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Acorn Energy (ACFN)
NASDAQ:ACFN
US Market

Acorn Energy (ACFN) AI Stock Analysis

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ACFN

Acorn Energy

(NASDAQ:ACFN)

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Outperform 72 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:72Outperform
Price Target:
$21.00
▲(37.98% Upside)
The score is driven primarily by improved financial performance (strong TTM margins and positive free cash flow) and an attractive low P/E. These positives are tempered by revenue softness and some earnings-quality concerns (cash flow lagging net income), mixed longer-term technicals (still below 100/200-day averages), and earnings-call risks around hardware timing and cost pressure.
Positive Factors
Strong cash generation and debt-free status
Sustained positive operating and free cash flow with no debt meaningfully increases strategic optionality: funds R&D, product rollouts, and selective M&A without raising external capital, lowering refinancing and solvency risk and supporting multi-year growth investments.
High-margin recurring monitoring revenue
Growing, high-margin recurring monitoring revenue increases revenue visibility and cash stability. A larger monitoring mix drives durable gross margin expansion, supports predictable lifetime customer value, and underpins management's multi-year 20% revenue growth target.
Low leverage and improved equity base
A conservative leverage profile and restored equity reduce financial vulnerability to cyclical downturns, enhance capacity for capital deployment, and improve partner/customer confidence—strengthening long-term funding flexibility for execution of product and market initiatives.
Negative Factors
Revenue softness and hardware timing concentration risk
Dependence on large, lumpy hardware contracts creates revenue volatility; timing shifts materially affect reported top line and undermine predictability. Structural concentration risk can slow steady growth and complicate planning for multi-year revenue targets.
Operating cash flow lags net income (earnings quality)
A persistent gap between net income and operating cash flow suggests earnings include non-cash or timing gains, raising durability questions. If cash conversion remains weak, it could constrain reinvestment and expose the company to working-capital stress during growth phases.
Rising operating expenses and residential softness
Persistent higher operating costs combined with softer residential hardware demand can compress margins and slow scalable growth. If expense increases are recurring rather than one-time, they erode free cash flow and require stronger revenue traction to sustain profitability.

Acorn Energy (ACFN) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Acorn Energy Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionAcorn Energy, Inc., through its subsidiaries, develops and markets wireless remote monitoring and control systems for various markets in the United States and internationally. It operates through two segments, Power Generation (PG) Monitoring and Cathodic Protection (CP) Monitoring. The PG segment provides wireless remote monitoring and control systems, and services for critical assets, which include stand-by power generators, compressors, pumps, pumpjacks, light towers, turbines, and other industrial equipment; and Internet of Things applications. The CP segment offers remote monitoring of cathodic protection systems on gas pipelines for gas utilities and pipeline companies. The company was incorporated in 1986 and is based in Wilmington, Delaware.
How the Company Makes MoneyAcorn Energy generates revenue through multiple streams, primarily by selling its energy management systems and smart grid technologies to utilities, businesses, and homeowners. The company also earns money from partnerships with other firms in the energy sector, which may include joint ventures or collaborations to develop new technologies or services. Additionally, Acorn Energy may receive government and private grants aimed at promoting renewable energy initiatives, further contributing to its revenue. Its focus on innovation and efficiency positions it to benefit from growing trends in sustainable energy, making it well-placed to capitalize on increasing demand for eco-friendly energy solutions.

Acorn Energy Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Nov 06, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Mar 26, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call highlighted strong growth in monitoring revenue and successful launch of next-generation products, contributing to improved gross margins and cash flow. However, there were significant challenges with hardware revenue due to timing of contract deliveries and softness in the residential market, leading to a decline in net income and increased operating expenses.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Strong Monitoring and Hardware Revenue Growth
Monitoring and hardware revenue each grew over 20% for the first 9 months, driving a 35% increase in net income.
Record Monitoring Revenue
High-margin recurring monitoring revenue grew $422,000 to a record $1.560 million in Q3 2025.
Gross Margin Improvement
Q3 2025 gross margin expanded to 78.5% from 71.7%, driven by a significantly higher proportion of monitoring revenue.
Positive Cash Flow and Debt-Free Status
Cash flow from operations was $1.795 million, a 143% year-over-year increase, with $4.167 million in available cash and no debt.
Introduction of Next-Generation Products
Launch of next-generation monitors, Omni and OmniPro, offering smaller size, quicker processing speed, and enhanced features.
Long-term Growth Potential
Based on secular trends and growth initiatives, 20% average annual revenue growth is considered achievable over the next 3 to 5 years.
Negative Updates
Significant Hardware Revenue Decline
Q3 2025 hardware revenue was significantly lower than Q3 2024 due to the timing of deliveries from a large cell phone provider contract.
Residential Market Weakness
New hardware sales were soft on the residential side due to reduced power outages and ongoing economic conditions affecting generator demand.
Increased Operating Expenses
Operating expenses increased 24.8% due to higher SG&A and R&D expenses, including nonrecurring corporate expenses related to NASDAQ uplisting.
Decline in Net Income
Q3 2025 net income fell to $252,000 from $725,000 in Q3 2024, a result of lower revenue and higher operating costs.
Company Guidance
During Acorn Energy's Third Quarter 2025 Earnings Conference Call, Jan Loeb, CEO of Acorn and OmniMetrix, highlighted key metrics and guidance for the company. Despite a significant 35% increase in net income for the first nine months of 2025, Q3 revenue was lower than Q3 2024 due to a $945,000 variance in hardware revenue, primarily influenced by the timing of a substantial cell phone provider contract. This contract's final hardware deliveries were postponed to Q4 2025 or Q1 2026, impacting Q3 results. Monitoring revenue grew by 37%, contributing to a record $1.560 million in Q3 2025, while gross margin expanded to 78.5% from 71.7% due to a higher proportion of monitoring versus hardware revenue. Acorn expects consistent growth in recurring monitoring revenues and is targeting a 20% average annual revenue growth over the next 3 to 5 years, driven by strategic initiatives across commercial, industrial, and residential markets, and potential future M&A transactions. The company's ongoing product development, such as the new Omni and OmniPro monitors, aims to enhance customer value and support long-term growth in the face of economic challenges and evolving market demands.

Acorn Energy Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Financials reflect a turnaround: TTM profitability and free cash flow are meaningfully stronger and leverage is modest with improved equity. Offsets include slight TTM revenue decline, prior-period volatility in equity/profitability, and operating cash flow trailing net income, raising questions on earnings durability.
Income Statement
78
Positive
Profitability has inflected sharply upward versus prior years: TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) shows very strong margins (about 75% gross margin and ~53% net margin) with solid operating profitability (roughly 21% EBIT margin). Revenue, however, is slightly down in TTM (about -4%), and the step-change in net income relative to 2023 suggests earnings may be benefiting from non-core or one-time factors, which can reduce durability.
Balance Sheet
67
Positive
Leverage is currently modest, with low debt relative to equity in TTM (debt-to-equity ~0.15) and an improved equity base compared with the negative equity position seen in 2021–2023. The main offset is volatility in equity/returns across periods (including prior negative equity and extreme return on equity levels), which adds risk around the consistency and quality of the capital structure over time.
Cash Flow
74
Positive
Cash generation has improved materially: TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) operating cash flow (~$2.0M) and free cash flow (~$1.9M) are positive, with free cash flow up year over year and nearly matching reported net income. The key weakness is that operating cash flow does not fully track reported earnings (operating cash flow is roughly half of net income in TTM), indicating a potential gap between accounting profits and cash realization.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue12.63M10.99M8.06M7.00M6.78M5.92M
Gross Profit9.47M8.00M6.00M5.07M4.90M4.13M
EBITDA2.72M2.13M302.00K-456.00K67.00K251.00K
Net Income6.67M6.29M119.00K-633.00K-26.00K34.00K
Balance Sheet
Total Assets12.43M10.60M5.45M5.98M6.04M5.20M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments4.17M2.33M1.45M1.45M1.72M2.06M
Total Debt1.05M98.00K221.00K336.00K443.00K691.00K
Total Liabilities5.20M5.02M6.28M7.00M6.50M5.72M
Stockholders Equity7.17M5.54M-838.00K-1.02M-469.00K-523.00K
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow1.93M849.00K-4.00K-261.00K-192.00K371.00K
Operating Cash Flow1.96M905.00K72.00K31.00K132.00K464.00K
Investing Cash Flow-33.00K-56.00K-78.00K-308.00K-324.00K-101.00K
Financing Cash Flow86.00K28.00K5.00K5.00K-149.00K453.00K

Acorn Energy Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price15.22
Price Trends
50DMA
16.59
Positive
100DMA
20.77
Negative
200DMA
20.42
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
0.22
Positive
RSI
48.11
Neutral
STOCH
33.01
Neutral
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For ACFN, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 15.22 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 18.87, below the 50-day MA of 16.59, and below the 200-day MA of 20.42, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 0.22 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 48.11 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 33.01 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for ACFN.

Acorn Energy Risk Analysis

Acorn Energy disclosed 22 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Acorn Energy reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Acorn Energy Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
72
Outperform
$44.38M6.68178.77%30.11%481.67%
61
Neutral
$37.18B12.37-10.20%1.83%8.50%-7.62%
61
Neutral
$64.57M41.068.45%-0.21%-0.41%
56
Neutral
$30.38M3.3838.72%-48.54%
54
Neutral
$101.89M-5.69-65.21%-15.76%-25.27%
44
Neutral
$40.38M-21.35-87.36%-16.49%-59.21%
* Technology Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
ACFN
Acorn Energy
17.72
0.47
2.72%
NEON
Neonode
1.81
-6.98
-79.41%
REFR
Research Frontiers
1.20
-0.32
-21.05%
ODYS
Odysightai
6.23
-2.57
-29.20%
SOTK
Sono-Tek
4.11
0.11
2.75%
HOLO
MicroCloud Hologram
2.39
-55.21
-95.85%

Acorn Energy Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board Changes
Acorn Energy Updates Executive Consulting and Equity Incentives
Positive
Jan 21, 2026

On January 19, 2026, Acorn Energy extended and refined its senior leadership consulting arrangements, entering into a new consulting agreement with President and CEO Jan H. Loeb that maintains his status as a consultant, sets his annualized compensation and additional monthly pay for his concurrent role as Acting CEO of OmniMetrix, and grants him 25,000 stock options vesting through 2028, alongside a one-time cash bonus equal to 5% of his 2025 cash compensation for his role in establishing a technology partnership between OmniMetrix and AIO Systems. On the same date, the company replaced and updated the consulting agreement with Tracy Clifford Consulting, LLC, setting CFO and OmniMetrix COO Tracy Clifford’s annualized compensation, severance protections, and a recurring 25,000-option annual grant structure, also awarding her a one-time 5% 2025 bonus, while revising the non-employee director compensation policy to provide smaller, annually recurring stock option grants, aligning director and executive incentives more closely with shareholder interests and signaling a commitment to long-term, equity-based compensation for key stakeholders.

The most recent analyst rating on (ACFN) stock is a Buy with a $22.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Acorn Energy stock, see the ACFN Stock Forecast page.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Jan 21, 2026