IP
Ideal Power Inc. (IPWR)·Q1 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Revenue was $12,003, up sequentially from $5,408 in Q4 and $554 in Q3, and above Wall Street consensus of $10,000; diluted EPS was $(0.30), in line with consensus of $(0.30). Consensus counts were thin (1 estimate each). Revenue beat; EPS inline.* *
- Operational execution accelerated: SSCB prototypes for the first design win were completed three months ahead of schedule; the company added a third Global 500 power management customer order and secured internal approval at Stellantis for a new EV contactor program in addition to the drivetrain inverter work. These actions underpin management’s expectation for an initial sales ramp in 2H 2025.
- Cash burn of $2.1M came in below Q1 guidance ($2.2–$2.4M); CFO guided Q2 cash burn to $2.5–$2.7M and full-year 2025 cash burn to “over $10M,” reflecting staffing and commercialization spend from 2024–2025 hiring. Cash ended Q1 at $13.7M; no debt.
- Management expects minimal impact from recently enacted tariffs (power semiconductors largely exempt) and highlighted asset-light, dual-sourced wafer fabrication and packaging with no China exposure as supply-chain risk mitigants. Near-term stock catalysts include a Stellantis purchase order, additional SSCB/EV contactor design wins, and the targeted completion of automotive qualification in Q4 2025.
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Completed solid-state circuit breaker (SSCB) prototypes tied to the first design win three months ahead of schedule; initial customer testing “went well,” supporting commercial introduction in coming months. “We completed the solid-state circuit breaker prototypes… three months ahead of schedule.”
- Added commercial engagements: order from a third Forbes Global 500 power management leader for SSCB evaluation; Sekorm distributor secured orders for discrete B-TRAN, SymCool modules and SSCB boards; a new Quest Semi sales rep partnership expands reach in Europe/Asia.
- Automotive traction strengthened: Stellantis internally approved a high-priority EV contactor program (in addition to drivetrain inverter), expected to move faster than inverter phase work; multiple Tier 1s and a second/third global automaker are engaged across EV contactors and SSCB concepts.
What Went Wrong
- Commercial revenue remains de minimis despite sequential growth: $12,003 in Q1 versus $5,408 in Q4 and $554 in Q3; gross profit remained negative due to low volume and cost absorption at early commercialization stage.
- Year-over-year decline in commercial revenue: $12,003 vs. $78,739 in Q1 2024, while operating expenses rose to $2.8M (from $2.5M), driven by higher R&D as the company advances programs.
- Cash burn is set to rise as scaling continues: CFO guided Q2 cash burn to $2.5–$2.7M and full-year over $10M (vs. $9.2M in 2024 excluding warrant proceeds), signaling continued investment ahead of the expected 2H sales ramp.
Financial Results
Core P&L and Margins (Actuals)
Note: Percentage margins are derived from reported revenue and profit/loss figures in the cited statements.
Actual vs. Consensus (Q1 2025)
*Values retrieved from S&P Global.
KPIs and Cash
Segment Breakdown
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “We completed the solid-state circuit breaker prototypes related to our first design win 3 months ahead of schedule… and continue collaborating with them on their first B-TRAN-enabled solid-state circuit breaker product.”
- “The EV contactor program has been approved internally at Stellantis up through and including their Chief Technology Officer… expected to move faster than the drivetrain program.”
- “We expect minimal impact from tariffs… Power semiconductors are exempt from most tariffs currently in effect.”
- “The first engineering run of our next-generation B-TRAN die was successfully completed… roughly half the size… more than twice as many die per wafer… part of our long-term cost reduction road map.”
Q&A Highlights
- Distributor order timing: Sekorm order began shipping; partial fulfillment across Q1–Q2/Q3, positioning for potential design wins later in 2025.
- Stellantis PO timeline: “Several weeks” expected to complete purchase order approval; program likely released as a single phase given priority and lower complexity versus drivetrain.
- Platform approach: Wins with Stellantis would span multiple models/brands via platform designs; Ideal Power supplies semiconductors, not full contactors/inverters.
- Breakeven and pipeline durability: No lost engagements; a few key design wins could drive “millions or even in excess of $10 million” annual revenue and achieve cash-flow breakeven.
- Auto qualification: Target Q4 2025 completion; not gating EV opportunities and could accelerate industrial adoption given higher test standards.
Estimates Context
- Q1 2025 revenue beat consensus ($12,003 vs. $10,000*), while EPS was in line ($(0.30) vs. $(0.30)); both had 1 estimate. Sequential revenue inflected, supporting the 2H ramp narrative, but low estimate breadth limits confidence.* *
- With Q2 cash burn guided higher and commercialization activities ramping, near-term EPS estimates may drift modestly more negative until revenue scale offsets OpEx; revenue estimates for 2H should reflect initial SSCB/EV contactor commercialization.
*Values retrieved from S&P Global.
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Revenue inflected sequentially and beat a thin consensus; EPS inline, consistent with early commercialization. Expect limited visibility until order sizes from OEM evaluations expand. *
- Execution is strong: SSCB prototypes delivered early; third Global 500 power management engagement; Stellantis EV contactor program internally approved, potentially accelerating automotive revenue timing.
- Liquidity is adequate for near-term milestones (Q1 cash $13.7M; no debt), but burn rises in Q2 and FY 2025 as commercialization ramps—watch for design wins to narrow losses.
- Supply-chain/tariff risk is currently muted (exemptions for power semiconductors; dual-sourced fabrication/packaging with no China exposure), supporting scalability.
- Near-term catalysts: Stellantis purchase order issuance, additional SSCB/EV contactor design wins, next-gen B-TRAN die progress, and auto qualification completion by Q4 2025.
- Medium-term thesis hinges on SSCB adoption (industrial/utility/data center) where B-TRAN’s ultra-low conduction losses enable performance and cost advantages versus SiC, and EV contactors as an earlier/faster auto win vs. drivetrain platforms.
- Trading implications: Headlines on OEM PO approvals or design wins could be stock-positive; conversely, extended timelines or slower customer conversions could pressure sentiment given low current revenue base.