5,750

 
6,781

 
692

 
4,526

 
5,218

Amortization of intangibles
106

 
—

 
106

 
156

 
—

 
156

Total operating expenses
3,196

 
6,186

 
9,382

 
3,022

 
5,169

 
8,191

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating income (loss)
$
8,095

 
$
(2,468
)
 
5,627

 
7,365

 
(1,411
)
 
5,953

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Less: Corporate operating expenses
 
 
 
 
6,538

 
 
 
 
 
(4,533
)
Income from operations
 
 
 
 
(911
)
 
 
 
 
 
1,420

Other income, net
 
 
 
 
418

 
 
 
 
 
486

Income before income taxes
 
 
 
 
$
(493
)
 
 
 
 
 
1,906


 
Year Ended December 31, 2019
 
Year Ended December 31, 2018
 
Water
 
Oil & Gas
 
Total
 
Water
 
Oil & Gas
 
Total
 
(In thousands)
Product revenue
$
72,730

 
$
104

 
$
72,834

 
$
60,512

 
$
513

 
$
61,025

Product cost of revenue
20,148

 
187

 
20,335

 
17,211

 
662

 
17,873

Product gross profit (loss)
52,582

 
(83
)
 
52,499

 
43,301

 
(149
)
 
43,152

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
License and development revenue
—

 
14,108

 
14,108

 
—

 
13,490

 
13,490

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
General and administrative
1,501

 
1,576

 
3,077

 
2,078

 
1,771

 
3,849

Sales and marketing
7,072

 
741

 
7,813

 
5,783

 
1,264

 
7,047

Research and development
3,825

 
19,085

 
22,910

 
1,711

 
15,276

 
16,987

Amortization of intangibles
575

 
—

 
575

 
629

 
—

 
629

Total operating expenses
12,973

 
21,402

 
34,375

 
10,201

 
18,311

 
28,512

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating income (loss)
$
39,609

 
$
(7,377
)
 
32,232

 
$
33,100

 
$
(4,970
)
 
28,130

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Less: Corporate operating expenses
 
 
 
 
21,868

 
 
 
 
 
18,152

Income from operations
 
 
 
 
10,364

 
 
 
 
 
9,978

Other income, net
 
 
 
 
1,892

 
 
 
 
 
1,462

Income before income taxes
 
 
 
 
$
12,256

 
 
 
 
 
$
11,440






ENERGY RECOVERY, INC.
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
(Unaudited)

This press release includes non-GAAP financial information because we plan and manage our business using such information. Our non-GAAP Total Gross Margin is determined by adding back the license and development revenue associated with the amortization of the VorTeq exclusivity fee. Our non-GAAP adjusted net income or loss and non-GAAP diluted earnings per share is determined by adding back non-recurring operating and tax expenses/(benefits).
 
Three Months Ended December 31,
 
Years Ended December 31,
 
2019
 
2018
 
2019
 
2018
 
(In thousands, except per share data)
Product revenue
$
15,784

 
$
13,983

 
$
72,834

 
$
61,025

License and development revenue
3,717

 
3,723

 
14,108

 
13,490

Total revenue
$
19,501

 
$
17,706

 
$
86,942

 
$
74,515

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Product gross profit
$
11,292

 
$
10,422

 
$
52,499

 
$
43,152

License and development revenue
3,717

 
3,723

 
14,108

 
13,490

Total gross profit (non-GAAP)
$
15,009

 
$
14,145

 
$
66,607

 
$
56,642

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Product gross margin
71.5
%
 
74.5
%
 
72.1
%
 
70.7
%
Total gross margin (non-GAAP)
77.0
%
 
79.9
%
 
76.6
%
 
76.0
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss)
$
(609
)
 
$
2,418

 
$
10,913

 
$
22,093

Reversal of non-recurring tax benefit
—

 
(649
)
 
—

 
(11,159
)
Reversal of federal research and development tax credits
—

 
—

 
(971
)
 
—

Adjusted net income (loss) (non-GAAP)
$
(609
)
 
$
1,769

 
$
9,942

 
$
10,934

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings (deficit) per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted
$
(0.01
)
 
$
0.04

 
$
0.19

 
$
0.40

Diluted (non-GAAP)
$
(0.01
)
 
$
0.03

 
$
0.18

 
$
0.20

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Number of diluted shares used in per share calculations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted shares
55,201

 
55,217

 
56,067

 
55,338

Diluted shares (non-GAAP)
55,201

 
55,217

 
56,067

 
55,338