FG
Fly-E Group, Inc. (FLYE)·Q1 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q1 FY2025 revenue was $7.87 million (+0.4% YoY), gross margin expanded 470 bps to 39.4%, but higher OpEx (store expansion, IPO-related costs) turned operating income to a small loss and EPS to $(0.01) .
- Mix and pricing helped: ASP rose 4.6% to $1,053, offsetting a 7.9% unit decline to 10,300; battery procurement improved sharply (unit cost down ~56% YoY), supporting margins .
- No formal guidance was issued; management emphasized retail footprint expansion, rental launch, and app development as growth levers; later quarters (Q2/Q3 FY2025) maintained 40%+ GM but saw softer topline and negative EPS amid elevated OpEx .
- Street consensus was unavailable via S&P Global for Q1 FY2025 at time of request; use company-reported figures for performance assessment (see Estimates Context) .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Gross margin expanded to 39.4% (+470 bps YoY) on lower battery costs and higher ASPs; EBITDA remained positive at $57k despite OpEx pressure .
- Retail channel strength: retail revenue grew 11.4% YoY to $6.9 million, supported by seven new stores added June 2023–June 2024 .
- Management execution and pricing: “...increase in our average sales price per EV... continued cooperation with our suppliers... more favorable price... batteries,” underpinning margin resilience .
What Went Wrong
- Units declined 7.9% YoY (10,300 vs. 11,188), with softness in e-bikes and batteries as consumers shifted toward e-motorcycles; wholesale revenue fell to $1.0 million from $1.7 million .
- OpEx ramp (+61% YoY) from payroll, rent, marketing, professional fees, and development tied to store expansion and IPO readiness drove operating loss of $(45,499) .
- Net income swung to a $(0.18) million loss (vs. $0.44 million profit in Q1 FY2024) as higher operating costs and interest expense more than offset gross profit gains .
Financial Results
YoY comparison (Q1 FY2024 → Q1 FY2025)
Sequential/trend (FY2025 quarterly trajectory; oldest → newest)
Segment/Channel Breakdown (Q1 FY2025)
KPIs (Q1 FY2025)
Guidance Changes
No formal quantitative guidance was provided for revenue, margins, OpEx, OI&E, or tax rate in Q1 FY2025 materials. Management commentary focused on expansion, rental services, and app development without numeric targets .
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Note: The company did not provide an earnings call transcript for Q1 FY2025. We use press releases for Q1, and for trend context we reference Q2 and Q3 FY2025 updates.
Management Commentary
- “Despite the inflationary pressure and intense competition, we have managed to sustain steady expansion with a gross profit increase of 13.8%... increase in our average sales price per EV... more favorable price... when purchasing batteries... witnessed significant increases in selling and general administrative expenses... necessary to support our continued growth” — CEO Zhou (Andy) Ou .
- “In the second quarter... we held a stable gross margin above 40%, even as operating expenses increased with our efforts to add e-bike rental business... expanding into key markets like Miami, Los Angeles and Toronto...” — CEO .
- “Our Fly-11 PRO was selected as the official model for [NYC DOT] $2 million [Trade-in] initiative, reinforcing our commitment to safety...” — CEO (Q3 FY2025) .
Q&A Highlights
- No earnings call transcript was available for Q1 FY2025; no Q&A to summarize. Strategic updates and clarifications were provided via press releases (retail expansion, rental launch, app development, and safety positioning) .
Estimates Context
- Wall Street consensus (S&P Global) for Q1 FY2025 EPS and revenue was unavailable at time of request (SPGI daily limit exceeded). As a result, beat/miss vs. consensus could not be assessed; the analysis relies on company-reported results .
- If/when S&P Global estimates become available, key comparison points: revenue $7.87 million and EPS $(0.01); EBITDA $0.06 million; GM 39.4% .
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Margin defense through mix and procurement: GM expanded to 39.4% on lower battery input costs and higher ASPs; subsequent quarters further improved margins to >40% despite revenue pressure .
- Topline headwinds likely persist near-term: Units declined in Q1 and Q2/Q3 revenue trended lower amid NYC battery safety incidents; wholesale weakness from customer closures adds pressure .
- OpEx intensity is the swing factor for profitability: Store expansion, payroll, rent, D&O insurance, and IPO-related professional fees drove losses in Q1–Q3; monitoring OpEx discipline and operating leverage is critical .
- Channel strategy pivot: Retail is the growth engine (+11% YoY in Q1) while wholesale faces structural pressure; scaling rental and app ecosystem could diversify revenue and smooth seasonality .
- Regulatory/safety positioning as a catalyst: Participation in NYC DOT’s Trade-in program (Fly-11 PRO selected) may drive brand trust and traffic; continued emphasis on UL-certified products aligns with policy trends .
- Liquidity improved post-IPO, but cash generation dipped: Cash rose to $4.47 million by Q1 on IPO proceeds, while CFO was $(4.5) million due to working capital; subsequent nine-month cash roughly flat, underscoring need for cash discipline .
- Watch narrative into FY2026: If safety initiatives and rental/app execution offset demand headwinds and OpEx normalizes, the path back to positive EBITDA is plausible as seen historically (FY2024 EBITDA $3.5 million) .
Appendix: Additional Data
- FY2024 context: Revenue $32.2 million (+47.9% YoY), GM 40.7% (+260 bps), EPS $0.09, EBITDA $3.5 million; provides baseline for profitability potential once OpEx normalizes .
- Q2 FY2025 snapshot: Revenue $6.82 million, GM 42.6%, EPS $(0.05), EBITDA $(1.19) million; demand impact from battery incidents and higher OpEx noted .
- Q3 FY2025 snapshot: Revenue $5.68 million, GM 45.1%, EPS $(0.03), EBITDA $(0.80) million; rental revenue begins; safety program involvement highlighted .