CG
Capstone Green Energy Holdings, Inc. (CGEH)·Q1 2026 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q1 FY2026 revenue rose to $27.9M, up $12.3M YoY on stronger product shipments and higher rental utilization; gross margin expanded to 27% (+300 bps YoY), and Adjusted EBITDA reached $2.7M (fifth consecutive positive) .
- Sequentially, revenue increased vs Q4 FY2025 ($27.1M), gross profit was flat ($7.6M vs $7.5M), and EPS improved YoY to $(0.04), though operating cash flow turned negative ($1.6M used) .
- Management highlighted momentum in microgrids and data center/AI opportunities, continued price realization, and DFMA cost-out driving margin gains .
- Catalysts: (1) Cal Microturbine California distributor acquisition (closed Aug 13, 2025) with $10M consideration plus contingent payments, resolving arbitration and consolidating West Region operations ; (2) Q2 FY2026 pre-announcement indicated ~$28.4M revenue and $0.8M net income, plus leadership changes (CFO transition; Chair change) .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Revenue growth and mix: Q1 revenue increased by $12.3M YoY on higher product/accessory demand and rental utilization; average price per MW shipped increased to ~$1.8M vs ~$1.3M last year .
- Margin expansion and EBITDA: Gross margin improved to 27% (+300 bps YoY) driven by pricing and DFMA cost-out; Adjusted EBITDA rose to $2.7M from $0.7M YoY (fifth straight positive) .
- Strategic positioning: CEO emphasized microgrid leadership and growing relevance to data centers and distributed generation; “premier provider” narrative underscores resilience and low emissions proposition .
- Backlog and book-to-bill: Ending backlog increased to ~$24.6M with book-to-bill 1.07:1, supporting near-term visibility .
What Went Wrong
- Liquidity and going concern: Cash fell to $6.6M (from $8.7M at Mar 31), operating cash flow used $1.6M, and management disclosed substantial doubt about going concern amid debt maturities and liquidity covenants .
- Concentration and regional softness: Cal Micro accounted for 47% of Q1 revenue and 33% of receivables; Europe and Australia were weaker due to anti-gas sentiment and supply dynamics .
- ICFR material weakness: Controls over FPP service contracts remained ineffective; remediation in progress .
- Debt load and covenant sensitivities: Exit notes outstanding ~$32.7M with near-term maturities and stepped-up liquidity requirements; prior waivers highlight covenant sensitivity .
Financial Results
Segment revenue breakdown:
Key KPIs:
Non-GAAP adjustments (Q1 FY2026):
- EBITDA $1.244M; Adjusted EBITDA adds stock comp $0.349M, restructuring $0.189M, financing $0.055M, restatement/SEC $0.337M, M&A $0.549M; Adjusted EBITDA $2.698M .
Guidance Changes
Note: Management did not issue numerical revenue/EPS/margin guidance in the Q1 FY2026 press release or 10-Q .
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- CFO: “Capstone’s resilience… delivered the fifth straight quarter of positive Adjusted EBITDA on improved product and rental revenues… price increase and DFMA cost-out programs delivered gross profit and gross margin increases… providing an opportunity for increased participation in the evolving data center and microgrid segments.”
- CEO: “Foundational strides… uniquely position us… as surge in distributed generation and microgrid growth gains momentum… steadfast commitment to reducing the world’s carbon footprint in a sustainable and responsible way.”
- 10-Q focus: Backlog improved, book-to-bill >1, margin gains from pricing and mix; hydrogen/DC output roadmap advancing .
Q&A Highlights
Note: Q1 FY2026 transcript was not available in our document set; highlights below are from Q3 FY2025, the most recent call.
- End-market focus: Oil & gas strength across rentals/new units; data centers present sizable opportunities, with modular microgrid blocks to address multi-MW expansions; EV charging as another growth vector .
- Margin strategy: DFMA-driven cost reductions and absorption from higher volumes targeted to expand product margins; pricing discipline across rentals and LT service agreements .
- Tariffs: Material impact on components (steel/aluminum), mixed competitive implications vs EU suppliers; scenario modeling ongoing .
- Lead times & supply chain: Delivery times ~13–14 weeks; pushing suppliers to reset extended lead-time paradigms from COVID era .
- Capital/notes: Active refinancing discussions for notes due Dec 2025; exploring capital raise options post uplisting in OTC tiers .
Estimates Context
- S&P Global consensus for Q1 FY2026 EPS and revenue was not available; therefore, estimate comparison to Street consensus could not be performed.*
- Actuals delivered: Revenue $27.9M and Adjusted EBITDA $2.7M per company disclosures . Street estimate counts were unavailable.*
*Values retrieved from S&P Global.
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Execution improving: Price realization and DFMA cost-out expanded gross margin to 27% and sustained positive Adjusted EBITDA for five straight quarters .
- Demand visibility: Backlog and book-to-bill (1.07x) support near-term shipments; North America momentum offsets Europe softness .
- Strategic consolidation: Cal Micro acquisition resolves legal dispute, strengthens West Region distribution, and includes favorable cash funding structure with contingent consideration .
- Liquidity watch: Operating cash outflow ($1.6M), low cash ($6.6M), covenant sensitivity, and going concern disclosure require near-term focus on refinancing and working capital .
- Concentration risk: High reliance on Cal Micro in Q1 (47% of revenue); acquisition mitigates distribution risk but increases integration focus .
- Technology roadmap: Hydrogen and DC output innovations broaden addressable markets (EV charging, microgrids); supports data center/AI opportunities .
- Potential positive catalyst: Q2 FY2026 prelims point to ~$28.4M revenue and $0.8M net income, with leadership transitions; monitor for sustained profitability and cash trajectory .