Press Release: Ouster Announces Results for First Quarter 2026

Dow Jones
May 06

Record product revenue, achieving 13th straight quarter of growth

Lidar and camera shipments of more than 12,600 units

New Rev8 OS digital lidar with native color sensing, 2x range and resolution, and functional safety

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 05, 2026-- 

Ouster, Inc. (Nasdaq: OUST) ("Ouster" or the "Company"), a leader in sensing and perception for Physical AI, announced today financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2026.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260505128191/en/

New Rev8 OS digital lidar with native color sensing, 2x range and resolution.

"Our first quarter demonstrated strong execution across our portfolio, delivering record product revenue and validating the growing demand for our solutions across key markets. We won new million-dollar contracts for Ouster BlueCity and secured several million-dollar deals to power industrial automation. Stereolabs has already proven to be a perfect complement, and the rapid integration and commercial success of our expanded camera vision portfolio was a tailwind during the quarter, with strong demand from companies building foundational AI models and advanced robotics platforms," said Ouster CEO Angus Pacala.

"We are continuing the momentum of our unified sensing and perception platform with the introduction of our revolutionary Rev8 OS family, powered by our next-generation L4 Ouster Silicon. This launch represents a paradigm shift in AI perception as Rev8 sets a new standard for sensing, featuring the world's first native-color lidar sensors with industry-leading resolution, range, and reliability designed for functional safety, affordability, and scale. By combining native color and perception across our entire product portfolio, we have solidified Ouster's role as the foundational sensing and perception platform for Physical AI as we provide unified products and solutions that accelerate customer innovation and unlock new applications that sense, think, act, and learn in the physical world."

First Quarter 2026 Highlights:

   --  $49 million in revenue, up 49% year over year and down 22% 
      sequentially. Total revenue of $62 million in the fourth quarter of 2025 
      included royalties of approximately $21 million, primarily one-time and 
      related to long-term IP license contracts. 
 
   --  Product revenue was $48 million, up 55% year over year and 18% 
      sequentially. 
 
   --  Shipped more than 12,600 lidar and camera sensors for revenue, of which 
      lidar was approximately 65% of the total. 
 
   --  GAAP gross margin of 43%, up 200 bps year over year and down 1,700 bps 
      sequentially. 
 
   --  GAAP net loss of $17 million, an improvement of $5 million year over 
      year and down $21 million sequentially. 
 
   --  Non-GAAP gross margin1 of 46%, flat year over year and down 1,600 bps 
      sequentially. 
 
   --  Adjusted EBITDA1 loss of $7 million, up $1 million year over year and 
      down $20 million sequentially. 
 
   --  Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and short-term investments of 
      $175 million as of March 31, 2026. 
 
(1) Adjusted EBITDA and non-GAAP gross margin are non-GAAP financial measures. 
See Non-GAAP Financial Measures for additional information and reconciliations 
of these measures to their respective most directly comparable financial 
measures calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP. 
 

Revenue

Ouster delivered first quarter revenue of $49 million, an increase of 49% year over year and a decrease of 22% sequentially. Product revenue was $48 million, up 55% year over year and 18% sequentially primarily driven by customers in the smart infrastructure and industrial verticals, for use cases in warehouse automation, yard logistics, and intelligent transportation. The Company shipped over 12,600 sensors, of which lidar was approximately 65% of the total.

Gross Margin

GAAP gross margin was 43%, compared with 41% in the first quarter of 2025 and 60% in the fourth quarter of 2025. Volume growth and operating efficiencies lifted profitability year over year. Non-GAAP gross margin was 46%, compared with 46% in the first quarter of 2025 and 62% in the fourth quarter of 2025. Non-GAAP gross margin excludes the impact of stock-based compensation expenses, and certain other items outside of ordinary operations.

Second Quarter 2026 Outlook:

For the second quarter of 2026, Ouster expects to achieve $49.5 million to $52.5 million in total revenue. This includes a full quarter of Stereolabs operations.

Upcoming Investor Events

Ouster management will participate in the following upcoming investor events:

   --  Craig-Hallum Annual Institutional Investor Conference -- May 28, 2026 
      in Minneapolis 
 
   --  Rosenblatt Securities 6th Annual Age of AI Scaling Summit -- June 9, 
      2026 (virtual) 
 
   --  TD Cowen Inaugural Disruptive Technology Summit -- June 17, 2026 in New 
      York City 

Conference Call Information

Ouster will host a conference call and live webcast for analysts and investors at 5:00 p.m. ET today, May 5, 2026 to discuss its financial results and business outlook. Interested parties may listen to a live webcast of the conference call. Registration for the webcast can be completed by visiting the following website: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/pt46y4as. The webcast will be available for replay for at least 30 days after the conference call on Ouster's investor website at https://investors.ouster.com/.

About Ouster

Ouster (Nasdaq: OUST) is a leader in sensing and perception for Physical AI across industrial, robotics, automotive, and smart infrastructure. With a unified platform of high-performance digital lidar, cameras, AI compute, sensor fusion and perception software, and AI models, Ouster delivers solutions that improve quality of life in the physical world. Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, Ouster has a global presence serving thousands of customers with offices in the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. For more information about our products, visit www.ouster.com, contact our sales team, or connect with us on X or LinkedIn.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company intends such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such statements are based upon current plans, estimates and expectations of management that are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation that such plans, estimates and expectations will be achieved. Words such as "anticipate," "expect," "project," "intend," "believe," "may," "will, " "should," "plan," "could," "continue," "target," "contemplate," "estimate," "forecast," "guidance," "predict," "possible," "potential," "pursue," "likely," and the negative of these terms and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, though not all forward-looking statements use these words or expressions. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, including statements regarding our future financial results and financial condition, our strategy, our market positioning, development of and demand for our products, the impact of our recent acquisition of Stereolabs, and future investor conference attendance, constitute forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those that we expected, including, but not limited to, risks related to Ouster's limited operating history and history of losses; the substantial research and development costs needed to develop and commercialize new products; Ouster's limited sales history and the ability to maintain confidence in the Company's long-term business prospect among customers in target markets; fluctuations in its operating results; its ability to maintain competitive average selling prices, high sales volumes and reduce product costs; competition in Ouster's industry; the negotiating power and product standards of its customers; the adoption of its products and the growth of the lidar market generally; product quality and liability risks; Ouster's future capital needs and ability to secure additional capital on favorable terms or at all; market acceptance of lidar and Ouster's forecasts for market growth; Ouster's ability to manage growth, including growing the sales and marketing organization; risks related to international operations, including international manufacturing; cancellation or postponement of contracts or unsuccessful implementations; the Company's ability to manage its inventory; credit risk of customers; Ouster's ability to use tax attributes; Ouster's dependence on key third party suppliers, in particular Benchmark Electronics, Inc., Fabrinet, and other suppliers; supply chain constraints and challenges; conditions in the industries the Company targets or the global economy; Ouster's ability to recruit and retain key personnel; its ability to complete, successfully integrate or achieve the anticipated benefits of new acquisitions or investments, including the Stereolabs acquisition; changes to trade policy, tariffs, and import/export regulations may have a material adverse effect on Ouster's business, financial condition and results of operations; risks related to the use of AI tools by us and others; Ouster's ability to adequately protect and enforce its intellectual property rights; legal and regulatory risks; risks related to operating as a public company; and other important factors discussed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year

ended December 31, 2025, and updated by the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2026, once filed, and as may be further updated from time to time in the Company's other filings with the SEC. Readers are urged to consider these factors carefully and in the totality of the circumstances when evaluating these forward-looking statements, and not to place undue reliance on any of them. Any such forward-looking statements represent management's reasonable estimates and beliefs as of the date of this press release. While Ouster may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, it disclaims any obligation to do so, other than as may be required by law, even if subsequent events cause its views to change.

In addition, see information below concerning non-GAAP financial measures.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to its results determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP"), Ouster believes the non-GAAP measures of Non-GAAP Gross Profit, Non-GAAP Gross Margin and Adjusted EBITDA are useful in evaluating its operating performance. Ouster calculates Non-GAAP Gross Profit as gross profit (loss) excluding amortization of acquired intangibles, acquisition and integration-related charges, and stock-based compensation expense. Non-GAAP Gross Margin is calculated as Non-GAAP Gross Profit divided by revenues. Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as net loss excluding interest expense (income), net, other (income) expense, net, stock-based compensation expense, provision for (benefit from) income taxes, amortization of acquired intangibles, depreciation expenses, acquisition and integration-related charges, certain litigation expenses, gain on lease termination and other items. Ouster believes that Non-GAAP Gross Profit, Non-GAAP Gross Margin, and Adjusted EBITDA may be helpful to investors because it provides consistency and comparability with past financial performance and may be helpful in comparison with other companies, some of which use similar non-GAAP information to supplement their GAAP results. Adjusted EBITDA is also used by the Board and management as a performance metric for compensation purposes. The non-GAAP financial information is presented for supplemental informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with GAAP, and may be different from similarly titled non-GAAP measures used by other companies. Reconciliation tables of the most comparable GAAP financial measures to the non-GAAP financial measures are included at the end of this press release.

 
                              OUSTER, INC. 
                 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS 
                              (unaudited) 
                             (in thousands) 
 
                                            March 31,     December 31, 
                                               2026           2025 
                                           -----------  ---------------- 
Assets 
Current assets: 
     Cash and cash equivalents             $   78,720    $     67,413 
     Restricted cash, current                     647           1,467 
     Short-term investments                    94,398         141,172 
     Accounts receivable, net                  26,195          27,753 
     Inventory                                 29,878          23,566 
     Prepaid expenses and other current 
      assets                                   21,169          17,517 
                                            ---------       --------- 
Total current assets                          251,007         278,888 
Property and equipment, net                    33,826          31,891 
Operating lease, right-of-use assets           13,865          13,452 
Goodwill                                       38,525              -- 
Unbilled receivable, non-current portion        5,240           8,560 
Intangible assets, net                         35,007          13,316 
Restricted cash, non-current                    1,100           1,100 
Other non-current assets                        2,942           2,309 
                                            ---------       --------- 
Total assets                               $  381,512    $    349,516 
                                            =========       ========= 
Liabilities and stockholders' equity 
Current liabilities: 
     Accounts payable                      $   17,403    $     19,984 
     Accrued and other current 
      liabilities                              38,193          26,200 
     Contract liabilities, current             24,159          20,705 
     Operating lease liability, current 
      portion                                   4,561           4,142 
                                            ---------       --------- 
Total current liabilities                      84,316          71,031 
Operating lease liability, non-current 
 portion                                       12,824          12,938 
Contract liabilities, non-current portion       2,951           3,106 
Deferred tax liability                          5,147              -- 
Other non-current liabilities                     653             703 
                                            ---------       --------- 
Total liabilities                             105,891          87,778 
                                            ---------       --------- 
Commitments and contingencies 
Stockholders' equity: 
     Common stock                                  48              48 
     Additional paid-in capital             1,267,048       1,235,580 
     Accumulated deficit                     (990,913)       (973,448) 
     Accumulated other comprehensive 
      (loss) income                              (562)           (442) 
                                            ---------       --------- 
Total stockholders' equity                    275,621         261,738 
                                            ---------       --------- 
Total liabilities and stockholders' 
 equity                                    $  381,512    $    349,516 
                                            =========       ========= 
 
 
                          OUSTER, INC. 
      CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND 
                       COMPREHENSIVE LOSS 
                          (unaudited) 
        (in thousands, except share and per share data) 
 
                                                   Three Months 
                       Three Months Ended March   Ended December 
                                 31,                   31, 
                      --------------------------  -------------- 
                          2026          2025           2025 
                      ------------  ------------  -------------- 
Revenue: 
     Product revenue  $    48,231   $    31,105   $    40,971 
     Royalties                347         1,527        21,207 
                       ----------    ----------    ---------- 
Total revenue              48,578        32,632        62,178 
                       ----------    ----------    ---------- 
Cost of revenue            27,740        19,149        24,726 
Gross profit               20,838        13,483        37,452 
Operating expenses: 
     Research and 
      development          16,082        14,985        15,261 
     Sales and 
      marketing             7,840         6,423         6,782 
     General and 
      administrative       16,128        15,905        14,505 
                       ----------    ----------    ---------- 
Total operating 
 expenses                  40,050        37,313        36,548 
                       ----------    ----------    ---------- 
Income (loss) from 
 operations               (19,212)      (23,830)          904 
Other income 
(expense): 
     Interest income        2,474         1,705         2,746 
     Other income 
      (expense), 
      net                    (175)          303           749 
                       ----------    ----------    ---------- 
Total other income, 
 net                        2,299         2,008         3,495 
                       ----------    ----------    ---------- 
Income (loss) before 
 income taxes             (16,913)      (21,822)        4,399 
Provision for income 
 tax expense                  552           195           414 
                       ----------    ----------    ---------- 
Net income (loss)     $   (17,465)  $   (22,017)  $     3,985 
                       ==========    ==========    ========== 
Other comprehensive 
income (loss) 
     Changes in 
      unrealized 
      gain (loss) on 
      available for 
      sale 
      securities      $      (120)  $        46   $        (2) 
     Foreign 
      currency 
      translation 
      adjustments              --            80            42 
                       ----------    ----------    ---------- 
Total comprehensive 
 income (loss)        $   (17,585)  $   (21,891)  $     4,025 
                       ==========    ==========    ========== 
Net income (loss) 
per common share: 
Basic                 $     (0.28)  $     (0.42)  $      0.07 
                       ==========    ==========    ========== 
Diluted               $     (0.28)  $     (0.42)  $      0.06 
                       ==========    ==========    ========== 
Weighted-average 
shares used to 
compute basic and 
diluted net income 
(loss) per share 
Basic                  61,824,843    52,488,199    60,468,355 
Diluted                61,824,843    52,488,199    64,733,573 
 
 
                                OUSTER, INC. 
              CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS 
                                (unaudited) 
                               (in thousands) 
 
                                           Three Months Ended March 31, 
                                      -------------------------------------- 
                                             2026                2025 
                                      -------------------  ----------------- 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES 
     Net loss                          $      (17,465)      $     (22,017) 
     Adjustments to reconcile net 
     loss to net cash used in 
     operating activities: 
          Depreciation and 
           amortization                         2,703               1,795 
          Loss on write-off and 
           disposal of property and 
           equipment                               --                  16 
          Gain on lease termination                --                 (65) 
          Stock-based compensation              7,494               8,498 
          Deferred taxes                         (360)                 -- 
          Reduction of revenue 
           related to stock warrant 
           issued to customer                   1,101                 397 
          Amortization of 
           right-of-use asset                     820               1,245 
          Accretion on short-term 
           investments                           (454)               (822) 
          Change in fair value of 
           warrant liabilities                     --                (112) 
          (Recovery) provision for 
           inventory write-down                  (488)                261 
          Recovery of doubtful 
           accounts                                --                 (16) 
          Realized gain on sale of 
           available for sale 
           securities                              (9)                 -- 
          Changes in operating 
          assets and liabilities, 
          net of effects of business 
          acquisition: 
               Accounts receivable              6,472               4,137 
               Inventory                       (3,665)              1,051 
               Prepaid expenses and 
                other assets                     (153)             (3,883) 
               Accounts payable                (3,536)              4,120 
               Accrued and other 
                liabilities                       134               8,691 
               Contract liabilities             1,020              (6,515) 
               Operating lease 
                liability                        (895)             (1,660) 
                                          -----------          ---------- 
Net cash used in operating 
 activities                                    (7,281)             (4,879) 
                                          -----------          ---------- 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES 
     Purchases of property and 
      equipment                                (2,561)               (552) 
     Purchase of short-term 
      investments                             (10,802)            (13,858) 
     Proceeds from sales and 
      maturities of short-term 
      investments                              57,919              27,000 
     Acquisition of Stereolabs, net 
      of cash acquired                        (27,493)                 -- 
                                          -----------          ---------- 
Net cash provided by investing 
 activities                                    17,063              12,590 
                                          -----------          ---------- 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES 
     Proceeds from exercise of stock 
      options                                      94                  28 
     Payments received to fund 
      employees tax obligation for 
      vested RSUs                                 611                 632 
                                          -----------          ---------- 
Net cash provided by financing 
 activities                                       705                 660 
                                          -----------          ---------- 
Effect of exchange rates on cash and 
 cash equivalents                                  --                  80 
                                          -----------          ---------- 
Net increase in cash, cash 
 equivalents and restricted cash               10,487               8,451 
Cash, cash equivalents and 
 restricted cash at beginning of 
 period                                        69,980              48,099 
                                          -----------          ---------- 
Cash, cash equivalents and 
 restricted cash at end of period      $       80,467       $      56,550 
                                          ===========          ========== 
 
 
                             OUSTER, INC. 
        RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES 
                             (unaudited) 
                            (in thousands) 
 
                                                       Three Months 
                                                      Ended December 
                      Three Months Ended March 31,          31, 
                      -----------------------------  ----------------- 
                            2026            2025           2025 
                      -----------------  ----------  ----------------- 
GAAP net income 
 (loss)                 $   (17,465)     $ (22,017)    $     3,985 
Interest income, net         (2,474)        (1,705)         (2,746) 
Other income, net               175           (303)           (749) 
Stock-based 
 compensation 
 expense(1)                   7,494          8,498           7,271 
Provision for income 
 tax expense                    552            195             414 
Amortization of 
 acquired 
 intangibles(2)               1,709          1,120           1,134 
Depreciation 
 expense(2)                     994            675             941 
Acquisition and 
 integration-related 
 charges(4)                   2,252             --           2,537 
Litigation 
 (recovery) 
 expenses(3)                   (119)         5,793             358 
Gain on lease 
 termination                     --            (65)             -- 
                      ---  --------       --------   ---  -------- 
Adjusted EBITDA         $    (6,882)     $  (7,809)    $    13,145 
                      ===  ========       ========   ===  ======== 
 
(1) Includes stock-based compensation expense as follows: 
                                                       Three Months 
                                                      Ended December 
                      Three Months Ended March 31,          31, 
                      -----------------------------  ----------------- 
                            2026            2025           2025 
                      -----------------  ----------  ----------------- 
Cost of revenue         $       826      $   1,137     $       901 
Research and 
 development                  2,616          4,305           2,829 
Sales and marketing             766          1,106             854 
General and 
 administrative               3,286          1,950           2,687 
                      ---  --------       --------   ---  -------- 
     Total 
      stock-based 
      compensation      $     7,494      $   8,498     $     7,271 
                      ===  ========       ========   ===  ======== 
 
(2) Includes depreciation and amortization expense as follows: 
                                                       Three Months 
                                                      Ended December 
                      Three Months Ended March 31,          31, 
                      -----------------------------  ----------------- 
                            2026            2025           2025 
                      -----------------  ----------  ----------------- 
Cost of revenue         $     1,311      $     924     $     1,027 
Research and 
 development                    880            642             808 
Sales and marketing             316            172             163 
General and 
 administrative                 196             57              77 
                      ---  --------       --------   ---  -------- 
     Total 
      depreciation 
      and 
      amortization 
      expense           $     2,703      $   1,795     $     2,075 
                      ===  ========       ========   ===  ======== 
 
(3) Represents litigation costs consisting primarily of legal fees and 
the estimated and actual costs to resolve the outstanding litigation 
cases offset by the estimated amounts recoverable and recovered under 
insurance, indemnity and contribution agreements for such costs. 
(4) Includes legal and accounting fees and transition related services 
and are not considered normal, recurring, cash operating expenses 
necessary to operate the Company's business. 
 
 
                                                     Three Months Ended 
                   Three Months Ended March 31,          December 31, 
               ------------------------------------  ------------------- 
                      2026               2025               2025 
               -------------------  ---------------  ------------------- 
Gross profit 
 on GAAP 
 basis          $      20,838       $   13,483        $     37,452 
Stock-based 
 compensation             826            1,137                 901 
Amortization 
 of acquired 
 intangible 
 assets                   862              457                 467 
                   ----------  ---   ---------  ---      ---------  ---- 
Gross profit 
 on non-GAAP 
 basis          $      22,526       $   15,077        $     38,820 
                   ==========  ===   =========  ===      =========  ==== 
 
Gross margin 
 on GAAP 
 basis                     43%              41%                 60% 
Gross margin 
 on non-GAAP 
 basis                     46%              46%                 62% 
 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260505128191/en/

 
    CONTACT:    For Investors 

investors@ouster.io

For Media

press@ouster.io

 
 

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

May 05, 2026 17:53 ET (21:53 GMT)

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