Release Date: November 06, 2024
For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.
Positive Points
- Core Scientific Inc (CORZ, Financial) successfully contracted all 500 megawatts of critical IT load for HPC hosting, securing significant revenue potential.
- The company completed a $460 million convertible note offering, which improved its capital structure by refinancing debt and increasing cash reserves.
- Core Scientific Inc (CORZ) expanded its capacity through new site acquisitions and existing site expansions, including a new data center in Alabama.
- The company reported a 117% increase in the price of Bitcoin, which positively impacted its digital asset self-mining revenue.
- Core Scientific Inc (CORZ) is actively pursuing additional power allocations at existing sites, potentially adding up to 300 megawatts of critical IT load.
Negative Points
- Core Scientific Inc (CORZ) reported a net loss of $455 million for the third quarter, primarily due to non-cash mark-to-market adjustments.
- The company faced a 62% decrease in the number of Bitcoin earned during the quarter, impacting digital asset self-mining revenue.
- Operating expenses increased by $13.5 million year-over-year, driven by personnel expenses, site startup costs, and stock-based compensation.
- Gross margins for digital asset self-mining were negative, reflecting challenging Bitcoin mining economics post-halving.
- The company anticipates no further CapEx for Bitcoin mining this year, indicating potential limitations in expanding its mining fleet.
Q & A Highlights
Q: Are you already in conversation with potential customers for the 100 megawatts being allocated from Bitcoin mining to HPC, and what are the expected CapEx costs?
A: Yes, conversations began earlier in the year, and it looks like a competitive process for those 70 megawatts. We are looking at $5 to $8 million per megawatt for the net profit. - Adam Sullivan, CEO
Q: Regarding the 100 megawatt transition, will you sign a lease before spending capital on the transition?
A: We aim to finalize a client contract before spending capital, ensuring we know exactly what the client wants to build. - Adam Sullivan, CEO
Q: Any updates on expanding power capacity at existing HPC sites beyond the 500 megawatts for Core weave?
A: We are looking at potentially over 300 additional megawatts across existing HPC sites, which could result in a significant uplift in capacity. - Adam Sullivan, CEO
Q: How do you view the potential deal structures for new sites and customers?
A: We focus on single-tenant buildings and build-to-suit arrangements for potential clients, ensuring we meet their requirements and timelines. - Adam Sullivan, CEO
Q: How has the market for rental or lease rates changed since the initial Core weave deal?
A: Lease rates for 2025 and 2026 are higher, especially as clients are willing to cover some CapEx, allowing us to extract significant value from current demand. - Adam Sullivan, CEO
For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.
