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LIGHTBRIDGE Corp (LTBR)·Q1 2025 Earnings Summary

Executive Summary

  • Q1 2025 was an execution-heavy quarter: Lightbridge completed a key co‑extrusion fabrication milestone at INL, bolstering readiness for ATR irradiation testing next year; operating loss widened as R&D and G&A spending ramped to support development .
  • Pre‑revenue as expected ($0 revenue); net loss increased to $4.8M (vs. $2.8M YoY) and diluted EPS was $(0.24) (vs. $(0.21) YoY), driven by higher INL project costs and accelerated stock comp within G&A .
  • Liquidity strengthened via ATM issuance: cash rose to $56.9M and working capital to $56.5M, providing “ample working capital” to fund near‑term milestones; total liabilities were just $1.0M .
  • No formal revenue/EPS guidance; spending outlook maintained at approximately $17M for 2025 R&D and CapEx; management highlighted policy tailwinds and commercialization pathway via ATR testing and Oklo co‑location evaluation as medium‑term catalysts .

What Went Well and What Went Wrong

  • What Went Well

    • Achieved fabrication milestone: successful 8‑ft co‑extrusion coupon at INL, a “critical fabrication advancement” that underpins enriched sample production for ATR irradiation testing next year .
    • Strategic positioning improved: signed MOU with Oklo to assess co‑located commercial fuel fabrication and explore reprocessing/recycling synergies; management emphasized growing nuclear demand from AI/data centers and SMRs .
    • Balance sheet strength: cash increased to $56.9M with working capital of $56.5M; CFO reiterated ample flexibility to fund near‑term development .
  • What Went Wrong

    • Loss widened: Net loss rose to $4.8M as G&A increased to $3.5M (acceleration of RSU vesting was ~$0.5M of the $0.7M stock‑comp increase) and R&D to $1.7M (INL labor and personnel costs) .
    • No revenue yet: remains pre‑revenue; margins not yet meaningful; dependency on external funding and partnerships persists .
    • Estimates context unavailable: No S&P Global consensus for EPS/revenue; investors lack a benchmark for “beat/miss” and must track operational milestones instead (S&P Global data unavailable via tool).

Financial Results

P&L and Per‑Share

MetricQ1 2024Q3 2024Q4 2024Q1 2025
Revenue ($)$0 $0 $0
R&D Expense ($)$1,023,823 $1,298,601 $1,665,913
G&A Expense ($)$2,157,745 $1,676,209 $3,480,010
Other Income ($)$361,984 $318,649 $374,911
Net Loss ($)$(2,819,584) $(2,656,161) $(4,771,012)
Diluted EPS ($)$(0.21) $(0.19) $(0.24)

Notes: The company did not disclose a standalone Q4 2024 quarterly P&L in press releases/filings reviewed; the February 26 release provided full‑year figures .

Drivers (Q1 2025 vs. Q1 2024): G&A +$1.3M (professional fees +$0.4M; stock comp +$0.7M driven by ~$0.5M accelerated vesting); R&D +$0.7M (INL labor +$0.4M; personnel/stock comp +$0.6M; partially offset by completion of two 2024 R&D studies −$0.3M) .

Cash, Liquidity, and Balance Sheet

MetricQ3 2024Q4 2024Q1 2025
Cash & Cash Equivalents ($)$26,634,951 $39,990,827 $56,929,988
Working Capital ($)$25,900,000 $39,900,000 $56,500,000
Total Assets ($)$27,620,613 $40,952,875 $58,287,682
Total Liabilities ($)$1,159,566 $424,585 $966,209
Stockholders’ Equity ($)$26,461,047 $40,528,290 $57,321,473

Cash Flow (Quarter)

MetricQ1 2024Q1 2025
Cash Used in Operating Activities ($)$(1,878,006) $(3,299,853)
Cash Provided by Financing Activities ($)$1,221,982 $20,239,014

KPIs/Other:

  • Weighted avg. shares outstanding: 13.49M (Q1’24) vs. 19.55M (Q1’25) .
  • CFO: “ample working capital” to support near‑term development .

Guidance Changes

MetricPeriodPrevious GuidanceCurrent GuidanceChange
R&D and CapEx Investment (approx.)FY 2025~$17M (Feb 26, 2025) ~$17M (May 12, 2025) Maintained
ATR irradiation testing start (enriched samples)2026 (expected)“expected to begin next year” (from Q1 2025 vantage) New timing detail

No revenue, margin, OpEx, OI&E, or tax rate guidance was provided beyond the spending outlook .

Earnings Call Themes & Trends

TopicQ3 2024 (two quarters ago)Q4 2024 (prior quarter)Q1 2025 (current)Trend
Fuel fabrication milestonesExtrusion progress with depleted U‑Zr; plan for enriched extrusions ahead Successful 8‑ft co‑extrusion demo reported; INL characterizing sample Co‑extrusion emphasized as critical step toward ATR irradiation next year Improving execution
SMR/AI data center demandNuclear positioned for AI/data centers; SMR studies at MIT/TAMU TAM and hyperscalers’ interest reinforced; uprate potential highlighted “Paradigm shift” in policy/AI demand; nuclear as cornerstone; Lightbridge positioning Strengthening tailwinds
DOE funding/partnershipsGovernment‑funded studies (MIT, SIA) validating safety/performance Continued pursuit of DOE and strategic alliances to co‑fund milestones Pursuing non‑dilutive funding; past GAIN vouchers and NEUP grants noted Ongoing engagement
CANDU/InternationalRATEN ICN study suggests potential to double burnup <5% enrichment CANDU feasibility reiterated; added detail on safety/performance studies Continued engineering work across reactor types, including CANDU Continued validation
Oklo collaborationMOU with Oklo discussed for co‑location and recycling synergies MOU reiterated; cost/scale synergies under evaluation Strategic alignment

Management Commentary

  • “We successfully demonstrated our proprietary co‑extrusion manufacturing process at Idaho National Laboratory… We believe our cooperation with Oklo can open promising avenues for future fabrication and fuel cycle synergies.” — Seth Grae, CEO .
  • “As the next step, we are working with [INL] to manufacture and characterize test samples with enriched uranium… for irradiation testing in the Advanced Test Reactor… expected to begin next year.” — Andrey Mushakov, EVP .
  • “Total cash… was $56.9 million… Cash used in operating activities… was $3.3 million… Cash provided by financing… was $20.2 million… under our at‑the‑market facility.” — Larry Goldman, CFO .
  • “Lightbridge Fuel can deliver more power and major economic and safety benefits… This innovation supports the U.S. commitment to triple nuclear power capacity globally by 2050.” — Press release .

Q&A Highlights

  • DOE funding prospects: Management cannot predict DOE actions but believes Lightbridge is well‑positioned; will pursue non‑dilutive sources while minimizing IP risk .
  • Technology scope: Not actively pursuing thorium seed‑and‑blanket design; patents retained, focus is metallic U‑Zr fuel (power uprates) .
  • Commercialization path: ATR irradiation testing data expected to support NRC licensing and utility analyses; Oklo co‑location could reduce capital and operating costs for fuel fabrication .

Estimates Context

  • S&P Global consensus for EPS, revenue, and EBITDA was unavailable for LTBR; therefore, no beat/miss analysis versus Street estimates is possible at this time (S&P Global data unavailable via tool).
  • Implication: Investors should anchor on milestone execution (fabrication progress, ATR insertion timing) and liquidity runway rather than quarterly estimate deltas .

Key Takeaways for Investors

  • Execution momentum: Co‑extrusion milestone de‑risks fabrication, advancing the path to ATR irradiation testing next year—a key technical and regulatory catalyst .
  • Strong liquidity: $56.9M cash and $56.5M working capital, minimal liabilities, and ATM access provide runway to fund 2025 milestones despite elevated R&D/G&A .
  • Spending outlook steady: 2025 R&D/CapEx investment maintained at ~$17M, aligning resources with ATR and engineering objectives .
  • Policy and market tailwinds: Rising AI/data center power demand and pro‑nuclear policy (tripling/quadrupling targets) support long‑term value for advanced fuel enabling uprates and SMR performance .
  • Strategic optionality: Oklo MOU may lower future fabrication costs and open recycling pathways; additional press releases suggest testing acceleration via FAST methodology at INL (subsequent event) .
  • Index inclusion catalyst (post‑quarter): Addition to Russell 2000/3000 may expand investor base and liquidity around reconstitution, aiding capital access .
  • Near‑term focus: Watch for enriched sample fabrication/characterization, ATR capsule preparation, and any DOE/non‑dilutive funding developments as potential stock catalysts .

Appendix: Additional Press Releases Relevant to Q1 2025

  • Q1 2025 results/business update press release (May 12) with detailed G&A/R&D drivers and full financial statements .
  • Oklo MOU (Jan 28): feasibility of co‑located fabrication and recycling collaboration .
  • Q1 2025 call announcement (Apr 29) .