We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience.
This includes personalizing content and advertising.
By pressing "Accept All" or closing out of this banner, you consent to the use of all cookies and similar technologies and the sharing of information they collect with third parties.
You can reject marketing cookies by pressing "Deny Optional," but we still use essential, performance, and functional cookies.
In addition, whether you "Accept All," Deny Optional," click the X or otherwise continue to use the site, you accept our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, revised from time to time.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
What Will it Take for Ouster to Reach Breakeven EBITDA?
Read MoreHide Full Article
Key Takeaways
Ouster expects EBITDA profitability milestones during 2027 through balanced growth and cost control.
OUST targets 30% to 50% annual revenue growth and posted 44% year-over-year growth excluding Stereolabs.
Ouster aims for 35% to 40% GAAP gross margins while limiting operating expense growth to 5% to 8%.
Ouster, Inc.’s (OUST - Free Report) most important financial milestone is to reach EBITDA breakeven, and the company's roadmap suggests that no single metric will determine when it gets there. Instead, profitability depends on a combination of sustained revenue growth, healthy gross margins and disciplined operating expenses.
Revenue growth is expected to remain the primary driver. Ouster continues to target annual revenue growth of 30% to 50%, supported by product innovation and expanding adoption across its sensing and perception portfolio. Even excluding the contribution from the Stereolabs acquisition, the company delivered 44% year-over-year revenue growth, demonstrating that the underlying business continues to scale at a strong pace.
However, higher revenues alone are unlikely to deliver EBITDA breakeven. The company also aims to maintain GAAP gross margins in the 35% to 40% range, allowing more of every incremental revenue dollar to contribute toward covering fixed costs. At the same time, operating expenses are expected to increase by only 5% to 8% from 2025 levels, despite investments in innovation and the integration of Stereolabs. This operating discipline is designed to create meaningful leverage as revenues continue to expand.
Taken together, these factors point to a gradual but improving EBITDA profile. If Ouster continues delivering strong revenue growth while maintaining margin performance and keeping operating expense growth under control, the company expects to begin reaching EBITDA profitability milestones during 2027. Continued innovation serves as the catalyst that supports each of these financial objectives and strengthens the path toward breakeven. OUST carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) at present.
Competitors' Efforts to Improve Their Respective Performance
Innoviz Technologies Ltd. (INVZ - Free Report) reported a first-quarter gross margin of approximately negative 22%, impacted by revenue mix and lower fixed-cost absorption. Innoviz expects margins to improve as production volumes ramp up later this year. Innoviz’s NREs accounted for about 70% of 2025 revenues, and the company expects LiDAR revenues and gross margins to rise as programs reach SOP and new wins expand.
indie Semiconductor, Inc. (INDI - Free Report) reported first-quarter revenues of $55.5 million, up about 3% year over year, with core business revenues of $34.1 million growing more than 20% sequentially. indie reduced its non-GAAP operating loss to $11.1 million from $15.1 million a year ago while keeping operating expenses in line with guidance. indie expects second-quarter operating expenses of about $38 million and believes its balance sheet and Wuxi sale proceeds will support its path to profitable growth through 2026.
OUST’s Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates
Ouster has outperformed the Zacks Electronics - Semiconductor industry year to date. OUST has gained 75.4% against the industry decline of 14.1%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation perspective, Ouster appears overvalued. Going by its price/sales ratio, the company is trading at a forward sales multiple of 8.91, higher than the industry’s 3.97.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 and 2027 loss per share has widened by 2 cents each in the past 60 days.
View the Zacks #1 Rank List
Image: Bigstock
What Will it Take for Ouster to Reach Breakeven EBITDA?
Key Takeaways
Ouster, Inc.’s (OUST - Free Report) most important financial milestone is to reach EBITDA breakeven, and the company's roadmap suggests that no single metric will determine when it gets there. Instead, profitability depends on a combination of sustained revenue growth, healthy gross margins and disciplined operating expenses.
Revenue growth is expected to remain the primary driver. Ouster continues to target annual revenue growth of 30% to 50%, supported by product innovation and expanding adoption across its sensing and perception portfolio. Even excluding the contribution from the Stereolabs acquisition, the company delivered 44% year-over-year revenue growth, demonstrating that the underlying business continues to scale at a strong pace.
However, higher revenues alone are unlikely to deliver EBITDA breakeven. The company also aims to maintain GAAP gross margins in the 35% to 40% range, allowing more of every incremental revenue dollar to contribute toward covering fixed costs. At the same time, operating expenses are expected to increase by only 5% to 8% from 2025 levels, despite investments in innovation and the integration of Stereolabs. This operating discipline is designed to create meaningful leverage as revenues continue to expand.
Taken together, these factors point to a gradual but improving EBITDA profile. If Ouster continues delivering strong revenue growth while maintaining margin performance and keeping operating expense growth under control, the company expects to begin reaching EBITDA profitability milestones during 2027. Continued innovation serves as the catalyst that supports each of these financial objectives and strengthens the path toward breakeven. OUST carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) at present.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Competitors' Efforts to Improve Their Respective Performance
Innoviz Technologies Ltd. (INVZ - Free Report) reported a first-quarter gross margin of approximately negative 22%, impacted by revenue mix and lower fixed-cost absorption. Innoviz expects margins to improve as production volumes ramp up later this year. Innoviz’s NREs accounted for about 70% of 2025 revenues, and the company expects LiDAR revenues and gross margins to rise as programs reach SOP and new wins expand.
indie Semiconductor, Inc. (INDI - Free Report) reported first-quarter revenues of $55.5 million, up about 3% year over year, with core business revenues of $34.1 million growing more than 20% sequentially. indie reduced its non-GAAP operating loss to $11.1 million from $15.1 million a year ago while keeping operating expenses in line with guidance. indie expects second-quarter operating expenses of about $38 million and believes its balance sheet and Wuxi sale proceeds will support its path to profitable growth through 2026.
OUST’s Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates
Ouster has outperformed the Zacks Electronics - Semiconductor industry year to date. OUST has gained 75.4% against the industry decline of 14.1%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation perspective, Ouster appears overvalued. Going by its price/sales ratio, the company is trading at a forward sales multiple of 8.91, higher than the industry’s 3.97.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2026 and 2027 loss per share has widened by 2 cents each in the past 60 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research