Second Quarter 2026
Filed Aug 6, 2026Revenue increased 470% year-over-year and 63% sequentially to $5.8 million, driven by both acquisitions and organic growth
Revenue growth, new awards and backlog expansion were strong, but operating and net losses widened and operating cash burn increased as the company invested ahead of anticipated revenue and margin ramp.
Key metrics
as reported| Metric | Value | q/q | y/y |
|---|---|---|---|
| RevenueGAAP | $5.8 million | 63% | 470% |
| Operating lossGAAP | ($13.4) million | – | – |
| Net lossGAAP | ($12.3) million | – | – |
| Basic and diluted loss per share (EPS)GAAP | ($0.27) | – | – |
| Gain on warrant liability revaluationGAAP | $0.8 million | – | – |
| Stock compensation expensesGAAP | $2.3 million | – | – |
| Net lossnon-GAAP | ($10.8) million | – | – |
| Basic and diluted EPSnon-GAAP | ($0.23) | – | – |
| Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securitiesother | $43.7 million | – | – |
| Backlogother | $24.6 million | increased 43% during the quarter | – |
Full Year 2026 outlook
- Revenue$24.0 - $27.0 million
- NoteOperating Cash Burn: ($32.0) - ($36.0) million
- NoteExpected year-over-year revenue growth of approximately 357% to 415%
- NoteOperating cash burn of ($8.0) – ($9.0) million per quarter, on average
- NoteThe Company expects growth to increase sequentially in Q3
- NoteThe Company expects a majority of backlog to be recognized as revenue over the next 12-18 months
- NoteThe Company expects cash burn to trend lower through the remainder of 2026
What drove it
- Revenue growth was driven by both acquisitions and organic growth.
- Backlog of $24.6 million reflected approximately $13.0 million in new contracts awarded, partially offset by revenue recognized during the quarter.
- The company signed an exclusive partnership with IAI covering U.S. rights to the HARPY, HAROP and Mini HARPY long-range loitering munitions, with no upfront payment and up to ten years of exclusivity.
- The company secured $2.6 million in orders for BRAIN flight computers from a defense prime, including a $2.3 million contract supporting a low-cost kinetic counter-UAS interceptor.
- The company commenced the previously announced $4.2 million Air Force Research Laboratory HANGTIME contract.
- The company received a $2.9 million U.S. Air Force STRATFI option exercise for the Palladyne IQ embodied AI architecture, bringing total program value to over $10.6 million.
Concerns
- Operating loss was ($13.4) million compared to ($8.1) million, mainly reflecting higher stock-based compensation and continued investment in Palladyne Aerospace and Defense.
- GAAP net loss was ($12.3) million compared to ($7.5) million in the prior year period.
- Non-GAAP net loss was ($10.8) million compared to ($6.4) million in the prior year period.
- Operating cash burn ran higher than last quarter due to revenue still being early in scaling against the cost base, one-time capital expenditures, and deliberate investments ahead of the ramp.
- Second quarter 2026 stock compensation expenses were $2.3 million compared to $1.1 million in the prior year period.
What to watch
- Sequential revenue growth in Q3 as backlog converts, new contracts are awarded and performed, and commercial deployments expand.
- Conversion of a majority of the $24.6 million backlog over the next 12-18 months.
- Whether revenue and margins ramp in the third and fourth quarters as expected.
- Whether quarterly cash usage trends lower through the remainder of 2026.
- Progress on Americanization requirements and manufacturing readiness for the IAI loitering-munitions partnership.
Balance sheet and cash flow
- Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities totaled $43.7 million as of June 30, 2026, roughly flat to March 31, 2026
- Second quarter operating cash burn primarily reflected strategic hiring in the Aerospace and Defense division, and roughly $0.9 million in capital expenditures
- The Company defines operating cash burn as cash used in operations plus capital expenditures (capex)
Analysis
Palladyne AI reported $5.8 million of second-quarter revenue, up 470% from $1.0 million in the prior-year period and up 63% sequentially. The company attributed the increase to both acquisitions and organic growth. Contract activity remained the central operating indicator, with approximately $13.0 million in new contracts awarded during the quarter and backlog reaching $24.6 million as of June 30, 2026, an increase of 43% during the quarter after revenue recognition.
The quarter combined revenue momentum with materially higher losses. GAAP operating loss was ($13.4) million versus ($8.1) million in the prior-year period, while GAAP net loss was ($12.3) million versus ($7.5) million. GAAP basic and diluted loss per share was ($0.27), compared with ($0.20). The release cited higher stock-based compensation and continued investment in Palladyne Aerospace and Defense, and stock compensation expenses were $2.3 million compared with $1.1 million in the prior-year period.
On a non-GAAP basis, net loss was ($10.8) million and basic and diluted EPS was ($0.23), compared with a net loss of ($6.4) million and EPS of ($0.17) in the prior-year period. Second-quarter results also included a $0.8 million non-cash gain on warrant liability revaluation, compared with a $0.1 million gain in the prior-year period. The widening losses underscore that the company remains in an investment phase despite the sharp revenue expansion.
Liquidity was $43.7 million of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities as of June 30, 2026, roughly flat to March 31, 2026. Management stated that operating cash burn increased from the prior quarter due to strategic Aerospace and Defense hiring, added engineering and program-management resources, and roughly $0.9 million in capital expenditures. The company defines operating cash burn as cash used in operations plus capital expenditures and expects cash burn to trend lower as revenue and margins ramp in the second half.
Management reiterated full-year 2026 revenue guidance of $24.0 - $27.0 million and operating cash burn guidance of ($32.0) - ($36.0) million. The outlook depends on backlog conversion, further contract awards and commercial deployments, with the company expecting sequential revenue growth in Q3 and a majority of current backlog to be recognized over the next 12-18 months. Investors should focus on the pace of that conversion, execution against defense programs and whether the expected third- and fourth-quarter revenue and margin ramp translates into lower cash usage.
Management, verbatim
The headline this quarter is the $13 million of new contract awards, and it is why we are comfortable reiterating guidance for the year. Backlog stands at nearly $25 million even after we recognized a record quarter of revenue, and it remains the number I watch most closely because it is the foundation the next several quarters are built on.
Ben Wolff, President and Chief Executive Officer of Palladyne AI
Financially, every part of the business grew this quarter. Our operating cash burn 1 ran higher than last quarter. That increase reflects two things: we are still early in scaling revenue against our cost base, and we made deliberate investments ahead of that ramp.
Ben Wolff, President and Chief Executive Officer of Palladyne AI
Not in the filing
stated, not guessed- Gross profit
- Gross margin
- Operating expenses
- Operating cash flow
- Free cash flow
- Exact second-quarter operating cash burn
- Debt
- Capital returns, including share repurchases and dividends
- Segment revenue and segment profitability
- Prior-quarter revenue amount
- Prior-quarter operating loss
- Prior-quarter GAAP net loss and EPS
- Prior-quarter non-GAAP net loss and EPS
- Prior-year cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities
- Prior-quarter backlog amount
- Guidance for gross margin, operating expenses and tax rate
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.