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Ouster Announces Record Revenue for Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023

Record revenue of $83 million for the full year 2023

Expects $25 to $26 million of revenue for the first quarter of 2024

SAN FRANCISCO — (BUSINESS WIRE) — March 26, 2024Ouster, Inc. (NYSE: OUST) (“Ouster” or the “Company”), a leading provider of high-performance lidar sensors for the automotive, industrial, robotics, and smart infrastructure industries, announced today financial results for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 20231.

Fourth Quarter 2023 Highlights

Full Year 2023 Highlights

"Ouster had a transformative year, reporting record revenue of $83 million and bookings of $142 million in 2023. We successfully completed the merger with Velodyne, which solidified our balance sheet, expanded our patent portfolio, and streamlined our cost structure. We achieved important milestones across our operations, notably scaling production and shipments of REV7. Additionally, we added new revenue streams with the launch of Ouster Gemini and Blue City and demoed our first DF sensors with customers, marking a significant stride forward in our product development journey. This was accomplished while delivering record financial performance, significantly reducing our cash burn, and exceeding our initial post-merger annualized cost savings target by over 40%”, said Ouster CEO Angus Pacala. "I’m excited to continue this momentum in 2024 as we execute our plan towards profitability."

Ouster delivered record quarterly revenue of over $24 million with shipments exceeding 4,100 sensors. GAAP and non-GAAP gross margins were sequentially higher, in line with expectations. Margin expansion was driven by higher revenues and lower manufacturing costs attributable to operational improvements. GAAP gross margins of 22% in the fourth quarter of 2023 include the impact of certain expenses outside of ordinary operations associated with the consolidation of product lines and outsourced manufacturing of Velodyne products. Non-GAAP gross margins improved to 35% in the fourth quarter of 2023. GAAP operating expenses were higher sequentially, driven by a litigation settlement and higher stock-based compensation expenses.

2024 Business Objectives

  1. Expand software solutions and grow the installed base
  2. Advance the development of digital lidar hardware
  3. Progress on the long-term financial framework

Expand software solutions and grow the installed base: Ouster’s smart infrastructure solutions, powered by Ouster Gemini and Blue City, are enabling customers to improve operating efficiency and safety. The Company plans to release additional subscription-based software solutions later this year that improve the ease of installation and provide additional statistics and analytics to customers. These tools are expected to support expanded adoption by existing customers as well as new opportunities at global logistics companies, security integrators, and transportation authorities. With a multibillion-dollar lidar opportunity in smart infrastructure, the Company expects software coupled sales to be a key contributor to future growth.

Advance the development of digital lidar hardware: Ouster continues to progress on its digital lidar roadmap, developing technologies that will enhance operating performance and provide further differentiation versus peers. Ouster’s next generation L4 custom silicon chip is taped out and is expected to bring significant improvements in range, field of view, and manufacturability, along with safety certifications to the OS sensor family. The Company plans to integrate the Chronos chip into its solid-state digital flash (“DF”) sensors later this year.

Progress on the long-term financial framework: Last quarter, Ouster set a financial framework focused on achieving 30-50% annual revenue growth, expanding gross margins to 35-40%, and maintaining operating expenses at or below third quarter 2023 levels. The Company expects 2024 results to make meaningful progress against this framework, putting Ouster on a path towards profitability.

First Quarter 2024 Outlook

For the first quarter of 2024, Ouster expects to achieve $25 million to $26 million in revenue.

Conference Call Information

Ouster will host a conference call and live webcast for analysts and investors at 5:00 p.m. ET today, March 26, 2024 to discuss its financial results and business outlook. To access the call, please register at https://registrations.events/direct/Q4I934283.

Upon registering, each participant will be provided with call details and a registrant ID. The webcast and related presentation materials will be accessible for at least 30 days on Ouster’s investor relations website at https://investors.ouster.com. A telephone replay of the call will be available 2 hours after the call ends, and can be accessed via phone through April 4, 2024 by dialing (800) 770-2030 from the U.S. or +1 (609) 800-9909 from outside the U.S. The conference I.D. number is 93428.

About Ouster

Ouster (NYSE: OUST) is a leading global provider of high-resolution scanning and solid-state digital lidar sensors, Velodyne Lidar sensors, and software solutions for the automotive, industrial, robotics, and smart infrastructure industries. Ouster is on a mission to build a safer and more sustainable future by offering affordable, high-performance sensors that drive mass adoption across a wide variety of applications. Ouster is headquartered in San Francisco, CA with offices in the Americas, Europe, and Asia Pacific. For more information, visit www.ouster.com, or connect with us on Twitter 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,” “may,” “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 Ouster’s revenue guidance for the first quarter of 2024; anticipated new product launches and developments; Ouster’s future results of operations, cash reserve and financial position; anticipated cost savings; execution against the Company’s product roadmap and demand for products; the Company’s path to profitability and long-term financial framework; industry and business trends; Ouster’s business objectives, plans, strategic partnerships, and market growth; the benefits of the Company’s merger with Velodyne; and Ouster’s competitive market position, all 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; fluctuations in its operating results; the substantial research and development costs needed to develop and commercialize new products; 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; risks related to Ouster's indebtedness; its 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; the ability of its lidar technology roadmap and new software solutions to catalyze growth; Ouster’s ability to recruit and retain key personnel; its ability to successfully integrate its business with Velodyne and achieve the anticipated benefits of the Velodyne merger; Ouster’s ability to adequately protect and enforce its intellectual property rights, including as it relates to Hesai Group; 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, 2022, as will be updated in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, that are 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, certain excess and obsolete expenses and losses on firm purchase commitments, and stock-based compensation expenses. Non-GAAP Gross Margin is calculated as Non-GAAP Gross Profit divided by revenues. Ouster calculates Adjusted EBITDA as net loss excluding interest expense (income), net, other expense (income), net, stock-based compensation expense, provision for income tax expense, goodwill impairment charges, restructuring costs excluding stock-based compensation expenses, certain excess and obsolete expenses and losses on firm purchase commitments, amortization of acquired intangible assets, depreciation expenses, certain litigation and litigation related expenses, merger and acquisition related 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.

____________________________________

1 The comparative financial results for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2022 reflect only the results of standalone Ouster. The financial results for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023 are composed of Ouster standalone performance through February 10, 2023 and combined performance of Ouster and Velodyne for the remainder of the period. The results for the three months ended December 31, 2023 and September 30, 2023 reflect the combined performance of Ouster and Velodyne.

2 Adjusted EBITDA loss 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.

3 Bookings represent binding contract orders entered during the period.

4 Annualized cost savings baselined against initial post-merger target of $75 million.

OUSTER, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(unaudited)
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
December 31,

2023

2022

Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents

$

50,991

 

$

122,932

 

Restricted cash, current

 

552

 

 

257

 

Short-term investments

 

139,158

 

 

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

14,577

 

 

11,233

 

Inventory

 

23,232

 

 

19,533

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

34,647

 

 

8,543

 

Total current assets

 

263,157

 

 

162,498

 

Property and equipment, net

 

10,228

 

 

9,695

 

Operating lease, right-of-use assets

 

18,561

 

 

12,997

 

Unbilled receivable, long-term portion

 

10,567

 

 

 

Goodwill

 

 

 

51,152

 

Intangible assets, net

 

24,436

 

 

18,165

 

Restricted cash, non-current

 

1,091

 

 

1,089

 

Other non-current assets

 

2,703

 

 

541

 

Total assets

$

330,743

 

$

256,137

 

Liabilities and stockholders’ equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable

$

3,545

 

$

8,798

 

Accrued and other current liabilities

 

58,166

 

 

17,071

 

Contract liabilities

 

12,885

 

 

402

 

Operating lease liability, current portion

 

7,096

 

 

3,221

 

Total current liabilities

 

81,692

 

 

29,492

 

Operating lease liability, long-term portion

 

18,827

 

 

13,400

 

Debt

 

43,975

 

 

39,574

 

Contract liability, long-term portion

 

4,967

 

 

342

 

Other non-current liabilities

 

1,610

 

 

1,710

 

Total liabilities

 

151,071

 

 

84,518

 

Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock

 

42

 

 

19

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

995,464

 

 

613,665

 

Accumulated deficit

 

(816,026

)

 

(441,916

)

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

 

192

 

 

(149

)

Total stockholders’ equity

 

179,672

 

 

171,619

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$

330,743

 

$

256,137

 

OUSTER, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
(unaudited)
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
 
Three Months Ended
December 31,
Three Months Ended
September 30,
Three Months Ended
December 31,
Year Ended December 31,

2023

2023

2022

2023

2022

Revenue

$

24,444

 

$

22,209

 

$

10,938

 

$

83,279

 

$

41,029

 

Cost of revenue

 

19,033

 

 

19,116

 

 

9,097

 

 

74,965

 

 

30,099

 

Gross profit

 

5,411

 

 

3,093

 

 

1,841

 

 

8,314

 

 

10,930

 

Operating expenses:
Research and development

 

15,626

 

 

16,678

 

 

15,306

 

 

91,210

 

 

64,317

 

Sales and marketing

 

8,553

 

 

7,887

 

 

7,639

 

 

41,639

 

 

30,833

 

General and administrative

 

18,545

 

 

14,270

 

 

20,897

 

 

81,982

 

 

61,203

 

Goodwill impairment charges

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

166,675

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

 

42,724

 

 

38,835

 

 

43,842

 

 

381,506

 

 

156,353

 

Loss from operations

 

(37,313

)

 

(35,742

)

 

(42,001

)

 

(373,192

)

 

(145,423

)

Other (expense) income:
Interest income

 

2,579

 

 

2,495

 

 

977

 

 

9,038

 

 

2,208

 

Interest expense

 

(4,081

)

 

(1,825

)

 

(1,551

)

 

(9,303

)

 

(2,694

)

Other income (expense), net

 

(6

)

 

(13

)

 

583

 

 

(130

)

 

7,654

 

Total other (expense) income, net

 

(1,508

)

 

657

 

 

9

 

 

(395

)

 

7,168

 

Loss before income taxes

 

(38,821

)

 

(35,085

)

 

(41,992

)

 

(373,587

)

 

(138,255

)

Provision for income tax expense

 

174

 

 

17

 

 

184

 

 

523

 

 

305

 

Net loss

$

(38,995

)

$

(35,102

)

$

(42,176

)

$

(374,110

)

$

(138,560

)

Other comprehensive loss
Changes in unrealized gain (loss) on available for sale securities

 

314

 

 

63

 

 

 

 

354

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustments

 

258

 

 

(213

)

 

32

 

 

(13

)

 

(143

)

Total comprehensive loss

$

(38,423

)

$

(35,252

)

$

(42,144

)

$

(373,769

)

$

(138,703

)

Net loss per common share, basic and diluted

$

(0.95

)

$

(0.89

)

$

(2.54

)

$

(10.10

)

$

(7.79

)

Weighted-average shares used to compute basic and diluted net loss per share

 

41,135,659

 

 

39,228,118

 

 

16,585,392

 

 

37,042,081

 

 

17,792,316

 

OUSTER, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited)
(in thousands)
 
For the Years ended December 31,

2023

2022

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net loss

$

(374,110

)

$

(138,560

)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Goodwill impairment charges

 

166,675

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

17,148

 

 

9,456

 

Loss on write-off of construction in progress and right-of-use asset impairment

 

1,732

 

 

 

Gain on lease termination

 

(807

)

 

 

Stock-based compensation

 

57,725

 

 

33,321

 

Reduction of revenue related to stock warrant issued to customer

 

528

 

 

 

Amortization of right-of-use asset

 

4,519

 

 

2,730

 

Interest expense and loss on debt extinguishment

 

4,001

 

 

799

 

Amortization of debt issuance costs and debt discount

 

190

 

 

160

 

Non-cash interest income

 

(732

)

 

 

Accretion or amortization on short-term investments

 

(4,685

)

 

 

Change in fair value of warrant liabilities

 

49

 

 

(7,446

)

Inventory write down

 

10,047

 

 

1,600

 

Provision for doubtful accounts

 

1,346

 

 

346

 

(Gain)/loss from disposal of property and equipment

 

(59

)

 

430

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable

 

3,574

 

 

(856

)

Inventory

 

(4,047

)

 

(13,684

)

Prepaid expenses and other assets

 

(21,575

)

 

(3,148

)

Accounts payable

 

(8,520

)

 

4,191

 

Accrued and other liabilities

 

8,081

 

 

3,196

 

Contract liabilities

 

6,597

 

 

 

Operating lease liability

 

(5,567

)

 

(3,225

)

Net cash used in operating activities

 

(137,890

)

 

(110,690

)

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from sale of property & equipment

 

560

 

 

275

 

Purchases of property and equipment

 

(3,006

)

 

(5,422

)

Purchase of short-term investments

 

(137,104

)

 

 

Proceeds from sales of short-term investments

 

158,014

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents acquired in the Velodyne Merger

 

32,137

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

50,601

 

 

(5,147

)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Repurchase of common stock

 

 

 

(45

)

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

 

271

 

 

470

 

Proceeds from ESPP purchase

 

1,174

 

 

378

 

Proceeds from borrowings, net of debt discount and issuance costs

 

43,975

 

 

39,077

 

Repayments of borrowings

 

(43,975

)

 

 

Proceeds from the issuance of common stock under at-the-market offering, net of commissions and fees

 

14,575

 

 

16,322

 

At-the-market offering costs for the issuance of common stock

 

(363

)

 

(541

)

Taxes paid related to net share settlement of restricted stock units

 

 

 

(59

)

Net cash provided by financing activities

 

15,657

 

 

55,602

 

Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents

 

(12

)

 

(143

)

Net increase decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

 

(71,644

)

 

(60,378

)

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year

 

124,278

 

 

184,656

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of year

$

52,634

 

$

124,278

 

OUSTER, INC.
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
(unaudited)
(in thousands)
 
Three Months Ended December 31, Three Months Ended September 30, Year Ended December 31,

2023

2022

2023

2022

2023

2022

GAAP net loss

$

(38,995

)

$

(42,176

)

$

(35,102

)

$

(35,987

)

$

(374,110

)

$

(138,560

)

Interest income, net

 

1,502

 

 

574

 

 

(670

)

 

(34

)

 

265

 

 

486

 

Other expense (income), net

 

6

 

 

(583

)

 

13

 

 

(61

)

 

130

 

 

(7,654

)

Stock-based compensation(1)

 

11,107

 

 

7,997

 

 

8,372

 

 

8,455

 

 

57,725

 

 

33,321

 

Provision for income tax expense

 

174

 

 

184

 

 

17

 

 

37

 

 

523

 

 

305

 

Goodwill impairment charge

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

166,675

 

 

 

Restructuring costs, excluding stock-based compensation expense

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15,976

 

 

 

Excess and obsolete expenses and loss on firm purchase commitments

 

1,732

 

 

 

 

3,187

 

 

 

 

12,299

 

 

 

Amortization of acquired intangibles(2)

 

1,757

 

 

 

 

1,759

 

 

1,122

 

 

6,729

 

 

4,487

 

Depreciation expenses(2)

 

1,239

 

 

2,386

 

 

1,739

 

 

1,210

 

 

10,371

 

 

4,969

 

Litigation expenses(3)

 

7,383

 

 

1,484

 

 

3,536

 

 

1,123

 

 

14,820

 

 

3,200

 

Merger and acquisition related expenses(4)

 

 

 

6,950

 

 

 

 

 

 

6,058

 

 

6,950

 

Gain on lease termination and other items

 

 

 

 

 

(1,256

)

 

 

 

(1,256

)

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

$

(14,095

)

$

(23,184

)

$

(18,405

)

$

(24,135

)

$

(83,795

)

$

(92,496

)

 
(1)Includes stock-based compensation expense as follows:
Three Months Ended December 31, Three Months Ended September 30, Year Ended December 31,

2023

2022

2023

2022

2023

2022

Cost of revenue

$

856

 

$

213

 

$

570

 

$

207

 

$

2,854

 

$

783

 

Research and development

 

4,786

 

 

3,363

 

 

4,056

 

 

3,681

 

 

24,551

 

 

14,611

 

Sales and marketing

 

2,240

 

 

1,789

 

 

1,345

 

 

1,913

 

 

9,966

 

 

7,065

 

General and administrative

 

3,225

 

 

2,632

 

 

2,401

 

 

2,654

 

 

20,354

 

 

10,862

 

Total stock-based compensation

$

11,107

 

$

7,997

 

$

8,372

 

$

8,455

 

$

57,725

 

$

33,321

 

 
 
(2)Includes depreciation and amortization expense as follows:
 
Three Months Ended December 31, Three Months Ended September 30, Year Ended December 31,

2023

2022

2023

2022

2023

2022

Cost of revenue

$

1,180

 

$

322

 

$

1,155

 

$

227

 

$

5,858

 

$

1,142

 

Research and development

 

747

 

 

867

 

 

741

 

 

889

 

$

5,343

 

 

3,466

 

Sales and marketing

 

250

 

 

78

 

 

250

 

 

75

 

$

940

 

 

303

 

General and administrative

 

819

 

 

1,119

 

 

1,352

 

 

1,140

 

$

4,958

 

 

4,545

 

Total depreciation and amortization expense

$

2,996

 

$

2,386

 

$

3,498

 

$

2,331

 

$

17,099

 

$

9,456

 

 
(3)Litigation expenses and litigation-related expenses outside of the Company’s ordinary business operations
(4)Non-recurring acquisition expense represents transaction costs for the Velodyne Lidar, Inc. and Sense Photonics, Inc. mergers which include legal and accounting professional service fees.
 
 
Three Months Ended December 31, Three Months Ended September 30, Year Ended December 31,

2023

2022

2023

2022

2023

2022

Gross profit (loss) on GAAP basis

$

5,411

 

$

1,841

 

$

3,093

 

$

3,716

 

$

8,314

 

$

10,930

 

Stock-based compensation

 

856

 

 

213

 

 

570

 

 

207

 

 

2,854

 

 

783

 

Amortization of acquired intangible assets

 

517

 

 

 

 

467

 

 

 

 

1,644

 

 

 

Excess and obsolete expenses and loss on firm purchase commitments

 

1,732

 

 

 

 

3,187

 

 

 

 

12,299

 

 

 

Gross profit on non-GAAP basis

$

8,516

 

$

2,054

 

$

7,316

 

$

3,923

 

$

25,111

 

$

11,713

 

 
Gross margin on GAAP basis

 

22

%

 

17

%

 

14

%

 

33

%

 

10

%

 

27

%

Gross margin on non-GAAP basis

 

35

%

 

19

%

 

33

%

 

35

%

 

30

%

 

29

%

 



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