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Oklo(OKLO) - 2025 Q1 - Earnings Call Transcript
OkloOklo(US:OKLO)2025-05-13 22:00

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Oklo's first quarter operating loss was $17.9 million, including non-cash stock-based compensation of $2.3 million [35] - Loss before income taxes was $14.2 million, reflecting an operating loss adjusted for net interest income of $3.6 million [35] - Cash used in operating activities was $12.2 million, with a full-year guidance of $65 million to $80 million for total cash used in operations [35] - At the end of the quarter, cash and marketable securities totaled $260.7 million [36] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is advancing steadily toward commercial deployment, having completed a major milestone in preparing the INL site for the Aurora Powerhouse [13] - The customer pipeline totals over 14 gigawatts, spanning sectors like data centers and defense, indicating strong and growing demand [36] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The U.S. administration has made nuclear energy a strategic priority, with recent executive orders supporting nuclear energy initiatives [5][6] - The Department of Defense (DoD) is expected to take a more active role in nuclear procurement, which could accelerate reactor deployments [40] Company Strategy and Development Direction - Oklo's competitive advantage is based on a build-own-operate business model, small-scale modern design, and proven technology [8][9] - The company aims to bring its first commercial unit online in late 2027 to early 2028, focusing on delivering a commercial powerhouse rather than a demonstration plant [11] - Oklo is pursuing a comprehensive fuel strategy, including partnerships for HALEU supply and in-house fuel recycling capabilities [21][22] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the alignment of federal support for nuclear energy with Oklo's mission and model [6][7] - The company is optimistic about the regulatory environment, noting the NRC's increasing embrace of flexible and modern approaches [18] - Management highlighted the importance of efficient and effective licensing processes to support scalable deployment [84] Other Important Information - Oklo acquired Atomic Alchemy to expand its reach into the high-growth radioisotope market, which is expected to drive near-term revenue and long-term market leadership [25][26] - The company is formalizing new partnerships to support technology development and deployment of POWERHOUSE and radioisotope assets [13] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you talk about the regulatory authority for nuclear power that the DoD has today? - The DoD has authority to regulate nuclear plants for their use cases and is exploring ways to streamline regulatory processes to accelerate reactor deployments [40][41] Question: Can you give us an update on other parts of the supply chain and your confidence in commencing construction? - The company is leveraging existing supply chains and is focused on fuel as the primary challenge, with plans to accelerate construction efforts [44][46] Question: When might you start taking delivery of fuel from the MOU with Centrus? - The first fuel for the initial plant is allocated from government reserves, while commercial procurement for subsequent plants is still being structured [53][55] Question: Will additional capital be needed given the larger reactor size and growth plans? - The balance sheet has adequate capital for the deployment of the INL plant, but the company will raise capital strategically if needed [64][65] Question: What does the NRC process look like for the Viper facility? - The licensing process for the Viper facility is simpler and more straightforward than for power reactors, benefiting from a two-step process [66][68]