LightPath Technologies Reports First Quarter Fiscal 2025 Financial Results

ORLANDO, Fla., Nov. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- LightPath Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: LPTH) ("LightPath," the "Company," or "we"), a leading provider of next-generation optics and imaging systems for both defense and commercial applications, today announced financial results for its fiscal 2025 first quarter ended September 30, 2024.

Financial Summary:


                                                     Three Months Ended September
                                                            30,


               
            
           $ in millions   2024     2023                     % Change



     
     Revenue                                 $8.4     $8.1                4 %



     
     Gross Profit                            $2.8     $2.3               22 %



     
     Operating Expenses                      $4.2     $3.6               18 %



     
     Net Loss                              ($1.6)  ($1.3)              21 %



     
     EBITDA* Loss (non-GAAP)               ($0.5)  ($0.4)              25 %

Fiscal 2025 First Quarter Highlights:

    --  Secured Order for Thermal Imaging Assemblies for New Program with Tier-1
        Defense Customer
    --  Awarded Phase 2 Funding in U.S. Defense Department Partnership to
        Qualify Additional Germanium Substitutes
    --  Achieved Key Qualification Milestone with Lockheed Martin for U.S. Army
        Missile Program
    --  Received Infrared Lens Assemblies Order from Existing European Defense
        Customer
    --  Successfully Transitioned Key Customer from Germanium to BlackDiamond
        Glass Optics
    --  Launched Several Innovative Products, Including:
        --  Next-Generation Mantis Camera into $500 Million Global Furnace
            Monitoring Market
        --  New Optical Gas Imaging Camera for Oil & Gas Applications, Launched
            at the CH4 Connections Conference
        --  Introduced First AI-ready EdgeIR(TM) Cameras in Collaboration with
            Maris Tech

Management Commentary

Sam Rubin, President and Chief Executive Officer of LightPath, stated, "The first quarter of fiscal 2025 was highlighted by new orders and continued product innovation to support our strategic transition plan towards becoming a next-generation optics and imaging solutions provider. Momentum toward LightPath 2.0, as we refer to our product groups for customized lens assemblies and solutions and related engineering services, was underscored by an increase from 19% of revenue in the first quarter of 2024, to 30% in the first quarter of 2025.

Our continued focus on defense drove both near-term orders as well as development contracts for more lucrative opportunities in the medium-term. We received an initial development contract from a new European defense customer for the use of BlackDiamond glass in optical systems, as well as a follow-on order from a European defense customer for infrared lens assemblies for use in first-person view drone applications. These orders are a validation of our recent efforts to obtain a European Defense license - allowing us to tap into a critical new market - and expand the capabilities at our Latvia facility.

We also hit key qualification milestones for new defense programs. We received qualification of our advanced thermal camera system by Lockheed Martin as part of a bid to produce a design of a major missile program for the U.S. Army. We will now start delivering flightworthy hardware for implementation into Lockheed Martin's initial live test units. In addition, an existing key defense customer using Germanium lenses successfully completed the qualification and evaluation of new optics made from our proprietary Black Diamond chalcogenide-based glass.

During the quarter, we continued to launch application-specific variations of our thermal imaging cameras, each of which introduces capabilities previously unavailable within a single camera. We launched a new Optical Gas Imaging ("OGI") camera platform to detect fugitive emissions. Our first variation for oil and gas applications is useful for detecting methane, volatile organic compounds, hydrocarbons, and other industrial gases that can be harmful to the environment or human health. We also introduced new versions of the Mantis camera, including a high-temperature furnace monitoring camera and a long-range detection camera, as well as AI-enabled thermal cameras. Each of these bring incredibly incremental capabilities to our offerings, enabling us to capture market niches untapped by larger players in the market.

Looking ahead, we will continue to drive the future of imaging as seen through our proprietary BlackDiamond optics, leveraging our clear advantage in capabilities as compared to legacy Germanium-based solutions. With defined catalysts in the automotive, defense and camera solutions markets, I have never been more confident in our path ahead. As we move into 2025, our team firmly believes that we are well positioned to continue our transformation and build sustainable value for our shareholders over the long-term," concluded Rubin.

First Quarter Fiscal 2025 Financial Results

Revenue for the first quarter of fiscal 2025 increased 4% to $8.4 million, as compared to $8.1 million in the same quarter of the prior fiscal year. Revenue was split amongst the Company's product groups in the first quarter of fiscal 2025 as follows:


                         Product Group Revenue             First Quarter of Fiscal First Quarter of Fiscal
                                                                     2025                     2024          % Change
                                       ($ in millions)**



     Infrared ("IR") Components                                              $2.6                     $3.8   (32 %)



     Visible Components                                                      $3.3                     $2.7     23 %



     Assemblies & Modules                                                    $1.1                     $1.3   (13 %)



     Engineering Services                                                    $1.4                     $0.3    378 %



     
                ** Numbers may not foot due to rounding

    --  Revenue generated by infrared components decreased 32% year-over-year to
        $2.6 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2025, primarily due to a
        decrease in sales against a large annual contract for Germanium-based
        products, which was not renewed in the second quarter of fiscal 2024 due
        to the Company's decision to reduce the amount of optics produced from
        Germanium, both to reduce risk of supply chain disruption, and more
        importantly, to work with customers to convert their systems to use
        optics made of LightPath's BlackDiamond materials.
    --  Revenue from the visible components product group increased 23%
        year-over-year to $3.3 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2025,
        primarily due to an increase in sales to customers in the defense and
        medical industries, as well as sales through catalog and distribution
        channels.
    --  Revenue from assemblies and modules decreased 13% year-over-year to $1.1
        million in the first quarter of fiscal 2025, with the majority of the
        decrease driven by timing of shipments against a multi-year contract
        with a defense customer, partially offset by an increase in sales of
        infrared camera cores.
    --  Revenue from engineering services increased 378% year-over-year to $1.4
        million in the first quarter of fiscal 2025, primarily driven by the
        Company's contract with Lockheed Martin, where revenue is generally
        recognized based on the achievement of milestones.

Gross profit increased 22% to $2.8 million, or 34% of total revenues, in the first quarter of 2025, as compared to $2.3 million, or 29% of total revenues, in the same quarter of the prior fiscal year. The increase in gross margin as a percentage of revenue was primarily driven by a more favorable product mix weighted towards visible components sales and engineering services, which typically have higher margins than infrared components.

Operating expenses increased 18% to $4.2 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2025, as compared to approximately $3.6 million in the same quarter of the prior fiscal year. The increase was primarily due to higher legal and consulting fees related to business development initiatives, as well as increased sales and marketing spend to promote new products.

Net loss in the first quarter of fiscal 2025 totaled $1.6 million, or $0.04 per basic and diluted share, as compared to $1.3 million, or $0.04 per basic and diluted share, in the same quarter of the prior fiscal year. The increase in net loss was primarily attributable to the increased legal and consulting expenses related to business development initiatives.

EBITDA* loss for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, was approximately $0.5 million, compared to a loss of $0.4 million for the same period of the prior fiscal year. The decrease in EBITDA in the first quarter of fiscal 2025 was primarily attributable to the additional legal and consulting expenses related to business development initiatives.

Cash and cash equivalents as of September 30, 2024 totaled $4.3 million, as compared to $3.5 million as of June 30, 2024. As of September 30, 2024, total debt stood at $3.9 million and backlog totaled $21.0 million.

Conference Call

LightPath will host an investor conference call and webcast at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on Thursday, November 7, 2024, to discuss the Company's fiscal 2025 first quarter financial results, provide a corporate update, and conclude with Q&A from telephone participants. To participate, please use the following information:

First Quarter Fiscal 2025 Earnings Conference Call
Date: Thursday, November 7, 2024
Time: 5:00 p.m. Eastern time
Dial-in Number: 1-800-717-1738
International Dial-in Number: 1-646-307-1865

Conference ID: 1194439
Webcast: LPTH Q1 FY2025 Earnings Conference Call

Please join at least five minutes before the start of the call to ensure timely participation.

A replay of the call will be available approximately one hour after completion through November 21, 2024. To listen to the replay, dial 1-877-512-2921 within the United States or 1-412-317-6671 when calling internationally, and enter conference ID #1194439. A webcast replay will also be available using the webcast link above.

About LightPath Technologies

LightPath Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: LPTH) is a leading provider of next-generation optics and imaging systems for both defense and commercial applications. As a vertically integrated solutions provider with in-house engineering design support, LightPath's family of custom solutions range from proprietary BlackDiamond(TM) chalcogenide-based glass materials - sold under exclusive license from the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory - to complete infrared optical systems and thermal imaging assemblies. The Company's primary manufacturing footprint is located in Orlando, Florida with additional facilities in Texas, Latvia and China. To learn more, please visit www.lightpath.com.

*Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To provide investors with additional information regarding financial results, this press release includes references to EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP financial measure. The Company calculates EBITDA by adjusting net income to exclude net interest expense, income tax expense or benefit, depreciation, and amortization.

A "non-GAAP financial measure" is generally defined as a numerical measure of a company's historical or future performance that excludes or includes amounts, or is subject to adjustments, so as to be different from the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. The Company's management believes that this non-GAAP financial measure, when considered together with the GAAP financial measure, provide information that is useful to investors in understanding period-over-period operating results separate and apart from items that may, or could, have a disproportionately positive or negative impact on results in any particular period. Management also believes that this non-GAAP financial measure enhances the ability of investors to analyze underlying business operations and understand performance. In addition, management may utilize these non-GAAP financial measures as guides in forecasting, budgeting, and planning. Non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures presented in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures with the most directly comparable financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP is presented in the table below.


                 
              
                LIGHTPATH TECHNOLOGIES, INC.



     
                Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Regulation G Disclosure




                                                                       
              
                (unaudited)


                                                                                       Three Months Ended September 30,


                                                                             2024                                 2023



     Net loss                                    $(1,622,745)                        $(1,342,376)



     Depreciation and amortization                    989,562                              813,556



     Income tax provision                              15,636                               39,546



     Interest expense                                 149,360                               57,611


                                       
              EBITDA                 $(468,187)                          $(431,663)


                                                  % of revenue                 -6 %                                -5 %

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes statements that constitute forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "forecast," "guidance," "plan," "estimate," "will," "would," "project," "maintain," "intend," "expect," "anticipate," "prospect," "strategy," "future," "likely," "may," "should," "believe," "continue," "opportunity," "potential," and other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time the statements are made and/or management's good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, the impact of varying demand for the Company products; the ability of the Company to obtain needed raw materials and components from its suppliers; general economic uncertainty in key global markets and a worsening of global economic conditions or low levels of economic growth; geopolitical tensions, the Russian-Ukraine conflict, and the Hamas/ Israel war; the effects of steps that the Company could take to reduce operating costs; rising inflation and increased interest rates, which diminish capital market cash flow and borrowing power; our inability to sustain profitable sales growth, convert inventory to cash, or reduce our costs to maintain competitive prices for our products; circumstances or developments that may make us unable to implement or realize the anticipated benefits, or that may increase the costs, of our current and planned business initiatives; and those detailed by us in our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including in Item 1A, Risk Factors, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2024 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Should one or more of these risks, uncertainties, or facts materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by the forward-looking statements contained herein. Accordingly, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved. Except as required under the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, we do not have any intention or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Contact
Lucas A. Zimmerman
MZ Group - MZ North America
LPTH@mzgroup.us
949-259-4987


                                                         
              
                LIGHTPATH TECHNOLOGIES, INC.


                                                       
            
                Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets


                                                                  
              
                (unaudited)




                                                                                                                                                September 30,          June 30,


          
              
                Assets                       2024                                                                    2024



     Current assets:


                                                         
              Cash and cash equivalents                                                  $4,280,637         $3,480,268


                                                                    Trade accounts receivable, net of allowance of $20,870 and $25,676          5,196,840          4,928,931


                                                         
              Inventories, net                                                            6,790,204          6,551,059


                                                         
              Prepaid expenses and deposits                                                 538,580            445,900


                                                         
              Other current assets                                                            2,218            131,177


                                                                             
              Total current assets                                       16,808,479         15,537,335





     Property and equipment, net                        14,921,499                                                              15,210,612



     Operating lease right-of-use assets                 6,514,321                                                               6,741,549



     Intangible assets, net                              3,254,963                                                               3,650,739



     Goodwill                                                                                                                                   6,764,127          6,764,127



     Deferred tax assets, net                              123,000                                                                 123,000



     Other assets                                                                                                                                  58,001             59,602


                                                                             
              Total assets                                              $48,444,390        $48,086,964



     
                Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity



     Current liabilities:


                                                         
              Accounts payable                                                           $2,661,862         $3,231,713


                                                         
              Accrued liabilities                                                         1,413,876          1,911,867


                                                         
              Accrued payroll and benefits                                                1,487,707          1,446,452


                                                         
              Operating lease liabilities, current                                        1,028,981          1,059,998


                                                         
              Loans payable, current portion                                              2,963,855            209,170


                                                         
              Finance lease obligation, current portion                                     183,656            177,148


                                                                             
              Total current liabilities                                   9,739,937          8,036,348





     Deferred tax liabilities, net                         331,755                                                                 326,197



     Accrued liabilities, noncurrent                       315,480                                                                 611,619



     Finance lease obligation, less current portion        491,106                                                                 528,753



     Operating lease liabilities, noncurrent             7,836,512                                                               8,058,502



     Loans payable, less current portion                   284,881                                                                 325,880


                                                                      
                     Total liabilities                                        18,999,671         17,887,299





     Commitments and Contingencies





     Stockholders' equity:


                                                         
              Preferred stock: Series D, $.01 par value, voting;


                                                         
              500,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding


                                                         
              Common stock: Class A, $.01 par value, voting;


                                                                    94,500,000 shares authorized; 39,612,737 and 39,254,643 shares issued
                                                                     and outstanding                                                              396,127            392,546


                                                         
              Additional paid-in capital                                                245,733,382        245,140,758


                                                         
              Accumulated other comprehensive income                                        781,530            509,936


                                                         
              Accumulated deficit                                                     (217,466,320)     (215,843,575)


                                                                             
              Total stockholders' equity                                 29,444,719         30,199,665


                                                                             
              Total liabilities and stockholders' equity                $48,444,390        $48,086,964


                                   
              
                LIGHTPATH TECHNOLOGIES, INC.


                 
              
                Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)


                                            
              
                (unaudited)




                                                                                                                                             Three Months Ended


                                                                                                                                             September 30,


                                                                                                                                 2024             2023



     Revenue, net                                                $8,400,381                                 $8,077,248



     Cost of sales                                                5,555,952                                  5,745,542


                                                                               
              Gross profit                    2,844,429        2,331,706



     Operating expenses:


                                                                             Selling, general and administrative        3,270,583        2,661,168


                                                                  
              New product development                      476,441          639,889


                                                                             Amortization of intangible assets            395,776          281,271


                                                                             Loss on disposal of property and equipment         78,437


                                                                               
              Total operating expenses        4,221,237        3,582,328


                                                                               
              Operating loss                (1,376,808)     (1,250,622)



     Other income (expense):


                                                                  
              Interest expense, net                      (149,360)        (57,611)


                                                                  
              Other income (expense), net                 (80,941)           5,403


                                                                  
              Total other expense, net                   (230,301)        (52,208)


                                                                               
              Loss before income taxes      (1,607,109)     (1,302,830)



     Income tax provision                                            15,636                                     39,546


                                                                               
              Net loss                     $(1,622,745)    $(1,342,376)



     Foreign currency translation adjustment                        271,594                                  (125,208)


                                                                               
              Comprehensive loss           $(1,351,151)    $(1,467,584)



     Loss per common share (basic)                                  $(0.04)                                   $(0.04)



     Number of shares used in per share calculation (basic)      39,561,480                                 37,431,748



     Loss per common share (diluted)                                $(0.04)                                   $(0.04)



     Number of shares used in per share calculation (diluted)    39,561,480                                 37,431,748


                                                                        
            
                LIGHTPATH TECHNOLOGIES, INC.


                                                                    
     
       Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity


                                                                              
              
                (unaudited)


                                                                                                                                                                 Accumulated


                                                                                               Class A                                         Additional         Other                                Total


                                                                                             Common Stock                                        Paid-in      Comprehensive      Accumulated       Stockholders'


                                                                                Shares                           Amount                            Capital          Income           Deficit             Equity



     
                Balances at June 30, 2024                                39,254,643                          $392,546                         $245,140,758           $509,936    $(215,843,575)         $30,199,665



     Issuance of common stock for:



               Employee Stock Purchase Plan                                     8,232                                82                               10,290                                                  10,372



               Exercise of Stock Options, RSUs & RSAs, net                     70,309                               703                                (703)



               Issuance of common stock for acquisition of Visimid            279,553                             2,796                              318,562                                                 321,358



     Stock-based compensation on stock options, RSUs & RSAs                                                                                        264,475                                                 264,475



     Foreign currency translation adjustment                                                                                                                         271,594                               271,594



     Net loss                                                                                                                                                                     (1,622,745)         (1,622,745)



     
                Balances at September 30, 2024                           39,612,737                          $396,127                         $245,733,382           $781,530    $(217,466,320)         $29,444,719







     
                Balances at June 30, 2023                                37,344,739                          $373,447                         $242,808,771           $606,536    $(207,836,229)         $35,952,525



     Issuance of common stock for:



               Employee Stock Purchase Plan                                    14,607                               146                               19,573                                                  19,719



               Exercise of Stock Options, RSUs & RSAs, net                     14,482                               145                                (145)



               Issuance of common stock for acquisition of Visimid             81,610                               816                              149,184                                                 150,000



     Stock-based compensation on stock options, RSUs & RSAs                                                                                        240,075                                                 240,075



     Foreign currency translation adjustment                                                                                                                       (125,208)                            (125,208)



     Net loss                                                                                                                                                                     (1,342,376)         (1,342,376)



     
                 Balances at September 30, 2023                          37,455,438                          $374,554                         $243,217,458           $481,328    $(209,178,605)         $34,894,735


                                                                    
              
                LIGHTPATH TECHNOLOGIES, INC.


                                                           
              
                Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows


                                                                             
              
                (unaudited)




                                                                                                                                                Three Months Ended September 30,


                                                                                                                                           2024                2023



     Cash flows from operating activities:



     Net loss                                                                                                                     $(1,622,745)       $(1,342,376)



     Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:



     Depreciation and amortization                                                                                                     989,562             813,556



     Interest from amortization of loan issuance costs                                                                                  45,833



     Loss on disposal of property and equipment                                                                                         78,437



     Stock-based compensation on stock options, RSUs & RSAs, net                                                                       264,475             240,075



     Provision for credit losses                                                                                                             -                 19



     Change in operating lease assets and liabilities                                                                                 (25,779)             24,946



     Inventory write-offs to allowance                                                                                                  21,770



     Deferred taxes                                                                                                                      5,558               2,979



     Changes in operating assets and liabilities:



     Trade accounts receivable                                                                                                       (267,909)          1,399,160



     Other current assets                                                                                                              128,959            (27,083)



     Inventories                                                                                                                     (260,915)            144,978



     Prepaid expenses and deposits                                                                                                    (91,079)             13,335



     Accounts payable and accrued liabilities                                                                                        (966,368)          (129,600)



     Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities                                                                           (1,700,201)          1,139,989





     Cash flows from investing activities:



     Purchase of property and equipment                                                                                               (79,732)          (955,002)



     Proceeds from sale of equipment                                                                                                    10,648



     Proceeds from sale-leaseback of equipment                                                                                               -            364,710



     Acquisition of Visimid Technologies, net of cash acquired                                                                       (125,000)          (572,141)



     Net cash used in investing activities                                                                                           (194,084)        (1,162,433)





     Cash flows from financing activities:



     Proceeds from sale of common stock from Employee Stock Purchase Plan                                                               10,372              19,719



     Loan issuance costs                                                                                                             (300,000)



     Borrowings on loans payable                                                                                                     3,000,000



     Payments on loans payable                                                                                                        (53,695)          (206,518)



     Repayment of finance lease obligations                                                                                           (43,444)           (27,062)



     Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities                                                                             2,613,233           (213,861)



     Effect of exchange rate on cash and cash equivalents                                                                               81,421            (48,227)



     Change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash                                                                              800,369           (284,532)



     Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period                                                                 3,408,268           7,144,490



     Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period                                                                      $4,208,637          $6,859,958





     Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:



      Interest paid in cash                                                                                                            $20,990             $58,397



      Income taxes paid                                                                                                                $16,903             $33,407



      Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing & financing activities:



       Purchase of equipment through finance lease arrangements                                                                              -            $46,688

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SOURCE LightPath Technologies