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GeneDx Holdings Corp. (WGS)·Q1 2025 Earnings Summary
Executive Summary
- Revenue of $87.1M, up 42% year-over-year; exome/genome revenue $71.4M (+62% y/y), adjusted gross margin 69% and adjusted net income $7.7M (third consecutive profitable quarter). Management raised FY25 revenue guidance to $360–$375M and adjusted GM to 66%–68% .
- Sequential revenue declined versus Q4 on typical seasonality, one fewer sales day, and severe weather, though March and April volumes strengthened; GAAP net loss was $(6.5)M and GAAP gross margin 67% .
- Strategic catalysts: launch of ultraRapid whole genome (48-hour TAT), Epic Aura integration to drive NICU adoption, and planned acquisition of Fabric Genomics (near-70% GM SaaS/interpretation model) to open decentralized interpretation and international channels .
- External headline risk: multiple law firms announced investigations after a short-seller report on Feb 5; WGS fell 6.7% that day. Management reiterated momentum and reaffirmed adjusted profitability targets, but this overhang may influence stock reaction near term .
What Went Well and What Went Wrong
What Went Well
- Exome/genome mix and growth improved: exome/genome revenue rose 62% y/y to $71.4M and comprised 40% of test results; adjusted gross margin expanded to 69% from 61% a year ago .
- “The first quarter exceeded our expectations across all measures… our third consecutive quarter of profitability, demonstrating the leverage in our business model to drive sustained, profitable growth.” — Katherine Stueland, CEO .
- Reimbursement tailwinds and volumes: average exome/genome reimbursement rate increased to ~$3,400 vs ~$2,600 last year; Medicaid coverage reached 33 states outpatient and 14 states rapid genome (NICU), with New Mexico added in Q1 .
What Went Wrong
- Sequential revenue decline: total revenue fell to $87.1M from $95.3M in Q4 amid seasonality, one fewer sales day, and severe weather, which pushed some appointments out weeks/months given specialist scarcity .
- GAAP profitability: despite adjusted net income, GAAP net loss was $(6.5)M; G&A increased with Epic infrastructure costs (~$5M annually) as platform investments scale .
- External scrutiny: an investor alert highlighted a short-seller report alleging misconduct; shares fell 6.7% on Feb 5, adding headline and litigation risk despite operational momentum .
Financial Results
Core P&L and Margins (oldest → newest)
Year-over-Year Comparison
Operating Expense and Cash
Segment Revenue and Volumes (oldest → newest)
KPIs
Guidance Changes
Earnings Call Themes & Trends
Management Commentary
- “Healthcare is at an inflection point… our third consecutive quarter of profitability, demonstrating the leverage in our business model to drive sustained, profitable growth.” — Katherine Stueland, CEO .
- “Looking forward… rolling expansion of new indications in the outpatient setting, and the recent launch of a new ultraRapid genome product are expected to drive incremental volume growth opportunities.” — Kevin Feeley, CFO .
- “We’re raising guidance… $360M to $375M… raising adjusted gross margin to 66%–68% and reaffirming quarterly and full-year adjusted profitability.” — Kevin Feeley .
- “Our integration with Epic continues to progress… we anticipate that… will support a NICU volume ramp in the second half of the year.” — Katherine Stueland .
Q&A Highlights
- Sequential volumes: Seasonality plus severe weather and one fewer sales day drove Q1 step-down; March/April volumes strengthened and guide for ≥30% volume growth reaffirmed .
- OpEx/G&A: Epic infrastructure and support drove G&A increase; management expects OpEx leverage to improve with automation and tools; ~$5M annual G&A cost tied to Epic .
- NICU outlook: UltraRapid (2-day TAT) orderable; Epic Aura exiting pilot; H2 ramp expected; mix between 2-day and 5-day products could provide pricing uplift .
- Reimbursement/denials: Positive ordinary-course true-up adjustments (~$6M); average exome/genome reimbursement ~$3,400; denials mid-40% with goal ~80% paid over time .
- Fabric Genomics economics: ~70% gross margin SaaS/interpretation; small workforce; accretive in 2026; opens decentralized interpretation and international markets .
Estimates Context
- Street consensus (S&P Global) for Q1 2025 EPS and revenue was unavailable at time of review; as a result, an estimates beat/miss comparison cannot be made. Values retrieved from S&P Global.*
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Mix shift to higher-value exome/genome continues (40% of results), sustaining gross margin expansion; March/April strength suggests momentum into Q2 despite Q1 seasonality .
- Raised FY25 revenue and margin guidance signals confidence in reimbursement gains and cost controls; watch adoption ramp from Epic Aura and ultraRapid genome in H2 as potential upside drivers .
- Revenue cycle improvements (true-ups, state coverage expansion) are durable tailwinds; tracking denial rate reduction toward ~80% paid will be a key KPI for margin durability .
- Fabric Genomics adds a high-margin, recurring interpretation/SaaS layer with international reach; integration benefits are more 2026–2027, but positioning expands TAM and leverages AI .
- External investigations following a short-seller report present headline risk; near-term volatility possible, but core fundamentals (profitability on adjusted basis, coverage expansion) remain intact .
- Near-term trading: catalysts include NICU order ramp, additional Epic Aura go-lives, and further reimbursement wins/true-ups; monitor quarterly adjusted net income continuity and cash from operations .
- Medium-term thesis: leadership in pediatric/rare genomics with expanding indications, improving economics, and AI-enabled interpretation scale positions WGS to compound margins and revenue as exome→genome parity develops with payers .