AEye Reports Fourth Quarter 2023 Results
- None.
- GAAP net loss of $(27.8) million in Q4 2023
- Non-cash impairment charges impacting GAAP financial results
- 1-for-30 reverse stock split in December 2023
- Revenue of $0.1 million in Q4 2023
Insights
The announcement by AEye, Inc. of a signed Letter of Intent (LOI) with a Tier 1 automotive supplier could signal a strategic partnership that may enhance the company's market position in the automotive Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (ADAS) sector. This partnership is indicative of AEye's commitment to a capital-light, automotive-first strategy, potentially improving its competitive edge and opening new revenue streams. The introduction of Apollo, a new product offering, suggests innovation and expansion of AEye's product line, which could be a positive indicator for future sales and market penetration.
However, the reported financials raise concerns. The significant GAAP net loss of $27.8 million, or $4.44 per share and a non-GAAP net loss of $6.9 million, or $1.10 per share, despite a reduced cash burn rate, reflect ongoing financial challenges. The cash position of $36.5 million, with an expected runway into 2025, provides some assurance of short-term operational stability, but it also underscores the need for the company to secure additional funding or achieve profitability to sustain long-term growth. The reverse stock split is a common strategy to meet minimum bid price requirements and may also be aimed at making the stock more attractive to institutional investors, although it could be perceived negatively by current shareholders.
AEye's foray into the ADAS market through strategic partnerships with Tier 1 suppliers is a significant move, given the projected growth of the ADAS market driven by increasing adoption of safety features and autonomous driving technologies. The launch of Apollo could cater to the demand for compact, high-performance lidar solutions, which are critical components for autonomous vehicles. By focusing on a capital-light approach, AEye may be able to leverage its partners' resources and distribution networks to scale effectively without incurring substantial capital expenditures.
However, the revenue of $0.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 is minimal, signaling that AEye is still in the early stages of commercialization and market acceptance. Investors should monitor the conversion of LOIs into firm contracts and subsequent revenue generation as a key indicator of the company's ability to capitalize on its strategic initiatives. The wind down of the industrial product line and the associated impairment charges reflect a strategic pivot and a narrowing of focus, which could be either a streamlining effort or a sign of retrenchment depending on future performance.
The disclosure of financial adjustments following the 1-for-30 reverse stock split is a critical piece of information for shareholders and potential investors. Such corporate actions require adherence to regulatory guidelines and can have legal implications if not properly executed and communicated. The adjustment of financial information to reflect the revised share count is necessary for accurate financial reporting and compliance with securities laws. It is also important for investors to understand the legal context behind the non-cash impairment charges related to the wind down of the industrial product line, as these charges can affect the company's reported earnings and tax liabilities.
Investors should be aware of the legal ramifications of the LOI with the Tier 1 automotive supplier. While an LOI is not a binding contract, it does signify a serious intent to enter into a partnership and can have legal consequences if either party fails to negotiate in good faith. The progression from an LOI to a definitive agreement will be a important step to watch, as it will formalize the terms and obligations of the partnership and provide more concrete legal and financial implications for AEye's business strategy.
Signed LOI with global Tier 1 automotive supplier
Third consecutive quarter of cash burn reduction
Management Commentary
“AEye is pleased to announce that we have signed an LOI with a global Tier 1 automotive ADAS sensor supplier, which marks the beginning of a new relationship as part of our capital-light, automotive-first strategy. We are also excited to unveil Apollo, the first member of our 4Sight Flex product family that delivers ultra-long-range performance in an incredibly compact form factor,” said Matt Fisch, AEye CEO. “We are looking forward to a successful 2024 as we focus on delivering AEye’s innovative technology to the market with our Tier 1 partners.”
Key Q4 2023 Financial Highlights
“For the third consecutive quarter, we have reduced our cash burn rate while maintaining a disciplined approach to expense management. We entered 2024 with
In December 2023, the company effected a 1-for-30 reverse stock split and all the financial information disclosed has been adjusted to account for the revised share count numbers.
-
Revenue of
$0.1 million -
GAAP net loss was
$(27.8) million $(4.44) -
Non-GAAP net loss was
$(6.9) million $(1.10) -
Cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities were
$36.5 million
Conference Call and Webcast Details
AEye management will hold a conference call today, March 26, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (5:00 p.m. Eastern Time) to discuss these results. AEye CEO Matt Fisch and CFO Conor Tierney will host the call, followed by a question-and-answer session.
The webcast and accompanying slides will be accessible via the company’s website at https://investors.aeye.ai/.
Access is also available via:
Conference call: https://bit.ly/3I9gyBa
Webcast: https://bit.ly/3IcfWLi
About AEye
AEye’s unique software-defined lidar solution enables advanced driver-assistance, vehicle autonomy, smart infrastructure, and logistics applications that save lives and propel the future of transportation and mobility. AEye’s 4Sight™ Intelligent Sensing Platform, with its adaptive sensor-based operating system, focuses on what matters most: delivering faster, more accurate, and reliable information. AEye’s 4Sight™ products, built on this platform, are ideal for dynamic applications which require precise measurement imaging to ensure safety and performance.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The non-GAAP measures provided in this press release should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in
This press release includes non-GAAP financial measures, including:
Non-GAAP net loss which is defined as GAAP net loss plus stock-based compensation, less expenses related to the registration statements on Forms S-1 and S-3, less change in fair value of convertible note and warrant liabilities, less gain from early termination of right-of-use assets, plus one-time termination benefits and other restructuring costs, plus non-routine write-downs of inventory, other current assets, and losses on purchase commitments, plus long-lived asset disposals and impairment charges, plus expenses related to the Common Stock Purchase Agreement, plus realized loss on instrument-specific credit risk, plus stock issuance costs, plus debt issuance costs; and |
||
| Adjusted EBITDA, defined as non-GAAP net loss plus depreciation and amortization expense, less interest expense and other, less interest income and other, plus provision for income tax expense. |
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements included in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including the safe harbor provisions under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are sometimes accompanied by words such as “believe,” “continue,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” ”estimate,” “intend,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “predict,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “potential,” “seem,” “seek,” “outlook,” and similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends, or that are not statements of historical matters. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections, and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward looking statements included in this press release include statements about a new Tier 1 relationship, AEye’s new lidar product, and the Company’s cash position and cost reduction initiatives, among others. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as and must not be relied on by an investor as a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction, or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are very difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from the assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of AEye. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including but not limited to: (i) the risks that the signed LOI, or letter of intent, with a global Tier 1 automotive ADAS sensor supplier may not evolve into a relationship between the supplier and AEye as anticipated, or at all; (ii) the risks that Apollo may be unable to deliver ultra-long-range performance in an incredibly compact form factor as anticipated, or at all; (iii) the risks that 2024 will be not be as successful as anticipated; (iv) the risks that AEye may be unable to deliver its innovative technology to the market with Tier 1 partners as anticipated, or at all; (v) the risks that AEye will be unable to continue to reduce, or maintain a lower cash burn rate to the extent anticipated, or at all; (vi) the risks that the cash runway provided by the cash and marketable securities on AEye’s balance sheet as of December 31, 2023 may not extend AEye’s runway into 2025; (vii) the risks that AEye’s continued cost reduction initiatives may not continue to be effective to the extent anticipated, or at all, due to unforeseen circumstances, or such reductions may have other non-cash consequences negatively impacting AEye’s business operations; (viii) the risks that market conditions create delays in the demand for commercial lidar products beyond AEye’s expectations; (ix) the risks that lidar adoption occurs slower than anticipated or fails to occur at all; (x) the risks that AEye’s products may not meet the diverse range of performance and functional requirements of target markets and customers; (xi) the risks that AEye’s products may not function as anticipated by AEye, or by target markets and customers; (xii) the risks that AEye may not be in a position to adequately or timely address either the near or long-term opportunities that may or may not exist in the evolving autonomous transportation industry; (xiii) the risks that laws and regulations are adopted impacting the use of lidar that AEye is unable to comply with, in whole or in part; (xiv) the risks associated with changes in competitive and regulated industries in which AEye operates, variations in operating performance across competitors, and changes in laws and regulations affecting AEye’s business; (xv) the risks that AEye is unable to adequately implement its business plans, forecasts, and other expectations, and identify and realize additional opportunities; and (xvi) the risks of economic downturns and a changing regulatory landscape in the highly competitive and evolving industry in which AEye operates. These risks and uncertainties may be amplified by current or future global conflicts and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, both of which continue to cause significant economic uncertainty. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the “Risk Factors” section of the periodic report that AEye has most recently filed with the
Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements; AEye assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. AEye gives no assurance that AEye will achieve any of its expectations.
| AEYE, INC. | ||||||||
| Consolidated Balance Sheets | ||||||||
(In thousands)
|
||||||||
December 31, 2023 |
December 31, 2022 |
|||||||
| ASSETS | ||||||||
| Current Assets: | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ |
16,932 |
|
$ |
19,064 |
|
||
| Marketable securities |
|
19,591 |
|
|
75,135 |
|
||
| Accounts receivable, net |
|
131 |
|
|
617 |
|
||
| Inventories, net |
|
583 |
|
|
4,553 |
|
||
| Prepaid and other current assets |
|
2,517 |
|
|
6,181 |
|
||
| Total current assets |
|
39,754 |
|
|
105,550 |
|
||
| Right-of-use assets |
|
11,226 |
|
|
15,502 |
|
||
| Property and equipment, net |
|
281 |
|
|
7,665 |
|
||
| Restricted cash |
|
2,150 |
|
|
2,150 |
|
||
| Other noncurrent assets |
|
906 |
|
|
2,473 |
|
||
| Total assets | $ |
54,317 |
|
$ |
133,340 |
|
||
| LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||||||
| Current Liabilities: | ||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ |
3,442 |
|
$ |
3,218 |
|
||
| Accrued expenses and other current liabilities |
|
6,585 |
|
|
9,764 |
|
||
| Contract liabilities |
|
— |
|
|
987 |
|
||
| Convertible notes |
|
— |
|
|
8,594 |
|
||
| Total current liabilities |
|
10,027 |
|
|
22,563 |
|
||
| Operating lease liabilities, noncurrent |
|
14,858 |
|
|
16,681 |
|
||
| Other noncurrent liabilities |
|
409 |
|
|
126 |
|
||
| Total liabilities |
|
25,294 |
|
|
39,370 |
|
||
| Stockholders' Equity: | ||||||||
| Preferred stock |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
||
| Common stock |
|
1 |
|
|
1 |
|
||
| Additional paid-in capital |
|
366,647 |
|
|
345,757 |
|
||
| Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) |
|
10 |
|
|
(1,279 |
) |
||
| Accumulated deficit |
|
(337,635 |
) |
|
(250,509 |
) |
||
| Total stockholders’ equity |
|
29,023 |
|
|
93,970 |
|
||
| Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ |
54,317 |
|
$ |
133,340 |
|
||
| AEYE, INC. Consolidated Statements of Operations (In thousands, except share and per share data) (Unaudited) |
||||||||||||||||
Three months ended December 31, |
|
Twelve months ended December 31, |
||||||||||||||
2023 |
|
2022 |
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
||||||||||
| Revenue: | ||||||||||||||||
| Prototype sales | $ |
51 |
|
$ |
561 |
|
$ |
477 |
|
$ |
1,743 |
|
||||
| Development contracts |
|
18 |
|
|
531 |
|
|
987 |
|
|
1,904 |
|
||||
| Total revenue |
|
69 |
|
|
1,092 |
|
|
1,464 |
|
|
3,647 |
|
||||
| Cost of revenue |
|
6,668 |
|
|
3,115 |
|
|
15,319 |
|
|
8,732 |
|
||||
| Gross loss |
|
(6,599 |
) |
|
(2,023 |
) |
|
(13,855 |
) |
|
(5,085 |
) |
||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
| Operating Expenses: |
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
| Research and development |
|
5,178 |
|
|
9,335 |
|
|
26,171 |
|
|
37,644 |
|
||||
| Sales and marketing |
|
1,746 |
|
|
4,912 |
|
|
12,528 |
|
|
19,317 |
|
||||
| General and administrative |
|
4,955 |
|
|
7,709 |
|
|
25,234 |
|
|
36,762 |
|
||||
| Impairment of long-lived assets |
|
9,941 |
|
|
— |
|
|
9,988 |
|
|
— |
|
||||
| Total operating expenses |
|
21,820 |
|
|
21,956 |
|
|
73,921 |
|
|
93,723 |
|
||||
| Loss from operations |
|
(28,419 |
) |
|
(23,979 |
) |
|
(87,776 |
) |
|
(98,808 |
) |
||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
| Other income (expense): |
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
| Change in fair value of convertible note and warrant liabilities |
|
56 |
|
|
(139 |
) |
|
(858 |
) |
|
(14 |
) |
||||
| Interest income and other |
|
385 |
|
|
436 |
|
|
1,317 |
|
|
1,545 |
|
||||
| Interest expense and other |
|
210 |
|
|
(41 |
) |
|
248 |
|
|
(1,379 |
) |
||||
| Total other income (expense), net |
|
651 |
|
|
256 |
|
|
707 |
|
|
152 |
|
||||
| Provision for income tax expense |
|
14 |
|
|
19 |
|
|
57 |
|
|
58 |
|
||||
| Net loss | $ |
(27,782 |
) |
$ |
(23,742 |
) |
$ |
(87,126 |
) |
$ |
(98,714 |
) |
||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
| Per Share Data |
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
| Net loss per common share (basic and diluted) | $ |
(4.44 |
) |
$ |
(4.42 |
) |
$ |
(14.95 |
) |
$ |
(18.82 |
) |
||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
| Weighted average common shares outstanding (basic and diluted) |
|
6,257,973 |
|
|
5,373,525 |
|
|
5,827,721 |
|
|
5,245,624 |
|
||||
| AEYE, INC. | ||||||||
| Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows | ||||||||
| (In thousands) (Unaudited) |
||||||||
Twelve months ended December 31, |
||||||||
2023 |
|
2022 |
||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities: | ||||||||
| Net loss | $ |
(87,126 |
) |
$ |
(98,714 |
) |
||
| Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities: |
|
|
||||||
| Depreciation and amortization |
|
1,547 |
|
|
1,422 |
|
||
| Loss on sale of property and equipment, net |
|
59 |
|
|
— |
|
||
| Noncash lease expense relating to operating lease right-of-use assets |
|
1,406 |
|
|
1,338 |
|
||
| Impairment of long-lived assets |
|
9,988 |
|
|
— |
|
||
| Gain from early termination of right-of-use assets |
|
(35 |
) |
|
— |
|
||
| Inventory write-downs, net of scrapped inventory |
|
7,712 |
|
|
675 |
|
||
| Loss on advances to suppliers |
|
1,385 |
|
|
— |
|
||
| Change in fair value of convertible note and warrant liabilities |
|
858 |
|
|
14 |
|
||
| Realized loss on instrument-specific credit risk |
|
46 |
|
|
— |
|
||
| Stock-based compensation |
|
18,071 |
|
|
23,959 |
|
||
| Convertible note issuance costs |
|
— |
|
|
474 |
|
||
| Realized loss on redemption of marketable securities |
|
— |
|
|
77 |
|
||
| Amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts on marketable securities, net of change in accrued interest |
|
(211 |
) |
|
1,086 |
|
||
| Expected credit losses |
|
35 |
|
|
— |
|
||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
|
|
||||||
| Accounts receivable, net |
|
451 |
|
|
3,605 |
|
||
| Inventories, current and noncurrent, net |
|
(2,459 |
) |
|
(2,634 |
) |
||
| Prepaid and other current assets |
|
2,279 |
|
|
(1,130 |
) |
||
| Other noncurrent assets |
|
284 |
|
|
527 |
|
||
| Accounts payable |
|
252 |
|
|
839 |
|
||
| Accrued expenses and other current liabilities |
|
(3,135 |
) |
|
85 |
|
||
| Operating lease liabilities |
|
(1,528 |
) |
|
(1,341 |
) |
||
| Contract liabilities |
|
(987 |
) |
|
(1,931 |
) |
||
| Other noncurrent liabilities |
|
383 |
|
|
— |
|
||
| Net cash used in operating activities |
|
(50,725 |
) |
|
(71,649 |
) |
||
| Cash flows from investing activities: |
|
|
||||||
| Purchases of property and equipment |
|
(1,951 |
) |
|
(4,200 |
) |
||
| Proceeds from sale of property and equipment |
|
283 |
|
|
— |
|
||
| Purchases of marketable securities |
|
(19,331 |
) |
|
(23,929 |
) |
||
| Proceeds from redemptions and maturities of marketable securities |
|
76,350 |
|
|
96,592 |
|
||
| Net cash provided by investing activities |
|
55,351 |
|
|
68,463 |
|
||
| Cash flows from financing activities: |
|
|
||||||
| Proceeds from exercise of stock options |
|
455 |
|
|
1,174 |
|
||
| Proceeds from the issuance of convertible notes |
|
— |
|
|
9,850 |
|
||
| Payments for convertible note redemptions |
|
(6,235 |
) |
|
(874 |
) |
||
| Payment of 2022 convertible note issuance costs |
|
— |
|
|
(324 |
) |
||
| Taxes paid related to the net share settlement of equity awards |
|
(1,445 |
) |
|
(4,621 |
) |
||
| Proceeds from issuance of common stock under the Common Stock Purchase Agreement |
|
136 |
|
|
2,891 |
|
||
| Proceeds from issuance of common stock through the Employee Stock Purchase Plan |
|
334 |
|
|
— |
|
||
| Stock issuance costs related to the Common Stock Purchase Agreement |
|
(3 |
) |
|
(29 |
) |
||
| Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities |
|
(6,758 |
) |
|
8,067 |
|
||
| Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
|
(2,132 |
) |
|
4,881 |
|
||
| Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period |
|
21,214 |
|
|
16,333 |
|
||
| Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period | $ |
19,082 |
|
$ |
21,214 |
|
||
| AEYE, INC. Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Measures (In thousands, except share and per share data) (Unaudited) |
||||||||||||||||
Three months ended December 31, |
|
Twelve months ended December 31, |
||||||||||||||
2023 |
|
2022 |
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
||||||||||
| GAAP net loss | $ |
(27,782 |
) |
$ |
(23,742 |
) |
$ |
(87,126 |
) |
$ |
(98,714 |
) |
||||
| Non-GAAP adjustments: |
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation |
|
3,364 |
|
|
5,956 |
|
|
18,071 |
|
|
23,959 |
|
||||
| Expenses related to registration statements on Forms S-1 and Forms S-3 |
|
(50 |
) |
|
68 |
|
|
142 |
|
|
372 |
|
||||
| Expenses related to the Common Stock Purchase Agreement |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
41 |
|
|
— |
|
||||
| Change in fair value of convertible note and warrant liabilities |
|
(56 |
) |
|
139 |
|
|
858 |
|
|
14 |
|
||||
| Realized loss on instrument-specific credit risk |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
46 |
|
|
— |
|
||||
| Stock issuance costs |
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
29 |
|
||||
| Debt issuance costs |
|
— |
|
|
93 |
|
|
— |
|
|
530 |
|
||||
| Gain from early termination of right-of-use assets |
|
(35 |
) |
|
— |
|
|
(35 |
) |
|
— |
|
||||
| One-time termination benefits and other restructuring costs |
|
1,877 |
|
|
— |
|
|
3,347 |
|
|
— |
|
||||
| Non-routine write-downs of inventory, other current assets, and losses on purchase commitments |
|
5,621 |
|
|
— |
|
|
8,628 |
|
|
— |
|
||||
| Long-lived asset disposals and impairment charges |
|
10,185 |
|
|
— |
|
|
10,232 |
|
|
— |
|
||||
| Non-GAAP net loss | $ |
(6,876 |
) |
$ |
(17,486 |
) |
$ |
(45,796 |
) |
$ |
(73,810 |
) |
||||
| Depreciation and amortization expense |
|
304 |
|
|
628 |
|
|
1,302 |
|
|
1,422 |
|
||||
| Interest income and other |
|
(350 |
) |
|
(436 |
) |
|
(1,282 |
) |
|
(1,545 |
) |
||||
| Interest expense and other |
|
(210 |
) |
|
(52 |
) |
|
(294 |
) |
|
876 |
|
||||
| Provision for income tax expense |
|
14 |
|
|
19 |
|
|
57 |
|
|
58 |
|
||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $ |
(7,118 |
) |
$ |
(17,327 |
) |
$ |
(46,013 |
) |
$ |
(72,999 |
) |
||||
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
| GAAP net loss per share attributable to common stockholders: |
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted | $ |
(4.44 |
) |
$ |
(4.42 |
) |
$ |
(14.95 |
) |
$ |
(18.82 |
) |
||||
| Non-GAAP net loss per share attributable to common stockholders: |
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted | $ |
(1.10 |
) |
$ |
(3.25 |
) |
$ |
(7.86 |
) |
$ |
(14.07 |
) |
||||
| Shares used in computing GAAP net loss per share attributable to common stockholders: |
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted |
|
6,257,973 |
|
|
5,373,525 |
|
|
5,827,721 |
|
|
5,245,624 |
|
||||
| Shares used in computing Non-GAAP net loss per share attributable to common stockholders: |
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||
| Basic and diluted |
|
6,257,973 |
|
|
5,373,525 |
|
|
5,827,721 |
|
|
5,245,624 |
|
||||
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240326921626/en/
Leigh Bannister
AEye, Inc.
Lbannister@aeye.ai
925-400-4366
Evan Niu, CFA
Financial Profiles, Inc.
eniu@finprofiles.com
310-622-8243
Source: AEye, Inc.
FAQ
What is the ticker symbol for AEye, Inc.?
What was the revenue in the fourth quarter of 2023?
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What was the cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities balance as of December 31, 2023?
When did AEye announce the wind down of its industrial product line?
What impact did the non-cash impairment charges have on the GAAP financial results?
Who will host the conference call to discuss the results?
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