RF
R F INDUSTRIES LTD (RFIL)·Q2 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- RF Industries delivered a solid Q2 FY25: revenue $18.91M (+17.4% YoY; -1.5% QoQ), gross margin 31.5% (+160 bps YoY), and third consecutive operating profit; non-GAAP EPS was $0.07 and Adjusted EBITDA $1.12M .
- Results beat S&P Global consensus on revenue ($17.24M*) and EPS ($0.04*); revenue surprise ~+9.7% and EPS +$0.03, aided by improved mix, operating efficiencies, and momentum in DAC cooling, small cell, and DAS . Estimates: S&P Global*.
- Backlog ended the quarter at $15.0M and rose to $18.4M as of the call, signaling demand acceleration into 2H25; bookings were $18.7M in Q2 .
- Qualitative guide: management expects Q3 FY25 sales roughly in line with Q2, well above last year’s Q3, highlighting sustained momentum; a credit facility refinance is targeted for Q3 or by year-end to lower interest cost and bolster liquidity .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Mix and efficiency drove margin/earnings upside: gross margin reached 31.5% (vs. 29.9% LY) and operating income turned positive ($106K) with Adjusted EBITDA of $1.12M; non‑GAAP EPS rose to $0.07 .
- Demand breadth and backlog momentum: backlog increased from $15.0M at quarter-end to $18.4M by the call, with bookings of $18.7M, spread across multiple products/customers; CEO: “not one large order…several orders across several product lines” .
- Strategic products gaining traction: DAC cooling, small cell, and DAS pipelines strengthening; CEO: “we currently have over 100 [DAS] opportunities,” and DAC “can reduce operating expenses by up to 70% over conventional HVAC” .
What Went Wrong
- GAAP bottom line still negative: consolidated net loss of $245K (‑$0.02/share) despite operating profit, reflecting other expense and taxes .
- Sequential dip in revenue: sales down ~1.6% QoQ to $18.91M after a strong Q1; management framed the quarter as successful but acknowledged the slight sequential decline .
- Tariff overhang and shipment timing: tariff-related customer discussions delayed some shipments (covered by on‑hand inventory), underscoring ongoing execution required to mitigate cost/timing risks .
Financial Results
- KPIs and balance sheet | KPI | Q2 2024 | Q4 2024 | Q1 2025 | Q2 2025 | |---|---|---|---|---| | Backlog ($USD Millions, period-end) | — | 19.5 | 15.2 | 15.0 | | Bookings ($USD Millions) | — | 17.9 | 14.9 | 18.7 | | Inventory ($USD Millions) | — | 14.73 | 13.46 | 12.57 | | Cash & Equivalents ($USD Millions) | — | 0.84 | 1.27 | 3.59 | | Working Capital ($USD Millions) | — | — | — | 12.1 | | Current Ratio (x) | — | — | — | ~1.6x | | Revolver Balance ($USD Millions) | — | 8.20 | 8.05 | 8.00 |
Estimates vs. Actuals (Q2 FY25)
Note: Company-reported Adjusted EBITDA was $1.121M; S&P’s EBITDA series is not directly comparable to company Adjusted EBITDA . Values retrieved from S&P Global*.
No formal segment reporting; management cites momentum across DAC cooling, small cell, DAS, aerospace/industrial, and core interconnect .
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “We delivered an operating profit…$106 thousand versus an operating loss of $415 thousand in the second quarter of 2024…Adjusted EBITDA was $1.1 million with a 6% margin, moving us closer to our 10% adjusted EBITDA margin goal.” — CEO Rob Dawson .
- “Wireless DAS buildouts in stadiums and venues are accelerating, and we currently have over 100 opportunities in our sales pipeline.” — CEO Rob Dawson .
- “Our patented [DAC] systems…can reduce operating expenses by up to 70% over conventional HVAC…often funded by operating and maintenance budgets…not correlated to CapEx spending.” — CEO Rob Dawson .
- “As of April 30th, our backlog stood at $15 million…as of today…$18.4 million.” — CFO Peter Yin .
- “We expect our fiscal 2025 third quarter sales to be roughly in line with second quarter sales.” — CEO Rob Dawson .
Q&A Highlights
- Backlog breadth and durability: Backlog growth is diversified across products/customers, with mix of short book‑and‑ship and multi‑quarter projects; health indicator for sustained activity .
- Product contribution: Small cell and DAS are increasingly material; macro tower remains competitive but RFI focuses on venues and solutions where it commands more of the bill of materials .
- DAS pipeline conversion: >100 venue opportunities spanning stadiums, campuses, medical, and public safety, with project sizes from ~$50K to >$1M; contributing to backlog and 2H outlook .
- Customer concentration: Largest customer rotates by quarter; multiple customers now >$1M per quarter, reducing concentration risk vs prior years .
- EBITDA trajectory and cost levers: Path from 6% to 10% hinges on mix improvements, continued cost reductions/efficiencies, operating leverage, and lower interest via refinancing .
Estimates Context
- S&P Global consensus vs. actual: Q2 revenue $17.24M* vs. $18.91M actual (+9.7% surprise); Primary EPS $0.04* vs. $0.07 actual (+$0.03). Company reported Adjusted EBITDA $1.12M vs. S&P EBITDA consensus/actual of $0.671M*/$0.721M* (not directly comparable) . Values retrieved from S&P Global*.
- Implication: Street likely raises near‑term revenue/EPS for Q3 given “in‑line” sales outlook and rising backlog; mix/efficiency trends may prompt modest gross margin and EBITDA upward revisions if sustained .
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Beat-and-raise narrative on quality: Revenue and EPS beat consensus with margin expansion; backlog inflection supports sustained demand into 2H25 . Values retrieved from S&P Global*.
- Product-led growth vectors: DAC, small cell, and DAS are scaling with larger deployments and a broad opportunity set (venues, public safety, edge data centers) .
- Improving resilience: Customer and product diversification is reducing concentration risk; several customers now >$1M per quarter .
- Tariff risk manageable so far: Limited vendor impact; shipment timing managed with inventory; diversified U.S.-heavy supply chain .
- Cash/credit optionality: Refinancing targeted in Q3 or by YE could lower interest expense and support liquidity for growth .
- Near-term trading setup: Q3 “in-line” revenue guide and rising backlog are positive; watch for continued mix-driven margin expansion and DAC/DAS deal flow .
- Medium-term thesis: Operating leverage plus strategic products support the 10% Adjusted EBITDA margin goal as scale builds; execution on mix, cost-out, and financing remain key .
Sources: Q2 FY25 8‑K press release and financials ; Q2 FY25 earnings call transcript ; Q1 FY25 8‑K ; Q4 FY24 8‑K . Estimates: Values retrieved from S&P Global*.