Ocean Power Technologies(OPTT) - 2026 Q2 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Backlog increased to approximately $15 million, up $11.2 million year-over-year, reflecting conversion of opportunities across various sectors [6][8] - Pipeline expanded to $137.5 million, an increase of $53.2 million year-over-year, indicating larger and more strategic opportunities [6][8] - Revenue for the quarter was $0.4 million, down from $2.4 million in the prior period, attributed to delays in deliverables [8] - Gross profit for the quarter was a loss of $1.4 million, compared to a profit of $0.8 million in the prior year [8] - Operating expenses rose to $8.8 million for the quarter, compared to $4.7 million in the prior year, primarily due to higher non-cash stock-based compensation [9] - Net losses were $10.8 million for the quarter, compared to $3.9 million in the prior year [9] - Cash and short-term investments totaled $11.7 million as of October 31, up from $6.7 million at the beginning of the fiscal year [9] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Eight Autonomous Surface Vehicles (ASVs) were delivered during the quarter, supporting demonstrations and customer milestones [8] - The company maintained steady ASV deliveries and advanced PowerBuoy readiness for national security missions [5][8] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company is seeing increased demand across defense, government security, offshore energy, and commercial applications [4][10] - International demonstrations in Latin America and the UAE have validated system performance and opened new avenues for follow-on work [5][10] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company reorganized delivery and internal R&D teams to improve coordination and scalability as opportunities grow [6] - Focus remains on execution, reliability, and supporting customer missions with systems that perform consistently in real-world environments [10] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted strengthening demand signals across core markets and regained momentum in government engagement [10] - The company is preparing for anticipated buoy orders and has aligned teams to support upcoming opportunities [10] Other Important Information - The company has been granted trusted operator status by AUVSI, leading to the opening of a training school for USV operators [17] - The company is expanding its international footprint, particularly in the oil and gas sector outside the U.S. [24] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you talk about the pipeline and customer orders? - Management indicated a balanced mix in the pipeline, with ongoing discussions particularly in homeland security and the Department of War [12][13] Question: How is headcount growth supporting the pipeline? - The company has expanded its delivery-focused functions and commercial team to facilitate discussions with government agencies [16][17] Question: Will the government shutdown impact revenues next quarter? - Management noted an uptick in pace and is optimistic about shipping efforts shortly, but it is uncertain if it will be additive or a push-out [18] Question: How has recent regulatory news impacted momentum in wind energy? - The company remains engaged in offshore energy sectors outside the U.S., particularly in the UAE, and is focused on lowering operational costs for customers [23][24] Question: How does the company differentiate between pipeline and backlog? - Pipeline consists of qualified opportunities under NDA, while backlog includes confirmed contracts and purchase orders [25][26]