Cytek Biosciences Reports First Quarter 2026 Financial Results
Rhea-AI Summary
Cytek Biosciences (Nasdaq: CTKB) reported Q1 2026 revenue of $44.1 million, up 6% year-over-year, and service revenue of $15.4 million, up 15% year-over-year. GAAP gross profit was $21.3 million with a 48% gross margin. Net loss was $18.9 million.
Recurring revenue was $18.4 million for the quarter and represented 35% of trailing-12-month revenue. Operating expenses rose 13% and the company reaffirmed full-year 2026 revenue guidance of $205M–$212M. Cash and marketable securities totaled $262.2 million as of March 31, 2026.
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
Positive
- Revenue +6% YoY to $44.1M
- Service revenue +15% YoY to $15.4M
- Recurring revenue represented 35% of TTM revenue
- Installed base expanded to 3,789 instruments
Negative
- Net loss widened to $18.9M from $11.4M
- Operating expenses +13% YoY
- General and administrative expenses +43% YoY
- Adjusted EBITDA loss increased to $9.1M
News Market Reaction – CTKB
On the day this news was published, CTKB declined 6.30%, reflecting a notable negative market reaction. Argus tracked a trough of -2.4% from its starting point during tracking. Our momentum scanner triggered 4 alerts that day, indicating moderate trading interest and price volatility. This price movement removed approximately $43M from the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $635.38M at that time.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
CTKB was up 3.35% ahead of earnings while key peers showed mixed moves: VREX up 4.37%, LAB down 3.15%, KIDS slightly down and AVNS flat. This pattern points to stock-specific drivers rather than a uniform sector move.
Previous Earnings Reports
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 26 | Q4/FY25 earnings | Neutral | +1.8% | Modest revenue growth, recurring revenue gains, but lower margins and net loss. |
| Nov 05 | Q3 2025 earnings | Negative | +13.2% | Revenue growth but margin compression and swing from prior profit to net loss. |
| Aug 06 | Q2 2025 earnings | Negative | +5.7% | Revenue decline, net loss and narrowed guidance despite strong cash position. |
| May 08 | Q1 2025 earnings | Negative | -22.8% | Revenue decline, net loss and reduced guidance drove a sharp selloff. |
| Feb 27 | FY2024 earnings | Positive | -6.7% | Revenue growth and improved EBITDA but shares fell despite stronger outlook. |
Earnings releases often produced volatile, directionally mixed reactions, with more divergences than alignments versus the apparent fundamental tone.
Recent Cytek updates have focused on revenue growth, recurring revenue expansion, and installed base gains, while profitability remains pressured. Prior earnings reports highlighted modest top-line growth, rising recurring revenue contribution, and higher operating expenses, including litigation-related costs. Market reactions have varied: some positive moves on mixed or negative results and sharp declines when guidance or revenue disappointed. Today’s Q1 2026 results continue themes of revenue growth, recurring revenue progress, and ongoing losses, fitting into this mixed but evolving financial trajectory.
Historical Comparison
Across the last five earnings releases, CTKB’s average move was -1.75%, with frequent divergences between headline fundamentals and price reaction.
Earnings updates show consistent installed base expansion and growing recurring revenue against a backdrop of elevated operating expenses and periodic margin pressure. Guidance has generally called for low single-digit growth, framing a gradual rather than rapid expansion story.
Market Pulse Summary
The stock moved -6.3% in the session following this news. A negative reaction despite revenue growth would fit prior patterns where the stock sometimes fell on earnings with higher expenses or margin pressure. With an average earnings-day move of -1.75%, a sharp decline could reflect concern over widening losses and GAAP gross margin compression, though the sizeable cash balance and growing recurring revenue may temper longer-term fundamental worries.
Key Terms
gaap financial
adjusted gross profit margin financial
stock-based compensation financial
adjusted ebitda financial
trailing-12-month financial
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
FREMONT, Calif., May 07, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cytek Biosciences, Inc. (“Cytek Biosciences” or “Cytek”) (Nasdaq: CTKB), a leading cell analysis solutions company, today reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026.
Recent Highlights
- Total revenue for the first quarter of 2026 was
$44.1 million , representing a6% increase compared to the first quarter of 2025 - Service revenue for the first quarter of 2026 was
$15.4 million , representing a15% increase compared to the first quarter of 2025 - Total recurring revenue, comprised of service and reagent revenues, reached
$18.4 million in the first quarter. On a trailing-12-month basis, recurring revenue represented35% of total revenue, up from31% on a trailing-12-month basis as of the first quarter of 2025 - Expanded to a total installed base of 3,789 Cytek instruments, adding 125 units in the first quarter of 2026
“Our first quarter growth stands out in a market that continues to experience global challenges, underscoring Cytek’s technology leadership, the growth of our installed base, and the expansion of our recurring revenue streams,” said Wenbin Jiang, CEO of Cytek Biosciences. “Rising instrument placements are expanding our installed base and driving higher demand for reagents and service, making recurring revenue an increasing share of total revenue. With focused execution and continued investment in our products, people, and infrastructure, we are well positioned for the year ahead.”
First Quarter 2026 Financial Results
Total revenue for the first quarter of 2026 was
GAAP gross profit was
Operating expenses were
Research and development expenses were
Sales and marketing expenses were
General and administrative expenses were
Loss from operations in the first quarter of 2026 was
Adjusted EBITDA loss in the first quarter of 2026 was
Cash and marketable securities totaled
2026 Outlook
Cytek Biosciences reaffirms its 2026 revenue guidance to be in the range of
Webcast Information
Cytek will host a conference call to discuss its first quarter 2026 financial results on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time / 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. A webcast of the conference call can be accessed at investors.cytekbio.com.
About Cytek Biosciences, Inc.
Cytek Biosciences (Nasdaq: CTKB) is a leading cell analysis solutions company advancing the next generation of cell analysis tools by delivering high-resolution, high-content and high-sensitivity cell analysis utilizing its patented Full Spectrum Profiling™ (FSP®) technology. Cytek’s novel approach harnesses the power of information within the entire spectrum of a fluorescent signal to achieve a higher level of multiplexing with precision and sensitivity. Cytek’s platform includes: its core FSP instruments, the Cytek Aurora™, Northern Lights™, Cytek Aurora™ CS and Cytek Aurora™ Evo systems; the Cytek Orion™ reagent cocktail preparation system; the Enhanced Small Particle™ (ESP™) detection technology; the flow cytometers and imaging products under the Amnis® and Guava® brands; and reagents, software and services to provide a comprehensive and integrated suite of solutions for its customers. Cytek is headquartered in Fremont, California with offices and distribution channels across the globe. More information about the company and its products is available at www.cytekbio.com.
Cytek’s products are for research use only and not for use in diagnostic procedures (other than Cytek’s Northern Lights-CLC system and certain reagents, which are available for clinical use only in China and the European Union).
Cytek, Full Spectrum Profiling, FSP, Cytek Aurora, Northern Lights, Enhanced Small Particle, ESP, Cytek Orion, Amnis and Guava are trademarks of Cytek Biosciences, Inc.
In addition to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), press releases, public conference calls and webcasts, Cytek uses its website (www.cytekbio.com), LinkedIn page and X account as channels of distribution of information about its company, products, planned financial and other announcements, attendance at upcoming investor and industry conferences and other matters. Such information may be deemed material information and Cytek may use these channels to comply with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Therefore, investors should monitor Cytek’s website, LinkedIn page, and X account in addition to following its SEC filings, news releases, public conference calls and webcasts.
Statement Regarding Use of Non-GAAP Financial Information
Cytek has presented certain financial information in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) and also on a non-GAAP basis for the three-month period ended March 31, 2026 and March 31, 2025. Management believes that non-GAAP financial measures, including “Adjusted gross profit,” “Adjusted gross profit margin,” and “Adjusted EBITDA loss,” referenced in this release, taken in conjunction with GAAP financial measures, provide useful information for both management and investors by excluding certain non-cash and other expenses that are not indicative of the company’s core operating results. Management uses non-GAAP measures to compare the company’s performance relative to forecasts and strategic plans and to benchmark the company’s performance externally against competitors. Non-GAAP information is not prepared under a comprehensive set of accounting rules and should only be used to supplement an understanding of the company’s operating results as reported under U.S. GAAP. Cytek encourages investors to carefully consider its results under GAAP, as well as its supplemental non-GAAP information and the reconciliation between these presentations, to more fully understand its business. Reconciliations between GAAP and non-GAAP operating results are presented in the accompanying tables of this release.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 as contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are subject to the “safe harbor” created by those sections. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “might,” “will,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “could,” “intend,” “target,” “project,” “contemplate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential” or “continue” or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding Cytek’s expanding installed base and future recurring revenue growth in its service and reagent businesses; Cytek’s business strategy and continued investment in its products, people, and infrastructure; Cytek’s market opportunities; and Cytek’s future financial performance, including its outlook for fiscal year 2026 and expectations for 2026 total revenue. These statements are based on management’s current expectations, forecasts, beliefs, assumptions and information currently available to management. These statements also deal with future events and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. In addition, new risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all risks and uncertainties that could have an impact on the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include global geopolitical, economic and market conditions; Cytek’s ability to manage the impacts of recent and future export controls and licensing requirements, tariffs and NIH funding policies on its business; Cytek’s ability to evaluate its prospects for future viability and predict future performance; Cytek’s ability to accurately forecast customer demand and adoption of its products; Cytek’s ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of collaborations; Cytek’s dependence on certain sole and single source suppliers; competition; market acceptance of Cytek’s current and potential products; Cytek’s ability to manage the growth and complexity of its organization, maintain relationships with customers and suppliers and hire and retain key employees; Cytek’s ability to manufacture its products in high-quality commercial quantities successfully and consistently to meet demand; Cytek’s ability to increase penetration in its existing markets and expand into adjacent markets; Cytek’s ability to secure additional distributors or maintain good relationships with its existing distributors; Cytek’s ability to successfully develop and introduce new products; Cytek’s ability to maintain, protect and enhance its intellectual property; Cytek’s ability to continue to stay in compliance with its material contractual obligations, applicable laws and regulations; and foreign currency exchange impacts. You should refer to the section titled “Risk Factors” set forth in Cytek’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 26, 2026, Cytek’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to be filed with the SEC on or about the date hereof and other filings Cytek makes with the SEC from time to time for a discussion of important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by Cytek’s forward-looking statements. Although Cytek believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot provide any assurance that these expectations will prove to be correct nor can it guarantee that the future results, levels of activity, performance and events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur. The forward-looking statements in this press release and the related conference call, webcast and presentation are based on information available to Cytek as of the date hereof, and Cytek disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements provided to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Cytek’s views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release. Information contained on, or that is referenced or can be accessed through, our website does not constitute part of this document and inclusions of any website addresses herein are inactive textual references only.
Media Contact:
Stephanie Olsen
Lages & Associates
(949) 453-8080
stephanie@lages.com
Investor Contact:
Paul Goodson
Head of Investor Relations
Cytek Biosciences
pgoodson@cytekbio.com
| Cytek Biosciences, Inc. Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) | ||||||||
| (In thousands, except share and per share data) | March 31, 2026 | December 31, 2025 | ||||||
| Assets | ||||||||
| Current assets: | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 65,665 | $ | 90,853 | ||||
| Marketable securities | 196,560 | 170,676 | ||||||
| Trade accounts receivable, net | 51,903 | 62,509 | ||||||
| Inventories | 49,791 | 48,428 | ||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 15,383 | 19,530 | ||||||
| Total current assets | 379,302 | 391,996 | ||||||
| Property and equipment, net | 20,469 | 18,009 | ||||||
| Operating lease right-of-use assets | 10,643 | 11,315 | ||||||
| Goodwill | 16,689 | 16,697 | ||||||
| Intangible assets, net | 15,704 | 16,821 | ||||||
| Other noncurrent assets | 6,306 | 6,704 | ||||||
| Total assets | $ | 449,113 | $ | 461,542 | ||||
| Liabilities and stockholders’ equity | ||||||||
| Current liabilities: | ||||||||
| Trade accounts payable | $ | 6,741 | $ | 6,410 | ||||
| Legal settlement liability, current | 2,208 | 2,495 | ||||||
| Accrued expenses | 19,781 | 23,417 | ||||||
| Other current liabilities | 22,173 | 16,978 | ||||||
| Deferred revenue, current | 30,032 | 28,504 | ||||||
| Total current liabilities | 80,935 | 77,804 | ||||||
| Legal settlement liability, noncurrent | 6,637 | 6,786 | ||||||
| Deferred revenue, noncurrent | 17,672 | 18,339 | ||||||
| Operating lease liability, noncurrent | 13,441 | 14,042 | ||||||
| Long-term debt | 386 | 525 | ||||||
| Other noncurrent liabilities | 2,398 | 2,307 | ||||||
| Total liabilities | 121,469 | 119,803 | ||||||
| Stockholders’ equity: | ||||||||
| Common stock, | 129 | 129 | ||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 445,750 | 441,107 | ||||||
| Accumulated deficit | (120,604 | ) | (101,738 | ) | ||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive gain | 2,369 | 2,241 | ||||||
| Total stockholders’ equity | 327,644 | 341,739 | ||||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 449,113 | $ | 461,542 | ||||
| Cytek Biosciences, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss (Unaudited) | ||||||||
| Three months ended March 31, | ||||||||
| (In thousands, except share and per share data) | 2026 | 2025 | ||||||
| Revenue, net: | ||||||||
| Product | $ | 28,779 | $ | 28,110 | ||||
| Service | 15,356 | 13,347 | ||||||
| Total revenue, net | 44,135 | 41,457 | ||||||
| Cost of sales: | ||||||||
| Product | 15,921 | 15,529 | ||||||
| Service | 6,960 | 5,771 | ||||||
| Total cost of sales | 22,881 | 21,300 | ||||||
| Gross profit | 21,254 | 20,157 | ||||||
| Operating expenses: | ||||||||
| Research and development | 9,604 | 9,725 | ||||||
| Sales and marketing | 11,646 | 12,509 | ||||||
| General and administrative | 18,467 | 12,898 | ||||||
| Total operating expenses | 39,717 | 35,132 | ||||||
| Loss from operations | (18,463 | ) | (14,975 | ) | ||||
| Other income (expense): | ||||||||
| Interest expense | (262 | ) | (291 | ) | ||||
| Interest income | 787 | 508 | ||||||
| Other income, net | 565 | 3,492 | ||||||
| Total other income, net | 1,090 | 3,709 | ||||||
| Loss before income taxes | (17,373 | ) | (11,266 | ) | ||||
| Provision for income taxes | 1,493 | 136 | ||||||
| Net loss | (18,866 | ) | (11,402 | ) | ||||
| Net loss, basic and diluted | $ | (18,866 | ) | $ | (11,402 | ) | ||
| Net loss per share, basic | $ | (0.15 | ) | $ | (0.09 | ) | ||
| Net loss per share, diluted | $ | (0.15 | ) | $ | (0.09 | ) | ||
| Weighted-average shares used in calculating net loss per share, basic | 128,704,934 | 128,339,481 | ||||||
| Weighted-average shares used in calculating net loss per share, diluted | 128,704,934 | 128,339,481 | ||||||
| Comprehensive loss: | ||||||||
| Net loss | $ | (18,866 | ) | $ | (11,402 | ) | ||
| Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax | 328 | (560 | ) | |||||
| Unrealized loss on marketable securities | (201 | ) | (65 | ) | ||||
| Net comprehensive loss | $ | (18,739 | ) | $ | (12,027 | ) | ||
| Cytek Biosciences, Inc. Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Measures (Unaudited) | ||||||||
| Three months ended | ||||||||
| (In thousands) | March 31, 2026 | March 31, 2025 | ||||||
| (Unaudited) | (Unaudited) | |||||||
| GAAP gross profit | $ | 21,254 | $ | 20,157 | ||||
| Stock based compensation | 729 | 1,086 | ||||||
| Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets | 494 | 493 | ||||||
| Non-GAAP adjusted gross profit | $ | 22,477 | $ | 21,736 | ||||
| GAAP gross margin | 48 | % | 49 | % | ||||
| Non-GAAP adjusted gross margin | 51 | % | 52 | % | ||||
| GAAP net income | $ | (18,866 | ) | $ | (11,402 | ) | ||
| Depreciation and amortization | 2,812 | 2,881 | ||||||
| Provision for (benefit from) income taxes | 1,493 | 136 | ||||||
| Interest income | (787 | ) | (508 | ) | ||||
| Interest expense | 262 | 291 | ||||||
| Foreign currency exchange loss (gain) | 1,152 | (1,278 | ) | |||||
| Stock based compensation | 4,861 | 6,629 | ||||||
| Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA | $ | (9,073 | ) | $ | (3,251 | ) | ||
| Investment income | (1,629 | ) | (2,261 | ) | ||||
| Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA excluding investment income | $ | (10,702 | ) | $ | (5,512 | ) | ||
