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Loop Industries, Inc. (LOOP)·Q1 2026 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q1 FY2026 revenue was $0.25M, driven primarily by engineering services; net loss improved to $3.45M and EPS was $(0.07). Management highlighted continued progress toward Infinite Loop India and Europe, with site selection nearing completion and engineering services ramping .
- Versus consensus, revenue materially missed ($0.25M actual vs $0.72M estimate); EPS was in line at roughly $(0.07). Coverage remains thin with only two estimates; expect models to shift toward engineering and licensing revenue cadence as project execution milestones hit [GetEstimates: Values retrieved from S&P Global].
- Operating discipline continued: cash operating expenses fell to $2.6M and available liquidity ended the quarter at $12.3M, supporting operations while the company secures project financing for India and advances European modularization (a key margin lever) .
- Strategic updates: FEED confirmed India total investment at $176M, with continuous polymerization added; KPMG engaged for debt syndication; Loop signed a $1.5M engineering contract with the India JV; modular construction strategy aims to reduce capex by ~50% for Europe and future facilities .
- Near-term stock catalysts: India site selection announcement, additional offtake agreements (including apparel and CPG), receipt of lender term sheets, and initial European engineering/milestone revenues that can cover back-office costs for “several years” .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Engineering revenue ramp and operating cost discipline: Q1 cash operating expenses dropped to $2.6M; liquidity was $12.3M. Management expects engineering/milestone revenues to fund back-office for “several years” once Europe site is finalized .
- Project execution milestones: India FEED confirmed the $176M total investment; site narrowed to two Gujarat locations; KPMG engaged for debt syndication. CEO: “We are encouraged by the progress of our off-take discussions… positions us to offer a superior product at highly competitive prices.” .
- Modularization strategy: Loop plans to build modules in India and ship to Europe, targeting ~50% capex reduction versus stick-build and faster timelines. “Modules… assembled like Lego blocks on site” .
What Went Wrong
- Revenue miss vs Street: Actual $0.25M vs $0.72M estimate; the miss reflects timing of engineering and limited resin sales. EPS was roughly in line, but the topline shortfall underscores thin near-term revenue while projects advance [GetEstimates: Values retrieved from S&P Global] .
- Financing clarity needed: Loop quantified a ~$15M equity funding gap for India; while management cited multiple options (government, partners, engineering), investors will look for concrete actions to fully bridge this before ground-breaking .
- Execution risk and timelines: Facility completion targets end-2027 with full ramp early 2028; customer contracts are gating items for debt syndication. Delays could push commercialization; management emphasized take-or-pay and fixed-price contracts to de-risk cash flows .
Financial Results
YoY comparison
Sequential comparison (oldest → newest)
Values with asterisk (*) retrieved from S&P Global.
Actual vs Consensus (Q1 FY2026)
Values with asterisk (*) retrieved from S&P Global.
Revenue composition (Q1 FY2026)
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “The $176 million CapEx was confirmed… includes a polymerization unit… land acquisition, and all financing costs through startup. If we remove all of those costs, the total install cost of Loop's technology is $95 million” .
- “Loop sees a 5% licensing fee for technology and customer sale, as well as engineering fees” .
- “Engineering is going to be done in a modular fashion… modules… built in India and shipped to Europe… CapEx would be a 50% reduction versus… fixed build” .
- “Cash operating expenses for the quarter were $2.6 million… Cash used in operating activities… was $3.1 million… available liquidity of $12.3 million” .
- “CapEx per pound… 154 million pounds per year capacity… $0.61 per pound; $0.75 with polymerization” .
- “The facility would be up at the end of 2027… customer contracts… take-or-pay element” .
- “Permitting comes with the purchase… industrial zones… Loop would be providing all of the utilities… power less than five megawatts… steam via rice husk biomass” .
Q&A Highlights
- Contract structures: Fixed price (India) with take-or-pay provisions to enhance bankability; cost-plus may be used in Europe given variability .
- Debt syndication: KPMG syndicating India project debt; term sheets arriving by Q2; EDC (Canada) support interest noted .
- CapEx intensity: Loop tech capex ~$0.61/lb (net), $0.75/lb including polymerization; scale expected to reduce per-pound capex further .
- Equity funding gap:
$15M needed for India; polymerization equipment ($5M) and Quebec government support to offset; multiple funding options being evaluated . - Permitting/utilities/logistics: Industrial-zone sites with permitting; utilities largely provided by Loop; modularization needs port access in Europe; biomass steam in India .
Estimates Context
- Q1 FY2026: Revenue $0.25M actual vs $0.72M consensus (miss); EPS $(0.07) actual vs $(0.07) consensus (in-line). Only two estimates for both metrics; target price consensus $4.55 (two estimates) [GetEstimates: Values retrieved from S&P Global] .
- Q2 FY2026: Consensus revenue $0.78M; EPS $(0.07). With engineering services scaling and potential additional offtake announcements, estimates may need to incorporate milestone timing and service revenue recognition [GetEstimates: Values retrieved from S&P Global] .
Key Takeaways for Investors
- The quarter was operationally on plan but financially light as expected in a pre-construction phase; investors should focus on near-term catalysts: India site selection, signed offtakes (anchor apparel achieved in Q2), and lender term sheets translating into definitive financing .
- Revenue composition is shifting to engineering/licensing ahead of plant operations; once Europe site is finalized, Loop expects engineering/milestone revenues to cover back-office expenses for “several years”—a potential inflection for cash burn .
- Fixed-price take-or-pay offtake contracts (India) and locked feedstock underpin bankable cash flows; modularization provides meaningful capex and schedule advantages, improving project IRRs and de-risking execution .
- Equity gap (~$15M) remains the primary financing risk; watch for Quebec support, equipment contributions, strategic capital, or milestone receipts to fully bridge before ground-breaking .
- Strategic diversification (textile, packaging, DMT/MEG) broadens end-market resilience; early DMT traction adds optionality in specialty polymers .
- Long-dated timeline: facility completion by end-2027 and full ramp early-2028; contract bankability and financing progress reduce slippage risk, but execution remains key .
- For trading: headlines around site selection, signed brand agreements, and formal debt financing will likely drive near-term stock moves; monitor Q2/Q3 updates for engineering revenue scale and additional offtakes .
S&P Global Disclaimer: Asterisk-marked values in tables were retrieved from S&P Global.