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Quantum-Si Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 5 November 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 2 lowered, 2 new, 4 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue fell during Platinum transition: Third-quarter revenue was $212,000, against $552,000 a year earlier. Management said the decline reflected the transition from Platinum to Proteus. Source
  • Proteus pre-orders opened to customers: Management said the pre-order program helps customers plan adoption and secure priority access after launch, following customer feedback and reception of the data. Source
  • Interim data showed higher sequencing output: At World HUPO, interim Proteus data in a controlled peptide study showed approximately 30 times more sequencing output per chamber, per management. Source
  • Adjusted operating expenses fell year over year: Adjusted total operating expenses were $18.2 million, down from $21.4 million a year earlier and $22.6 million in the second quarter, per the prior release. Source
  • Workforce cut about 20% largely completed: Management said the majority of the August reduction in force, affecting about 20% of headcount, was completed in the third quarter, and it does not believe the actions hurt Proteus development. Source
  • Cash and securities totaled $149.4 million: Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $149.4 million at September 30, 2026, down from $169.9 million at June 30, 2026. Source

“We made significant progress during the third quarter as we continued to advance Proteus toward commercial launch”

Jeff Hawkins, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue, full year 2026 SourceFull year 2026Approximately $1.0 millionKept
Adjusted total operating expenses SourceFull year 2026$87.0 million or lessLowered from $98.0 million or less
Total cash usage SourceFull year 2026$87.0 million or lessLowered from $93.0 million or less
Cash runway SourceInto fourth quarter 2028Into the fourth quarter of 2028Kept
Proteus commercial launch SourceSecond quarter of 2027Second quarter of 2027Kept
Annual operating expense savings from cost actions SourceAnnual run rateApproximately $12 million in annual operating expense savingsKept
Amino acid detection SourceYear-end 2026All 20 amino acidsNew
Transition period Source2026 and first half of 20272026 and first half of 2027New

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: Full-year 2026 guidance was lowered for adjusted total operating expenses and total cash usage, and cash runway was reaffirmed. Source
  • New: A Proteus pre-order program was launched to help customers plan adoption and secure priority access after launch. Source
  • New: Interim Proteus performance data presented at World HUPO was reported as a highlight this quarter. Source

Results and revenue

  • Revenue fell during Platinum transition: Third-quarter revenue was $212,000, against $552,000 a year earlier. Management said the decline reflected the transition from Platinum to Proteus. Source
  • Nine-month revenue reached $814,000: Revenue for the nine months was $814,000 against $2.0 million a year earlier. The transition from Platinum to Proteus is expected to continue through the first half of 2027. Source
  • Net loss decreased year over year: Net loss was $22.3 million for the quarter, against $35.7 million a year earlier, and $67.5 million for nine months against $83.7 million. Source

Products and customer transition

  • Proteus pre-orders opened to customers: Management said the pre-order program helps customers plan adoption and secure priority access after launch, following customer feedback and reception of the data. Source
  • Interim data showed higher sequencing output: At World HUPO, interim Proteus data in a controlled peptide study showed approximately 30 times more sequencing output per chamber, per management. Source
  • Recognizer work reached 19 amino acids: Recognizer development advanced to detection of 19 amino acids during the quarter, according to management. Source
  • Library prep and AI integration advanced: Management said library preparation technology development made meaningful progress and AI integration into the data analysis pipeline accelerated. Source

“While we are encouraged by these results, we believe the Proteus platform we ultimately launch will meaningfully exceed the performance demonstrated in this interim study.”

Jeff Hawkins, President and Chief Executive Officer

Costs and restructuring

  • Adjusted operating expenses fell year over year: Adjusted total operating expenses were $18.2 million, down from $21.4 million a year earlier and $22.6 million in the second quarter, per the prior release. Source
  • Prior-year one-time charges absent: Total operating expenses were $23.9 million, against $40.0 million. Management said the decrease reflected the absence of $13.6 million net lease termination expense and $1.8 million legal settlement expense from the third quarter of 2025. Source
  • Restructuring costs of $2.9 million: The company recorded $2.9 million of restructuring costs in the third quarter, excluded from adjusted total operating expenses, following the August 2026 restructuring actions. Source
  • Workforce cut about 20% largely completed: Management said the majority of the August reduction in force, affecting about 20% of headcount, was completed in the third quarter, and it does not believe the actions hurt Proteus development. Source

Margins and profitability

  • Third-quarter gross margin held at 35%: Gross profit was $74,000 and gross margin 35%, against $194,000 and 35% a year earlier. Second-quarter gross margin was 50% per the prior release. Source
  • Nine-month gross margin fell to 39%: Nine-month gross margin was 39% against 52% a year earlier. Management said results were affected by revenue mix, timing of sales and transition-period commercial activity. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA stood at negative $17.0 million: Adjusted EBITDA was negative $17.0 million in the quarter, against negative $20.1 million a year earlier, and negative $58.2 million for nine months against negative $63.7 million. Source

“Based on recent performance data, we believe we have substantially addressed the instrument variability issues identified earlier in development”

Jeff Hawkins, President and Chief Executive Officer

Demand and supply chain

  • Transition revenue tied to installed base: Management said transition-period revenue reflects Platinum purchasing behavior, installed-base consumable activity and customer planning for the new platform, alongside migration programs. Source
  • Component orders placed earlier: AI-driven demand has constrained supply chains and extended lead times for certain components. The company is ordering earlier, committing volume with key suppliers, qualifying second sources where practical, and building safety stock. Source
  • No launch effect expected from supply: Based on current visibility, management does not anticipate these supply chain dynamics affecting its ability to launch Proteus in the second quarter of 2027. Source

Capital, cash and runway

  • Cash and securities totaled $149.4 million: Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities were $149.4 million at September 30, 2026, down from $169.9 million at June 30, 2026. Source
  • Cost actions built into operating plan: The company said its operating plan, including the cost-reduction actions completed in the third quarter, supports its cash position and runway. Source
  • Cash and current securities split: Cash and cash equivalents were $25.6 million and current marketable securities were $77.9 million at September 30, 2026. Source

Strategy and launch investment

  • Cash usage covers launch readiness: Management said 2026 cash usage includes Proteus development, selected production readiness and inventory investments, including long-lead components, and commercial readiness. Source
  • Manufacturing and inventory investment preserved: The lower guidance reflects cost-reduction actions and continued expense management, while keeping investment in manufacturing readiness and inventory for the Proteus launch. Source
  • Adjusted spend supports development and launch: Adjusted operating expenses are expected to fund Proteus development, integration, verification and validation, chemistry and workflow work, supply readiness and launch preparation. Source

Coming up, as management said on 5 November 2026

  • Proteus performance and adoption updates: Management expects to provide multiple updates over the coming months and into the first half of 2027 on system performance, commercial readiness and customer adoption. Source

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Management said component supply constraints and longer lead times, linked to AI-driven demand, led it to order earlier and build safety stock. Source
  • Financial: Management noted that excluded items such as stock-based compensation and restructuring costs could materially affect GAAP operating expenses, so the forward adjusted figures exclude them. Source
  • Demand: Management said transition-period revenue is expected to reflect lower Platinum instrument demand and continued consumable use by existing customers. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said Proteus remains on track for the anticipated commercial launch in the second quarter of 2027. Source
  • On track: Management said the company is on track to achieve detection of all 20 amino acids by year-end. Source
  • Met: Management said design activities for the additional instrument cycle, added in the second quarter, are now complete. Source
  • Not stated: Management continues to expect the August 2026 cost actions to generate approximately $12 million in annual operating expense savings. Source
  • Not stated: Management said the majority of the reduction in force announced in August was completed during the third quarter. 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.