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SES AI Corp.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 23 April 2026: letter to shareholders. Guidance figures: 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 47% on fourth quarter: Revenue was $6.7 million, up 47% from the fourth quarter of 2025 and 16% from the first quarter of 2025. Growth was driven mainly by UZ Energy ESS product revenue. Source
  • ATG EPower distribution deal signed: Multiyear North American distribution agreement with ATG EPower, valued at about $20 million over three years, gives access to residential, commercial and industrial segments. Source
  • Chungju line converted to drone cells: The Korea line moved from EV pouch cells to drone-format pouch cells. The facility built the 2021 100Ah Li-Metal cell and is described as NDAA-compliant since inception. Source
  • Gross margin rose to 18.1%: GAAP gross margin was 18.1%, against 11.3% in Q4 2025 and 78.7% in Q1 2025. Non-GAAP gross margin was 18.3%, against 11.7% in Q4 2025. Source
  • GAAP operating expenses at $19.1M: GAAP operating expenses were $19.1 million against $18.2 million in Q4 2025 and $27.8 million in Q1 2025. Non-GAAP operating expenses were $14.3 million. Source
  • Liquidity about $178 million at quarter end: Liquidity at March 31, 2026 was about $178 million, made up of $46.9 million in cash and equivalents and $130.7 million in short-term investments. Source
  • Nealis steps down as CFO: Jing Nealis transitions from Chief Financial Officer effective April 27, 2026, after about five years in the role, and management thanked her for her contributions. Source

“This quarter’s results were driven primarily by continued execution in our Energy Storage Systems business through UZ Energy, with smaller contributions from drone sample sales and Molecular Universe subscription revenue.”

Qichao Hu, Founder, CEO and Chairman, and Jing Nealis, Chief Financial Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue SourceFull year 2026$30 million to $35 millionKept
Gross margin (blended) SourceFull year 2026approximately 15%Kept
Operating expenses SourceFull year 2026 compared with 2025approximately 15% reduction from 2025 levelsKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance kept: Full-year 2026 revenue guidance of $30 million to $35 million reaffirmed. Source
  • Guidance kept: Full-year operating expense reduction of about 15% from 2025 levels remains on track. Source
  • Guidance kept: Blended consolidated gross margin of approximately 15% continued. Source
  • New guidance: Drone cell capacity figure of over one million cells per year introduced for the converted line. Source
  • New: Yi (Ray) Liu appointed Chief Financial Officer effective April 27, 2026. Source
  • Ended: Jing Nealis transitions from the Chief Financial Officer role effective April 27, 2026. Source
  • New: Multiyear distribution agreement with ATG EPower, valued at about $20 million over three years, entered into during the quarter. Source
  • New: Conversion of the Chungju, South Korea manufacturing line from EV pouch cells to drone-format pouch cells completed. Source
  • New: Version 2.5 of the Molecular Universe platform introduced, covering lithium and sodium chemistries. Source
  • New: A major global battery manufacturer committed to a multiyear subscription for the Search in a Box product. Source
  • New: New S-3 shelf registration statement expected to be filed with the 10-Q, as the current shelf expires April 28. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 47% on fourth quarter: Revenue was $6.7 million, up 47% from the fourth quarter of 2025 and 16% from the first quarter of 2025. Growth was driven mainly by UZ Energy ESS product revenue. Source
  • Fourth-quarter revenue timing added: Management said about $1.5 million of revenue pushed out of the fourth quarter of 2025 went into the first quarter and benefited Q1 results. Source
  • GAAP net loss declined to $12.1 million: GAAP net loss was $12.1 million, or $0.04 per share, against $17.0 million, or $0.05 per share, in Q4 2025. It included a $4.2 million non-cash gain on sponsor earn-out fair value. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA loss declined to $12.8M: Adjusted EBITDA loss was $12.8 million, against $13.8 million in Q4 2025 and $16.5 million in Q1 2025. Non-GAAP net loss was $11.1 million, or $0.03 per share. Source

Energy storage systems

  • ATG EPower distribution deal signed: Multiyear North American distribution agreement with ATG EPower, valued at about $20 million over three years, gives access to residential, commercial and industrial segments. Source
  • UZ Energy sells across regions: Through UZ Energy, the company serves customers from Australia to Europe to the Middle East and has begun entering the North American market. Source
  • Edge Box pairs hardware with software: The strategy combines UZ Energy hardware with on-premises Molecular Universe Predict capabilities, called an Edge Box, to expand geographically. Source
  • Global ESS market put at $300 billion: Management described the global ESS market as an estimated $300 billion and said the company competes for share on hardware plus predictive battery-health software. Source

“Revenue and margins came in on plan, costs continue to come down, and each of our business units advanced.”

Qichao Hu, Founder, CEO and Chairman, and Jing Nealis, Chief Financial Officer

Drone cell business

  • Chungju line converted to drone cells: The Korea line moved from EV pouch cells to drone-format pouch cells. The facility built the 2021 100Ah Li-Metal cell and is described as NDAA-compliant since inception. Source
  • Sample cells shipping to customers: Sample shipments to prospective defense and commercial drone customers have begun for evaluation and qualification testing, and management described customer interest as high. Source
  • Capacity ramp planned with AI tools: The converted line is planned to ramp gradually to over one million drone cells a year, with AI for Manufacturing applied to quality and cost. Source
  • US defense drones named priority: Management named the US defense drone market as the most consequential near-term area for the business, where compliant high energy density cells are scarce. Source

Materials and Molecular Universe

  • Six materials customers past phase two: About half a dozen customers have progressed through second-phase testing of electrolyte materials found on the Molecular Universe platform. Source
  • Hisun JV can scale materials output: The Hisun joint venture has 150,000-ton annual global capacity, which management said can produce the materials at commercial scale as demand develops. Source
  • Platform version 2.5 introduced: Version 2.5, the fifth major iteration since the 2024 launch, upgrades six AI workflows and expands on-premises deployment options. Source
  • Major battery maker signs subscription: A major global battery manufacturer committed to a multiyear subscription for Search in a Box, which management expects to bring follow-on interest from other large manufacturers. Source

“We believe we have the capital, the team, and the commercial pipeline to deliver on our full-year outlook.”

Qichao Hu, Founder, CEO and Chairman, and Jing Nealis, Chief Financial Officer

Costs, margins and operating expenses

  • Gross margin rose to 18.1%: GAAP gross margin was 18.1%, against 11.3% in Q4 2025 and 78.7% in Q1 2025. Non-GAAP gross margin was 18.3%, against 11.7% in Q4 2025. Source
  • Year-on-year margin fall from mix: Management said the year-on-year decline reflects a shift from high-margin OEM service contracts in Q1 2025 to product revenue from three business units with different margins. Source
  • GAAP operating expenses at $19.1M: GAAP operating expenses were $19.1 million against $18.2 million in Q4 2025 and $27.8 million in Q1 2025. Non-GAAP operating expenses were $14.3 million. Source
  • Expense cut tracking to 15% target: Management said it remains on track for about a 15% reduction in full-year operating expenses from 2025 levels, while continuing investment in Molecular Universe. Source

Cash, liquidity and capital

  • Operating cash use near $20 million: Cash used for operations was about $20 million in the quarter, net cash used in operating activities was $19.8 million, in line with the operating plan. Source
  • Liquidity about $178 million at quarter end: Liquidity at March 31, 2026 was about $178 million, made up of $46.9 million in cash and equivalents and $130.7 million in short-term investments. Source
  • Capex-light model kept as discipline: Management said the capex-light model remains a core discipline and that current liquidity supports 2026 growth initiatives. Capex was $0.3 million in the quarter. Source

Leadership transition

  • Nealis steps down as CFO: Jing Nealis transitions from Chief Financial Officer effective April 27, 2026, after about five years in the role, and management thanked her for her contributions. Source
  • Yi (Ray) Liu named CFO: Yi (Ray) Liu, CFA, CPA, became Chief Financial Officer on April 27. The letter says he has over 20 years of finance leadership across FP&A, strategic finance, SEC reporting and risk management. Source
  • Liu's prior finance and risk roles: Liu most recently served as Chief Risk and Control Officer at Adyen's US federal foreign branch, after more than 15 years in finance and risk roles at MetLife Investment Management. Source

Coming up, as management said on 23 April 2026

  • Second-half drone and materials revenue: First-half revenue is expected to come mainly from steady-state UZ Energy ESS, with drone cell and materials contributions starting in the second half. Source
  • Southeast Asia capacity update: Management will provide updates later this year on larger NDAA-compliant manufacturing capacity in Southeast Asia, beyond the Korea facility. Source
  • Materials programs move toward supply: Management expects customers whose second-phase testing nears completion to move toward commercial-scale supply discussions. Source
  • New S-3 shelf filing with 10-Q: A new S-3 shelf registration is expected alongside the 10-Q because the current shelf expires April 28. Management described it as routine. Source
  • Former CFO available until May 15: Jing Nealis remains available through May 15 to support the transition to the new Chief Financial Officer. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Customers through second-phase materials testing Sourceapproximately half a dozen
Hisun joint venture annual global capacity Source150,000 tons
ATG EPower distribution agreement value Sourceapproximately $20 million over three years
Planned annual drone cell capacity, converted Chungju line Sourceover one million drone cells

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Fourth-quarter 2025 orders were delayed mainly by logistics constraints, moving about $1.5 million of revenue into the first quarter.
  • Demand: Commercial-scale materials volume from the Hisun joint venture depends on customer demand materializing as the testing programs progress. Source
  • Regulatory: Management said NDAA-compliant high energy density pouch cells are extremely rare and are critical to developing the American drone industry. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management states it remains on track for the approximately 15% reduction in full-year operating expenses guided on the fourth quarter call. Source
  • On track: Management states cash used for operations in the first quarter was consistent with the operating plan. Source
  • Not stated: Management refers to the three-unit structure described on the fourth quarter call and says sequential comparisons now give the most meaningful view. 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.