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Personalis, Inc. (PSNL)·Q1 2025 Earnings Summary

Executive Summary

  • Q1 2025 revenue was $20.605M (+6% YoY) and diluted EPS was -$0.18; both beat Wall Street consensus of $17.415M revenue and -$0.25 EPS, driven by strong biopharma demand and VA MVP volume . Revenue consensus and EPS consensus values retrieved from S&P Global.*
  • Gross margin improved to 35.0% (+690 bps YoY) on favorable mix; excluding unreimbursed clinical test costs, management said GM would have been ~43% .
  • Clinical molecular tests delivered rose 52% sequentially to 2,184; management reiterated confidence in the “Win-in-MRD” strategy and expects reimbursement in at least two indications in 2025 .
  • FY25 guidance largely maintained with notable tweaks: GM raised to 22–24% (from 21–23%), net loss reduced to ~$83M (from $85M), and cash usage trimmed to ~$75M (from $75–$80M); Q2 2025 revenue guided to $19.5–$20.5M .

What Went Well and What Went Wrong

What Went Well

  • Biopharma tests and services revenue grew 39% YoY to $13.6M, reflecting increasing adoption of NeXT Personal and ImmunoID NeXT among pharma customers .
  • Gross margin rose to 35.0%, up 690 bps YoY; excluding unreimbursed clinical test costs, GM would have been ~43%, underscoring margin expansion potential post reimbursement .
  • Clinical test volume surged to 2,184 molecular tests (+52% q/q), with high physician retention and strong Tempus collaboration; “We remain confident that our ‘Win-in-MRD’ strategy is working” .

What Went Wrong

  • Net loss widened to $15.8M from $13.0M YoY; cash usage was $20.5M in Q1 as the company invested ahead of reimbursement .
  • Enterprise sales and population sequencing/enterprise mix softened YoY (-29% for population+enterprise), reflecting expected Natera decline despite VA MVP contribution .
  • Management flagged macro/tariff-related pressures causing $3–$5M of pharma projects to be deferred/tightened, tempering near-term visibility despite maintaining FY guidance .

Financial Results

Revenue, EPS, Gross Margin vs Prior Periods

MetricQ3 2024Q4 2024Q1 2025
Revenue ($USD Millions)$25.709 $16.800 $20.605
Diluted EPS ($USD)-$0.64 -$0.23 -$0.18
Gross Margin (%)34.0% 27.1% 35.0%

Actual vs Estimates — Q1 2025

MetricActualConsensusSurprise
Revenue ($USD Millions)$20.605 $17.415*Beat: +$3.190M
Diluted EPS ($USD)-$0.18 -$0.25*Beat: +$0.07

Values retrieved from S&P Global.*

Segment Revenue Breakdown

Segment ($USD Millions)Q3 2024Q4 2024Q1 2025
Pharma tests and services$15.698 $12.232 $13.594
Enterprise sales$5.264 $4.170 $2.465
Population sequencing$4.431 $0.219 $4.213
Clinical diagnostic$0.316 $0.176 $0.308
Other$0.316 $0.003 $0.025
Total Revenue$25.709 $16.800 $20.605

KPIs

KPIQ3 2024Q4 2024Q1 2025
Molecular tests delivered (units)945 1,441 2,184
Cash + Short-term investments ($USD Millions)$143.7 $185.0 $185.7
Cash usage (operations + capex) ($USD Millions)$20.5

Guidance Changes

MetricPeriodPrevious GuidanceCurrent GuidanceChange
Total RevenueFY 2025$80–$90M $80–$90M Maintained
Pharma tests & services revenueFY 2025$62–$64M $62–$64M Maintained
Population sequencing & enterprise revenueFY 2025$15–$16M $15–$16M Maintained
Clinical revenueFY 2025$3–$10M $3–$10M Maintained
Gross MarginFY 202521–23% 22–24% Raised
Net LossFY 2025~$85M ~$83M Lowered
Cash UsageFY 2025$75–$80M ~$75M Lowered
Total RevenueQ2 2025N/A$19.5–$20.5M New
Pharma tests & services revenueQ2 2025N/A$13–$14M New
Population sequencing & enterprise revenueQ2 2025N/A~$6.5M New

Earnings Call Themes & Trends

TopicPrevious Mentions (Q3 2024)Previous Mentions (Q4 2024)Current Period (Q1 2025)Trend
MRD clinical adoption & volumes945 tests; strong retention; metered pre-reimbursement 1,441 tests; plan 30–40% q/q growth 2,184 tests (+52% q/q); several hundred physicians; Tempus accelerating Positive acceleration
Reimbursement roadmapTargeting 2 of 3 indications in 2025 (breast, lung, IO) Submitted breast; aiming for at least 2 indications in 2025 Reiterated ≥2 indications; ADLT upside discussed; submit via Palmetto Advancing
Biopharma demand (Moderna/Merck)96% biopharma growth; Moderna Phase III a driver FY24 growth; extension with Moderna; $50M Merck investment $13.6M biopharma revenue (+39% YoY); new $5M+ customers; some macro-related project delays Mixed: strong demand with macro pushouts
Tempus partnershipExpanded; 200+ reps; revenue metered Complementing small PSNL field team Tempus “starting to go faster”; collaborative coverage Strengthening
CRC data (VICTORI)100% pre-imaging detection; 87% landmark detect; potential 4th indication New clinical evidence
Macro/tariffsTariff/government trade issues weighing on pharma (-$3–$5M timing impact) Emerging headwind

Management Commentary

  • “We achieved revenues of over $20 million this quarter and also delivered over 2,000 molecular tests… we are reiterating our guidance of $80 million to $90 million in revenue for 2025… and the achievement of reimbursement at least 2 indications in 2025.” — CEO Chris Hall .
  • “Gross margin was 35%… In the first quarter, we saw an impact of approximately 8 percentage points to our gross margin due to unreimbursed clinical test costs. Excluding those costs, gross margin would have been approximately 43%.” — CFO/COO Aaron Tachibana .
  • “We are encouraged by the preliminary results from the VICTORI study… NeXT Personal… detect residual and recurrent colorectal cancer at high rates in the early landmark window after surgery.” — CMO Richard Chen .
  • “We remain confident that our ‘Win-in-MRD’ strategy is working.” — CEO Chris Hall .

Q&A Highlights

  • Commercial ramp metered pre-reimbursement; Tempus accelerating, PSNL field team still small but ready to scale post reimbursement .
  • CRC VICTORI study showed strong early landmark sensitivity (87%) and 100% pre-imaging detection, including distant lung metastases; supports future reimbursement submission pathway .
  • ADLT status considered an upside, pursued after reimbursement; baseline economic model built on existing CMS pricing; targeted GM ~60% at reimbursement-level pricing with Tempus cost structure .
  • Macro/tariffs causing $3–$5M of pharma project deferrals/tightening; despite this, FY25 revenue guidance maintained at $80–$90M given large biopharma funnel .
  • Post-reimbursement commercialization plan: increase PSNL reps and leverage Tempus to move into higher gear; catch-up billing possible post coverage decision (typical ~60-day cycles) .

Estimates Context

  • Q1 2025 beat on both revenue and EPS versus S&P Global consensus; # of estimates: 6 for both revenue and EPS, indicating reasonable coverage and likely upward revisions to revenue/GM assumptions given stronger biopharma mix . Revenue consensus and EPS consensus values retrieved from S&P Global.*
  • Prior quarters: Q4 2024 revenue $16.8M vs consensus $15.737M; EPS -$0.23 vs -$0.284; Q3 2024 revenue $25.709M vs $21.330M; EPS -$0.64 vs -$0.338—Q3 missed EPS but beat revenue, Q4 beat both, and Q1 beat both, demonstrating improving estimate momentum despite mix shifts . Consensus figures retrieved from S&P Global.*

Key Takeaways for Investors

  • Q1 delivered a clean top-line and EPS beat versus consensus; mix-driven GM expansion and strong biopharma demand were key drivers . Consensus figures retrieved from S&P Global.*
  • Sequential clinical test volume growth (+52% q/q) and robust physician retention underpin the “Win-in-MRD” narrative; watch for reimbursement catalysts in breast, lung, and IO in 2025 .
  • CRC VICTORI interim data (100% pre-imaging detection; 87% landmark sensitivity) broadens the clinical evidence footprint and future reimbursement optionality—potential multi-indication catalysis over 12–18 months .
  • FY25 guidance intact; GM raised to 22–24% and net loss/cash usage trimmed—signal operational discipline while investing ahead of reimbursement .
  • Macro/tariff headwinds in pharma (-$3–$5M timing impact) introduce near-term variability; however, Tempus channel acceleration and new $5M-class biopharma wins support second-half weighting .
  • Q2 guide ($19.5–$20.5M) implies modest sequential downtick vs Q1 as enterprise/VA cadence normalizes; narrative remains focused on reimbursement-driven inflection later in 2025 .
  • Post-reimbursement, management expects margin uplift (ex-unreimbursed GM ~43% in Q1) and revenue acceleration via scaled commercial resources—watch coverage decisions and any ADLT developments .

Appendix: Additional Press Releases Relevant to Q1 2025

  • NeXT Personal detects 100% of colorectal cancer relapses ahead of imaging (VICTORI interim analysis; 71 patients; 87% detected in 2–8 week landmark window; 100% distant metastases including lung) .