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Singular Genomics Systems, Inc. (OMIC)·Q1 2024 Earnings Summary

Executive Summary

  • Q1 2024 revenue was $0.44M, down sequentially from $1.08M in Q4 2023 and down year-over-year from $0.86M; net loss was $25.0M ($0.34/share) with negative gross profit due to discounts, reagent rental models, and higher support costs .
  • Shipped 6 G4 instruments (installed base 30), and management emphasized accelerating the G4X spatial sequencer: service ramp in 2H 2024, select early-access placements late Q4 2024, and broader commercialization around Q2 2025 .
  • Cost actions implemented in March; Q1 cash burn was ~$23.2M, expected to be lower in Q2 as savings take effect; operating expenses expected to be 10–15% lower sequentially in Q2 .
  • Consensus estimates from S&P Global were unavailable; result comparisons vs Street cannot be determined (S&P Global consensus data not available via tool).

What Went Well and What Went Wrong

What Went Well

  • Installed base grew: 6 G4 shipments in Q1, total 30 commercial systems; improving system utilization and consumables pull-through, with strongest monthly consumables orders in April .
  • Strong momentum on spatial: expanded Technology Access Partner (TAP) projects (Dana-Farber, Broad Institute) and showcased G4X performance on challenging FFPE tissues; management sees spatial demand and throughput pain point that G4X can uniquely address .
  • Strategic clarity and runway: shift of resources to G4X, cost reductions, and plan to monetize services before instrument launch; management expects lower cash burn and is confident in productization trajectory .
    Quote: “Spatial is quickly growing in many customer segments, and throughput is a major limitation… We believe the G4X will be uniquely suited to address this pain point” — CEO Drew Spaventa .

What Went Wrong

  • Revenue softness and margin pressure: Q1 revenue recognized on one capital purchase and consumables; gross profit negative due to discounts, reagent rental/non-capital models, and higher support costs .
  • Cash burn elevated in Q1 (~$23.2M) on timing of compensation, severance, and working capital; though management guides to lower in Q2, current burn is a near-term overhang .
  • Sales cycle and competitive dynamics: conversion of leads slowed in prior quarters; more reagent rental/evaluation models vs upfront capital, and competitors (e.g., Illumina) more aggressive on discounting and deal structures .

Financial Results

Metric ($USD Millions unless noted)Q3 2023Q4 2023Q1 2024
Revenue$0.46 $1.08 $0.44
Cost of revenue$0.53 $1.54 $0.86
Gross profit$(0.07) $(0.46) $(0.42)
Operating expenses$24.47 $24.82 $26.43
Loss from operations$(24.54) $(25.28) $(26.85)
Net loss$(22.36) $(23.25) $(25.02)
Diluted EPS ($)$(0.31) $(0.32) $(0.34)

Revenue composition (selected periods):

Metric ($USD Millions)Q4 2023Q1 2024
Instrument revenue (capital placements)$0.90 $0.20
Consumables revenue$0.20 $0.20

KPIs and balance sheet:

KPIQ3 2023Q4 2023Q1 2024
G4 systems shipped (units)5 8 6
Installed base (cumulative units)16 24 30
Cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments$190.7 $173.9 $150.7
Cash burn (quarter)~$23.2

Notes:

  • Negative gross margin driven by initial discounts, reagent rentals/non-capital models, and higher support costs .
  • Revenue recognition on reagent rental/evaluation placements occurs over time via consumables pull-through .

Guidance Changes

MetricPeriodPrevious GuidanceCurrent GuidanceChange
Operating expensesQ2 2024Not specifiedDown 10–15% sequentially vs Q1Lowered
Cash burnQ2 2024Not specifiedLower sequentially vs Q1Lowered
G4X Technology Access Services2H 2024Services to launch Q2 2024Ramp of service projects expected in 2H 2024Maintained/clarified
G4X early accessLate Q4 2024Early access end of 2024 Select early access placements late Q4 2024Maintained
G4X commercializationFY 2025First half 2025 Around Q2 2025 (customer-driven cadence)Maintained/clarified

No numeric guidance on revenue, margins, OI&E, tax rate, or dividends was provided in Q1 materials .

Earnings Call Themes & Trends

TopicPrevious Mentions (Q3 2023 and Q4 2023)Current Period (Q1 2024)Trend
Shift to spatial (G4X)Initiated spatial development; TAP started . Unveiled G4X; early access end-2024; services in Q2 2024 .Service ramp in 2H 2024; early access late Q4 2024; broader commercialization around Q2 2025 .Accelerating execution toward launch
Installed base and pull-through5 shipments; pull-through improving; shift to reagent rentals . 8 shipments; installed base 24; consumables $0.2M .6 shipments; installed base 30; strongest monthly consumables orders in April .Gradual improvement; early utilization uptick
Cost actions and runway10% RIF; extend runway into early 2026 . 20% RIF; ~$20M annualized OpEx savings; runway to late 2026 .Q1 cash burn ~$23.2M; Q2 OpEx down 10–15% sequentially; burn lower expected .Savings flowing through beginning Q2
Competitive/macro dynamicsSlower conversions; mix shifts to rentals/evals; intense competition .Continued caution on capex; differentiated spatial throughput thesis vs incumbents .Spatial differentiation narrative strengthening
Publications/validationAGBT unveil; early collaborator feedback .Expect first publications later in 2024 post 300-gene panel .Validation milestones approaching

Management Commentary

  • Strategic focus: “We are focused on supporting our existing customers and getting the G4X spatial sequencer to market as quickly as possible… lay the foundation for a successful G4X launch in 2025” — CEO .
  • Market need: “Spatial is quickly growing… throughput is a major limitation. We believe the G4X will be uniquely suited to address this pain point” — CEO .
  • Economics: “We plan to pass along cost savings and address a pain point for customers while supporting a high-margin, sustainable business” — CEO .
  • Financial discipline: “Cash burn for the first quarter was approximately $23.2 million… We expect our cash burn in the second quarter to be lower sequentially” — CFO .
  • Installed base performance: “Uptime across the network for the last few months has been really strong in the mid-90%… support minimally” — CEO .

Q&A Highlights

  • G4X productization steps: expanding from 150 to 300 genes for Q1 product; hardening bioinformatics, software, and protocols across tissues to enable kit commercialization .
  • Resource allocation: installed base support manageable (all U.S., uptime mid-90%); many G4 customers expected to transition to G4X, support infrastructure retained but lean .
  • Expense trajectory: Q2 OpEx guided down 10–15% sequentially; further reductions in 2H as savings ramp .
  • Funnel development: deep services funnel across academia, biopharma, CRO; >12 early-access prospects; prioritizing high-volume, low-customization projects .
  • Launch cadence: early-access late Q4 2024; broader commercialization around Q2 2025; may extend early-access based on demand .
  • Publications timing: targeting late-2024 publications post 300-gene panel availability .
  • Differentiation vs incumbents: SBS chemistry optimized for tissue; large imaging area, fast four-color Z-stack imaging; deep IP around sequencing in spatial .

Estimates Context

  • Wall Street consensus from S&P Global for Q1 2024 (EPS and revenue) was unavailable via the tool due to missing mapping; as a result, beats/misses vs consensus cannot be determined at this time (S&P Global consensus data not available).
  • Given negative gross profit and sequential revenue decline vs Q4 ($0.44M vs $1.08M) and YoY decline vs Q1 2023 ($0.86M), sell-side models may need to reflect slower near-term pull-through and a services-led bridge to G4X placements .

Key Takeaways for Investors

  • Near-term revenue remains modest and volatile given the reagent rental/evaluation mix and early-stage installed base; Q1 revenue $0.44M with negative gross profit due to launch economics .
  • The investment case increasingly hinges on G4X: services monetization in 2H 2024, select early-access units late Q4 2024, broader commercialization targeted around Q2 2025 .
  • Cost actions are starting to flow through: expect Q2 OpEx down 10–15% sequentially and lower cash burn; watch 2H for fuller impact and runway progress .
  • Validation catalysts: initial publications expected later in 2024, KOL testimonials, and service case studies — critical for accelerating early-access and demand .
  • Competitive posture: management emphasizes differentiated spatial throughput and capabilities vs incumbents; if sustained, could drive superior consumables pull-through on G4X .
  • KPIs to monitor: shipments/installed base, consumables pull-through, services backlog and execution, publication cadence, and burn trajectory .
  • Trading lens: stock likely sensitive to spatial milestones and cash burn cadence; any acceleration in services revenue or clearer commercialization timeline could be positive catalysts .