SP
Sonoma Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (SNOA)·Q1 2019 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Q1 FY2019 revenue was $4.4M, up 20% sequentially and 14% year over year; gross margin fell to 40% on mix shift toward low‑margin Latin America shipments .
- Non‑GAAP EBITDA loss improved sequentially to $(3.08)M from $(3.72)M in Q4, though slightly worse than $(2.84)M last year; net loss per share was $(0.55) .
- Management highlighted rapid adoption of the new mail‑order, direct‑to‑patient channel (20% of Rx units in June; 28% in July) and expects ~60% of U.S. prescriptions via home delivery by year‑end 2018 .
- Catalyst path: continued U.S. dermatology growth (new acne cleanser, Ceramax lotion), Brazil commercialization (first products in-market in 60–90 days), and improving mix as Invekra low‑margin supply sunsets longer term—but a recent extension of the Invekra agreement to late fall 2020 tempers near‑term margin relief .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Strong rebound in revenue: “Total revenue was $4.4 million, up 14% YoY and 20% vs March quarter,” driven by U.S. dermatology and Latin America .
- Launch momentum and approvals: FDA clearance for post‑laser gel; antimicrobial label additions; Acuicyn relaunch; UAE approvals broaden international addressable market .
- Mail‑order channel adoption: “1,500 prescriptions in July (28% of factory units)… we forecast home delivery ~60% of U.S. scripts by YE 2018” .
What Went Wrong
- Margin compression: Gross profit margin declined to 40% vs 46% prior year, primarily due to a higher mix of low‑margin sales to Invekra in Latin America .
- EBITDA vs prior year: Non‑GAAP EBITDA loss of $(3.08)M vs $(2.84)M last year, reflecting lower gross margin and higher cash opex (marketing/legal) .
- Invekra extension: Q1 call disclosed the Latin America supply agreement has been extended by two years to late fall 2020, prolonging lower margin mix and delaying margin improvement .
Financial Results
Segment/Product geography breakdown (Product Revenues):
Key operating KPIs:
Notes: EBITDA and cash operating expenses are non‑GAAP measures defined and reconciled in the company’s exhibits .
Consensus vs Actual (estimates unavailable):
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “We had a bounce back quarter… total revenue was $4.4 million, up 14% YoY and 20% sequential.”
- On mail‑order: “We forecast… 60% of our prescriptions will flow through this direct patient delivery program by the end of 2018.”
- On margins: “Latin America margins… mid‑high teens… as our derm business grows (75–80%+ margins)… overall margins should be in the high 60% to low 70%.”
- On Brazil: “We’ve already received two significant orders… products to hit market in Brazil within 60–90 days.”
- On Invekra: “Contractually, we’ve extended for an additional two years that expires late fall 2020.”
Q&A Highlights
- Reimbursement path: engaging consultants; building financial/clinical arguments to payors; price‑per‑gram comparisons to drive coverage .
- Distribution economics: home delivery lowers wholesaler fees (~8% vs ~12%) and narrows the gross‑to‑net gap by reducing rebates on cash‑pay scripts .
- Margins mix: derm >75–80% vs Latin America mid‑high teens; overall margin to improve as derm mix rises, but Invekra extension delays immediate relief .
- Brazil commercialization: initial orders received; launch in 60–90 days, expanding Latin America revenue beyond Mexico .
- IR strategy: active microcap conference schedule; focus on material releases and execution; openness to insider open‑market buys .
Estimates Context
- Wall Street consensus estimates were unavailable via S&P Global at the time of retrieval; as a result, beat/miss analysis versus consensus cannot be provided (consensus unavailable via S&P Global).
- Given reported gross margin compression from mix (Latin America) and the disclosed extension of the Invekra agreement to late 2020, models may need to temper near‑term gross margin assumptions; conversely, rising mail‑order penetration and U.S. dermatology launches support revenue trajectory .
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Revenue rebound is intact; watch mix: strong U.S. dermatology plus Brazil should offset low‑margin Latin America over time, but Invekra extension pushes margin normalization into 2020–2021 .
- Mail‑order is a structural lever: rising adoption should reduce rebates, tighten gross‑to‑net, and improve predictability of net revenue—key to EBITDA path .
- New launches (antimicrobial acne cleanser, Ceramax lotion) and label expansions are incremental drivers of U.S. derm growth; monitor uptake and script trends .
- Brazil commercialization is near‑term: initial shipments within 60–90 days provide an international growth vector beyond Invekra; track partner execution and minimums .
- Cash discipline remains important: cash $7.7M at quarter end; management targeting relatively flat cash opex while scaling derm .
- Without consensus estimates, trading set‑ups hinge on narrative/catalysts: home‑delivery updates, Brazil ramp, product launch news, and any margin mix commentary can drive stock reactions .
- Non‑GAAP framing matters: EBITDA improved sequentially; continued progress requires sustaining U.S. derm growth and channel optimization .
Sources: Company 8‑K press releases and exhibits for Q1 FY2019 and prior quarters; Q1 FY2019 earnings call transcript; Q3 FY2018 earnings materials .