Ballard Reports Q1 2026 Results
Ballard (NASDAQ: BLDP) reported Q1 2026 consolidated results for the quarter ended March 31, 2026.
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Rhea-AI Summary
Ballard (NASDAQ: BLDP) reported Q1 2026 consolidated results for the quarter ended March 31, 2026. Revenue was $19.4M (+26% YoY). Gross margin improved to 14% (a 37-point increase). Total operating expenses fell 36% to $16.4M. Cash and cash equivalents were $516.8M.
Adjusted EBITDA was ($11.4M), operating cash use improved to ($7.8M), and Order Backlog was $112.9M at quarter end. 2026 guidance gives ranges for operating expenses ($65–$75M) and capex ($5–$10M); no specific revenue guidance provided.
Positive
- Revenue +26% YoY to $19.4M
- Gross margin improved 37 points to 14%
- Total operating expenses down 36% to $16.4M
- Cash balance of $516.8M at quarter end
- Adjusted EBITDA improved to ($11.4M) from ($27.5M)
- Operating cash use improved 68% to ($7.8M)
Negative
- Bus revenue declined 46% YoY to $6.8M
- Net loss from continuing operations of ($11.4M)
- Cash and cash equivalents down 10% YoY from $576.7M
- Order Backlog decreased 5% sequentially to $112.9M
- Company did not provide specific 2026 revenue or net income guidance
Details
News Market Reaction – BLDP
On May 5, the day this news came out, BLDP closed 31.61% above the previous close.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus for the May 5 session.
Key Figures
- Q1 2026 Revenue
- $19.4M
- Total revenue, up 26% YoY
- Gross Margin
- 14%
- Q1 2026, 37-point improvement YoY
- Total Operating Expenses
- $16.4M
- Q1 2026, decreased 36% YoY
- Adjusted EBITDA
- ($11.4M)
- Q1 2026, improved from ($27.5M) in Q1 2025
- Cash & Equivalents
- $516.8M
- End of Q1 2026, no near- or mid-term financing needs stated
- Order Backlog
- $112.9M
- End of Q1 2026, down 5% vs end Q4 2025
- 2026 OpEx Guidance
- $65–$75M
- Total Operating Expense guidance range for 2026
- 2026 Capex Guidance
- $5–$10M
- Capital Expenditure guidance range for 2026
Previous Earnings Reports
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Strong revenue and margin improvement with reduced costs and solid backlog.
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Moderate growth and major cost-reduction plan targeting future cash-flow improvement.
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Modest growth and cost progress but softer order intake and macro uncertainties.
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Revenue decline and impairments offset by record backlog and strong shipments.
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Sharp revenue drop, restructuring charges and impairments amid cost-cut program.
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Key Terms
ifrs regulatory
adjusted ebitda financial
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
Highlights (comparisons are to Q1 2025):
- Revenue of
, up$19.4 million 26% year over year ("YoY"). 14% gross margin a 37-point improvement from Q1 2025.36% reductions in Total Operating Expenses2.- Q1 ended with
in cash and cash equivalents.$516.8 million - Positive momentum in bus market with New Flyer commercial agreement and strong traction with European OEM's
"In Q1, we made continued progress toward positive cash flow. Quarterly revenue grew
"We continue to see strong momentum in the fuel cell bus market, supported by increasing long-term customer commitments. New Flyer's multi-year 50 MW agreement highlights accelerating fleet adoption in
Mr. Neese continued, "Ballard maintains a leading position in the North American and European fuel cell bus markets, built on sustained commercial execution and technical leadership. Our engines have surpassed 300 million kilometers of real-world fleet operation, underscoring their durability and reliability in demanding applications."
He concluded, "We ended Q1 with
Q1 2026 Financial Highlights
(all comparisons are to Q1 2025 unless otherwise noted)
- Total revenue was
in the quarter, representing 26 % year‑over‑year growth, reflecting continued momentum across multiple end‑markets.$19.4 million - Bus revenue was
, down$6.8 million 46% from Q1 2025, while Rail revenue increased to , a$5.1 million 4472% increase YoY. - Stationary revenue increased to
, up$5.2 million 775% YoY, while Other Markets revenue grew to , up$2.4 million 6% YoY.
- Bus revenue was
- Gross margin was
14% in the quarter, an improvement of 37-points. - Total Operating Expenses2 were
, a decrease of$16.4 million 36% . - Total Cash Used by Operating Activities was
, compared to$7.8 million in the prior year, an improvement of 68 % YoY.$24.4 million - Cash and cash equivalents were
at the end of Q1 2026, compared to$516.8 million in the prior year.$576.7 million - Adjusted EBITDA1 was
( , compared to$11.4) million ( in Q1 2025. The improvement in Adjusted EBITDA was driven primarily by margin and operating cost improvements.$27.5) million - Order Backlog at the end of Q1 2026 was
, a decrease of$112.9 million 5% compared to the end of Q4 2025. - The 12-month Orderbook was
at end of Q1, a decrease of$52.8 million or$1.1 million 2% from the end of Q4 2025.
Order Backlog ($M) | Order Backlog at End-Q4 2025 | Orders Received in Q1 2026 | Orders Delivered in Q1 2026 | Order Backlog at End-Q1 2026 |
Total Fuel Cell Products & Services |
2026 Outlook
Consistent with our past practice, and in view of the early stage of hydrogen fuel cell market development, specific revenue and net income (loss) guidance for 2026 is not provided. We expect revenue in 2026 will be back-half weighted. Total Operating Expense2 and Capital Expenditure3 guidance ranges for 2026 are as noted below. We continue to review and consider various options to reduce our operating cost structure and capital spend, which may result in revisions to our guidance ranges at a future date.
2026 | Guidance |
Total Operating Expense2 | |
Capital Expenditure3 |
Q1 2026 Financial Summary
(Millions of | Three months ended March 31 | ||
2026 | 2025 | % Change | |
REVENUE | |||
Fuel Cell Products & Services:4 | |||
Bus | 6.8 | (46 %) | |
Rail | 5.1 | 4472 % | |
Stationary | 5.2 | 775 % | |
Other Markets | 2.4 | 6 % | |
Total Fuel Cell Products & Services Revenue | 19.4 | 26 % | |
PROFITABILITY | |||
Gross Margin $ | ( | 177 % | |
Gross Margin % | 14 % | (23 %) | 37pts |
Total Operating Expenses2 | 16.4 | (36 %) | |
Equity loss in JV & Associates | - | ( | 0 % |
Adjusted EBITDA1 | ( | ( | 59 % |
Net Loss from Continuing Operations4 | ( | ( | 46 % |
Loss Per Share from Continuing Operations4 | ( | ( | 46 % |
CASH | |||
Cash provided by (used in) Operating Activities: | |||
Cash Operating Loss | ( | ( | 64 % |
Working Capital Changes | ( | ( | 101 % |
Cash used by Operating Activities | ( | ( | 68 % |
Cash and cash equivalents | (10 %) | ||
For a more detailed discussion of Ballard Power Systems' first quarter 2026 results, please see the company's financial statements and management's discussion & analysis, which are available at www.ballard.com/investors, www.sedarplus.ca and www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml.
Conference Call
Ballard will hold a conference call on Tuesday May 5, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time (11:00 a.m. Eastern Time) to review first quarter 2026 operating results. The live call can be accessed by dialing +1-844-763-8274 (
About Ballard Power Systems
Ballard Power Systems' (NASDAQ: BLDP; TSX: BLDP) vision is to deliver fuel cell power for a sustainable planet. Ballard zero- emission PEM fuel cells are enabling electrification of mobility, including buses, commercial trucks, trains, marine vessels, and stationary power. To learn more about Ballard, please visit www.ballard.com.
Important Cautions Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Some of the statements contained in this release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
Further Information
Sumit Kundu –Investor Relations +1.604.453.3517 or investors@ballard.com
Endnotes
_______________________________________________ |
1 EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP measures. We believe these measures are useful in evaluating the operating performance of the Company's ongoing business. These measures should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, operating expenses, net income, cash flows and other measures of financial performance and liquidity reported in accordance with GAAP. These non-GAAP measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. See the reconciliation of EDITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to the most directly comparable GAAP measure in Section 10 "Supplemental Non-GAAP Measures and Reconciliations" in our Management's Discussion and Analysis for the three months ended March 31, 2026. Adjusted EBITDA adjusts EBITDA for stock-based compensation expense, transactional gains and losses, finance and other income, asset impairment charges, and the impact of unrealized gains and losses on foreign exchange contracts. |
2 Total Operating Expenses refer to the measure reported in accordance with IFRS. |
3 Capital Expenditure is defined as Additions to property, plant and equipment and Investment in other intangible assets as disclosed in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. |
4 We report our results in the single operating segment of Fuel Cell Products and Services. Our Fuel Cell Products and Services segment consists of the sale of PEM fuel cell products and services for a variety of applications including bus and rail applications, Stationary Power, and Other Markets (consisting of truck, marine, material handling, off-road, and other applications). Revenues from the delivery of Services, including technology solutions, after sales services and training, are included in each of the respective markets. |
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SOURCE Ballard Power Systems Inc.
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