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Nlight, Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 6 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 8 new. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Record revenue up 34%: Revenue reached $82.6 million, up 33.8% from $61.7 million, and the company called it a record. Six-month revenue was $162.8 million against $113.4 million. Source
  • Aerospace and Defense led end markets: Aerospace and Defense was the largest end market in the quarter and in the first half, ahead of Industrial and Microfabrication. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose to $10.7M: Adjusted EBITDA was $10.7 million against $5.6 million a year earlier and $13.8 million in the first quarter. Six-month Adjusted EBITDA was $24.6 million against $5.7 million. Source
  • About $17M of Products revenue moved: Third-quarter revenue guidance leaves out about $17 million of Products revenue because of supply chain challenges. The company had expected to ship that revenue in the third quarter. Source
  • Directed energy pipeline expanding: Management said its directed energy pipeline continues to expand and cited a Department of War Joint Laser Weapon Systems contract as the latest example. Source
  • Cash rose after public offering: Cash and cash equivalents were $295.8 million at June 30, 2026, up from $98.7 million at December 31, 2025, after net offering proceeds of $192.2 million. Source

“Our second quarter results represent another strong quarter of execution for nLIGHT with total revenue, gross margin and Adjusted EBITDA at or above our expectations, driven by continued strength in our key defense and advanced manufacturing markets,”

Scott Keeney, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue Sourcethird quarter of 2026$63 million to $73 millionNew
Products revenue Sourcethird quarter of 2026approximately $43 millionNew
Advanced Development revenue Sourcethird quarter of 2026approximately $25 millionNew
Overall gross margin Sourcethird quarter of 202624% to 30%New
Products gross margin Sourcethird quarter of 202634% to 40%New
Advanced Development gross margin Sourcethird quarter of 2026approximately 8%New
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcethird quarter of 2026$1 million to $7 millionNew
Deferred product revenue Sourcethird quarter of 2026, excluded from guidanceapproximately $17 millionNew

What changed from last quarter

  • New guidance: Third-quarter 2026 revenue, gross margin and Adjusted EBITDA ranges were given. Source
  • New: About $17 million of Products revenue planned for the third quarter was moved to later quarters because of supply chain challenges. Source
  • New: Scott Keeney is now titled Chairman and Chief Executive Officer; the first-quarter release gave President and Chief Executive Officer. Source
  • Ended: The $20.0 million line of credit outstanding at March 31, 2026 was repaid, and no balance is shown at June 30, 2026. Source
  • New: The company cites a Department of War Joint Laser Weapon Systems contract as its latest directed energy example. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Record revenue up 34%: Revenue reached $82.6 million, up 33.8% from $61.7 million, and the company called it a record. Six-month revenue was $162.8 million against $113.4 million. Source
  • Products revenue set a record: Products revenue was a record quarter, up 45%. Management ties the quarter to continued strength in defense and advanced manufacturing markets. Source
  • Net loss narrowed to $1.3M: GAAP net loss was $1.3 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, against $3.6 million, or $0.07. Non-GAAP net income was $9.6 million; the text gives $0.17 per diluted share, but the table shows $0.15 diluted and $0.17 basic. Source

Segments and end markets

  • Aerospace and Defense led end markets: Aerospace and Defense was the largest end market in the quarter and in the first half, ahead of Industrial and Microfabrication. Source
  • Development revenue rose year over year: Development revenue rose to $23.2 million, from $20.9 million a year earlier. Products remained the larger revenue line. Source
  • Industrial and Microfabrication both grew: Industrial and Microfabrication revenue each rose year over year. In the first half, Microfabrication was the larger of the two. Source

“Our pipeline of new opportunities in directed energy continues to expand, with the Department of War’s Joint Laser Weapon Systems contract as the latest example.”

Scott Keeney, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Costs, margins and profitability

  • Products margin rose, Development fell: Products gross margin was 41.2%, up from 38.5%. Development gross margin was 5.6%, down from 13.1%. Consolidated gross margin was 31.1%, against 33.1% in the first quarter of 2026. Source
  • Operating expenses rose: Operating expenses were $29.3 million against $22.7 million. Sales, general and administrative expense was $16.2 million against $11.7 million a year earlier. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA rose to $10.7M: Adjusted EBITDA was $10.7 million against $5.6 million a year earlier and $13.8 million in the first quarter. Six-month Adjusted EBITDA was $24.6 million against $5.7 million. Source

Supply chain and shipment timing

  • About $17M of Products revenue moved: Third-quarter revenue guidance leaves out about $17 million of Products revenue because of supply chain challenges. The company had expected to ship that revenue in the third quarter. Source
  • Later delivery timing not specified: The release says the revenue is now expected in future quarters but gives no timing or amount beyond the approximate $17 million figure. Source
  • Midpoint excludes the deferred amount: The $70 million midpoint is built on Products revenue of about $43 million and Advanced Development revenue of about $25 million, excluding the deferred amount. Source

“Our laser sensing and advanced manufacturing opportunities also continue to grow, providing us with a broad base of new and existing programs that we expect will continue to provide attractive long-term growth opportunities for nLIGHT.”

Scott Keeney, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Demand, pipeline and order book

  • Directed energy pipeline expanding: Management said its directed energy pipeline continues to expand and cited a Department of War Joint Laser Weapon Systems contract as the latest example. Source
  • Laser sensing and manufacturing programs growing: Management said laser sensing and advanced manufacturing programs also continue to grow, giving a broad base of new and existing programs. Source
  • Deferred revenue balance rose: Deferred revenues were $10.7 million at June 30, 2026, up from $1.5 million at December 31, 2025 and $4.1 million at March 31, 2026. Source

Capital, cash and balance sheet

  • Cash rose after public offering: Cash and cash equivalents were $295.8 million at June 30, 2026, up from $98.7 million at December 31, 2025, after net offering proceeds of $192.2 million. Source
  • Line of credit repaid: The $20.0 million line of credit outstanding at March 31, 2026 was repaid, leaving no balance at June 30, 2026. Source
  • Operating cash flow positive in first half: Operating cash flow was $30.4 million for the first six months, against negative $1.4 million a year earlier. Capital expenditures were $7.0 million, against $4.7 million. Source
  • Equity rose with the offering: Total stockholders’ equity rose to $439.9 million from $226.7 million at December 31, 2025. Source

Strategy, leadership and profile

  • Keeney now Chairman and CEO: Scott Keeney is titled Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in this release; the first-quarter release gave President and Chief Executive Officer. Source
  • Vertically integrated from chip to system: The company describes a vertically integrated approach, covering performance from laser chip through system-level solutions. Source
  • Headcount and regional footprint: The company reports more than 800 employees, headquartered in Camas, Washington, with operations in the United States, Europe and Asia. Source

Coming up, as management said on 6 August 2026

  • Third-quarter revenue range given: Management gave a third-quarter revenue range of $63 million to $73 million, with a $70 million midpoint. Source
  • Deferred shipments expected later: Roughly $17 million of Products shipments planned for the third quarter are expected to be delivered in future quarters. No timing is given. Source
  • Directed energy pipeline to expand: Management said the directed energy pipeline continues to expand. No dates or closing timing are given for these programs. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Gross margin (GAAP, second quarter 2026) Source31.1%
Aerospace and Defense end-market revenue Source$57.3 million
Industrial end-market revenue Source$12.0 million
Microfabrication end-market revenue Source$13.3 million

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Supply chain challenges pushed about $17 million of Products revenue out of the third quarter. Source
  • External: Unrealized and realized foreign exchange gains and losses cannot be predicted, so no Adjusted EBITDA reconciliation was given. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Met: Management said second-quarter results were at or above its expectations on the three measures. Source
  • Delayed: Products revenue management expected to ship in the third quarter is now expected to be delivered in future quarters. Source

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.