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NanoString Releases Operating Results for Third Quarter of 2021

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NanoString Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:NSTG) reported Q3 financial results for the period ending September 30, 2021, with product and service revenue of $36.9 million, a 23% year-over-year increase. Instrument revenues grew 13% to $14.5 million, while consumables revenue surged 32% to $18.0 million. The GeoMx DSP revenues reached $49 to $50 million in 2021, exceeding prior guidance. Despite growth, net loss for Q3 was $31.3 million. The company aims to bolster its market position with innovative Spatial Biology technologies like CosMx SMI.

Positive
  • Product and service revenue increased by 23% year-over-year to $36.9 million.
  • Instrument revenue grew to $14.5 million, with GeoMx DSP orders up approximately 40%.
  • Consumables revenue surged by 32% year-over-year, with GeoMx DSP consumables revenue up 224%.
  • Updated guidance indicates GeoMx DSP revenue of $49 to $50 million for 2021, at the high end of the range.
Negative
  • Net loss for the third quarter was $31.3 million, higher than the previous year's loss of $21.3 million.
  • nCounter revenue guidance reduced from $95 to $94 million due to lower consumables utilization.
  • Total revenue guidance decreased from $143 to $144 million from previous $143 to $147 million.

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- NanoString Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:NSTG), a leading provider of life science tools for discovery and translational research, today reported financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2021.

Third Quarter Financial Highlights

  • Product and service revenue of $36.9 million, 23% year-over-year growth
  • Instrument revenue of $14.5 million, 13% year-over-year growth. Instrument revenue includes:
    • $8.5 million of GeoMx® Digital Spatial Profiler (DSP) instrument revenue, 14% year-over-year growth
    • $6.0 million of nCounter® Analysis System instrument revenue, 11% year-over-year growth
  • Consumables revenue of $18.0 million, 32% year-over-year growth. Consumables revenue includes:
    • $4.5 million GeoMx DSP consumables revenue, 224% year-over-year growth
    • $13.5 million of nCounter consumables revenue, 10% year-over-year growth
  • Service revenue of $4.4 million, 24% year-over-year growth
  • Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $369.9 million at September 30, 2021

“NanoString’s Spatial Biology franchise is having a banner year, as we continue to build on our leadership position in this dynamic market and pursue our mission to map the universe of biology. Our GeoMx DSP instrument orders grew approximately 40%, as our Whole Transcriptome Assays using next generation sequencing readout appealed to customers across both discovery and translational research. We’ve highlighted the power of our new CosMx Spatial Molecular Imager with a newly-released dataset and manuscript that demonstrate in situ imaging of lung cancer samples using both the largest number of RNA targets and currently the only workflow compatible with formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples,” said Brad Gray, President & CEO of NanoString. “Meanwhile, our nCounter franchise posted strong instrument placements, while consumables revenue continued to be impacted by residual effects of the pandemic.”

GeoMx DSP

  • GeoMx Installed Base: Grew installed base to approximately 225 GeoMx DSP Systems at September 30, 2021, as compared to approximately 100 at September 30, 2020
  • Spatial Organ Atlas: In October 2021, released an annotated reference dataset of whole transcriptomes from six organs spatially resolved using GeoMx DSP, providing a publicly-accessible database for understanding organ structure and function
  • GeoMx Publications: Increased cumulative peer-reviewed publications to approximately 70 as of September 30, 2021, with approximately 10 new publications during the quarter

CosMx Spatial Molecular Imager (SMI)

  • Branding: Introduced the ‘CosMx’ branding for our SMI platform. Together, CosMx SMI and GeoMx DSP represent a compelling portfolio of technologies that span the continuum of applications in spatial biology
  • First Public Dataset: Released the first high resolution dataset generated using CosMx SMI, including RNA expression from almost 1,000 genes mapped at single cell and subcellular resolution within eight FFPE non-small lung cancer specimens
  • Technology Publication: Published a manuscript in the online journal BioRxiv describing the CosMx SMI technology, performance specifications and applications of the platform

nCounter

  • nCounter Installed Base: Grew installed base to approximately 1,030 nCounter Analysis Systems at September 30, 2021, as compared to approximately 915 systems at September 30, 2020
  • nCounter Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADC) Development Panel Launch: In October 2021, launched the nCounter ADC Development Panel, a specialized gene expression tool that is designed to provide molecular insights into important biological questions and challenges of oncology therapies
  • nCounter Publications: Surpassed 4,900 cumulative peer-reviewed publications utilizing nCounter technology at September 30, 2021

2021 Outlook

The company updated its revenue outlook for 2021, with results expected as follows:

  • GeoMx DSP revenue of approximately $49 to $50 million, as compared to previous guidance of $48 to $50 million, driven by instrument orders trending to the top end of the company's 40% to 50% expected annual growth range
  • nCounter revenue, inclusive of all service revenue, of $91 to $94 million, as compared to previous guidance of $95 to $97 million, due to reduced consumables utilization caused by the residual effect of the pandemic
  • Total product and service revenue of $140 to $144 million, as compared to previous guidance of $143 to $147 million

The company reiterated its full-year outlook on gross margin, operating expenses and adjusted EBITDA.

Third Quarter Financial Results

We have elected to present selected non-GAAP, or adjusted, financial measures, including Adjusted EBITDA. These adjusted financial measures are calculated excluding certain items that may make it more challenging to compare our GAAP operating results across periods. Such items may include collaboration revenue, stock-based compensation, depreciation and amortization, or one-time charges such as transaction related fees and expenses or restructuring charges and severance costs. A reconciliation of adjusted financial measures to the nearest comparable GAAP financial measure can be found in the notes and table at the end of this press release.

(dollars in thousands)

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

GAAP

 

Non-GAAP Adjusted

 

2021

 

2020

 

2021

 

2020

Product and service revenue

$

36,924

 

 

$

30,090

 

 

$

36,924

 

 

$

30,090

 

Collaboration revenue

226

 

 

1,755

 

 

 

 

 

Total revenue

37,150

 

 

31,845

 

 

36,924

 

 

30,090

 

Cost of product and service revenue

17,154

 

 

13,962

 

 

16,346

 

 

13,497

 

Research and development

19,117

 

 

14,993

 

 

16,566

 

 

12,660

 

Selling, general and administrative

30,253

 

 

20,474

 

 

23,757

 

 

16,622

 

Adjusted EBITDA

N / A

 

 

N / A

 

 

$

(19,745

)

 

$

(12,689

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-operating expense, net

(1,887

)

 

(3,733

)

 

(1,887

)

 

(3,733

)

Net loss

$

(31,261

)

 

$

(21,317

)

 

$

(21,632

)

 

$

(16,422

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

GAAP

 

Non-GAAP Adjusted

 

2021

 

2020

 

2021

 

2020

Product and service revenue

$

101,950

 

 

$

75,730

 

 

$

101,950

 

 

$

75,730

 

Collaboration revenue

680

 

 

5,324

 

 

 

 

 

Total revenue

102,630

 

 

81,054

 

 

101,950

 

 

75,730

 

Cost of product and service revenue

48,258

 

 

35,691

 

 

46,108

 

 

34,167

 

Research and development

51,342

 

 

48,234

 

 

43,608

 

 

41,162

 

Selling, general and administrative

83,907

 

 

66,107

 

 

66,432

 

 

56,156

 

Adjusted EBITDA

N / A

 

 

N / A

 

 

$

(54,198

)

 

$

(55,755

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-operating expense, net

(5,116

)

 

(18,096

)

 

(5,116

)

 

(10,953

)

Net loss

$

(85,993

)

 

$

(87,074

)

 

$

(59,314

)

 

$

(66,708

)

Supplemental Information

As a supplement to the table above, we have posted to the investor relations section of our website, at www.nanostring.com, supplemental financial data that includes our adjusted financial measures as compared to the nearest comparable GAAP financial measures, for the third quarter and the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and for each quarter of and the full year of 2020.

Conference Call

Management will host a conference call today beginning at 1:30 pm PT / 4:30 pm ET to discuss these results and answer questions. Investors and other interested parties can register for the call in advance by visiting http://www.directeventreg.com/registration/event/2826727. After registering, an email confirmation will be sent, including dial-in details and unique conference call codes for entry. Registration is open throughout the call, but to ensure connection for the full call, registration in advance is recommended. The link to the webcast and audio replay will be made available at the Investor Relations website: www.nanostring.com. A replay of the call will be available beginning November 9, 2021 at 7:30pm ET through midnight ET on November 16, 2021. To access the replay, dial (800) 585-8367 or (416) 621-4642 and reference Conference ID: 2826727. The webcast will also be available on our website for one year following the completion of the call.

Non-GAAP, or Adjusted, Financial Information

We believe that the presentation of non-GAAP, or adjusted, financial information provides important supplemental information to management and investors regarding financial and business trends relating to our financial condition and results of operations. Reconciliation of adjusted financial measures to the most directly comparable financial result as determined in accordance with GAAP are included at the end of this press release following the accompanying financial data. A reconciliation of adjusted guidance measures to corresponding GAAP measures is not available on a forward-looking basis without unreasonable effort due to the uncertainty regarding certain expenses that may be incurred in the future. For further information regarding why we believe that these adjusted measures provide useful information to investors, the specific manner in which management uses these measures, and some of the limitations associated with the use of these measures, please refer to “Notes Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Information” at the end of this press release.

About NanoString Technologies, Inc.

NanoString Technologies is a leading provider of life science tools for discovery and translational research. The company provides three platforms that allow researchers to map the universe of biology. The nCounter® Analysis System, cited in more than 4,900 peer-reviewed publications, offers a way to easily profile the expression of hundreds of genes, proteins, miRNAs, or copy number variations, simultaneously with high sensitivity and precision. NanoString’s GeoMx® Digital Spatial Profiler enables highly multiplexed spatial profiling of RNA and protein targets in various sample types, including FFPE tissue sections, and has been cited in more than 75 peer-reviewed publications. The CosMx Spatial Molecular Imager, with commercial availability expected in 2022, enables highly sensitive, high-resolution imaging of hundreds to thousands of RNAs or proteins directly from single cells within morphologically intact whole tissue sections. For more information, visit www.nanostring.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding expectations for demand for our products and growth in our business, future revenue growth, the impact of new products and expansion into new markets, the growth trajectory of our nCounter and GeoMx franchises, the anticipated launch of new products and technology, our estimated 2021 operating results and our anticipated GAAP and non-GAAP operating results. Such statements are based on current assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, include market acceptance of our products; delays or denials of regulatory approvals or clearances for products or applications; the extent and duration of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and adverse conditions in the general domestic and global economic markets; the effects of ongoing litigation; the impact of competition; the impact of expanded sales, marketing, product development and clinical activities on operating expenses; delays or other unforeseen problems with respect to manufacturing and product development; as well as the other risks set forth in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. NanoString Technologies disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

The NanoString logo, NanoString, NanoString Technologies, GeoMx, and nCounter are trademarks or registered trademarks of NanoString Technologies, Inc., in the United States and/or other countries.

NANOSTRING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

Three Months Ended

September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 

2021

 

2020

 

2021

 

2020

Revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Instruments

$

14,495

 

 

$

12,878

 

 

$

38,056

 

 

$

32,512

 

Consumables

18,028

 

 

13,650

 

 

51,972

 

 

33,519

 

Services

4,401

 

 

3,562

 

 

11,922

 

 

9,699

 

Total product and service revenue

36,924

 

 

30,090

 

 

101,950

 

 

75,730

 

Collaboration

226

 

 

1,755

 

 

680

 

 

5,324

 

Total revenue

37,150

 

 

31,845

 

 

102,630

 

 

81,054

 

Costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of product and service revenue

17,154

 

 

13,962

 

 

48,258

 

 

35,691

 

Research and development

19,117

 

 

14,993

 

 

51,342

 

 

48,234

 

Selling, general and administrative

30,253

 

 

20,474

 

 

83,907

 

 

66,107

 

Total costs and expenses (a) (b)

66,524

 

 

49,429

 

 

183,507

 

 

150,032

 

Loss from operations

(29,374

)

 

(17,584

)

 

(80,877

)

 

(68,978

)

Other income (expense):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

153

 

 

333

 

 

502

 

 

1,516

 

Interest expense

(1,876

)

 

(4,154

)

 

(5,614

)

 

(11,153

)

Other income (expense), net

(223

)

 

159

 

 

79

 

 

(1,116

)

Loss on extinguishment of debt and termination of revolving loan facility

 

 

 

 

 

 

(7,143

)

Total other expense, net

(1,946

)

 

(3,662

)

 

(5,033

)

 

(17,896

)

Net loss before provision for income taxes

(31,320

)

 

(21,246

)

 

(85,910

)

 

(86,874

)

Provision for income tax

59

 

 

(71

)

 

(83

)

 

(200

)

Net loss

$

(31,261

)

 

$

(21,317

)

 

$

(85,993

)

 

$

(87,074

)

Net loss per share, basic and diluted

$

(0.69

)

 

$

(0.56

)

 

$

(1.90

)

 

$

(2.31

)

Weighted average shares used in computing basic and diluted net loss per share

45,558

 

 

38,081

 

 

45,170

 

 

37,624

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(a) Includes $8.3 million and $5.0 million of stock-based compensation expense for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and $23.7 million and $13.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

(b) Includes $1.5 million of depreciation and amortization expense for both three month periods ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, and $4.3 million for both nine month periods ended September 30, 2021 and 2020.

NANOSTRING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

September 30,

 

December 31,

 

2021

 

2020

Assets

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

$

107,167

 

$

411,848

Short-term investments

262,687

 

28,883

Accounts receivable, net

35,470

 

31,100

Inventory, net

31,095

 

22,959

Prepaid expenses and other

9,548

 

4,190

Total current assets

445,967

 

498,980

Property and equipment, net

21,158

 

20,828

Operating lease right-of-use assets

19,115

 

21,492

Other assets

7,144

 

2,895

Total assets

$

493,384

 

$

544,195

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

Accounts payable

$

11,932

 

$

5,313

Accrued liabilities

4,256

 

4,970

Accrued compensation and other employee benefits

15,951

 

15,262

Customer deposits

1,327

 

1,631

Deferred revenue, current portion

6,425

 

5,610

Operating lease liabilities, current portion

4,589

 

4,313

Total current liabilities

44,480

 

37,099

Deferred revenue, net of current portion

2,847

 

1,843

Long-term debt, net

224,785

 

172,703

Operating lease liabilities, net of current portion

22,153

 

25,602

Total liabilities

294,265

 

237,247

Total stockholders’ equity

199,119

 

306,948

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$

493,384

 

$

544,195

Notes Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Information. In addition to our results reported in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), we believe certain non-GAAP, or adjusted, measures are useful in evaluating our operating performance. We use adjusted financial measures to evaluate our ongoing operations and for internal planning and forecasting purposes. We believe that adjusted financial measures, when taken collectively, may be helpful to investors because it provides consistency and comparability with past financial performance. However, adjusted financial information has limitations as an analytical tool and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. In particular, other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate similarly titled non-GAAP or adjusted measures differently or may use other measures to evaluate their performance, all of which could reduce the usefulness of our adjusted financial measures as tools for comparison. A reconciliation is provided below for adjusted financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measure stated in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Investors are cautioned that there are a number of limitations associated with the use of non-GAAP, or adjusted, financial measures as analytical tools. Investors are encouraged to review the related U.S. GAAP financial measures and the reconciliation of these adjusted financial measures to their most directly comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure, and not to rely on any single financial measure to evaluate our business.

Expenses excluded from non-GAAP, or adjusted, cost of product and service revenue, research and development expense and selling, general and administrative expense. We exclude stock-based compensation expense and depreciation and amortization expense, which are non-cash expenses, from certain of our adjusted financial measures because we believe that excluding such items provides meaningful supplemental information regarding operational performance. We exclude reorganization and restructuring costs, certain expenses related to collaborations, recoveries of certain previously remitted state and local taxes and cloud computing arrangement implementation expenses from certain of our adjusted financial measures because such expenses have no direct correlation to the continuing operation of our business as such expenses are non-recurring or non-operating in nature, and therefore we believe excluding these items provides meaningful supplemental information regarding operational performance.

Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure defined as GAAP net loss adjusted for collaboration revenue, stock-based compensation expense, depreciation and amortization, net interest expense, other non-operating expense or income, provision for income tax and other special items as determined by management, including loss on extinguishment of debt, reorganization and restructuring costs, certain expenses related to collaborations, recoveries of certain previously remitted state and local taxes and cloud computing arrangement implementation expenses.

Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA ($ in thousands)

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

2021

 

2020

Net loss - GAAP

$

(31,261

)

 

$

(21,317

)

Collaboration revenue

(226

)

 

(1,755

)

Stock-based compensation1

8,284

 

 

4,983

 

Depreciation and amortization2

1,467

 

 

1,487

 

Interest expense, net

1,723

 

 

3,821

 

Other (income) expense, net

223

 

 

(159

)

Provision for income tax

(59

)

 

71

 

Certain collaboration agreement expenses4

 

 

180

 

Cloud computing arrangement implementation expenses6

104

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA - non-GAAP

$

(19,745

)

 

$

(12,689

)

 

 

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

2021

 

2020

Net loss - GAAP

$

(85,993

)

 

$

(87,074

)

Collaboration revenue

(680

)

 

(5,324

)

Stock-based compensation1

23,689

 

 

13,077

 

Depreciation and amortization2

4,347

 

 

4,301

 

Interest expense, net

5,112

 

 

9,637

 

Other (income) expense, net

(79

)

 

1,116

 

Loss on extinguishment of debt and termination of revolving loan facility

 

 

7,143

 

Provision for income tax

83

 

 

200

 

Reorganization and restructuring charges3

 

 

629

 

Certain collaboration agreement expenses4

115

 

 

540

 

Recovery of certain previously remitted state and local taxes5

(896

)

 

 

Cloud computing arrangement implementation expenses6

104

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA - non-GAAP

$

(54,198

)

 

$

(55,755

)

1 For the three months ended September 30, 2021, our cost of product and service revenue, research and development expenses and selling, general and administrative expenses included stock-based compensation expense of $0.6 million, $1.6 million and $6.1 million, respectively. For the three months ended September 30, 2020, our cost of product and service revenue, research and development expenses and selling, general and administrative expenses included stock-based compensation expense of $0.3 million, $1.1 million and $3.6 million, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, our cost of product and service revenue, research and development expenses and selling, general and administrative expenses included stock-based compensation expense of $1.7 million, $4.6 million and $17.4 million, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, our cost of product and service revenue, research and development expenses and selling, general and administrative expenses included stock-based compensation expense of $0.8 million, $2.9 million and $9.4 million, respectively.

2 For the three months ended September 30, 2021, our cost of product and service revenue, research and development expenses and selling, general and administrative expenses included depreciation and amortization expense of $0.2 million, $1.0 million and $0.3 million, respectively. For the three months ended September 30, 2020, our cost of product and service revenue, research and development expenses and selling, general and administrative expenses included depreciation and amortization expense of $0.2 million, $1.1 million and $0.2 million, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, our cost of product and service revenue, research and development expenses and selling, general and administrative expenses included depreciation and amortization expense of $0.5 million, $3.0 million and $0.8 million, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, our cost of product and service revenue, research and development expenses and selling, general and administrative expenses included depreciation and amortization expense of $0.7 million, $3.0 million and $0.6 million, respectively.

3 For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, our research and development expenses included reorganization and restructuring charges of $0.6 million.

4 For the three months ended September 30, 2020, our research and development expenses included expenses related to certain of our collaboration agreements of $0.2 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, our research and development expenses included expenses related to certain of our collaboration agreements of $0.1 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2020, our research and development expenses included expenses related to certain of our collaboration agreements of $0.5 million.

5 For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, our selling, general and administrative expenses included recoveries related to certain previously remitted state and local taxes of $0.9 million.

6 For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021, our selling, general and administrative expenses included cloud computing arrangement implementation expenses of $0.1 million.

Doug Farrell

Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications

dfarrell@nanostring.com

Phone: 206-602-1768

Source: NanoString Technologies, Inc.

FAQ

What were the third quarter results for NanoString Technologies (NSTG) in 2021?

In Q3 2021, NanoString reported product and service revenue of $36.9 million, representing a 23% increase year-over-year.

What factors contributed to NanoString (NSTG) revenue growth in Q3 2021?

Revenue growth was driven by a 13% increase in instrument revenue and a 32% rise in consumables revenue.

What is the updated revenue outlook for NanoString (NSTG) for 2021?

The updated revenue outlook for GeoMx DSP is $49 to $50 million, while total product and service revenue is projected to be $140 to $144 million.

What was the net loss reported by NanoString Technologies (NSTG) in Q3 2021?

NanoString reported a net loss of $31.3 million for the third quarter of 2021.

How did the pandemic impact NanoString's (NSTG) revenue?

The pandemic residual effects caused reduced consumables utilization, impacting overall revenue forecasts.

NanoString Technologies, Inc.

NASDAQ:NSTG

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