Second quarter of 2026
Filed Aug 12, 2026MaxCyte reported second-quarter total revenue of $7.3 million, down 15% year over year, reiterated full-year 2026 guidance, and reported approximately $5.5 million of share repurchases to date.
Revenue, core revenue and gross margin declined year over year, while net loss, EBITDA loss and operating expenses improved. The company reiterated full-year guidance and highlighted rising commercial royalty revenue and a new Genentech technology license partnership.
Key metrics
as reported| Metric | Value | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total RevenueGAAP | $ 7,271 (in thousands) | – | (15%) |
| Total Core RevenueGAAP | $ 6,503 (in thousands) | – | (21%) |
| SPL Program-related revenueGAAP | $0.8 million | – | – |
| Gross profitGAAP | $5.6 million | – | – |
| Gross marginGAAP | 77% gross margin | – | – |
| Adjusted gross marginnon-GAAP | 77% | – | – |
| Operating expensesGAAP | $15.8 million | – | – |
| Net lossGAAP | $8.9 million | – | – |
| EBITDA lossnon-GAAP | $9.3 million | – | – |
| Stock-based compensation expenseother | $1.2 million | – | – |
| Total SPL agreementsother | 29 | – | – |
| SPL programs currently in the clinicother | 12 programs | – | – |
| Commercial SPL programsother | one commercial program | – | – |
| Total cash, cash equivalents and investmentsother | $141.9 million | – | – |
Segments
| Segment | Revenue | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| InstrumentsManagement cited execution on instrument placements. | $ 1,761 (in thousands) | – | (18%) |
| PAs and ConsumablesManagement cited stability in processing assembly sales. | $ 2,337 (in thousands) | – | (25%) |
| LicensesNot separately disclosed. | $ 1,822 (in thousands) | – | (30%) |
| Assay ServiceNot separately disclosed. | $ 245 (in thousands) | – | 380% |
| OtherNot separately disclosed. | $ 338 (in thousands) | – | 31% |
| MilestonesNot separately disclosed. | $ 4 (in thousands) | – | 0% |
| RoyaltiesGrowing commercial royalty revenue. | $ 764 (in thousands) | – | 150% |
Full Year 2026 outlook
- Revenue$30 million to $32 million
- NoteCore revenue of $25 million to $27 million.
- NoteSPL Program-related revenue of approximately $5 million for the year.
- NoteRevenue of approximately $3 million from milestone payments.
- NoteApproximately $2 million from commercial royalties.
- NoteAt least $130.5 million in total cash, cash equivalents and investments, excluding any further capital deployed toward the share repurchase program.
Capital returns
- Repurchased approximately $5.5 million of common stock to date under the Company’s $10 million share repurchase program authorized by the Board.
What drove it
- Management said second-quarter results were driven by execution on instrument placements and stability in processing assembly sales.
- Royalties were $ 764 (in thousands), up 150%, and management cited growing commercial royalty revenue.
- The company announced a strategic, multi-platform technology license partnership with Genentech in July.
- The SPL portfolio included 29 agreements, 12 programs currently in the clinic, and one commercial program as of June 30, 2026.
Concerns
- Total revenue decreased 15% year over year to $ 7,271 (in thousands).
- Total core revenue decreased 21% year over year to $ 6,503 (in thousands).
- Instruments, PAs and Consumables, and Licenses declined 18%, 25%, and 30%, respectively.
- GAAP gross margin was 77% gross margin, compared to 82% gross margin in the second quarter of 2025.
- The company reported a net loss of $8.9 million and an EBITDA loss of $9.3 million.
What to watch
- Execution against full-year revenue guidance of $30 million to $32 million.
- Core revenue delivery within the $25 million to $27 million full-year guidance range.
- SPL Program-related revenue of approximately $5 million, including approximately $3 million from milestone payments and approximately $2 million from commercial royalties.
- Additional progress from the Genentech multi-platform technology license partnership.
- Further capital deployed toward the share repurchase program and year-end total cash, cash equivalents and investments of at least $130.5 million.
Balance sheet and cash flow
- Total cash, cash equivalents and investments were $141.9 million as of June 30, 2026.
- MaxCyte expects to end 2026 with at least $130.5 million in total cash, cash equivalents and investments, excluding any further capital deployed toward the share repurchase program.
Analysis
MaxCyte's second-quarter revenue performance remained pressured. Total revenue was $ 7,271 (in thousands), down 15%, while total core revenue was $ 6,503 (in thousands), down 21%. The decline was broad across the largest reported core revenue sources: Instruments declined 18%, PAs and Consumables declined 25%, and Licenses declined 30%. Assay Service increased 380% and Other increased 31%, but the release did not provide a quantified explanation for those changes.
SPL activity was a relative strength. SPL Program-related revenue was $0.8 million, compared to $0.3 million in the second quarter of 2025. Royalties were $ 764 (in thousands), up 150%, while Milestones were $ 4 (in thousands) and unchanged. The portfolio comprised 29 SPL agreements as of June 30, 2026, including 12 programs currently in the clinic and one commercial program. Management also highlighted its July multi-platform technology license partnership with Genentech.
Margins and losses improved in some respects but remain central to the quarter. Gross profit was $5.6 million, compared to $7.0 million, and GAAP gross margin declined to 77% gross margin from 82% gross margin. Non-GAAP adjusted gross margin was 77%, compared to 83%. Operating expenses fell to $15.8 million from $21.2 million, and net loss narrowed to $8.9 million from $12.4 million. EBITDA loss improved to $9.3 million from $13.1 million, alongside stock-based compensation expense of $1.2 million compared to $3.5 million.
Capital resources were $141.9 million of total cash, cash equivalents and investments as of June 30, 2026. The company had repurchased approximately $5.5 million of common stock to date under its $10 million authorized program. MaxCyte reiterated full-year revenue guidance of $30 million to $32 million, including core revenue of $25 million to $27 million and SPL Program-related revenue of approximately $5 million. It expects to end 2026 with at least $130.5 million in total cash, cash equivalents and investments, excluding any further capital deployed toward the share repurchase program.
The release provides year-over-year comparisons but no prior-quarter financial comparisons, so quarter-over-quarter changes are not reported. The key reported issues are whether instrument placements and processing assembly sales support a return to core revenue growth, whether commercial royalty revenue continues to develop, and whether cost reductions can offset the lower gross-margin profile while the company pursues its reiterated full-year revenue plan.
Management, verbatim
We are pleased with our second quarter results, which were ahead of our expectations, driven by execution on instrument placements and stability in processing assembly sales.
Maher Masoud, President and CEO of MaxCyte
A significant development for MaxCyte was the recent signing of our first multi-platform technology license partnership with large pharma, an enterprise-level agreement with Genentech that we believe will unlock meaningful new opportunities for MaxCyte.
Maher Masoud, President and CEO of MaxCyte
Lastly, our goal has been to return to revenue growth while reducing our net losses.
Maher Masoud, President and CEO of MaxCyte
Not in the filing
stated, not guessed- GAAP operating income or loss
- GAAP diluted EPS
- Non-GAAP diluted EPS
- Operating cash flow
- Free cash flow
- Debt balance
- Dividend information
- Prior-quarter comparisons for reported revenue, margin, expense, loss, EBITDA, stock-based compensation, SPL portfolio, and cash metrics
- Full-year 2026 guidance for gross margin, operating expenses, and tax rate
- Previous-quarter outlook for comparison with reported results
AlphAI analysis generated from the company’s SEC earnings filing (Form 8-K Item 2.02, or Form 6-K for a foreign private issuer). Every figure was cross-checked against the filing text; consensus estimates, price targets and share-price reactions are not shown because they are not in the filing. AI-generated research, not investment advice.