LS
Laird Superfood, Inc. (LSF)·Q1 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q1 2025 delivered 18% YoY net sales growth to $11.65M and a narrowed GAAP net loss ($0.2M; -$0.02/share), with positive Adjusted EBITDA ($0.36M), marking the fifth straight quarter of double-digit YoY sales growth .
- Results beat S&P Global consensus: revenue $11.65M vs $11.34M* and EPS -$0.02 vs -$0.065*, aided by resilient gross margin of 41.9% (incl. 3.3-pt one-time benefit from inbound freight capitalization) .
- Management reaffirmed full-year 2025 guidance: +20–25% net sales growth, gross margin in the upper-30s, breakeven adjusted EBITDA, and -$1–$2M operating cash flow to build inventory .
- Catalysts: accelerating wholesale distribution and Amazon execution, normalization of supply after Q4’24/Q1’25 out-of-stocks, and continued gross-margin discipline despite commodity inflation and tariff risk .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Omnichannel momentum: e-comm +6% YoY (53% mix) and wholesale +35% YoY (47% mix) with distribution gains; CEO: “fifth consecutive quarter of double-digit… growth… driven by… brick-and-mortar… and Amazon” .
- Margin resilience despite commodity inflation: GM 41.9% (vs 40.0% LY; 38.6% in Q4’24) and positive Adj. EBITDA $0.36M; CFO: “even excluding [freight capitalization], Q1 gross margin was 38.6%, flat sequentially to Q4 2024” .
- Inventory/supply-chain flexibility rebuilt post stockouts; management: “we are now beyond the inventory issues and supply constraints” and “qualifying additional raw material suppliers” .
What Went Wrong
- Temporary revenue opportunity loss tied to late-2024/Q1’25 out-of-stocks; Q4 management estimated ~$1M top-line impact and flagged modest Q1 growth headwind (now largely resolved) .
- Cash used in operations (-$1.27M) as LSF intentionally built safety stock; inventory rose QoQ to $9.51M (from $5.98M) .
- Tariff/commodity inflation risks linger; management expects to manage within guidance but may “take price” if needed; potential GM headwind offset with P&L levers .
Financial Results
Headline metrics vs prior quarters and estimates
Note: Q1 gross margin includes ~3.3 pts from inbound freight capitalization tied to increased inventory purchases; underlying GM ~38.6% (flat seq. vs Q4’24) .
Consensus values marked with “*” were retrieved from S&P Global.
Channel mix
Key categories by quarter (sales, $)
Additional KPIs
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “Our Q1 results represent the fifth consecutive quarter of double-digit year-over-year sales growth… driven by strategic expansion into brick-and-mortar stores and through Amazon.” — CEO, Jason Vieth .
- “Even excluding [freight capitalization], Q1 gross margin was 38.6%, which was flat sequentially to Q4 2024, showing resiliency… despite inflationary increases in key commodity costs.” — CFO, Anya Hamill .
- “The 10% tariff… we’re able to handle… The bigger tariff… will have more impact, but we still feel we can manage that within our P&L… if… really big tariffs… there will be nothing left to do [but] take price.” — CEO, Jason Vieth .
- “We exited Q1 with… healthy inventory levels… We are reaffirming our full year guidance… net sales… $52–$54 million… and… gross margins… upper 30s.” — CFO, Anya Hamill .
Q&A Highlights
- Tariffs: Management can absorb current 10%; larger tariffs would modestly pressure GM but could be offset with other P&L levers; pricing is the backstop if industry-wide hikes persist .
- Wholesale strength and velocity: Coffee solutions (powdered creamers, instant lattes, coffee) led gains; selective, quality merchandising over discounting; prior-period trade costs recognized .
- Liquid creamer upsizing: Transition complex but on-track; modeled ~0.8x unit conversion initially with potential upside; early feedback constructive .
- DTC “Marketplace”: Non-revenue focus; a curated, pass-through partner hub to deepen engagement/traffic and retention; no drop-shipping or inventory risk .
Estimates Context
- Q1 2025 vs S&P Global consensus: Revenue $11.65M vs $11.339M* (beat); GAAP EPS -$0.02 vs -$0.065* (beat). Reaffirmed FY guide implies H2 acceleration after early Q1 OOS headwinds .
- Implications: Consensus models may lift revenue run-rate modestly on sustained wholesale momentum and normalized inventories; GM to normalize to the high-30s for FY (post Q1 one-time benefit), with breakeven full-year Adj. EBITDA as management reinvests .
Note: Values marked with “*” retrieved from S&P Global.
Q1 2025 Actuals vs Consensus
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Beat and reaffirm: Modest top/bottom-line beats with reiterated FY’25 guide (20–25% growth; GM upper-30s; breakeven Adj. EBITDA) support estimate stability to slight upward bias .
- Margin quality: Q1 GM elevated by a one-time 3.3-pt benefit; underlying 38.6% shows resilience amid input inflation, consistent with full-year “upper-30s” target .
- Channel durability: Wholesale growth (+35% YoY) and Amazon execution remain the primary drivers; mix trending toward ~50/50 with e-comm, reducing channel concentration risk .
- H2 acceleration setup: Inventory rebuilt and OOS resolved; liquid creamer upsizing and new items (e.g., Vanilla Instant Latte) add volume levers .
- Risk management: Tariff/commodity pressures monitored; management prepared to use price and spending levers to protect FY outlook .
- Cash discipline: Q1 operating cash outflow reflects intentional inventory build; cash $7.16M, no debt, ABL available if needed .
- Trading implications: Narrative of sustained growth with disciplined profitability and improving supply is constructive; watch GM normalization, tariff headlines, and wholesale velocity as near-term stock drivers .