OI
Oklo Inc. (OKLO)·Q4 2024 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q4 2024 EPS was -$0.09 versus S&P Global consensus of -$0.07, a miss, while revenue remained $0 in line with consensus expectations; FY 2024 EPS of -$0.74 was a major beat versus S&P consensus of -$4.81, largely reflecting the extraordinary Q2 deemed dividend effects that inflated consensus losses [Values retrieved from S&P Global]* .
- Oklo expanded its powerhouse capacity range to 15–75 MW and signed a master power agreement with Switch for 12 GW, bringing confirmed customer interest to ~14 GW, positioning nuclear baseload as an AI/data center power solution .
- Regulatory momentum continues: DOE site work and permits at INL, pre-app readiness engagement with NRC for the COLA submission in 2025, and first commercial power targeted for late 2027 to early 2028 .
- FY 2024 operating loss was $52.8M (adjusted to $40.3M at the low end of prior guidance after non-cash items) and cash used in operations was $38.4M; year-end cash and marketable securities stood at $275.3M, underpinning execution capacity .
- Watch risk catalysts: Pomerantz shareholder litigation investigations following a short report in Nov-2024 contributed to sentiment volatility; management disclosed a 2024 10-K material weakness tied to complex SPAC accounting presentation, with remediation expected by year-end .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Expanded powerhouse output to 75 MW from the same 50 MW design platform, improving scalability for large AI/data center customers; “no new technical or design risk” to achieve larger output per call commentary .
- Landmark Switch master power agreement for 12 GW by 2044, elevating total pipeline to ~14 GW; “one of the largest corporate power agreements in history” with strategic collaboration beyond power delivery .
- Regulatory and project progress at INL: DOE environmental and siting milestones achieved with drilling/site characterization started; “on track for deployment in late 2027 to early 2028” .
What Went Wrong
- Q4 EPS missed S&P consensus (-$0.09 vs -$0.07), and Q3 also modestly missed (-$0.08 vs -$0.07), reflecting ongoing pre-revenue burn and extraordinary items in 2024 [Values retrieved from S&P Global]* .
- Legal overhang emerged with shareholder litigation investigations post short-seller report, creating headline risk and near-term stock pressure .
- A material weakness disclosure in the 2024 10-K related to infrequent, complex accounting tied to the SPAC deemed dividend presentation, though management expects remediation by year-end .
Financial Results
Quarterly EPS vs Estimates
Note: Asterisks indicate values retrieved from S&P Global (no document citation available).
Annual Operating Metrics
KPIs and Commercial Pipeline
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Note: Q2 2024 transcript retrieval failed (database inconsistency). Prior-period context uses Q3 2024.
Management Commentary
- “We ended the year by signing what is potentially the largest corporate clean power agreement ever with Switch for 12 gigawatts of power… equivalent to approximately 1% of the U.S. grid.” – CEO Jacob Dewitte .
- “Our 50 megawatt design now offers the flexibility to deliver up to 75 megawatts of power… with construction timelines of less than eighteen months.” – CFO R. Craig Bealmear .
- “Backed by a DOE site use permit, the project remains on track for deployment in late 2027 to early 2028.” – CEO Jacob Dewitte .
- “Year-end cash and marketable securities were $275.3 million… [we] expect cash used in operations to be in the range of $65–$80 million in 2025.” – CFO R. Craig Bealmear .
Q&A Highlights
- Powerhouse scaling economics: Moving to 75 MW reduces unit count for a given capacity (e.g., 150 MW from three 50 MW to two 75 MW), improving $/MW and fuel efficiency; management indicated “no new technical or design risk” in scaling .
- Licensing path/timing: Pre-app readiness assessment derisks content and timeline; COLA submission targeted in 2025, likely Q4 to align with ADVANCE Act fee changes; subsequent COLAs could shrink review to ~7 months per NRC white paper .
- Commercial approach: Emphasis on master partnership agreements before PPAs to optimize pricing, sites, and risk-sharing; Switch partnership frames multiple collaboration avenues beyond power sales .
- Fuel procurement: First core secured; Centrus MOU supports long-term HALEU; recycling and potential use of government reserves to bridge supply constraints uniquely suit fast reactors .
- Atomic Alchemy milestones: Stand-alone isotope production capabilities and demo project underway; potential revenue as early as Q1 2026; strong demand in radiopharma and semiconductor doping (NTD) .
Estimates Context
- Quarterly comparison: Q4 EPS -$0.09 vs -$0.07 consensus (miss); Q3 EPS -$0.08 vs -$0.07 consensus (miss); Q2 EPS -$5.17 vs -$0.06 consensus (large miss, driven by SPAC-related deemed dividends) [Values retrieved from S&P Global]* .
- Annual comparison: FY 2024 EPS -$0.74 vs -$4.81 consensus, a significant beat due to normalization after Q2’s extraordinary items [Values retrieved from S&P Global]* .
- Revenue: Consensus and actual remain $0, consistent with pre-revenue status [Values retrieved from S&P Global]*.
- FY 2025 EPS consensus stands at -$0.58; with 2025 cash used in ops guided to $65–$80M as Oklo ramps headcount, licensing fees, and procurement for INL, sell-side models may need to reflect higher opex near-term while valuing long-term baseload and radioisotope optionality .
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Oklo’s 12 GW Switch agreement and 15–75 MW platform materially strengthen the AI/data center narrative; phase-able deployment and >99% reliability via multi-unit sites address hyperscaler needs .
- Regulatory path is clearer: DOE permits and site work underway; COLA readiness progressing with 2025 submission; first power targeted late 2027–early 2028, with subsequent COLAs potentially on materially faster timelines .
- Balance sheet is robust for near-term execution ($275.3M cash+securities), but burn will step up in 2025 ($65–$80M) as licensing and procurement accelerate; monitor cash discipline and milestone cadence .
- Pre-revenue profile means quarterly EPS noise persists; FY 2024 normalized EPS outcome (-$0.74) beat consensus heavily due to Q2 deemed dividend distortions—focus on regulatory/customer milestones versus near-term EPS [Values retrieved from S&P Global]*.
- Fuel strategy is differentiated: first core secured, Centrus MOU, and recycling pathway offer supply resilience and potential fuel cost reductions up to ~80%, an economic moat versus peers .
- Radioisotopes are an emerging revenue lever: Atomic Alchemy acquisition closed, with potential revenue as early as 2026; complements power sales and enhances recycling economics (co-products) .
- Risk watch: shareholder litigation investigations following the Nov-2024 short report and disclosed 2024 material weakness in complex accounting; management expects remediation and continues to emphasize a risk-mitigated PPA strategy .
Asterisks indicate values retrieved from S&P Global (no document citation available).