Core Insights - Twist Bioscience Corporation reported a mixed performance for the fourth quarter, with a loss of 45 cents per share, slightly worse than the consensus estimate of a 43-cent loss, while sales reached $99.01 million, up 17% year over year, exceeding the consensus of $97.32 million [1][2] Financial Performance - The adjusted EBITDA loss for the fourth quarter was $7.8 million, an improvement from a loss of $17 million a year ago [1] - Gross margin for the fourth quarter increased to 51.3%, compared to 45.1% a year ago [2] Customer and Product Metrics - The company shipped products to approximately 3,800 customers in 2025, up from about 3,550 the previous year [2] - Twist shipped approximately 938,000 genes, an increase from approximately 772,000 genes a year ago [2] Future Outlook - For fiscal 2026, Twist Bioscience expects sales between $425 million and $435 million, significantly higher than the consensus of $374.69 million [3] - The guidance includes revenue expectations of approximately $194 million to $199 million from DNA Synthesis and Protein Solutions, and $231 million to $236 million from NGS Applications [3] - Gross margin is anticipated to be above 52% for fiscal 2026 [3] - For the first quarter of 2026, sales are projected to be between $100 million and $101 million, compared to the consensus of $100.34 million [3] Strategic Goals - The company aims to achieve adjusted EBITDA breakeven by the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, entering a new growth phase [4] - CEO Emily M. Leproust emphasized the goal of maintaining gross margins above 50% and moving towards sustained profitable growth [4] Analyst Perspective - William Blair noted that shares of Twist trade at 3.9 times its calendar 2026 sales target, below the average of 6.3 times for high-growth life science tools peers [5] - Analyst Matt Larew expressed confidence in the long-term revenue growth trajectory, highlighting the company's aggressive investments in multiple markets, which could lead to over 20% growth [5] - The company’s strategy to moderate investments while aiming for adjusted EBITDA breakeven is seen as a positive move [6]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company achieved a reduction in annual run rate costs of $205 million between Q1 2024 and Q1 2025, surpassing the initial target of $200 million [7] - Cash and cash equivalents on the balance sheet stand at $517 million with no bank debt, positioning the company strongly among peers in the biotechnology sector [8][26] - Total company adjusted EBITDA improved to negative $47 million in Q1 2025 from negative $117 million in Q1 2024, indicating significant progress in profitability [17] - Cash burn decreased to $58 million in Q1 2025 from $104 million in Q1 2024, reflecting the impact of restructuring efforts [18] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Cell engineering revenue reached $38 million in Q1 2025, a 37% increase year-over-year, with a 10% increase to $31 million when excluding noncash revenue [11] - The biosecurity business generated $10 million in revenue in Q1 2025, with a segment gross margin of 28% [13] - The number of revenue-generating programs in cell engineering increased by 32% year-over-year, totaling 123 programs [12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company has 28 government projects across cell engineering and biosecurity, with a contracted backlog exceeding $180 million [32] - The company is positioned to benefit from increased government investment in biotechnology, as highlighted by recent speeches from government officials [28][32] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to reach adjusted EBITDA breakeven by the end of 2026 while maintaining a cash margin of safety [4] - The strategic focus includes expanding the tools business and enhancing the way the platform is sold, moving beyond traditional R&D solutions [6][21] - The company is actively pursuing opportunities in the automation and data points sectors, leveraging its expertise in high-throughput screening and AI [46][84] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - The management expressed optimism about the biotechnology sector's resilience despite current market challenges, emphasizing that companies that navigate this period successfully will be in a strong position [9][26] - The management highlighted the importance of government funding for biotechnology and expressed confidence in the continuation of such funding [32][96] Other Important Information - The company has made significant strides in cost reduction while continuing to serve existing customers effectively [7][20] - The introduction of new metrics for revenue-generating programs aims to provide more useful data for analysts and investors [12] Q&A Session Summary Question: Is there an opportunity for data points to evolve into a SaaS cloud computing product? - The management acknowledged the potential for Ginkgo to assist large pharma companies with data architecture and automation technology, but clarified that the approach to market is still being evaluated [87][89] Question: Can you provide more details on the ARPA H contract and its revenue recognition? - The ARPA H contract is valued at $29 million over two years, with revenue expected to be recognized accordingly, which significantly derisks the revenue guidance for the year [94][95] - The management remains hopeful about the continuation of funding for biotechnology projects despite potential cuts in government spending [96]