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Palladyne AI Corp.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 10 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 narrowed, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose to $8.6 million: Revenue was $8.6 million, up 895% from $0.9 million a year earlier and 48% from the prior quarter. Source
  • Operating loss widened on costs: Operating loss was ($13.4) million versus ($8.1) million, mainly from higher stock-based compensation, added headcount and Gremlin-X related research costs. Source
  • Components revenue rose 26% sequentially: Components revenue rose 26% from the second quarter, partly from first deliveries of the next-generation BRAIN FC-1 flight computers. Source
  • SwarmOS rated highest by Army: The U.S. Army evaluated SwarmOS on nine criteria, and the company reported the highest rating on all nine. Source
  • Stock-based compensation rose sharply: Stock-based compensation was $4.8 million, against $1.1 million in the prior year period. Source
  • Backlog fell 24% to $18.7 million: Backlog decreased 24% in the quarter to $18.7 million, after about $8.6 million of revenue recognized, offset by about $2.7 million of new awards. Source
  • Cash and securities rose to $47.0 million: Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $47.0 million, up from $43.7 million at the end of the prior quarter. Source

“Operationally, our technology is proving itself in the field.”

Ben Wolff, President and Chief Executive Officer of Palladyne AI

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Full-year revenue Sourcefull year 2026$25.0 - $27.0 millionNarrowed, low end up from $24.0 - $27.0 million
Revenue growth versus 2025 Sourcefull year 2026377% to 415%Narrowed, low end up from 357% to 415%
Implied fourth-quarter revenue growth Sourcefourth quarter 2026329% to 449%
Operating cash burn Sourcefull year 2026close to or slightly above the high end of ($32.0) - ($36.0) millionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Low end of full-year 2026 revenue guidance raised from $24.0 million to $25.0 million; top end of $27.0 million reiterated. Source
  • Ended: All warrants and remaining contingent merger shares from the de-SPAC transaction expired on September 24, 2026. Source
  • New: Strategic collaboration announced with FANUC America to pair FANUC robots with the company's software. Source
  • New: First fixed-wing UAV partnership, with Orkid Tech, extending Palladyne Pilot and SwarmOS to its aircraft. Source
  • New: Partnership with NORDA Dynamics to integrate SwarmOS with its Underdog autonomy module. Source
  • New: Joint development of SwarmShot, a counter-UAS swarm system, launched after quarter end with Federal Ammunition and Mossberg. Source
  • New: First units of the cost-optimized BRAIN FC-1 flight computer shipped during the quarter. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose to $8.6 million: Revenue was $8.6 million, up 895% from $0.9 million a year earlier and 48% from the prior quarter. Source
  • Operating loss widened on costs: Operating loss was ($13.4) million versus ($8.1) million, mainly from higher stock-based compensation, added headcount and Gremlin-X related research costs. Source
  • GAAP loss per share widened: GAAP net loss was ($12.0) million, or ($0.25) per share, against ($3.7) million, or ($0.09), a year earlier. Source
  • Non-GAAP loss per share widened: Non-GAAP net loss was ($8.2) million, or ($0.17) per share, compared with ($6.4) million, or ($0.16), a year earlier. Source

Components and government revenue

  • Components revenue rose 26% sequentially: Components revenue rose 26% from the second quarter, partly from first deliveries of the next-generation BRAIN FC-1 flight computers. Source
  • Government contract revenue up 135%: Revenue from government contracts rose 135% quarter over quarter, per management. Source

“SwarmOS’ ability to deliver intelligent collaborative autonomy works as advertised and is exceeding our expectations.”

Ben Wolff, President and Chief Executive Officer of Palladyne AI

Products, customers and partners

  • SwarmOS rated highest by Army: The U.S. Army evaluated SwarmOS on nine criteria, and the company reported the highest rating on all nine. Source
  • SwarmOS integrated with Anduril Lattice: At Project Convergence Capstone 6, SwarmOS worked with Anduril's Lattice for multi-drone, multi-vendor autonomous operations. Source
  • FANUC sales reach many manufacturers: Joint sales with FANUC America are placing the software before manufacturers from Fortune 500 companies to small and mid-sized businesses. Source
  • IAI partnership gaining visibility: Management said the IAI partnership continues to gain visibility and attract interest from key constituents. Source

Costs and operating expenses

  • Stock-based compensation rose sharply: Stock-based compensation was $4.8 million, against $1.1 million in the prior year period. Source
  • Research and administrative costs rose: Research and development was $4.0 million against $3.1 million; general and administrative was $10.1 million against $4.1 million. Source
  • Warrant gain smaller than last year: The non-cash warrant revaluation gain was $1.1 million, compared with $3.8 million a year earlier. Source

“we believe we are well funded to execute, and we expect our 2026 growth to extend into 2027.”

Ben Wolff, President and Chief Executive Officer of Palladyne AI

Demand and backlog

  • Backlog fell 24% to $18.7 million: Backlog decreased 24% in the quarter to $18.7 million, after about $8.6 million of revenue recognized, offset by about $2.7 million of new awards. Source
  • Backlog still above early-year level: Management said backlog remained materially higher than at the start of Q1 and Q2, despite timing swings. Source
  • Most backlog is funded: Of the $18.7 million backlog, $15.3 million is funded. Source

Cash, capital and burn

  • Cash burn driven by R&D spending: Third-quarter cash burn mainly reflected higher operating expenses, including research and development across all product lines. Source
  • Capex and working capital rose: Third-quarter capex was about $0.9 million, and working capital investment increased to fund revenue growth. Source
  • Cash and securities rose to $47.0 million: Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $47.0 million, up from $43.7 million at the end of the prior quarter. Source

Strategy and investment

  • Joined Northern Strike exercise: The company took part in Northern Strike 2026, continuing a series of Department of War exercises begun with Ivy Mass. Source
  • BRAIN named competition finalist: BRAIN was named a finalist in the Army's FUZE xTech Apex Intercept competition. Source

Coming up, as management said on 10 November 2026

  • Cash expected to fund twelve months: Management said cash and securities are expected to cover operations and capital expenditures for at least 12 months. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Backlog timing shifts as customers use existing funding before renewals; defense budget uncertainty continues. Source
  • Financial: Cash burn stayed elevated from continued research and development and working capital needs to fund revenue growth. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Management reiterated the top end of the full-year revenue range. Source
  • Not stated: Management expects full-year cash burn near the high end of the guided range. 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.