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AEye Inc (LIDR)
NASDAQ:LIDR
US Market

AEye Inc (LIDR) AI Stock Analysis

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LIDR

AEye Inc

(NASDAQ:LIDR)

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Neutral 46 (OpenAI - 5.2)
Rating:46Neutral
Price Target:
$2.00
▲(21.95% Upside)
The score is held down primarily by very weak financial performance (ongoing losses, negative margins, and negative operating/free cash flow) and a bearish technical setup (price below key moving averages with negative MACD). Partially offsetting these are a more constructive earnings narrative around commercialization traction and a strengthened cash runway; valuation is neutral-to-weak given the negative P/E and no dividend support.
Positive Factors
Commercialization traction and customer wins
Doubling the customer base and securing a defense contractor validates Apollo across high-barrier verticals, diversifying revenue streams and deepening commercial credibility. Sustained contract wins and technical engagements support multi‑quarter sales momentum and reduce single-customer concentration risks.
Scaled manufacturing partnership
A partner-capacity arrangement to produce 60k units enables meaningful volume scaling without heavy capex, improving potential unit economics and time-to-market. This manufacturing scalability is structural for converting commercial pipeline into repeatable revenue as demand materializes.
Strengthened cash runway and capital-light model
A multi-year cash runway and recent fundraising materially reduce near-term financing pressure, allowing management to execute commercialization and scaling plans. Coupled with a capital-light manufacturing model, this enhances flexibility to invest in go-to-market and product development over several quarters.
Negative Factors
Persistent operating losses and negative margins
Sustained negative gross and net margins indicate the company has yet to reach profitable unit economics. Without durable margin improvement, the business will struggle to convert revenue growth into sustainable profitability, limiting free cash generation and long-term shareholder value creation.
Weak cash generation and negative operating cash flow
Ongoing negative operating cash flow means core operations do not fund growth, forcing reliance on external capital. Even with marginal free cash flow improvement, limited internal cash generation constrains reinvestment, increases financing frequency, and elevates dilution risk over multiple quarters.
Reliance on external financing and potential dilution
Termination of a committed purchase arrangement and an amended at‑market issuance plan show dependence on capital markets for liquidity. Structural reliance on equity raises dilution risk and signals that operating cash flow remains insufficient to fund growth without recurring financings.

AEye Inc (LIDR) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

AEye Inc Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionAEye, Inc. provides lidar systems for vehicle autonomy, advanced driver-assistance systems, and robotic vision applications in the United States, Europe, and Asia. It offers 4Sight A, a software-configurable lidar solution for automotive markets, including 4Sight at Design, Triggered 4Sight, or Responsive 4Sight software levels; and 4Sight M, a software-configurable lidar solution for the mobility and industrial markets, including 4Sight at Design, Triggered 4Sight, Responsive 4Sight, and Predictive 4Sight software levels. The company was formerly known as US LADAR, Inc. and changed its name to AEye, Inc. in March 2016. The company was founded in 2013 and is headquartered in Dublin, California.
How the Company Makes MoneyAEye generates revenue primarily through the sale of its LiDAR systems and software solutions to automotive manufacturers, technology companies, and various industrial sectors. The company offers a range of products, including its innovative 3D LiDAR sensors and AI-driven software that enable real-time object detection and classification. Key revenue streams include direct sales of hardware, licensing agreements for software technology, and potential subscription models for data and analytics services. Additionally, AEye has established strategic partnerships with major automotive and technology companies, which not only enhance its market reach but also provide opportunities for co-development and integration of its systems into broader applications, thereby contributing to its overall earnings.

AEye Inc Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Nov 06, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Mar 31, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Positive
AEye showed strong progress with a doubled customer base, expanded manufacturing capacity, and a strengthened financial position. However, it continues to operate at a loss and expects significant cash burn for the year. The sentiment leans positive due to the considerable advancements and financial strengthening despite ongoing challenges.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Doubling of Customer Base
AEye doubled its customer base to 12 contracts signed year-to-date, including a win with a global defense contractor using Apollo on UAVs. This demonstrates strong market traction for Apollo.
Strong Financial Position
AEye ended Q3 with $84 million in cash, providing runway well into 2028. A further $10 million was raised post-quarter, strengthening its financial position.
Expanded Manufacturing Capacity
AEye expanded its agreement with LITEON to produce up to 60,000 Apollo units annually. This expansion is backed by an investment from a leading global institutional investor.
Significant Increase in Commercial Pipeline
The commercial pipeline has grown significantly with prospects increasing from fewer than 100 to nearly 600. Technical engagements increased by nearly 50%, quotes tripled, and signed contracts doubled since Q2.
Non-GAAP Net Loss Reduction
The non-GAAP net loss improved, reducing to $5.4 million in Q3 from $6.7 million in the previous quarter, driven by operating expense reductions and increased interest income.
Negative Updates
Operating Loss Continues
AEye reported a GAAP net loss of $9.3 million or $0.30 per share in Q3, indicating continued financial challenges despite improvements.
High Cash Burn Expected
Full-year 2025 cash burn is expected to be at the high end of the previously communicated range of $27 million to $29 million, reflecting planned investments.
Company Guidance
In AEye's Q3 2025 earnings call, the company highlighted significant progress and provided guidance on future growth. CEO Matt Fisch emphasized the commercialization of their product, Apollo, which has led to a doubling of the customer base to 12 signed contracts year-to-date, including a notable contract with a global defense contractor. The company has expanded its manufacturing capacity through a partnership with LITEON, enabling production of up to 60,000 units annually. AEye ended the quarter with $84.3 million in cash, bolstered by an additional $10 million raised post-quarter, providing a runway into 2028. CFO Conor Tierney outlined a strategic three-phase growth plan, focusing on foundation building, acceleration, and profitability. The company reported a decrease in GAAP operating expenses to $7.8 million and a non-GAAP net loss improvement to $5.4 million, beating consensus estimates. AEye's capital-light model was reiterated as a cornerstone of their strategy, allowing efficient scaling and positioning the company for future expansion across various markets, including automotive, defense, and infrastructure.

AEye Inc Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Financials are weak: the income statement shows substantial losses with deeply negative EBIT/EBITDA margins and declining TTM revenue. The balance sheet has limited leverage but negative ROE. Cash flow is also a concern with negative operating and free cash flow despite slight improvement.
Income Statement
10
Very Negative
AEye Inc's income statement reveals significant challenges, with negative gross profit margins and net profit margins indicating substantial losses. The company has experienced declining revenues, with a negative revenue growth rate in the TTM (Trailing-Twelve-Months) period. The EBIT and EBITDA margins are also deeply negative, reflecting operational inefficiencies and high costs relative to revenue.
Balance Sheet
25
Negative
The balance sheet shows a low debt-to-equity ratio, suggesting limited leverage, which is a positive aspect. However, the return on equity is negative, indicating that the company is not generating profits from its equity base. The equity ratio is relatively stable, but the overall financial health is weakened by consistent losses.
Cash Flow
15
Very Negative
Cash flow analysis highlights negative operating and free cash flows, with a slight improvement in free cash flow growth. The operating cash flow to net income ratio is negative, indicating cash flow challenges. The free cash flow to net income ratio is slightly above 1, suggesting that free cash flow is marginally better than net income, but overall cash generation remains weak.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue182.00K202.00K1.46M3.65M3.01M1.58M
Gross Profit-174.00K-576.00K-13.86M-5.08M-630.00K771.00K
EBITDA-33.04M-35.73M-76.28M-96.46M-61.45M-24.22M
Net Income-35.16M-35.46M-87.13M-98.71M-65.01M-26.55M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets87.55M27.12M54.32M133.34M186.15M25.89M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments84.33M22.28M36.52M94.20M164.01M15.28M
Total Debt299.00K4.21M17.27M27.73M0.0034.66M
Total Liabilities9.36M12.00M25.29M39.37M17.39M44.11M
Stockholders Equity78.19M15.12M29.02M93.97M168.77M-18.23M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-25.17M-27.11M-52.68M-75.85M-56.72M-23.73M
Operating Cash Flow-25.05M-26.62M-50.73M-71.65M-55.70M-19.69M
Investing Cash Flow-24.56M7.74M55.35M68.46M-151.55M-4.04M
Financing Cash Flow86.80M10.06M-6.76M8.07M207.08M32.02M

AEye Inc Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Negative
Last Price1.64
Price Trends
50DMA
2.24
Negative
100DMA
2.44
Negative
200DMA
1.97
Negative
Market Momentum
MACD
-0.13
Positive
RSI
30.09
Neutral
STOCH
4.48
Positive
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For LIDR, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 1.64 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 2.03, below the 50-day MA of 2.24, and below the 200-day MA of 1.97, indicating a bearish trend. The MACD of -0.13 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 30.09 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 4.48 is Positive, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for LIDR.

AEye Inc Risk Analysis

AEye Inc disclosed 73 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. AEye Inc 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

AEye Inc Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (61)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
62
Neutral
$3.86B53.266.61%43.16%
61
Neutral
$37.18B12.37-10.20%1.83%8.50%-7.62%
52
Neutral
$642.14M-8.286.59%55.85%
50
Neutral
$767.22M-2.40-192.35%89.90%5.13%
48
Neutral
$200.56M-2.77-71.46%46.09%46.01%
46
Neutral
$73.89M-0.75-75.54%-19.11%73.51%
* Technology Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
LIDR
AEye Inc
1.64
0.74
82.22%
AEVA
Aeva Technologies
12.77
8.76
218.45%
INVZ
Innoviz Technologies
0.96
-0.50
-34.18%
ECX
ECARX Holdings
1.80
0.19
11.80%
HSAI
Hesai Group Sponsored ADR
23.87
8.47
55.00%

AEye Inc Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyPrivate Placements and Financing
AEye Inc Increases Share Issuance After Agreement Termination
Neutral
Dec 10, 2025

On December 10, 2025, AEye, Inc. announced the voluntary termination of its Share Purchase Agreement with New Circle Principal Investments LLC, which was initially set to allow New Circle to purchase up to $50 million of AEye’s common stock. This termination, effective December 17, 2025, incurs no fees or payments from either party and leaves no outstanding commitments. To counterbalance the liquidity loss from this termination, AEye filed an amendment to increase the maximum number of shares issuable under its At Market Issuance Sales Agreement with A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners by $50 million, aiming for a net liquidity increase of approximately $28 million.

The most recent analyst rating on (LIDR) stock is a Hold with a $2.50 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on AEye Inc stock, see the LIDR Stock Forecast page.

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial DisclosuresPrivate Placements and Financing
AEye Inc Reports Strong Q3 Growth and Expansion
Positive
Dec 4, 2025

On December 4, 2025, AEye, Inc. reported significant achievements in Q3, highlighting their strategic growth and expansion efforts. The company doubled its customer base, expanded its manufacturing partnership with LITEON, and secured a strategic investment to support innovation and commercialization. AEye’s Apollo product has gained traction in defense and automotive sectors, and new partnerships have been formed to extend its reach into smart infrastructure. The company ended the quarter with a strong financial position, poised for continued growth and long-term shareholder value.

The most recent analyst rating on (LIDR) stock is a Hold with a $2.50 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on AEye Inc stock, see the LIDR 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 27, 2026