Sunrun and its downstream partners installed 65MW of rooftop solar capacity in the second quarter, a 54% jump on last year, and better than the company's 60MW guidance.

Sunrun's project value-per-watt improved to $4.61 on a pre-tax basis, from $4.51 in the prior quarter. Like many of its rooftop solar rivals, Sunrun is putting a heavier emphasis on achieving profitability than it has in the past, eschewing lower-margin opportunities.

The fastest deployment growth came from Sunrun’s own in-house installation teams. Unlike larger rival SolarCity, Sunrun hands off some of its downstream installation work to other companies.

Sunrun’s total installations topped those of erstwhile number two rooftop player, Vivint Solar, which installed 61MW in the second quarter – a 6% decline year on year. Vivint is still recovering from its failed merger with now-bankrupt SunEdison.

SolarCity, the sector bellwether, deployed 211MW during the quarter, compared to 177MW in the year-ago period.

Sunrun reported a quarterly net loss of $77.8m, compared to a loss of $52.5m in the year-ago quarter. But the California-based company posted a $13.1m net profit attributable to common stockholders.

Sunrun’s net bookings rose 21% year on year, to 74MW.

The company expects to install 72MW in the third quarter, and 270-280MW for the full year. That's down slightly from its prior full-year guidance of 285MW.

“We believe we are well positioned to continue to build growth and customer value that will differentiate us as the leader in bringing local clean energy direct to consumers,” says chief executive Lynn Jurich.

Sunrun shares jumped more than 13% in after-hours trading, though they remain down by more than 50% this year.

Sunrun claims to be the largest US company focused exclusively on the residential solar market. SolarCity and Vivint both build systems for commercial customers as well.