Ginkgo Bioworks Reports First Quarter 2025 Financial Results
We made progress on our objective to reach Adjusted EBITDA breakeven by the end of 2026
We have 28 US Government projects across Cell Engineering and Biosecurity with ~$180M of contracted backlog and unfunded potential backlog
Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) Director Michael Kratsios and the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology (NSCEB) report have both recently emphasized biotech as an area of national importance
Biotechnology remains a critical emerging technology area in the US and Ginkgo is well positioned to provide biosecurity and R&D services
"We're starting the year on a solid base thanks to the significant restructuring efforts of the past year," said Jason Kelly, co-founder and CEO of Ginkgo Bioworks. "Our Solutions business has become a trusted R&D service provider to the US Government and biopharma industry, meanwhile our Tools businesses have traction with existing offerings and are positioned to meet emergent opportunities in areas like AI, which are driving demand for large scale biological datasets. Through all of this, we are maintaining our commitment to achieving our cost reduction targets."
First quarter 2025 Adjusted EBITDA of $(47) million, up from $(117) million in the comparable prior year period, driven by the increase in revenue as well as a decrease in operating expenses
Excluding the $7 million non-cash deferred revenue release, first quarter 2025 Cell Engineering revenue of $31 million, up from $28 million in the comparable prior year period, an increase of 10%, primarily driven by growth with biopharma and government customers
First quarter 2025 Total revenue of $48 million, up from $38 million in the comparable prior year period, an increase of 27% primarily due to $7 million of non-cash revenue from the release of deferred revenue relating to the mutual termination of a customer agreement. Excluding this impact, Total revenue in the quarter was $41 million, an increase of 8% over the prior year period.
BOSTON, May 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: DNA, "Ginkgo"), which is building the leading platform for cell programming and biosecurity, today announced its results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2025. The update, including a webcast slide presentation with additional details on the first quarter, as well as supplemental financial information will be available at investors.ginkgobioworks.com .
Ginkgo provides an update on its restructuring, including progress towards its expanded $250 million cost savings target
Story Continues
Full Year 2025 Guidance
Ginkgo previously issued 2025 guidance for Total revenue of $160-$180 million, Cell Engineering revenue of $110-$130 million; and Biosecurity revenue of at least $50 million. Ginkgo updates its previously issued guidance solely to reflect the impact of the previously mentioned $7 million non-cash deferred revenue release in the first quarter to: Total revenue of $167-$187 million in 2025; Cell engineering revenue of $117-$137 million in 2025; and Biosecurity revenue of at least $50 million in 2025.
Conference Call Details
Ginkgo will host a videoconference today, Tuesday, May 6, 2025, beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET. The presentation will include an overview of the first quarter of 2025, recent business updates, a discussion on Ginkgo's outlook, as well as a moderated question and answer session.
To ask a question ahead of the presentation, please submit your questions to @Ginkgo on X (hashtag #GinkgoResults) or by sending an e-mail to investors@ginkgobioworks.com .
A webcast link is available on Ginkgo's Investor Relations website and a replay will be made available following the presentation.
Ginkgo Investor Website: https://investors.ginkgobioworks.com/events/
Audio-Only Dial Ins:
+1 646 931 3860 (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 (Washington DC)
+1 305 224 1968 (Miami)
+1 312 626 6799 (Chicago)
+1 346 248 7799 (Houston)
+1 408 638 0968 (San Jose)
+1 564 217 2000 (Seattle)
+1 689 278 1000 (Orlando)
Webinar ID: 966 5095 4269
If you experience technical difficulties with any of these dial-ins or if you need international dial-in numbers, please visit our website at https://investors.ginkgobioworks.com/events/ for updated dial-in information.
About Ginkgo Bioworks
Ginkgo Bioworks is the leading horizontal platform for cell programming, providing flexible, end-to-end services that solve challenges for organizations across diverse markets, from food and agriculture to pharmaceuticals to industrial and specialty chemicals. Ginkgo Biosecurity is building and deploying the next-generation infrastructure and technologies that global leaders need to predict, detect, and respond to a wide variety of biological threats. For more information, visit ginkgobioworks.com and ginkgobiosecurity.com , read our blog , or follow us on social media channels such as X (@ Ginkgo and @ Ginkgo_Biosec ), Instagram (@ GinkgoBioworks ), Threads (@ GinkgoBioworks ) or LinkedIn .
Forward-Looking Statements of Ginkgo Bioworks
This press release, the presentation, and the conference call and webcast contain certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including statements regarding our plans, strategies, including with respect to our current expectations, operations and anticipated results of operations, both business and financial, including the timing for attaining Adjusted EBITDA breakeven, impacts of our restructuring, potential customer success, including successful application of our offerings by our customers, the regulatory landscape, and expectations with regard to revenue, including our ability to meet all milestones and achieve the maximum revenue available under certain of our customer arrangements, expenses, our full year 2025 outlook, and the market environment, all of which are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, market trends, or industry results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words "believe," "can," "project," "potential," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "strategy," "future," "opportunity," "plan," "may," "should," "will," "would," "will be," "will continue," "will likely result," and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this document, including but not limited to: (i) our ability to realize near-term and long-term cost savings associated with our site consolidation plans, including the ability to terminate leases or find sub-lease tenants for unused facilities, (ii) volatility in the price of Ginkgo's securities due to a variety of factors, including changes in the competitive and highly regulated industries in which Ginkgo operates and plans to operate, variations in performance across competitors, and changes in laws and regulations affecting Ginkgo's business, (iii) the ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations, and to identify and realize additional business opportunities, including with respect to our solutions and tools offerings, (iv) the risk of downturns in demand for products using synthetic biology, (v) the uncertainty regarding the demand for passive monitoring programs and biosecurity services, (vi) changes to the biosecurity industry, including due to advancements in technology, emerging competition and evolution in industry demands, standards and regulations, (vii) the outcome of any pending or potential legal proceedings against Ginkgo, (viii) our ability to realize the expected benefits from and the success of our Foundry platform programs and Codebase assets, (ix) our ability to successfully develop engineered cells, bioprocesses, data packages or other deliverables, (x) the product development, production or manufacturing success of our customers, (xi) our exposure to the volatility and liquidity risks inherent in holding equity interests in other operating companies and other non-cash consideration we may receive for our services, (xii) the potential negative impact on our business of our restructuring or the failure to realize the anticipated savings associated therewith and (xiii) the uncertainty regarding government budgetary priorities and funding allocated to government agencies. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in the "Risk Factors" section of Ginkgo's annual report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on February 25, 2025 and other documents filed by Ginkgo from time to time with the SEC. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and Ginkgo assumes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Ginkgo does not give any assurance that it will achieve its expectations.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Certain of the financial measures included in this release, including Adjusted EBITDA, have not been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), and constitute "non-GAAP financial measures" as defined by the SEC. Ginkgo has included these non-GAAP financial measures because it believes they provide an additional tool for investors to use in evaluating Ginkgo's financial performance and prospects. Due to the nature and/or size of the items being excluded, such items do not reflect future gains, losses, expenses or benefits and are not indicative of our future operating performance. These non-GAAP financial measures are supplemental to, and should not be considered in isolation from, or as an alternative to, financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP. In addition, these non-GAAP financial measures may differ from non-GAAP financial measures with comparable names used by other companies. See the reconciliation below for additional information regarding certain of the non-GAAP financial measures included in this release, including a description of these non-GAAP financial measures and a reconciliation of the historic measures to Ginkgo's most comparable GAAP financial measures.
Ginkgo Bioworks Contacts:
INVESTOR CONTACT:
investors@ginkgobioworks.com
MEDIA CONTACT:
press@ginkgobioworks.com
Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(unaudited)
(in thousands, except share data)
As of March 31,
As of December 31,
2025
2024
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$ 312,420
$ 561,572
Marketable securities
204,502
—
Accounts receivable, net
26,293
21,857
Accounts receivable - related parties
877
586
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
20,442
18,729
Total current assets
564,534
602,744
Property, plant and equipment, net
197,828
203,720
Operating lease right-of-use assets
383,394
394,435
Investments
32,173
48,704
Intangible assets, net
68,756
72,510
Other non-current assets
46,778
55,336
Total assets
$ 1,293,463
$ 1,377,449
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable
$ 11,267
$ 14,169
Deferred revenue
33,653
27,710
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
70,747
65,387
Total current liabilities
115,667
107,266
Non-current liabilities:
Deferred revenue, net of current portion
80,378
98,783
Operating lease liabilities, non-current
434,561
438,766
Other non-current liabilities
15,430
16,576
Total liabilities
646,036
661,391
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value
—
—
Common stock, $0.0001 par value
5
5
Additional paid-in capital
6,576,786
6,555,416
Accumulated deficit
(5,928,514)
(5,837,557)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(850)
(1,806)
Total stockholders' equity
647,427
716,058
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
$ 1,293,463
$ 1,377,449
Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
(unaudited)
(in thousands, except share data)
Three Months Ended March 31,
2025
2024
Cell Engineering revenue
$ 38,230
$ 27,889
Biosecurity revenue
10,088
10,055
Total revenue
48,318
37,944
Costs and operating expenses:
Cost of Biosecurity revenue (1)
7,957
9,202
Cost of other revenue (1)
4,090
—
Research and development (1)
70,923
136,457
General and administrative (1)
49,043
70,287
Restructuring charges
5,273
—
Total operating expenses
137,286
215,946
Loss from operations
(88,968)
(178,002)
Other income (expense):
Interest income, net
6,081
11,711
Loss on investments
(3,693)
(2,544)
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities
—
940
Other income (expense), net
(4,289)
2,015
Total other income (expense)
(1,901)
12,122
Loss before income taxes
(90,869)
(165,880)
Income tax expense
88
31
Net loss
$ (90,957)
$ (165,911)
Net loss per share:
Basic
$ (1.68)
$ (3.31)
Diluted
$ (1.68)
$ (3.32)
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic
54,241,619
50,111,460
Diluted
54,241,619
50,133,366
Comprehensive loss:
Net loss
$ (90,957)
$ (165,911)
Other comprehensive (loss) income:
Foreign currency translation adjustment
849
(3,035)
Unrealized gains on available-for-sale securities
107
—
Total other comprehensive (loss) income
956
(3,035)
Comprehensive loss
$ (90,001)
$ (168,946)
(1) Total stock-based compensation expense, inclusive of employer payroll taxes, was allocated as follows (in thousands):
Three Months Ended March 31,
2025
2024
Research and development
$ 9,184
$ 24,120
General and administrative
9,912
18,277
Cost of Biosecurity revenue
735
—
Cost of other revenue
969
—
Total
$ 20,800
$ 42,397
Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(unaudited)
(in thousands)
Three Months Ended March 31,
2025
2024
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss
$ (90,957)
$ (165,911)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization
15,366
12,869
Stock-based compensation
20,431
40,782
Loss on investments
3,693
2,544
Change in fair value of notes receivable
5,285
—
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities
—
(940)
Change in fair value of contingent consideration
(1,302)
(926)
Non-cash lease expense
7,379
5,637
Non-cash in-process research and development
—
16,816
Other non-cash activity
149
(442)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable
(4,693)
(6,770)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
462
1,154
Operating lease right-of-use assets
3,675
—
Other non-current assets
(167)
(707)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities
6,419
10,871
Deferred revenue, current and non-current
(12,471)
(2,912)
Operating lease liabilities, current and non-current
(4,790)
(4,097)
Other non-current liabilities
—
2,773
Net cash used in operating activities
(51,521)
(89,259)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchases of marketable debt securities
(191,182)
—
Purchases of property and equipment
(7,622)
(6,710)
Business acquisition
—
(5,400)
Other
120
—
Net cash used in investing activities
(198,684)
(12,110)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
—
70
Principal payments on finance leases
(207)
(294)
Contingent consideration payment
—
(621)
Net cash used in financing activities
(207)
(845)
Effect of foreign exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents
74
(157)
Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
(250,338)
(102,371)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
561,572
944,073
Restricted cash, beginning of period
44,171
45,511
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period
605,743
989,584
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
312,420
840,440
Restricted cash, end of period
42,985
46,773
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period
$ 355,405
$ 887,213
Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings, Inc.
Segment Information
(in thousands, unaudited)
Three Months Ended March 31,
2025
2024
Cell Engineering
Revenue
$ 38,230
$ 27,889
Costs and operating expenses:
Cost of other revenue
3,121
—
Research and development
48,670
81,898
General and administrative
18,027
38,244
Cell Engineering operating loss
(31,588)
(92,253)
Biosecurity
Revenue
10,088
10,055
Costs and operating expenses:
Cost of Biosecurity revenue
7,223
9,202
Research and development
—
120
General and administrative
8,050
11,951
Biosecurity operating loss
(5,185)
(11,218)
Total segment operating loss
(36,773)
(103,471)
Reconciling items to reconcile total segment operating loss to loss before income taxes:
Stock-based compensation (1)
20,800
42,397
Depreciation and amortization
15,366
12,869
Restructuring charges (2)
5,273
—
Carrying cost of excess space (net of sublease income) (3)
11,674
—
Merger and acquisition related expense (income) (4)
(918)
2,394
Acquired in-process research and development
—
16,871
Other (income) expense, net (5)
1,901
(12,122)
Loss before income taxes
$ (90,869)
$ (165,880)
(1)
Includes $0.4 million and $1.6 million in employer payroll taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
(2)
Restructuring charges primarily consist of employee termination costs from the reduction in force commenced in June 2024.
(3)
The carrying cost of excess space includes base rent, common area maintenance charges, and real estate taxes associated with facilities the Company is not occupying, net of any sublease income from these spaces.
(4)
Represents transaction and integration costs directly related to mergers and acquisitions, including: (i) legal, consulting, and accounting fees associated with acquisitions; (ii) post-acquisition employee retention bonuses; (iii) (gain)/loss from changes in the fair value of contingent consideration liabilities resulting from acquisitions; and (iv) costs associated with the Zymergen Bankruptcy, as well as securities litigation costs.
(5)
Includes interest income, interest expense, loss on investments, changes in fair value of certain assets and liabilities, and other gains and losses.
Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings, Inc.
Selected Non-GAAP Financial Measures
(in thousands, unaudited)
Three Months Ended March 31,
(in thousands)
2025
2024
Net loss (1)
$ (90,957)
$ (165,911)
Interest income, net
(6,081)
(11,711)
Income tax expense
88
31
Depreciation and amortization
15,366
12,869
EBITDA
(81,584)
(164,722)
Stock-based compensation (2)
20,800
42,397
Restructuring charges (3)
5,273
—
Loss on investments
3,693
2,544
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities
—
(940)
Merger and acquisition related expense (income) (4)
(918)
2,394
Change in fair value of convertible notes
5,285
1,326
Adjusted EBITDA
$ (47,451)
$ (117,001)
(1)
All periods include non-cash revenue when earned, including $7.5 million in the three months ended March 31, 2025 recognized pursuant to the termination of revenue contracts with BiomEdit.
(2)
Includes $0.4 million and $1.6 million in employer payroll taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
(3)
Restructuring charges primarily consist of employee termination costs from the reduction in force commenced in June 2024.
(4)
Represents transaction and integration costs directly related to mergers and acquisitions, including: (i) legal, consulting, and accounting fees associated with acquisitions; (ii) post-acquisition employee retention bonuses; (iii) (gain)/loss from changes in the fair value of contingent consideration liabilities resulting from acquisitions; and (iv) costs associated with the Zymergen Bankruptcy, as well as securities litigation costs. Not included in this adjustment are acquired in-process research and development expenses, which totaled zero and $16.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and 2024, respectively.
Cision
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The latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, or JOLTS, showed hiring in June was the weakest in a year, while July's nonfarm payrolls report and previous months' revisions were so disappointing that President Donald Trump fired the head of the agency responsible for collecting the data. But the unemployment rate isn't rising, largely because firms aren't firing workers. Why? Perhaps because they are banking on tariff and inflation uncertainty lifting in the second half of the year. It's also possible that firms are still scared from the post-pandemic labor shortages. Whatever the reason, the pace of layoffs simply has not picked up, the monthly JOLTS surveys show. Layoffs in June totaled 1.6 million, below the averages of the last one, two and three years. Meanwhile, lower immigration, increased deportations, and fewer people re-entering the labor force are offsetting weak hiring, thus keeping a lid on the unemployment rate. The labor force participation rate in July was 62.2%, the lowest since November 2022. And what about weekly jobless claims, another key variable in the labor market picture? In previous slowdowns, rising layoffs would be reflected in a spike in the number of people claiming unemployment benefits for the first time. That's not happening either. Last week's 226,000 initial claims were right at the average for the past year, and only a few thousand higher than the averages over the past two and three years. "It's a low fire, low hire economy," notes Oscar Munoz, U.S. rates strategist at TD Securities. REGULAR CHECK-UP One high-frequency number that has gone under the radar, but which merits more attention is continuing jobless claims, which measures the number of workers continuing to file for unemployment benefits after losing their jobs. Rising continued claims suggest people actively looking for a job are struggling to get one, a sign that the labor market could be softening. That figure spiked last week to 1.97 million, the highest since November 2021, which in theory should put upward pressure on the unemployment rate. Using the 'stock' versus 'flow' analogy, continuing claims are the 'stock,' and weekly claims are the 'flow'. Everyone will have their own view on what's more important, but right now initial claims are offering no guidance while continuing claims are pointing to softening in the job market. Fed officials are on alert, but what would move them to cut rates? Munoz and his colleagues at TD Securities estimate that continuing claims of around 2.2 million would be consistent with an unemployment rate of 4.5%, a level of joblessness most economists agree would prompt the Fed to trim rates. That's also the year-end unemployment rate in the Fed's last economic projections from June, a set of forecasts which also penciled in 50 bps of easing by December. An unemployment rate of 4.4% would probably tip the balance on the Federal Open Market Committee, while 4.3% would make it a much closer call, perhaps a coin toss. Further muddying the picture, other indicators suggest the labor market is ticking along nicely. July's payrolls report showed that average hourly earnings last month rose at a 3.9% annual rate, consistent with the level seen in the past year. And the average number of hours worked was 34.3 hours, right at the mean for the past two years. These numbers and the JOLTS data are released monthly, and there will be one more of each before the Fed's September 16-17 policy meeting. But if the increased focus on the unemployment rate means investors want a more regular labor market temperature check, they should keep a close eye on weekly continuing claims. What could move markets tomorrow? * Australia interest rate decision * India CPI inflation (July) * UK employment, earnings (July) * Germany ZEW sentiment index (August) * Brazil inflation (July) * U.S. CPI inflation (July) * U.S. federal budget data (July) * U.S. Fed officials on the stump: Richmond Fed PresidentThomas Barkin, Kansas City Fed President Jeffrey Schmid Want to receive Trading Day in your inbox every weekday morning? Sign up for my newsletter here. Opinions expressed are those of the author. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias. (By Jamie McGeever; Editing by Nia Williams) Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
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Former state Rep. Tracy Cramer announces bid for Oregon Senate
Former state Rep. Tracy Cramer is making a new bid for the Oregon Legislature and announced her candidacy Aug. 11 for the Oregon State Senate. Cramer, a Republican who represented House District 22 from 2023 to 2025, is running for Senate District 11, which outgoing Sen. Kim Thatcher, R-Keizer, currently holds. Thatcher's term ends in January 2027. She is disqualified from running for reelection after accruing more than 10 unexcused absences during the 2023 legislative walkout. "Working families in Marion County need bold and proven leadership to effectively tackle the challenges they face,' Cramer said in a prepared statement. "Senate District 11 deserves a champion for these issues. I'm ready to stand up to the partisanship and special interests to make real progress. Enough with the broken promises. Oregon can't afford anything less.' Cramer was the first Republican elected in HD22 in 18 years when she won the seat in 2022. She narrowly lost her reelection race to Rep. Lesly Muñoz, D-Woodburn. Cramer was born and raised in Gervais and worked as a farmhand for her parents. She graduated from Gervais High School and Anthem College and worked as a dental assistant before serving as a state representative. Cramer and her husband now operate a construction consulting company. She said she would focus on "pressing challenges" facing the district, which includes Brooks, Gervais, Keizer, Labish Village, north Salem and Woodburn. The district is younger, less affluent, and more diverse than most areas of Oregon, she said. On her website, she lists tax relief, housing and homelessness, education, drug reform, and protecting rural communities as some of her priorities. 'A full quarter of our families rely on government assistance to put food on the table and far more than average can't afford medical insurance,' Cramer said. She criticized "Portland-owned Democrats" and said district residents are tired of facing more taxes and paying more money while they are trying to make ends meet. Thatcher endorsed Cramer in the campaign announcement, saying she never doubted Cramer's "unwavering commitment" to constituents and core principles after first meeting her. 'Her deep roots in our community, combined with her legislative experience and dedication to public service, make her uniquely qualified to be our next State Senator," Thatcher said. Cramer's political action committee had received $485 in 2025 as of Aug. 11. Her campaign raised more than $1 million during her failed reelection campaign. Dianne Lugo covers the Oregon Legislature and equity issues. Reach her at dlugo@ or on X @DianneLugo This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Former state Rep. Tracy Cramer announces bid for Oregon Senate