Ascent Solar Announces 3Q 2016 Financial Results

Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. reported results for the third quarter ended Sept. 30, 2016.
 
Total net revenue booked for the third quarter of 2016 was $453,000, a recovery of approximately 78% from second quarter 2016. Gross shipments for the period were about $1.1 million but net revenue booked for the same period was limited to $453,000.
 
This was due to a substantial deferment in revenue recognition — in compliance with the US GAAP accounting rules — as a result of a contract modification with one of the company’s largest customers. Allowances for RMA (Return Merchandize Authorization) also contributed to lower net revenue booked.
 
Total operating costs and expenses for the three months ended Sept. 30, 2016 decreased substantially by approximately $2.3 million as compared to the same period last year. As a result, net operating loss for the third quarter of 2016, improved by roughly 21% ($1.5 million); down from a $7 million loss for the same period in 2015 to approximately $5.5 million. Sequentially, the operating results also represented approximately 22% improvement as compared to $7.1 million operating loss in second quarter 2016.
 
For the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2016, total revenue was $1.42 million, compared to $4.14 million reported for the same period last year, a decrease of $2.73 million. This was mainly due to a disappointing second quarter as a result of a negative impact from customer related purchase orders and headwinds in the consumer retail industry. Correspondingly, total operating costs and expenses for the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2016, also decreased by $3.43 million as compared to the nine months ended Sept. 30, 2015. As a result, net operating loss for the nine months of 2016 improved marginally to $20.18 million, as compared to $20.88 million for the same period of 2015 as the company continues to streamline its operations and implement active cost-cutting measures.
 
“We are focused on improving our results as we head into the final period of this year,” commented Victor Lee, president and CEO of Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. “On the back of the poor second quarter showing, we are confident that the worst is behind us as we continue to streamline our business model and further execute our growth plan. Given the continuous expansion of our retail footprint, particularly with the increased penetration of our distribution effort to now more than 1,500 Verizon Wireless authorized retail stores, we remain optimistic on the opportunities ahead for growth.
 
“We have also made great progress in the defense and emergency power market, particularly in the increasing interest shown in our award winning, military-graded MilPak E solar and battery integrated blanket, which we believe will add to revenue growth in 2017 and beyond,” added Lee. “We look forward to updating our shareholders as we work through the next phase of our development.”