Industry Overview - LiDAR technology is gaining traction in the automotive sector, particularly in premium vehicles and robotaxis, due to its capabilities in 3D mapping and object detection, enhancing advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving applications [1][2] - The market for LiDAR is projected to reach a $19 billion addressable market by 2030, indicating significant growth potential [5] Company Analysis: Ouster, Inc. (OUST) - Ouster is positioned to capitalize on the increasing adoption of LiDAR across various sectors, including automotive, industrial, robotics, and smart infrastructure [4] - The 2023 merger with Velodyne has expanded Ouster's product lineup and customer base, with a target of achieving over $75 million in annual cost synergies [4] - The company is transitioning from hardware sales to software-driven solutions, aiming for recurring revenue through products like the Gemini perception platform and BlueCity analytics suite [5] - Ouster anticipates annual revenue growth of 30-50% and gross margins of 35-40%, supported by significant contracts and partnerships [5] - Despite revenue growth, Ouster remains unprofitable and expects cash burn through at least 2026, although it has a solid balance sheet with $171 million in cash and no debt [6] - OUST shares have increased by 170% year to date [6] Company Analysis: Innoviz Technologies (INVZ) - Innoviz aims to be a leading supplier of LiDAR solutions for autonomous driving, with strategic partnerships with major automotive players like BMW, Volkswagen, and Mobileye [7] - The company is focused on ramping up production of InnovizTwo and developing InnovizThree, targeting revenues of $50 million to $60 million by 2025 [8] - Innoviz is also unprofitable and expects continued cash burn, but is committed to managing expenses to improve its cash burn rate [8] - The company has launched a $75 million at-the-market program to support general business purposes, including R&D and production [10] - INVZ shares have gained 17.2% year to date [10] Financial Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for OUST's 2025 revenues and EPS indicates a year-over-year increase of 24% and 29.8%, respectively [11] - For INVZ, the estimates imply a year-over-year revenue increase of 189.8% and EPS growth of 44.7% for 2025 [12] Valuation Metrics - Ouster is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-sales multiple of 9.73, significantly above its median of 3.22 over the past three years [13] - Innoviz is trading at a forward price-to-sales multiple of 2.63, also above its median of 2.4 over the last three years [13] Conclusion - Ouster's broad product lineup and focus on software-led solutions position it well for future growth in the LiDAR market [15] - Innoviz is well-positioned in the automotive LiDAR market, particularly with the acceleration of Level 4 robotaxi deployments [15] - Both companies hold a Zacks Rank 3, but Innoviz is viewed as a safer investment option amid sector growth [16]