Nlight, Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call
What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 26 February 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 6 new. The quarter’s numbers.
Key takeaways
- Full-year revenue rose 31.6%: Full-year 2025 revenue was $261,330 thousand, up from $198,548 thousand in 2024. Full-year net loss narrowed to $23,467 thousand, or $0.47 per diluted share. Source
- Fourth-quarter revenue rose 71%: Fourth-quarter 2025 revenue was $81,185 thousand, up 71.3% from $47,381 thousand a year earlier. Source
- Adjusted EBITDA turned positive: Full-year Adjusted EBITDA was $23,466 thousand, against negative $18,788 thousand in 2024. Fourth-quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $10,691 thousand, against negative $11,301 thousand a year earlier. Source
- Aerospace and Defense led growth: Aerospace and Defense revenue was $175,253 thousand for full year 2025, against $109,540 thousand. Fourth-quarter revenue was $56,298 thousand, against $30,127 thousand. Source
- Full-year gross margin rose to 29.8%: Full-year GAAP gross margin was 29.8%, against 16.6%. Non-GAAP gross margin was 30.8%, against 17.9%. Source
- Operating loss narrowed to $26,550 thousand: Full-year loss from operations was $26,550 thousand, against $65,636 thousand. Operating margin was negative 10.2%, against negative 33.1%. Source
- Operating cash flow turned positive: Full-year net cash provided by operating activities was $21,330 thousand, against $2,359 thousand used in 2024. Source
“2025 was an exceptional year for nLIGHT, with strong revenue growth driven by continued strength in our A&D markets as we executed well against existing programs and won new awards that helped drive additional growth”
Scott Keeney, nLIGHT’s President and Chief Executive Officer
Guidance
| Area | Period | Figure | Against last quarter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue Source | first quarter of 2026 | $70 million to $76 million | New |
| Revenue by segment Source | first quarter of 2026 | midpoint $73 million; Laser Products about $54 million; Advanced Development about $19 million | New |
| Gross margin, overall Source | first quarter of 2026 | 27% to 32% | New |
| Gross margin, Laser Products Source | first quarter of 2026 | 34% to 39% | New |
| Gross margin, Advanced Development Source | first quarter of 2026 | approximately 8% | New |
| Adjusted EBITDA Source | first quarter of 2026 | $5 million to $10 million | New |
What changed from last quarter
- Guidance raised: The January preliminary update put fourth-quarter 2025 revenue at $78 million to $80 million, above the prior $72 million to $78 million range. Reported fourth-quarter revenue was $81.2 million.
- New guidance: The release gives first-quarter 2026 ranges for revenue, gross margin and Adjusted EBITDA. The prior release contained no first-quarter 2026 ranges. Source
Full-year and fourth-quarter results
- Full-year revenue rose 31.6%: Full-year 2025 revenue was $261,330 thousand, up from $198,548 thousand in 2024. Full-year net loss narrowed to $23,467 thousand, or $0.47 per diluted share. Source
- Fourth-quarter revenue rose 71%: Fourth-quarter 2025 revenue was $81,185 thousand, up 71.3% from $47,381 thousand a year earlier. Source
- Net loss narrowed year over year: Fourth-quarter 2025 net loss was $4,909 thousand, or $0.10 per diluted share, against $24,962 thousand, or $0.51 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2024. Source
- Adjusted EBITDA turned positive: Full-year Adjusted EBITDA was $23,466 thousand, against negative $18,788 thousand in 2024. Fourth-quarter Adjusted EBITDA was $10,691 thousand, against negative $11,301 thousand a year earlier. Source
Segments and end markets
- Aerospace and Defense led growth: Aerospace and Defense revenue was $175,253 thousand for full year 2025, against $109,540 thousand. Fourth-quarter revenue was $56,298 thousand, against $30,127 thousand. Source
- Industrial revenue down for full year: Industrial revenue was $38,847 thousand for full year 2025, against $45,615 thousand. Fourth-quarter Industrial revenue was $10,668 thousand, up from $9,137 thousand. Source
- Microfabrication revenue rose in both periods: Microfabrication revenue was $47,230 thousand for full year 2025, against $43,393 thousand. Fourth-quarter revenue was $14,219 thousand, against $8,117 thousand. Source
“Importantly, our accelerated revenue growth drove significant year-over-year improvement in our gross margins and Adjusted EBITDA, demonstrating the leverage that is inherent in our model.”
Scott Keeney, nLIGHT’s President and Chief Executive Officer
Products and development revenue
- Products revenue rose in both periods: Products revenue was $179,236 thousand for full year 2025, against $136,659 thousand. Fourth-quarter products revenue was $55,126 thousand, against $31,699 thousand. Source
- Development revenue rose in both periods: Development revenue was $82,094 thousand for full year 2025, against $61,889 thousand. Fourth-quarter development revenue was $26,059 thousand, against $15,682 thousand. Source
- Cost of revenue rose with volume: Products cost of revenue was $111,454 thousand for full year 2025, against $108,003 thousand. Development cost of revenue was $71,913 thousand, against $57,526 thousand. Source
Gross margin and operating costs
- Full-year gross margin rose to 29.8%: Full-year GAAP gross margin was 29.8%, against 16.6%. Non-GAAP gross margin was 30.8%, against 17.9%. Source
- Fourth-quarter gross margin rose to 30.7%: Fourth-quarter GAAP gross margin was 30.7%, against 2.4%. Non-GAAP gross margin was 31.6%, against 3.7%. Source
- Operating loss narrowed to $26,550 thousand: Full-year loss from operations was $26,550 thousand, against $65,636 thousand. Operating margin was negative 10.2%, against negative 33.1%. Source
- Restructuring charges declined: Full-year restructuring charges were $2,348 thousand, against $4,291 thousand. Fourth-quarter restructuring charges were $615 thousand, against $4,291 thousand. Source
- Stock-based compensation increased: Full-year stock-based compensation was $33,411 thousand, against $24,961 thousand. Fourth-quarter stock-based compensation was $11,622 thousand, against $6,000 thousand. Source
“As I look forward to 2026, I am confident that our growth will continue and believe we are well positioned for new contract wins in our key markets of directed energy, laser sensing and advanced manufacturing.”
Scott Keeney, nLIGHT’s President and Chief Executive Officer
Demand and visibility
- Good visibility across 2026 programs: The January update said the company had good visibility across multiple programs in directed energy and laser sensing, and remained positioned for growth in Aerospace and Defense.
- Q4 revenue driven by Aerospace and Defense: The January update attributed the expected fourth-quarter revenue to continued strength in Aerospace and Defense revenue.
- Deferred revenue fell year over year: Deferred revenue was $1,489 thousand at December 31, 2025, against $3,577 thousand at December 31, 2024. Source
Cash, balance sheet and capital spending
- Operating cash flow turned positive: Full-year net cash provided by operating activities was $21,330 thousand, against $2,359 thousand used in 2024. Source
- Cash and marketable securities rose: At December 31, 2025, cash and cash equivalents were $98,699 thousand and marketable securities were $34,934 thousand. Source
- Line of credit drawn to $20,000 thousand: The balance sheet shows a $20,000 thousand line of credit balance at December 31, 2025, against none a year earlier. Source
- Capital spending rose year over year: Full-year purchases of property, plant and equipment were $9,032 thousand, against $7,932 thousand. Source
- Receivables and inventory increased: Accounts receivable, net was $50,836 thousand, against $34,895 thousand. Inventory was $45,407 thousand, against $40,800 thousand. Source
Company profile and leadership
- Headcount rose to about 850: The release says nLIGHT employs about 850 people in the United States, Europe and Asia. The January update gave about 800. Source
- Leadership named in January update: The January update named Scott Keeney as President and Chief Executive Officer and Joe Corso as Chief Financial Officer, scheduled to meet investors at a January conference.
- Preliminary Q4 figures were unaudited: The January preliminary figures were subject to closing procedures and possible adjustment, and the auditor had not reviewed them.
Figures management reported
| Figure | Reported |
|---|---|
| Gross margin, GAAP, full year 2025 Source | 29.8% (full year 2024: 16.6%) |
| Gross margin, GAAP, fourth quarter 2025 Source | 30.7% (fourth quarter 2024: 2.4%) |
| Aerospace and Defense revenue Source | $56,298 thousand (Q4 2025); $175,253 thousand (full year 2025) |
| Industrial revenue Source | $10,668 thousand (Q4 2025); $38,847 thousand (full year 2025) |
| Microfabrication revenue Source | $14,219 thousand (Q4 2025); $47,230 thousand (full year 2025) |
Other quarters
Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.