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ESS Tech, Inc. (GWH)·Q1 2025 Earnings Summary

Executive Summary

  • Q1 2025 revenue was $0.60M, a significant miss versus Wall Street consensus of $3.45M; GAAP EPS was -$1.50 vs consensus -$1.205; adjusted EBITDA was -$14.95M versus consensus -$12.12M. Management moderated activity to conserve liquidity and pivot to Energy Base, deferring revenue recognition until installations and commissioning occur later in 2025 . Consensus values from S&P Global.*
  • Commercial traction improved: awarded a 50 MWh Energy Base project with an Arizona utility (contracting expected to conclude by September, structured as a PPA) and proposal submissions totaling 1.2 GWh ($400M) over the last two quarters; PGE systems transacted another 158 MWh, and the global fleet is nearing 2.5 GWh of energy transacted .
  • Liquidity remains the key overhang: cash and cash equivalents were $8.4M with short-term investments of $4.4M; management launched an ATM, is evaluating EXIM loan draws and other financing avenues, and disclosed going-concern considerations in the 10-Q; H2 revenue ramp is contingent on securing additional capital .
  • Near-term stock reaction catalysts: visibility on financing (ATM use, strategic capital, EXIM), closing of the Arizona PPA by September, and tariff/macro developments that favor domestic manufacturing could drive sentiment; conversely, runway and capital market risks may pressure shares until financing clarity improves .

What Went Well and What Went Wrong

What Went Well

  • Awarded 50 MWh Energy Base pilot with an Arizona public utility; management emphasized being selected over “more than 10 competitors” based on operating performance, cost and technology risk; contracting expected by September with a confirmed offtaker and potential follow-on RFP (indicative pricing for 2 GWh/200 MW follow-on) .
  • Proposal momentum and pipeline: 1.2 GWh ($400M) of proposals submitted in the last two quarters (over 70% for Energy Base), >8 GWh of inquiries across the US and Europe, plus 30+ informal inquiries representing ~1.6 GWh .
  • Operational progress and field learnings: two PGE Energy Center systems continue daily cycling and transacted another 158 MWh, supporting reliability learnings at commercial scale; Q4 EC cost-down achieved breakeven profitability on latest EC design, with continued cost reductions expected to benefit Energy Base .

What Went Wrong

  • Material miss vs consensus: revenue $0.60M (vs $3.45M consensus)* and GAAP EPS -$1.50 (vs -$1.205 consensus)* as activity was moderated to manage liquidity and the pivot to Energy Base delayed near-term revenue recognition .
  • Cost of revenue and LCNRV impacts persisted at low volumes, contributing to gross loss of -$8.15M; management noted the LCNRV adjustment continued to weigh on results and will persist at current volumes .
  • Liquidity/runway risk: cash + ST investments totaled ~$12.8M; management reiterated need for additional capital to ramp production and clear going-concern analysis; Australian project remains delayed due to government funding timing, limiting near-term shipments .

Financial Results

Quarterly Financials (GAAP unless noted)

MetricQ3 2024Q4 2024Q1 2025
Revenue ($USD Millions)$0.359 $2.850 $0.599
GAAP EPS ($USD)-$1.90 -$1.97 -$1.50
Net Loss ($USD Millions)-$22.493 -$23.479 -$18.026
Cost of Revenue ($USD Millions)$12.741 $16.038 $8.746
Gross Profit (Loss) ($USD Millions)-$12.382 -$13.188 -$8.147
Non-GAAP Total Operating Expenses ($USD Millions)$9.171 $7.877 $9.385
Adjusted EBITDA ($USD Millions)-$18.870 -$18.244 -$14.954
Cash and Cash Equivalents ($USD Millions)$12.822 $13.341 $8.422
Short-Term Investments ($USD Millions)$42.292 $18.263 $4.379

Q1 Cash Flow (YoY)

MetricQ1 2024Q1 2025
Net Cash Used in Operating Activities ($USD Millions)-$18.910 -$18.238
Net Change in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash ($USD Millions)+$15.701 -$4.999

Q1 2025 vs Wall Street Consensus (S&P Global)

MetricActualConsensusOutcome
Revenue ($USD)$0.599M $3.454M*MISS
GAAP EPS ($USD)-$1.50 -$1.205*MISS
EBITDA ($USD)-$16.606M*-$12.116M*MISS

Values retrieved from S&P Global.*

KPIs and Commercial Activity

KPIQ3 2024Q4 2024Q1 2025
Energy Center deliveries (Florida)Building started; shipments planned 6 ECs delivered; two PGE ECs commissioned/testing Final EC deliveries tied to $0.6M revenue
PGE Energy Center operation (incremental MWh)Second EC installed/testing Commissioning completed; grid interconnection in Q1 +158 MWh transacted on site
Global fleet energy transacted (cumulative)Surpassed 2 GWh Nearing 2.5 GWh
Proposal activity (last two quarters)1.2 GWh ($400M) submitted; >8 GWh inquiries; 30+ informal inquiries (~1.6 GWh)
Awarded projects50 MWh Energy Base pilot with Arizona utility (PPA structure)

Segment breakdown: Not applicable (company does not report segments in these materials.

Guidance Changes

MetricPeriodPrevious GuidanceCurrent GuidanceChange
Revenue trajectoryQ2 2025N/A“Q2 sales might be similar to Q1; ramp in H2 contingent on successful capital raise” New qualitative guidance
Production/gross margin2025 unitsPrior disclosure: EC breakeven achieved end of Q4 2024 Units produced in 2025 and beyond will be non-GAAP gross margin positive Maintained/improving
EBITDA/cash flowMulti‑yearN/APath to EBITDA and cash flow positive “in the next few years” New qualitative target
Financing2025EXIM $50M package executed (first $20M tranche agreement) ATM launched; evaluating EXIM draws/interim financing; seeking strategic capital Active shift to multiple funding levers

Note: No explicit numeric guidance ranges (e.g., revenue, margins) provided for 2025 quarters in these documents.

Earnings Call Themes & Trends

TopicPrevious Mentions (Q3 2024)Previous Mentions (Q4 2024)Current Period (Q1 2025)Trend
Capital raise/runwayEXIM credit agreement executed; listing compliance via reverse split Emphasis on cost-down, breakeven EC design ATM launched; EXIM loan as interim option; going-concern noted; active strategic capital discussions Worsening near-term liquidity; active remediation
Product strategy (Energy Base)Energy Base announced as modular, non-containerized GWh-scale solution Secured 50 MWh EB award; proposals ~1.2 GWh; resource reallocation to EB cost/performance Improving commercial traction
Tariffs/macro tailwindsDomestic manufacturing advantages; evolving tariff regime; IRA/45X supportive; pending FPFA could favor low‑carbon inputs Improving relative positioning
Australian project timingFunding delays impacted Q3 revenue Government funding still not through; no timing update Persisting delay
PGE operation/field learningsFirst EC operating with high reliability; second EC built First two ECs commissioned and grid‑connected +158 MWh transacted; on‑site extended duration stacks planned (12‑hour in Q2) Improving operational data
Honeywell partnershipMultiple fronts of collaboration on EB; initial 4 projects complete/near completion Strengthening execution

Management Commentary

  • “We have been awarded a 50 MWh project that is now in contracting… submissions representing approximately 1.2 GWh (or $400 million) over the last two quarters.” — Kelly Goodman, Interim CEO .
  • “Our two Portland General Electric systems are continuing grid operation and running daily cycling, having transacted another 158 MWh in energy…” — Kelly Goodman .
  • “We continue to expect [adjusted EBITDA] loss to narrow as units produced in 2025 and beyond will be non-GAAP gross margin positive… path to transition to EBITDA and cash flow positive in the next few years.” — CFO Anthony Rabb .
  • “The tariff landscape remains both significant and volatile… our batteries [are] made here in the United States… over 98% of components sourced domestically.” — Kelly Goodman .

Q&A Highlights

  • Near-term outlook: Q2 sales similar to Q1; H2 ramp contingent on capital raise; company is moderating spend/production until additional capital is accessed .
  • Deposits/worked capital: Customer deposits historically range 5%–20%; seeking higher end with milestone payments to maintain cash neutrality on projects .
  • Energy Base/Arizona RFP: Non‑lithium requirement; EB’s 10+ hour duration, broad temperature performance, competitive cost, and field experience were decisive .
  • Manufacturing capacity: Additional lines can be added relatively quickly and inexpensively; customers not expressing concerns about being too large a share of ESS capacity .
  • Australian project: Government funding still pending; timing uncertain .
  • Inquiry levels: Tariff uncertainty and electrification growth are increasing inquiries as an alternative to lithium-ion .

Estimates Context

  • ESS significantly missed Q1 consensus on revenue and EPS: $0.599M actual vs $3.454M consensus*, and -$1.50 EPS vs -$1.205 consensus*; EBITDA was more negative than consensus as LCNRV and low volumes weighed on cost of revenue and margins .
  • Given moderated near-term activity and H2 ramp contingent on capital, estimates likely need to reflect lower H1 volumes and the sequencing of EB projects (contracting deposits, project-level financing, and later revenue recognition), with upside if Arizona PPA closes by September and additional EB awards progress .

Values retrieved from S&P Global.*

Key Takeaways for Investors

  • Liquidity drives the narrative: financing clarity (ATM execution, EXIM draw, strategic capital) is a near-term stock catalyst; H2 ramp is contingent on capital access .
  • Commercial validation of Energy Base: 50 MWh Arizona award and ~1.2 GWh proposals demonstrate traction in non‑lithium LDES, with potential multi‑GWh follow‑on; watch for contract finalization by September .
  • Operational proof points: PGE daily cycling (+158 MWh) and planned on‑site 12‑hour demonstration in Q2 should improve confidence in longer-duration performance .
  • Policy/tariff tailwinds: domestic manufacturing positioning plus evolving tariffs/IRA/45X support could enhance competitiveness vs imported Li‑ion solutions .
  • Cost-down momentum: EC design breakeven achieved in Q4; management expects units produced in 2025+ to be non‑GAAP gross margin positive, narrowing losses as volumes scale .
  • Revenue phasing: Expect muted H1 (installation/commissioning timing and cautious spend), with potential H2 ramp if capital secured; Q1 miss underscores need to recalibrate near-term estimates .
  • Project financing model: PPA/tolling structures enable project‑level capital, deposits (5–20%) and ratable revenue, smoothing future revenue profiles; watch deposit milestones and project financing partners .

Citations:

  • Q1 2025 press release and financials:
  • Q1 2025 8-K and exhibits:
  • Q1 2025 earnings call transcript:
  • Q4 2024 press release:
  • Q3 2024 press release:
  • Other relevant Q1 2025 press releases: