Company Description
AstroNova, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALOT) is a specialized printing and data visualization company that designs, manufactures, distributes and services products used to acquire, store, analyze and present data in multiple formats on a variety of media. According to the company’s disclosures, AstroNova focuses on specialized print technology solutions and data visualization technologies, combining hardware, software and supplies across its operating segments.
AstroNova is incorporated in Rhode Island and its common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol ALOT, as noted in its SEC filings. The company describes itself as a global provider of printing technologies that enable data visualization, with a strategy centered on driving profitable growth through new technologies, expanding its installed base to increase recurring revenue, and strategically sourcing aftermarket or replacement products.
Business Segments
AstroNova reports two primary segments: Product Identification and Aerospace.
The Product Identification (Product ID) segment provides digital, end-to-end product marking and identification solutions. Company materials state that this segment offers hardware, software and supplies for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), commercial printers and brand owners. Its systems are used for printing on media such as paper, labels, paperboard packaging, corrugated boxes and paper bags. AstroNova has also referenced legacy QuickLabel and TrojanLabel products within Product ID, as well as professional label presses and direct-to-packaging print solutions that incorporate autonomous ink printheads acquired through the MTEX transaction.
The Aerospace segment is described by AstroNova as a global leader in airborne printing solutions, avionics and data acquisition. Its products include flight deck printing solutions under the ToughWriter brand, networking hardware and specialized aerospace-grade supplies. The company also notes that its data acquisition systems are used in applications such as research and development, flight testing, missile and rocket telemetry, production monitoring, power and maintenance.
Products and Technologies
Across both segments, AstroNova’s products are built around technologies that acquire, store, analyze and present data in multiple formats. In Product ID, the company highlights digital color direct-to-package and direct-to-media printing sectors as focus areas, and has discussed redesigned professional label presses (for example, QL-425 and QL-435) and an AJ-800 direct-to-packaging print solution as part of its product rollout. These systems are intended to support product marking and identification needs for a range of commercial and industrial users.
In Aerospace, AstroNova emphasizes its ToughWriter flight deck printers, which it states are displacing legacy products at major aircraft manufacturers. The company has referenced the ToughWriter 640 flight deck printer being shipped to a major OEM for new production aircraft and has described its Aerospace segment as benefiting from strong margins and a leading market position for these airborne printing solutions.
Markets and Customers
AstroNova’s Polygon description and company statements indicate that its target markets for hardware and software products include industries such as aerospace, apparel, automotive, avionics, chemicals, computer peripherals, communications, distribution, food and beverage, general manufacturing, packaging and transportation. Within Product ID, the company specifically mentions OEMs, commercial printers and brand owners as key customer groups. In Aerospace, customers include commercial aircraft manufacturers, defense-related entities and other users of avionics and data acquisition systems, as reflected in management’s references to commercial aircraft, defense and other markets.
Business Model and Revenue Characteristics
AstroNova describes its strategy as building an installed base of equipment in order to expand recurring revenue from supplies, parts and service. In its Product ID segment, the company has highlighted recurring revenue from supplies, parts and service as a valuable and profitable component of the business. Management commentary also notes efforts to improve productivity and product mix, and to focus on niche-oriented strategies in digital color direct-to-package and direct-to-media printing.
The company’s disclosures emphasize a mix of equipment sales and ongoing aftermarket activity. In Product ID, AstroNova discusses shipments of redesigned printers and direct-to-packaging solutions, along with recurring supplies and service revenue. In Aerospace, it points to revenue from flight deck printers, replacement printheads, spare printers, non-recurring engineering and specialized supplies, as referenced in its financial result discussions.
Corporate Governance and Shareholder Matters
AstroNova’s definitive proxy statement and related 8-K filings describe an active corporate governance framework with annual election of directors, advisory votes on executive compensation and auditor ratification. The company has highlighted features such as one-share, one-vote, board diversity, separate roles for the CEO, Executive Chairman and Lead Independent Director, and the absence of a shareholder rights plan often referred to as a poison pill.
In 2025, AstroNova’s board and management were the subject of a proxy contest involving Askeladden Capital Management LLC. This led to a Cooperation Agreement under which the company increased the size of its board to seven directors and appointed an additional independent director, Shawn Kravetz, who was also nominated for re-election. The Cooperation Agreement includes standstill, voting and non-disparagement provisions, and the company agreed to maintain its NASDAQ Global Market listing and Exchange Act registration during the cooperation period.
The company’s 8-K filings also detail leadership changes, including the appointment of an Interim President and Chief Executive Officer followed by the appointment of Jorik Ittmann as President and CEO and as a director. Executive compensation arrangements, equity awards and severance terms for senior leaders are described in those filings and in the proxy statement.
Capital Structure and Credit Facilities
AstroNova’s common stock, with a par value of $0.05 per share, is registered under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and listed on the NASDAQ Global Market. The company has disclosed an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement with Bank of America, N.A., which has been modified multiple times. A Sixth Amendment increased the revolving credit facility, extended its maturity, and refinanced existing term loans into new term and term A-2 loans. The amended facility includes financial covenants such as a maximum consolidated leverage ratio and a minimum consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio, as well as limitations on indebtedness, liens, dividends, share repurchases, mergers, asset sales, investments and changes in business, subject to specified exceptions.
The credit agreement is secured by substantially all of the company’s personal property assets, including equity interests in certain subsidiaries, and mortgages on real property in West Warwick, Rhode Island and Elk Grove Village, Illinois. AstroNova has noted that the amended structure reduces principal payments, replaces certain foreign currency-denominated payments with U.S. dollar obligations and provides greater covenant flexibility, which management has linked to its efforts to execute a turnaround in the Product Identification segment.
Operational Focus and Strategic Priorities
Management commentary in recent financial releases outlines several priorities. For the Product ID segment, AstroNova has stated that it is working to reignite sales, rebuild customer relationships, secure new customers, improve operational efficiency and execute on a niche-oriented strategy in emerging digital printing sectors. The company has also discussed productivity improvements in mail and sheet/flatpack operations to improve lead times and reduce backlog, as well as the impact of the MTEX acquisition and related goodwill impairment.
For the Aerospace segment, AstroNova emphasizes maintaining and expanding its market position in flight deck printing solutions and related avionics products. The company has reported that ToughWriter printers are displacing legacy products at major aircraft partners and that orders from major OEMs have increased as inventory aligns with aircraft build rates. Management has pointed to strong margins in the Aerospace segment as evidence of the value of its position in this market.
Regulatory and Reporting Practices
AstroNova regularly files reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including Forms 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K and proxy statements. The company uses non-GAAP financial measures such as Non-GAAP gross profit, Non-GAAP operating income, Non-GAAP net income, segment-level non-GAAP metrics and Adjusted EBITDA. In its communications, AstroNova explains that management uses these non-GAAP measures, alongside GAAP results, to evaluate core operating performance and to facilitate comparisons across periods and with other companies. Reconciliations to the most directly comparable GAAP measures are provided in accompanying tables to its earnings releases.
Company Tier and Sector Context
Based on its NASDAQ Global Market listing and detailed reporting, AstroNova fits within the manufacturing sector with a focus on specialized computer storage device manufacturing and printing technologies. While the company does not characterize its own market capitalization tier in the provided materials, its disclosures and segment structure indicate a business operating in focused niches within product identification and aerospace printing and data acquisition.
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Short Interest History
Short interest in Astronova (ALOT) currently stands at 8.1 thousand shares, down 19.1% from the previous reporting period, representing 0.1% of the float. Over the past 12 months, short interest has decreased by 35.6%. This relatively low short interest suggests limited bearish sentiment.
Days to Cover History
Days to cover for Astronova (ALOT) currently stands at 1.0 days. This low days-to-cover ratio indicates high liquidity, allowing short sellers to quickly exit positions if needed. The days to cover has decreased 36.3% over the past year, suggesting improved liquidity for short covering. The ratio has shown significant volatility over the period, ranging from 1.0 to 3.4 days.