greeksoup/ stock research

Unusual Machines, Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 14 May 2026: letter to shareholders. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 296% year over year: Revenue was about $8.1 million, against $2.0 million in Q1 2025, and up 65% from Q4 2025 according to the letter. Source
  • Operating loss widened to $7.3 million: Loss from operations was about $7.3 million, against $3.3 million a year earlier, and included non-cash stock compensation of $3.9 million. Source
  • Gross margin fell to 32.8%: Gross margin was 32.8% in the CEO letter, about 33% in the results section, down from 36% in Q4 2025, as manufacturing staff were added. Source
  • Operational loss about $1.5 million: Excluding non-cash and non-recurring items, the operational net loss was about $1.5 million, the first quarter above $1.0 million since listing. Source
  • Drone Dominance program on schedule: The $1.1 billion Drone Dominance program named its first awardees in Q1; over half are customers, and management said Phase 2 dates are set. Source
  • Raw material inventory rose to $25.8M: Raw material and prepaid inventory rose from $13.9 million to $25.8 million over the quarter, to support future production. Source
  • Cash rose to $222.9 million: Cash ended March 31 at $222.9 million, up from $103.2 million, mainly from the March 2026 stock offering and January warrant exercises. Source

“At a very high level, we are doing something unusual - rapid growth without burning cash too quickly.”

Allan Evans, CEO

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Gross margin Sourceafter growth slows (timing not fixed)about 40%

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Management said it recently announced the acquisition of Upgrade Energy to accelerate battery production plans. Source
  • New: The letter says the company raised $150 million at $17 per share after quarter end; the Q1 cash flow statement shows $149,999,993 gross public offering proceeds. Source
  • New: After quarter end, the company placed about $75 million of raw material orders using its cash position. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 296% year over year: Revenue was about $8.1 million, against $2.0 million in Q1 2025, and up 65% from Q4 2025 according to the letter. Source
  • Net income driven by investment gains: Net income was $10.3 million, or $0.22 per share basic. Management attributed the blended GAAP gain mainly to unrealized investment gains of $9.5 million. Source
  • Net profit excluding unrealized gains: Management said that even excluding unrealized investment gains, the company generated a net profit of $0.8 million. Source
  • Operating loss widened to $7.3 million: Loss from operations was about $7.3 million, against $3.3 million a year earlier, and included non-cash stock compensation of $3.9 million. Source

Products and customers

  • US-made Fat Shark headsets at scale: The Fat Shark headset facility began producing U.S.-made headsets at scale in January; it is the first Orlando site working with optics. Source
  • Demand spread across product lines: Management said demand is not tied to one product or customer, and that shifts and capacity are being added at all facilities. Source
  • Largest customer near 19% of revenue: The largest customer was about 19% of Q1 revenue, and the single best-selling product about 12.7%; management cited the mix as a sign of broad growth. Source

“These costs do not worry us, as they reflect the investment needed to build capacity ahead of revenue generation.”

Allan Evans, CEO

Costs and margins

  • Gross margin fell to 32.8%: Gross margin was 32.8% in the CEO letter, about 33% in the results section, down from 36% in Q4 2025, as manufacturing staff were added. Source
  • Headcount growth added production cost: Headcount grew from 38 to 81 in Q4 2025 and from 81 to 141 in Q1 2026; management said new manufacturing employees factor into production costs. Source
  • Operating expenses reached $9.9 million: Operating expenses were $9.9 million, including non-cash expenses of about $4.0 million and non-recurring expenses of about $1.1 million. Source
  • Operational loss about $1.5 million: Excluding non-cash and non-recurring items, the operational net loss was about $1.5 million, the first quarter above $1.0 million since listing. Source
  • Year-over-year margin gain cited drivers: Compared with Q1 2025, gross margin improved, which management attributed partly to enterprise sales, tariff-related costs, and certain retail margins. Source

Demand and government programs

  • Drone Dominance program on schedule: The $1.1 billion Drone Dominance program named its first awardees in Q1; over half are customers, and management said Phase 2 dates are set. Source
  • Counter-drone demand linked to Iran: Management linked counter-drone demand to the conflict in Iran, citing a recent PowerUS order for parts the company also makes for small drones. Source
  • Department of War budget growth: Management said the proposed Department of War budget is 50% larger than last year, and that the DAWG allocation is ballooning to $56B. Source

“Our capital position allows us to continue to grow as fast as we can to support the rapidly scaling domestic drone ecosystem, which is creating significant demand for our products.”

Allan Evans, CEO

Inventory, cash and working capital

  • Raw material inventory rose to $25.8M: Raw material and prepaid inventory rose from $13.9 million to $25.8 million over the quarter, to support future production. Source
  • Finished inventory stayed low: Management said inventory conversion into sales drove the quarter, with finished inventory changing little, from $1.1 million to $1.6 million. Source
  • Cash rose to $222.9 million: Cash ended March 31 at $222.9 million, up from $103.2 million, mainly from the March 2026 stock offering and January warrant exercises. Source
  • Operating cash gain versus cash used: Management cited an operating cash gain of about $4.8 million, a non-GAAP measure; the statement of cash flows shows $17.4 million used in operating activities. Source
  • Working capital reported at $312.7M: Management cited working capital of about $312.7 million; Table 3 shows net working capital of $313.5 million, up from $157.4 million. Source

Strategy, capacity and people

  • Adding people, shifts and equipment: Management said it is adding people, shifts and equipment to all production facilities, and aims to scale as quickly as possible. Source
  • Workforce above 190 employees: As of the letter date, headcount exceeded 190 employees, and management said it continues to expand and scale production. Source
  • Company still seen as small: Management said it constantly seeks to right-size the company and, in its view, the company is still much too small. Source
  • New product categories added: Management said it continues to add product categories such as headsets and batteries, and expects to keep expanding operations. Source

Coming up, as management said on 14 May 2026

  • Upgrade Energy closing and battery packs: Management expects battery pack manufacturing in Orlando and California as the Upgrade Energy acquisition nears closing. Source
  • Motor capacity expansion in H2 2026: Management plans a large increase in motor production capacity in the second half of 2026, using automated production equipment. Source
  • Drone Dominance Phase 2 dates set: Management said the Drone Dominance program continues on schedule, with Phase 2 dates already set. Source
  • FAA drone rules expected late 2027: Management said the FAA is moving to enact rules that would enable drone delivery and expand the domestic drone market in late 2027. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Headcount (employees) Source141 at March 31, 2026, up from 81 at December 31, 2025
Largest customer share of Q1 revenue Sourceapproximately 19%
Best-selling product share of revenue Sourceapproximately 12.7%

Risks management discussed

  • Operational: Management said new products, processes and facilities will reduce gross margins in the short term. Source
  • Financial: Management said the operational net loss exceeded $1.0 million for the first time since the company became public. Source
  • Demand: Management said revenue must grow to absorb added material purchases, or the company risks scaling ahead of demand and incurring losses. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said it is on track to add camera manufacturing in late 2026. Source
  • On track: Management said the Drone Dominance program is on time, and Phase 2 is already scheduled. 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.