Shares of Array Technologies Inc. plummeted 32.8% to pace all Nasdaq decliners, putting them on track to close below their IPO price for the first time, after the maker of ground-mounting systems used in solar energy projects missed first-quarter profit expectations and withdrew its full-year outlook citing continued increases in steel and freight costs. The company went public on Oct. 15 at an IPO price of $22 a share, and the stock closed as high as $51.05 on Jan. 22 before starting to sell off. The company reported late Tuesday net income that fell to $2.9 million, or 2 cents a share, from $73.7 million, or 61 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Excluding nonrecurring items, adjusted earnings per share came in at 19 cents, below the FactSet consensus of 20 cents. Revenue dropped 44% to $245.9 million, due primarily to a reduction in the amount of investment tax credit (ITC) safe harbor-related shipments, but beat the FactSet consensus of $238.8 million. Gross margin decreased to 18% from 27%, amid higher input costs due to a “rapid increase in commodity prices and greater freight costs resulting in part from disruptions caused by the winter storm in Texas, as well as port closures and congestion.” The stock has now tumbled 62.2% over the past three months, while the Renaissance IPO ETF has shed 26.2% and the S&P 500 has gained 4.8%.
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