OM
Outset Medical, Inc. (OM)·Q1 2021 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Revenue of $22.9M, up 219% YoY and 33% sequential, with positive GAAP gross margin (1.3%) and non-GAAP gross margin (1.6%); GAAP diluted EPS was ($0.70) and non-GAAP diluted EPS was ($0.56) .
- Outset raised FY21 revenue guidance to $92–$97M from $89–$94M, citing stronger demand visibility, backlog, and manufacturing ramp; sequential gross margin improvements expected through the year .
- Operational highlights: 165 consoles produced in Mexico in Q1 with over 100 in April; 510(k) submitted to enable cartridge production shift to Mexico; more than 75% of Q1 console orders targeted new sites within existing customer networks .
- Home momentum: signed four new home master contracts; 50% sequential increase in home console orders; training dropout rates ~60% lower vs incumbent during training (early, small samples) .
- Stock reaction catalysts: raised FY guide, continued positive gross margin, manufacturing cost downs, and enterprise adoption across large health systems and LTACs .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Strong top-line outperformance driven by higher product volume and ASPs; service revenue grew on installed base and HHS lease services; consumables revenue up 283% YoY on utilization and ASPs .
- Manufacturing ramp exceeded plan: 165 consoles produced in Mexico in Q1 and >100 in April; this supported cost reductions and slightly better-than-forecast gross profit, yielding a second consecutive quarter of positive gross margin .
- Enterprise expansion: over 75% of Q1 orders destined for new sites within existing customer networks—evidence of “land and expand” success; Tablo now used by 3 of 4 largest LTAC providers .
Management quotes:
- “Our first quarter was marked by strong revenue performance, continued operational execution, and substantial progress across our strategic initiatives.” — CEO Leslie Trigg .
- “Our non-GAAP gross margin was 1.6%, an improvement of 51 percentage points versus the prior year period.” — CFO Rebecca Chambers .
What Went Wrong
- Company remained loss-making: GAAP net loss of ($30.0M), non-GAAP net loss of ($24.2M); operating expenses increased to support growth and public company costs .
- Product gross margin remained negative (13.0%) even as total gross margin turned positive; profitability depends on further cost-downs and cartridge manufacturing shift pending FDA clearance .
- HHS lease roll-off a known headwind: management guided to slightly lower sequential growth in Q4 due to first HHS lease coming off; OpEx expected to increase sequentially in Q2 and Q3 to fund growth .
Financial Results
Summary vs Prior Periods
Segment margins and operating detail (Q1 2021)
KPIs and balance sheet
Q1 vs Company Guidance
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- Strategic vision: “We see demand for Tablo accelerating across the acute and subacute care settings with a growing number of providers uptaking Tablo for home as well.” — CEO Leslie Trigg .
- Manufacturing/GM: “Our non-GAAP gross margin was 1.6%… primarily the result of significantly lower console and treatment costs and higher service margin as well as the impact of XT deferred revenue release.” — CFO Rebecca Chambers .
- FY outlook: “We project revenue for full year 2021 to range from $92 million to $97 million… compares to prior revenue guidance of $89 million to $94 million.” — CFO Rebecca Chambers .
- Enterprise expansion: “In the first quarter, more than 75% of the consoles ordered were for shipment to new sites within existing customer networks.” — CEO Leslie Trigg .
Q&A Highlights
- Existing-customer expansion drivers: quantification of cost reduction (e.g., meetings 30 days post-start) and quality improvements (length of stay, wait times); TAM penetration opportunity across national/regional systems and LTACs .
- Home strategy and competition: market “enormity”; expanding universe of home providers (health systems and innovative entrants); agreements among incumbents not viewed as limiting access .
- Profit path and long-term margins: reaffirmed 2025 targets of ~50% gross margin and ~20% operating margin; gross margin ahead of schedule by a couple of quarters .
- Backlog dynamics: ~550 consoles exiting 2020, primarily shipping in 1H; backlog used to plan hiring and customer experience; drove FY guide raise .
- Gross margin trajectory: sequential improvements through 2021 driven by Mexico manufacturing mix and cartridge shift post-FDA clearance .
Estimates Context
- S&P Global consensus EPS and revenue for Q1 2021 were unavailable in this workflow; therefore, direct beat/miss vs Wall Street consensus cannot be assessed (consensus unavailable via S&P Global).
- Relative to company guidance, revenue beat the prior Q1 guide ($22.9M actual vs $21–$22M guided) and FY21 revenue guidance was raised post-quarter on backlog and demand visibility .
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Enterprise adoption and expansion are accelerating: 75%+ of orders to new sites within existing networks, underscoring repeatability of the value proposition and potential for multi-year penetration across large systems and LTACs .
- Cost-down and manufacturing execution are the core margin drivers: Mexico output and cartridge onshoring (pending FDA) underpin sequential GM gains; watch FDA timing and mix for margin sensitivity .
- Home market momentum is building with early favorable training/retention data and new master contracts; ETC and MA tailwinds could further stimulate adoption in 2022+ .
- Revenue trajectory de-risks FY21 guide: Q1 topped internal guidance; sequential growth expected Q2/Q3; model Q4 decel due to HHS lease roll-off .
- Near-term trading: catalysts include concrete margin progression, manufacturing milestones (cartridge clearance), and additional large health system wins; any TPNIES visibility midyear could add optionality .
- Medium-term thesis: durable enterprise solution across care settings, expanding home footprint, and margin structure progressing toward 2025 targets — with execution on cost roadmap and regulatory/macro tailwinds as key levers .
Additional Q1 2021 Press Release Notes
- Board addition: Andrea Saia appointed to the Board of Directors .
- Financing: April 2021 public offering raised ~$149.7M net to Outset, strengthening balance sheet for growth initiatives .