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Charlotte's Web Holdings, Inc. (CWBHF)·Q3 2025 Earnings Summary

Executive Summary

  • Q3 2025 missed on growth with revenue down 8.6% year over year to $11.50M as the company intentionally reshaped its B2B channel; gross margin compressed to 38.9% on a $0.5M one-time chargeback reserve and early under-absorption from insourced gummy production .
  • Cost controls remain the bright spot: SG&A fell 23.3% YoY to $9.73M, and management reiterated ~$9M in annualized cost savings for 2026; Adjusted EBITDA improved to $(2.09)M from $(3.89)M YoY despite lower revenue .
  • Operational milestones include full internalization of Brightside hemp-derived THC gummy production (multi-million-unit capacity) and expansion of the sleep portfolio (CBN Stay Sleep now #2 gummy); the new Brightside Knockout sleep gummy launched in October with strong initial uptake .
  • Management expects gross margin to rebound toward historical ~50% in Q4 2025 as insourced production scales; no quarterly call was held this quarter, with the next call planned with year-end results in March 2026 .

What Went Well and What Went Wrong

  • What Went Well

    • Cost discipline delivered: SG&A declined to $9.7M (−23.3% YoY), and the company reaffirmed ~$9M in 2026 annualized cost reductions, supporting the path to positive cash flow in 2026 .
    • Manufacturing internalization reached a key milestone, achieving multi-million-unit Brightside gummy capacity to accelerate innovation and structurally lower costs over time .
    • Product innovation resonated: sleep lineup expanded to five products; CBN Stay Sleep is the second-best-selling gummy; Brightside Knockout hemp-THC sleep gummy launched with rapid consumer uptake in October .
  • What Went Wrong

    • Revenue contracted 8.6% YoY to $11.50M, primarily due to the strategic B2B restructuring; the shift included a $0.5M reserve against potential customer chargebacks, which directly pressured Q3 revenue and gross margin .
    • Gross margin fell to 38.9% (vs. 53.0% YoY; 46.8% in Q2), reflecting the B2B reserve and temporary under-absorption from early-stage in-house production scaling .
    • Liquidity trended lower as cash declined to $9.81M (from $15.27M in Q2 and $19.36M in Q1), while the convertible debenture balance stood at $48.82M; management cites multiple pathways to positive cash flow in 2026 but near-term cash remains a watch item .

Financial Results

Key P&L and margin metrics

MetricQ3 2024Q2 2025Q3 2025
Revenue ($M)$12.59 $12.81 $11.50
Gross Profit ($M)$6.67 $5.99 $4.48
Gross Margin (%)53.0% 46.8% 38.9%
Operating Loss ($M)$(6.02) $(4.07) $(5.25)
Net Loss ($M)$(5.79) $(6.29) $(5.82)
EPS (Basic & Diluted)$(0.04) $(0.04) $(0.04)
Adjusted EBITDA ($M)$(3.89) $(3.62) $(2.09)

Notes:

  • YoY revenue down 8.6% driven by B2B channel restructuring; gross margin impacted by $0.5M B2B reserve and early-stage in-house manufacturing under-absorption .
  • Management expects gross margin to rebound toward historical ~50% in Q4 2025 as insourced production scales .

Liquidity and balance sheet snapshots

MetricQ1 2025Q2 2025Q3 2025
Cash & Equivalents ($M)$19.36 $15.27 $9.81
Working Capital ($M)$25.5 $29.4 $25.6
Convertible Debenture ($M)$44.75 $48.62 $48.82
Total Liabilities ($M)$86.96 $73.05 $72.35

Operating expense and non-GAAP

MetricQ3 2024Q2 2025Q3 2025
SG&A ($M)$12.69 $10.06 $9.73

Segment breakdown/KPIs: The company does not provide segment revenue detail; qualitative KPIs cited include medical channel progress and product velocity within sleep and Brightside categories .

Guidance Changes

MetricPeriodPrevious GuidanceCurrent GuidanceChange
Annualized cost savings2026“> $6M” plus manufacturing savings expected to total ~$9M (post-Q2 actions) ~$9M annualized in 2026 (reaffirmed) Maintained
Gross margin trajectoryQ4 2025Not previously specifiedRebound toward historical ~50% in Q4 2025 as insourcing scales New/Clarified
Manufacturing savingsRun-rate~$3M annualized from in-house gummy production ~$3M annualized; improved absorption expected as scale increases Maintained
Cash flow2026“Multiple paths to positive cash flow” “Multiple pathways to positive cash flow in 2026” Maintained
B2B channel shiftNear-termN/AOne-time ~$0.5M revenue reserve; not expected to recur New item

Earnings Call Themes & Trends

Note: No Q3 earnings call; company will host two calls per year, next with year-end results in March 2026 .

TopicPrevious Mentions (Q1 & Q2 2025)Current Period (Q3 2025)Trend
Manufacturing internalizationInitiated and expanding; Brightside fully internalized; ~$3M annualized savings expected Full internalization of Brightside hemp-THC gummies; multi-million-unit capacity; scaling to improve absorption Improving
Cost optimizationSG&A −24.2% YoY in Q1; −31.7% YoY in Q2; actions to reduce 2026 run-rate by >$6M; ~ $9M including manufacturing SG&A −23.3% YoY; reiterates ~ $9M 2026 annualized savings Stable/Executing
Product performance: SleepCBN Stay Sleep among top sellers; portfolio expansion Sleep lineup now five products; CBN Stay Sleep is #2 gummy; new Knockout launched in Oct Strengthening
Regulatory/legalFavorable federal momentum signaled; advocacy efforts highlighted Mixed signals: restrictive draft language in funding bill vs public support for CBD; 365-day runway if enacted; active engagement in D.C. Uncertain but engaged
Medical channel strategyEmphasis on practitioner channel and clinical validation; DeFloria Phase 2 cleared Scientific Advisory Board launched; CME plans; continued DeFloria Phase 2 path Building
B2B channelOmnichannel expansion in Q1–Q2 B2B restructuring; one-time $0.5M chargeback reserve; pivot to higher-margin distribution Transitioning

Management Commentary

  • “Q3 2025 marked continued progress in our strategic transformation… completed the internalization of Brightside gummy production… expanded sleep portfolio… promising early performance of our new Brightside hemp-derived delta-9 products, combined with some positive regulatory signals from Washington…” — CEO Bill Morachnick .
  • “Third quarter SG&A expenses declined 23.6% year-over-year… position us to deliver approximately $9 million in total annualized cost savings in 2026.” — CFO Erika Lind .
  • “Gross margin compression resulted from a one-time $0.5 million B2B retail chargeback reserve… and temporary scaling inefficiencies associated with the transition to in-house manufacturing operations… anticipate gross margin to rebound to historical range in Q4 2025.” — Company statement .

Q&A Highlights

  • The company did not host a Q3 2025 earnings call; next call is planned with year-end results in March 2026 .

Estimates Context

  • S&P Global consensus estimates were not published for Q3 2025 EPS and revenue; as a result, we cannot quantify an “against-consensus” surprise this quarter (S&P Global)*.
  • Actuals: Revenue $11.50M, EPS $(0.04), Adjusted EBITDA $(2.09)M (company-reported) .

Table: Against Consensus

MetricQ3 2025 ActualQ3 2025 ConsensusSurprise
Revenue ($M)$11.50 N/A*N/A*
EPS ($)$(0.04) N/A*N/A*
Adjusted EBITDA ($M)$(2.09) N/A*N/A*

*Values retrieved from S&P Global.

Key Takeaways for Investors

  • Near-term reset to improve profitability: the B2B restructuring and one-time $0.5M reserve weighed on Q3 revenue/margins, but should improve mix, SG&A leverage, and margin contribution going forward .
  • Margin inflection watch: management expects gross margin to rebound toward historical ~50% in Q4 2025 as insourced production scales; tracking Q4 gross margin will be a key near-term catalyst .
  • Cost-down story intact: ~ $9M of 2026 annualized savings (reaffirmed) and SG&A reductions underpin the path to positive cash flow in 2026 if modest growth resumes and manufacturing absorption improves .
  • Innovation-led growth optionality: sleep portfolio momentum (including Knockout) and Brightside hemp-THC product velocity provide product-led upside if consumer traction persists .
  • Liquidity/capital structure monitoring: cash declined to $9.81M with a $48.82M convertible debenture; sequential cash flow improvement in Q4 is guided, but cash burn trajectory remains a key risk factor to monitor .
  • Regulatory path a swing factor: mixed federal signals but a 365-day window if restrictive language advances; company is actively engaged and believes rational, non-intoxicating CBD access remains achievable .
  • Trading setup: absent consensus estimates and a call, narrative catalysts hinge on Q4 margin rebound, cash flow trajectory into 2026, and continued product velocity in sleep/Brightside; any regulatory clarity could be a step-function catalyst for the category .

Supporting documents and references

  • Q3 2025 Form 8-K and Exhibit 99.1 Press Release (financials, commentary) .
  • Q2 2025 8-K and Press Release (trend, prior guidance) .
  • Q1 2025 Press Release (trend) .
  • Product and SAB releases (Q3 relevant) .