Scott Maskin
Analyst · Roth Capital Partners. Please go ahead
Thank you, everybody, and thank you, Jim and team. What I'd also like to add is some remarks that I put together myself. First of all, thanks for sticking around, and then we'll open it up for questions. We build our relationships around transparency. And in that spirit, I want to take a few minutes to clarify some of today's information and share my thoughts on the current ITC situation. It's important for our shareholders, employees and stakeholders to understand the difference between what we can control and what we cannot control. Let me say that again, some factors are simply out of our control, but we work hard every day and the actions of others impact us. Today, we also shared guidance on where we believe 2025 will land. That's transparency and accountability, two things I believe are in short supply these days. I'm sure much of what I will say will end up on the message boards. Well, game on. I have tough skin and I refuse to change how I lead. Let's take a look back quickly. Jim and I assumed leadership of what was then Pineapple Energy really on May 06, 2024, and just last week, we marked our one-year anniversary rebuilding the company. When we took over was a ship headed straight for bankruptcy, defaults on obligations, repressive capital structure, unsustainable debt and operating expenses that had gutted the business units. The industry as a whole was in free fall in 2025 -- in 2024, sorry. In my 22 years in solar, not even COVID compared to the storm we just endured and the industry results being 25% to 40% off down, if you even survive 2024 regrettably, it's sad but true, but we not only had to fight through our own problems but we had to fight an industry that was just in chaos. So, it's also critical to understand that shareholder equity is inextricably linked to the success of our business units, our employees and our clients. One cannot succeed without the others. And while we have no control over how our stock is traded, we believe that a few solid quarters will begin to restore confidence, and that's our plan, that's our focus. From day one, Jim and I guided by our newly-formed Board set a deliberate calculated course to save this company, preserve jobs and rebuild shareholder equity. Let's not forget, Jim and I were the first and biggest financial losers in this. We saw $4.5-ish million of our own equity wiped out. Our theory is, we bleed first, that's how we roll. Every step we've taken has been intentional, compliant and necessary to avoid bankruptcy and to fight another day. We worked together alongside with Nasdaq, our auditors, bankers, legal and accounting teams, and every shareholder vote we brought forward is passed by overwhelming margins. One year later, we're still standing. The ship has some dents and scratches for sure, but it's mechanically sound and heading into calmer waters. The iceberg is behind us as far as I'm concerned. I've also personally provided the business with a bridge loan and established a line of credit to support operations if needed. You will not find the CEO more invested financially and emotionally. I'm not looking for medals, I'm just asking for a fair shot at winning. And as I see it we have three active [pass cards] (ph). Raise additional capital to roll up great companies. These are bringing new companies, new revenue and accretive EBITDA. Simply stated, our industry actually needs this consolidation and we are the ship that they are flocking to. Number two is pursue strategic mergers with accretive small cap public companies. These would create immediate savings and grow opportunities. These moves may not require us to do certain things, but it's an absolute necessity that we start to look towards more verticals and companies that can work together and save costs. Number three, which is also super exciting, is mergers through -- merger to other companies. There's no shortage since we cleaned up our own company of other companies that want to come into us. I also want to briefly address the federal administration's stance on the Investment Tax Credit and solar storage policy. Yes, change is likely. That's exactly why I've emphasized diversification in every single call for the last year. Residential, commercial, service and roofing, we are strategically prepared to adapt if the ITC landscape shifts. With Sunnova now following SunPower into bankruptcy, we see an opportunity to serve a wave of orphan systems. Our commercial pipeline, as I said, is strong and our national developers has told us they are not changing course. Depending on where the residential ITC lands, we can pivot quickly, dominating in third-party owned markets or continuing to lead in the loan-based systems. Either way, our clients trust us and trust is something our competition lacks. If there's one thing I've earned in 22 years in this solar coaster, it's confidence. I received it from my peer set, from my team, and I hope with today's recap of progress and transparency, I've earned yours, the shareholders. I'm fired up and more determined than ever to deliver. And as always, I do my best to answer every email. I truly do care. With that said, I'd like to open the line up for calls.