Soluna Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Results

By: Soluna Holdings, Inc. via Business Wire

April 02, 2024 at 08:00 AM EDT

Quarterly Adjusted EBITDA tops $1.0 million, marking a second straight quarter of gains

Successful business model diversification

Quarterly Gross Profit Best in 4 years at $4.3 million

Soluna Holdings, Inc. (“SHI” or the “Company”), (NASDAQ: SLNH), a developer of green data centers for intensive computing applications including Bitcoin mining and AI, announced financial results for the full year ended December 31, 2023.

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FY 2023 Adjusted EBITDA by Quarter (Photo: Business Wire)

"We are delighted to announce fourth quarter 2023 results, which were the culmination of 18 months of incredible execution by our operating team. We delivered record revenue and project-level profit, a direct result of the ramping up of our flagship Project Dorothy data center, and the new architecture of our business model aimed at revenue diversification," said John Belizaire, CEO of Soluna Holdings.

Fourth Quarter Finance and Operations Highlights:

Record Revenue – Revenue ramped to $10.1 million compared to third quarter 2023 revenue of $5.8 million, a 75% increase due to the ramp of Project Dorothy. It was the highest quarter in the past 16 quarters.

Record Gross Profit – Gross profit grew to $4.3 million, the highest profit quarter since the inception of the crypto segment in Q2 of 2020.

2nd Consecutive Positive EBITDA Quarter – Fourth quarter 2023 Adjusted EBITDA topped $1.0 million, up from $405 thousand in the third quarter of 2023.

Stronger Balance Sheet – Current Cash & Restricted Cash as of December 31, 2023 was $9.4 million.

Substantial Ramp of Flagship in Second Half – During this period, Project Dorothy 1A and 1B generated $13.7 million of revenue, which made up 65% of the Company’s total full year revenue.

Success in Diversification of Model – the Company completed a series of architectural changes to the business to diversify the business across four key areas, now including hosting, mining, ancillary services, and artificial intelligence. This greatly decreases the company’s direct exposure to the volatility of Bitcoin Mining.

Belizaire continued, "2023 involved steering our ship through turbulent waters, while simultaneously rebuilding the ship to sail towards new horizons. 2024 presents numerous opportunities for the Company. I am honored to lead a company with some of the most resilient people in the industry. I am grateful for the patience our shareholders have shown and the support our financial backers have continued to provide."

"While there is more work ahead for our team, we ended 2023 on much better footing. We have proven that our business model – integrating with Renewable Power Plants – works and creates the industry’s greenest, most profitable data centers. It is great to be focused on growth again."

Fiscal Year 2023 Financial Results:

The strong fourth quarter results of $10.1 million in revenue represented a 75% increase as compared to the third quarter 2023, had a significant positive impact on our full fiscal year results.

Total 2023 revenue was $21.1 million, a decrease of $7.5 million or 26% as compared to 2022 – The decrease was due mainly to the impacts of the strategic realignment of the Company’s business from a primarily Bitcoin mining focus to a more diversified revenue stream that includes hosting, mining and ancillary services. The negative impacts of winding down our less efficient mining activities during the first half of the year were offset in part by the positive impacts of ramping up our hosting and more efficient mining activities during the second half of the year. Ramping up during the second half included the design, permitting, construction and energization of Project Dorothy 1A and 1B, securing hosting clients, and acquiring miners. During this period, Project Dorothy 1A and 1B generated $13.7 million of revenue, which made up 65% of the Company’s total full year revenue.

The total cost of revenue decreased $20.7 million from $36.5 million to $15.8 million – from 128% to 75% as a percentage of revenue in 2022 compared to 2023 respectively, primarily driven by closing higher cost facilities, switching to a data hosting model from a proprietary mining model at Project Sophie and energizing the lower cost Project Dorothy site.

FY 2023 Revenue & Cost of Revenue by Project Site
(Dollars in thousands)
	Project Dorothy 1B		Project Dorothy 1A		Project Sophie		Project Marie		Other		Total

Cryptocurrency mining revenue	$	6,849	$	-	$	2,984	$	769	$	-	$	10,602
Data hosting revenue		-		6,876		3,021		276		23		10,196
Demand response services		-		-						268		268
Total revenue	$	6,849	$	6,876	$	6,005	$	1,045	$	291	$	21,066

Cost of cryptocurrency mining, exclusive of depreciation	$	3,358	$	-		2,206		801		-		6,365
Cost of data hosting revenue, exclusive of depreciation		-		4,366		1,030		205		-		5,601
Cost of revenue- depreciation		1,816		755		1,154		136		2		3,863
Total cost of revenue	$	5,174	$	5,121	$	4,390	$	1,142	$	2	$	15,829

FY 2022 Revenue & Cost of Revenue by Project Site
(Dollars in thousands)
	Project Dorothy 1B		Project Dorothy 1A		Project Sophie		Project Marie		Other		Total

Cryptocurrency mining revenue	$	-	$	-	$	13,221	$	10,028	$	1,160	$	24,409
Data hosting revenue		-		-		-		4,131		7		4,138
Demand response services		-		-		-		-		-		-
Total revenue	$	-	$	-	$	13,221	$	14,159	$	1,167	$	28,547

Cost of cryptocurrency mining, exclusive of depreciation	$	54	$	-		7,471		6,048		653		14,226
Cost of data hosting revenue, exclusive of depreciation		-		54		-		3,518		-		3,572
Cost of revenue- depreciation		-		-		10,597		7,813		298		18,708
Total cost of revenue	$	54	$	54	$	18,068	$	17,379	$	951	$	36,506

General and administrative expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization, for the year ended on December 31, 2023, decreased by $3.8 million, or 20% – to $15.4 million from $19.2 million for the year ending on December 31, 2022. Stock-based compensation costs were $3.7 million for 2023 for 2022.

Salary and wages decreased by approximately $1.4 million during the year ending on December 31, 2023 – compared to the year ending on December 31, 2022, due to a reduction in employee recruitment fees, headcount and personnel costs, and employee-related expenses, i.e. travel.

Legal fees decreased by approximately $1.1 million during the year ending on December 31, 2023 – compared to the year ending on December 31, 2022, due to less development agreements related to Project Dorothy. In addition, potential capital raising activities did not occur and other corporate related legal matters were less intensive during the year ending on December 31, 2023.

Consulting and professional services decreased by $1.6 million during the year ending on December 31, 2023 – compared to the year ending on December 31, 2022, due to required valuations of complex transactions, advisory fees for complex accounting research matters, and pipeline development project costs, in which the Company involved multiple consultants to help build out future plans incurred in 2022 which did not recur in 2023.

Adjusted EBITDA improved to $(3.5) million for 2023 compared to $(4.6) million in 2022 – For the three months ended December 31, 2023, Adjusted EBITDA increased by 157% or $0.6 million to $1.0 million compared to $0.4 million in the three months ended September 30, 2023.

The audited financial statements and 10K are available online.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "confident" and similar statements. Soluna Holdings, Inc. may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including but not limited to statements about Soluna’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, further information regarding which is included in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of the press release, and Soluna Holdings, Inc. undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

Non GAAP Measures

In addition to figures prepared in accordance with GAAP, Soluna from time to time presents alternative non-GAAP performance measures, e.g., EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net profit/loss, adjusted earnings per share, free cash flow, both on a company basis and on a project-level basis. Project level measures may not take into account a full allocation of corporate expenses. These measures should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, the information prepared in accordance with GAAP. Alternative performance measures are not subject to GAAP or any other generally accepted accounting principle. Other companies may define these terms in different ways. See our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 for an explanation of how management uses these measures in evaluating its operations.

About Soluna Holdings, Inc (SLNH)

Soluna is on a mission to make renewable energy a global superpower using computing as a catalyst. The company designs, develops and operates digital infrastructure that transforms surplus renewable energy into global computing resources. Soluna’s pioneering data centers are strategically co-located with wind, solar, or hydroelectric power plants to support high-performance computing applications including Bitcoin Mining, Generative AI, and other compute intensive applications. Soluna’s proprietary software MaestroOS(™) helps energize a greener grid while delivering cost-effective and sustainable computing solutions, and superior returns. To learn more visit solunacomputing.com. Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) at @SolunaHoldings.

Soluna Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries Consolidated Balance Sheets As of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022
(Dollars in thousands, except per share)
	December 31,			December 31,
	2023			2022
Assets
Current Assets:
Cash	$	6,368		$	1,136
Restricted cash		2,999			685
Accounts receivable		2,948			320
Notes receivable		446			219
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		1,416			1,107
Equipment held for sale		107			295
Total Current Assets		14,284			3,762
Restricted cash, noncurrent		1,000			-
Other assets		2,954			1,150
Deposits and credits on equipment		1,028			1,175
Property, plant and equipment, net		44,572			42,209
Intangible assets, net		27,007			36,432
Operating lease right-of-use assets		431			233
Total Assets	$	91,276		$	84,961

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	2,099		$	3,548
Accrued liabilities		4,906			2,721
Line of credit		-			350
Convertible notes payable		8,474			11,737
Current portion of debt		10,864			10,546
Income tax payable		24			-
Deferred revenue		-			453
Customer deposits-current		1,588			-
Operating lease liability		220			161
Total Current Liabilities		28,175			29,516

Other liabilities		499			203
Customer deposits- long-term		1,248			-
Operating lease liability		216			84
Deferred tax liability, net		7,779			8,886
Total Liabilities		37,917			38,689

Commitments and Contingencies (Note 14)

Stockholders’ Equity:
9.0% Series A Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share, $25.00 liquidation preference; authorized 6,040,000; 3,061,245 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022		3			3
Series B Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, authorized 187,500; 62,500 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022		—			—
Common stock, par value $0.001 per share, authorized 75,000,000; 2,546,361 shares issued and 2,505,620 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2023 and 788,578 shares issued and 747,837 shares outstanding as of December 31, 2022(1)		3			1
Additional paid-in capital		291,276			277,429
Accumulated deficit		(250,970	)		(221,769	)
Common stock in treasury, at cost, 40,741 shares at December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022(1)		(13,798	)		(13,798	)
Total Soluna Holdings, Inc. Stockholders’ Equity		26,514			41,866
Non-Controlling Interest		26,845			4,406
Total Stockholders’ Equity		53,359			46,272
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity	$	91,276		$	84,961

(1)	Prior period results have been adjusted to reflect the Reverse Stock Split of the Common Stock at a ratio of 1-for-25 that became effective October 13, 2023. See Note 2, “Accounting Policies,” for details.

Soluna Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries Consolidated Statements of Operations For the Years Ended December 31, 2023 and 2022
(Dollars in thousands, except per share)
	Year Ended
	December 31,
	2023			2022

Cryptocurrency mining revenue	$	10,602		$	24,409
Data hosting revenue		10,196			4,138
Demand response services		268			-
Total revenue		21,066			28,547
Operating costs:
Cost of cryptocurrency mining revenue, exclusive of depreciation		6,365			14,226
Cost of data hosting revenue, exclusive of depreciation		5,601			3,572
Costs of revenue-depreciation		3,863			18,708
Total costs of revenue		15,829			36,506
Operating expenses:
General and administrative expenses, exclusive of depreciation and amortization		15,390			19,203
Depreciation and amortization associated with general and administrative expenses		9,513			9,506
Total general and administrative expenses		24,903			28,709
Impairment on equity investment		-			750
Impairment on fixed assets		575			47,372
Operating loss		(20,241	)		(84,790	)
Interest expense		(2,748	)		(8,375	)
Loss on debt extinguishment and revaluation, net		(3,904	)		(11,130	)
Loss on sale of fixed assets		(398	)		(4,089	)
Other (expense) income, net		(1,479	)		22
Loss before income taxes from continuing operations		(28,770	)		(108,362	)
Income tax benefit from continuing operations		1,067			1,346
Net loss from continuing operations		(27,703	)		(107,016	)
Income before income taxes from discontinued operations (including gain on sale of MTI Instruments of $7,751 for year ended December 31, 2022)		-			7,851
Income tax benefit from discontinued operations		-			70
Net income from discontinued operations		-			7,921
Net loss		(27,703	)		(99,095	)
(Less) Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest		1,498			(380	)
Net loss attributable to Soluna Holdings, Inc.	$	(29,201	)	$	(98,715	)

Basic and Diluted (loss) earnings per common share (1):
Net loss from continuing operations attributable to Soluna Holdings, Inc. per share (Basic & Diluted)	$	(27.79	)	$	(187.63	)
Net income from discontinued operations per share (Basic & Diluted)	$	-		$	13.22
Basic & Diluted loss per share	$	(27.79	)	$	(174.41	)

Weighted average shares outstanding (Basic and Diluted)		1,313,718			599,301

(1)	Prior period results have been adjusted to reflect the Reverse Stock Split of the Common Stock at a ratio of 1-for-25 that became effective October 13, 2023. See Note 2, “Accounting Policies,” for details.

Soluna Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows For the Year Ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (Dollars in thousands)
	Year Ended December 31,
	2023			2022
Operating Activities
Net loss	$	(27,703	)	$	(99,095	)
Net income from discontinued operations (including gain on sale of MTI Instruments of $7,751 for the year ended December 31, 2022)		-			(7,921	)
Net loss from continuing operations		(27,703	)		(107,016	)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Depreciation expense		3,894			18,731
Amortization expense		9,483			9,483
Stock-based compensation		4,225			3,673
Consultant stock compensation		87			179
Deferred income taxes		(1,107	)		(1,388	)
Impairment on fixed assets		575			47,372
Amortization of operating lease asset		238			202
Impairment on equity investment		-			750
Loss on debt extinguishment and revaluation, net		3,904			11,130
Amortization on deferred financing costs and discount on notes		753			6,538
Loss on sale of fixed assets		398			4,089
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable		(2,620	)		211
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		(306	)		146
Other long-term assets		(304	)		(29	)
Accounts payable		(862	)		553
Deferred revenue		(453	)		137
Customer deposits		2,836			-
Operating lease liabilities		(234	)		(197	)
Other liabilities		320			(308	)
Accrued liabilities		3,889			(374	)
Net cash used in provided by operating activities		(2,987	)		(6,118	)
Net cash provided by operating activities- discontinued operations		-			369
Investing Activities
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment		(12,705	)		(63,684	)
Purchases of intangible assets		(58	)		(76	)
Proceeds from disposal on property, plant, and equipment		2,286			2,605
Deposits of equipment, net		147			6,441
Net cash used in investing activities		(10,330	)		(54,714	)
Net cash provided by investing activities- discontinued operations		-			9,084
Financing Activities
Proceeds from preferred offerings		-			16,658
Proceeds from common stock offering		817			2,858
Proceeds from notes and debt issuance		3,100			30,543
Costs of preferred offering		-			(1,910	)
Costs of common stock offering		(10	)		(504	)
Costs of notes and short-term debt issuance		(1,057	)		(2,078	)
Cash dividend distribution on preferred stock		-			(3,852	)
Payments on NYDIG loans and line of credit		(350	)		(4,491	)
Contributions from non-controlling interest		20,365			4,786
Distributions for non-controlling interest		(1,002	)		-
Proceeds from stock option exercises		-			153
Proceeds from common stock warrant exercises		-			779
Net cash provided by financing activities		21,863			42,942

Increase (decrease) in cash & restricted cash-continuing operations		8,546			(17,890	)
Increase in cash & restricted cash- discontinued operations		-			9,453
Cash & restricted cash – beginning of period		1,821			10,258
Cash & restricted cash – end of period	$	10,367		$	1,821

Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information
Interest paid on NYDIG loans and line of credit		6			1,311
Interest paid on Navitas loan		204			-
Interest paid on convertible noteholder default		617			-

Noncash investing and financing activities:
Notes converted to common stock		6,013			3,295
Noncash disposal of NYDIG collateralized equipment		3,137			-
Noncash non-controlling interest contribution		2,095			-
Interest and penalty settled through repossession of collateralized equipment		1,773			-
Warrant consideration in relation to convertible notes and debt		1,637			14,602
Non-controlling interest membership distribution accrual		517			-
Noncash activity right-of use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations		403			20
Promissory note conversion to common or preferred shares		845			15,236
Noncash proceed on sale of equipment		240			210
Series B preferred dividend prefunded warrant and common stock issuance		656			-
Noncash equipment financing		-			4,620
Proceed receivable from sale of MTI Instruments		-			295

Non-GAAP Measures

In addition to financial measures calculated in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”), we also use “Adjusted EBITDA.” Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure defined as net income (loss) from continuing operations before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) adjusted to eliminate the effects of certain non-cash, non-recurring items, that we believe do not reflect our ongoing strategic business operations. Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA results in a performance measurement that represents a key indicator of the Company’s business operations of cryptocurrency mining and hosting customers engaged in cryptocurrency mining.

We believe Adjusted EBITDA can be an important financial measure because it allows management, investors, and the Board to evaluate and compare our operating results, including our return on capital and operating efficiencies, from period-to-period by making such adjustments. Non-GAAP financial measures are subject to material limitations as they are not in accordance with, or a substitute for, measurements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. For example, we expect that stock-based compensation costs, which is excluded from the non-GAAP financial measures, will continue to be a significant recurring expense over the coming years and is an important part of the compensation provided to certain employees, officers, and directors. Similarly, we expect that depreciation and amortization of fixed assets will continue to be a recurring expense over the term of the useful life of the assets.

Adjusted EBITDA is provided in addition to and should not be considered to be a substitute for, or superior to net income, the comparable measure calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Further, Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to revenue growth, net income, diluted earnings per share or any other performance measure calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP, or as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities as a measure of our liquidity. Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider such measures either in isolation or as substitutes for analyzing our results as reported under U.S. GAAP.

Reconciliations of Adjusted EBITDA to net income from continuing operations, the most comparable U.S. GAAP financial metric, for historical periods are presented in the table below:

(Dollars in thousands)	Years Ended December 31,
	2023			2022

Net loss from continuing operations	$	(27,703	)	$	(107,016	)
Interest expense		2,748			8,375
Income tax (benefit) expense		(1,067	)		(1,346	)
Depreciation and amortization		13,376			28,214
EBITDA		(12,646	)		(71,773	)

Adjustments: Non-cash items

Stock-based compensation costs		4,312			3,852
Loss on sale of fixed assets		398			4,089
Loss on debt extinguishment and revaluation, net		3,904			11,130
Impairment of equity investment		-			750
Impairment on fixed assets		575			47,372
Adjusted EBITDA	$	(3,457	)	$	(4,580	)

Stock based compensation costs represented approximately $3.4 million non-cash restricted stock units and $908 thousand non-cash stock options for the year ended December 31, 2023 to members of our Board of Directors and certain Company employees compared to non-cash restricted stock units of approximately $2.6 million to members of our Board of Directors and certain Company employees for the year ended December 31, 2022 and non-cash stock options of approximately $1.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2022.

The following table represents the Adjusted EBITDA activity between each three-month period for the year ended December 31, 2023.

(Dollars in thousands)
	Three months ended March 31, 2023			Three months ended June 30, 2023			Three months ended September 30, 2023			Three months ended December 31, 2023			Year ended December 31, 2023

Net loss from continuing operations	$	(7,432	)	$	(9,257	)	$	(6,016	)	$	(4,998	)	$	(27,703	)
Interest expense, net		1,374			486			495			393			2,748
Income tax (benefit) expense from continuing operations		(547	)		(547	)		569			(542	)		(1,067	)
Depreciation and amortization		3,002			2,918			3,579			3,877			13,376
EBITDA		(3,603	)		(6,400	)		(1,373	)		(1,270	)		(12,646	)

Adjustments: Non-cash items

Stock-based compensation costs		879			2,232			595			606			4,312
Loss (gain) on sale of fixed assets		78			(48	)		373			(5	)		398
Impairment on fixed assets		209			169			41			156			575
Loss on debt extinguishment and revaluation, net		(473	)		2,054			769			1,554			3,904
Adjusted EBITDA	$	(2,910	)	$	(1,993	)	$	405		$	1,041		$	(3,457	)

The following table represents the Adjusted EBITDA activity between each three-month period for the year ended December 31, 2022.

(Dollars in thousands)
	Three months ended March 31, 2022			Three months ended June 30, 2022			Three months ended September 30, 2022			Three months ended December 31, 2022			Year ended December 31, 2022

Net loss from continuing operations	$	(9,132	)	$	(14,104	)	$	(56,143	)	$	(27,637	)	$	(107,016	)
Interest expense, net		2,880			3,305			1,671			519			8,375
Income tax benefit from continuing operations		(547	)		(251	)		(547	)		(1	)		(1,346	)
Depreciation and amortization		6,697			7,914			8,388			5,215			28,214
EBITDA		(102	)		(3,136	)		(46,631	)		(21,904	)		(71,773	)

Adjustments: Non-cash items

Stock-based compensation costs		955			1,064			890			943			3,852
Loss on sale of fixed assets		-			1,618			988			1,483			4,089
Impairment on fixed assets		-			750			28,086			18,536			47,372
Loss (gain) on debt extinguishment and revaluation, net		-			-			12,317			(1,187	)		11,130
Impairment on equity investment		-			-			750			-			750
Adjusted EBITDA	$	853		$	296		$	(3,600	)	$	(2,129	)	$	(4,580	)

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240402401707/en/

Contacts

David Michaels

Chief Financial Officer

Soluna Holdings, Inc.

David@soluna.io