Exchange: NASDAQ | Sector: Technology | Industry: Hardware Equipment Parts
Q3 2025
Published: May 8, 2025
Earnings Highlights
Revenue of $132.48M up 22.5% year-over-year
EPS of $0.13 decreased by 27.8% from previous year
Gross margin of 24.8%
Net income of 3.88M
"“We achieved sales growth of 22% through some very choppy customer demand schedules. Although our margin was impacted by manufacturing and logistics inefficiencies created by these choppy schedules, our team has been able to serve our customers well and I'm confident we will regain this margin as things stabilize.”" - James Clark
LSI Industries Inc (LYTS) Q3 2025 Earnings Analysis – Display Solutions Accelerates Revenue Growth Amid Margin Pressures; Onshore Sourcing and M&A Progress under Fast Forward Plan
Executive Summary
LSI Industries delivered a solid Q3 2025 with 22% year-over-year revenue growth to $132.5 million, led by Display Solutions, which surged 70% year over year ( organic 15% ) and supported by ongoing EMI integration. However, margins were pressured by manufacturing and logistics inefficiencies driven by choppy schedules and a higher EMI mix, resulting in EBITDA of $11.3 million and net income of $3.88 million (EPS $0.13). The quarter showcased a notable acceleration in large-project activity in Lighting and a backlog that was 15% above the prior year. Management reaffirmed a plan to stabilize scheduling, complete Canada Best Store Fixtures integration, and leverage onshoring and tariff management to mitigate external headwinds under the Fast Forward strategy. The company also highlighted robust cross-selling opportunities between Lighting and Display Solutions and continued M&A activity oriented toward both incremental and transformational acquisitions.
Key Performance Indicators
Revenue
132.48M
QoQ: -10.32% | YoY:22.46%
Gross Profit
32.84M
24.79% margin
QoQ: -5.79% | YoY:4.80%
Operating Income
6.24M
QoQ: -26.29% | YoY:-20.08%
Net Income
3.88M
QoQ: -31.24% | YoY:-27.76%
EPS
0.13
QoQ: -31.58% | YoY:-27.78%
Revenue Trend
Margin Analysis
Key Insights
Revenue: $132.481 million, up 22.46% YoY; QoQ change not directly disclosed in quarterly core table but quarterly data shows a sequential decline from Q2 to Q3 in the press materials and 4-quarter metrics reflect seasonality. - Gross profit: $32.843 million; gross margin 24.79% (0.2479). - EBITDA: $9.319 million; adjusted EBITDA reported as $11.3 million in the call. - Operating income: $6.235 million; operating margin 4.71%. - Net income: $3.883 million; net margin 2.93%. - EPS: $0.13 (diluted $0.13); weighted average shares ~30.0 million. - Backlog: lighting backlog 18% above prior year; overall backlog 15% above last year. - Cash flow: operating cash flow $6.882 million; free cash flow $6.192 million; net debt to trailing-12-month adjusted EBITDA ~1.0x; cash balance $4.301 million. - Balance sheet: total assets $380.9 million; total liabilities $159.2 million; stockholders’ equity $221.7 million. - Liquidity and leverage: total debt $74.6 million; net debt $70.3 million; current ratio 2.08; quick ratio 1.245; interest coverage 9.43x.
Financial Highlights
- Revenue: $132.481 million, up 22.46% YoY; QoQ change not directly disclosed in quarterly core table but quarterly data shows a sequential decline from Q2 to Q3 in the press materials and 4-quarter metrics reflect seasonality. - Gross profit: $32.843 million; gross margin 24.79% (0.2479). - EBITDA: $9.319 million; adjusted EBITDA reported as $11.3 million in the call. - Operating income: $6.235 million; operating margin 4.71%. - Net income: $3.883 million; net margin 2.93%. - EPS: $0.13 (diluted $0.13); weighted average shares ~30.0 million. - Backlog: lighting backlog 18% above prior year; overall backlog 15% above last year. - Cash flow: operating cash flow $6.882 million; free cash flow $6.192 million; net debt to trailing-12-month adjusted EBITDA ~1.0x; cash balance $4.301 million. - Balance sheet: total assets $380.9 million; total liabilities $159.2 million; stockholders’ equity $221.7 million. - Liquidity and leverage: total debt $74.6 million; net debt $70.3 million; current ratio 2.08; quick ratio 1.245; interest coverage 9.43x.
Income Statement
Metric
Value
YoY Change
QoQ Change
Revenue
132.48M
22.46%
-10.32%
Gross Profit
32.84M
4.80%
-5.79%
Operating Income
6.24M
-20.08%
-26.29%
Net Income
3.88M
-27.76%
-31.24%
EPS
0.13
-27.78%
-31.58%
Key Financial Ratios
currentRatio
2.08
grossProfitMargin
24.8%
operatingProfitMargin
4.71%
netProfitMargin
2.93%
returnOnAssets
1.02%
returnOnEquity
1.75%
debtEquityRatio
0.34
operatingCashFlowPerShare
$0.23
freeCashFlowPerShare
$0.21
dividendPayoutRatio
38.5%
priceToBookRatio
2.3
priceEarningsRatio
32.84
Net Income vs. Revenue
Expense Breakdown
Management Commentary
- Management emphasized sustainable growth through a diversified Lighting and Display Solutions platform, noting 22% YoY sales growth and Display Solutions’ 70% sales increase (including 15% organic) driven by Refueling/C-store and Grocery segments. They observed that margin pressure stemmed from scheduling disruptions rather than lost demand, with an expectation of margin recovery as scheduling stabilizes. - They highlighted strategic acquisitions and integration momentum: Canada’s Best Store Fixtures acquisition completed; EMI integration progressing ahead of schedule; cross-selling opportunities across Lighting and Display Solutions cited as a key growth engine. - Tariff and onshoring dynamics were framed as a competitive advantage, with management stating a plan to minimize customer impact and potentially gain share as foreign-sourced components are replaced with domestic sourcing where feasible. They underscored that tariff volatility creates a balancing act between sourcing choices and timing, with careful price pass-through and inventory buffering. - The leadership stressed the need for stable quote-to-order conversion, particularly for larger projects, and anticipated improved efficiency and margin in Q4 and beyond as the team stabilizes operations and leverages a higher backlog. - Management conveyed confidence in maintaining both reported and comparable sales growth in fiscal Q4 and reiterated the Fast Forward plan’s objective to drive profitable growth through disciplined execution and strategic M&A initiatives.
“We achieved sales growth of 22% through some very choppy customer demand schedules. Although our margin was impacted by manufacturing and logistics inefficiencies created by these choppy schedules, our team has been able to serve our customers well and I'm confident we will regain this margin as things stabilize.”
— James Clark
“We have a plan. We cannot control tariffs, how they'll be applied and to whom, we can't control the amount of the tariffs or how other countries will react, but we do have a team of folks that are committed to minimizing impact to our customers and trying to turn this situation into an advantage for our company, our customers, our partners and our shareholders.”
— James Clark (per management commentary on tariff strategy)
Forward Guidance
LSI guided to continued top-line growth in fiscal Q4, with both reported and comparable sales growth anticipated. The company exited Q3 with a backlog 15% above last year and signaled continued stabilization in scheduling and production efficiency, which should support margin recovery (gross margins in the mid-20s are expected to improve as EMI-related mix moderates and scheduling stabilizes). Management also reinforced an onshore/offshore sourcing strategy to mitigate tariff risk, with buffers and inventory management to shield customers from cost volatility where possible. Investors should monitor: (1) cadence of large project bookings and release levels, (2) progression of EMI integration and its impact on mix and margins, (3) tariff-related pricing and sourcing decisions and their effectiveness, (4) cash flow generation and net debt trajectory against the EBITDA base, and (5) progress toward the Fast Forward targets and potential M&A activity that can materially alter the revenue mix and profitability trajectory.
Competitive Position
Company
Gross Margin
Operating Margin
Return on Equity
P/E Ratio
LYTS Focus
24.79%
4.71%
1.75%
32.84%
PLXS
9.79%
5.01%
1.99%
28.08%
OSIS
33.80%
12.70%
10.00%
9.44%
CTS
37.60%
16.20%
3.52%
19.62%
BHE
10.10%
4.27%
1.39%
25.98%
Gross Profit Margin
Operating Profit Margin
Return on Equity
P/E Ratio Comparison
Investment Outlook
Given LYTS' Display Solutions-led revenue growth and a strategic emphasis on cross-selling with Lighting, the company is positioned for modest revenue expansion as scheduling stabilizes and EMI mix normalizes. The near-term margin headwinds from scheduling inefficiencies are expected to abate in coming quarters, aided by a higher backlog and improved release rates. The onshoring of sourcing and tariff management—paired with buffers and price pass-through where needed—should mitigate tariff-driven cost fluctuations over time. The company’s Fast Forward plan, including accretive acquisitions and integration benefits, provides optionality to accelerate growth and diversify end-market exposure beyond Grocery/Automotive. investors should monitor: (1) the trajectory of gross margins as EMI integration and scheduling stabilize, (2) the durability of backlog strength and book-to-bill dynamics, (3) the run-rate cash flow and net debt trajectory, and (4) the progression of M&A activity and its impact on profitability and mix. Overall, LYTS presents a quality, diversified solution provider with a credible path to profitability improvement, though valuation remains a consideration given its enterprise value multiple and modest current profitability relative to some peers.
Key Investment Factors
Growth Potential
Cross-selling opportunities between Lighting and Display Solutions; continued EMI integration benefits; rebound in large-project activity (Lighting) and strong Grocery/refueling/C-store demand within Display Solutions; ongoing M&A, both incremental and transformational, under the Fast Forward plan.
Profitability Risk
Tariff volatility and trade policy uncertainty; supply chain disruptions; exposure to a few large verticals (Grocery, Automotive) that can drive swings in quarterly results; integration risk from Canada Best Stores Fixtures and EMI; customer concentration and project-based revenue timing; cyclicality in large-scale lighting projects.
Financial Position
Solid balance sheet with total assets of $380.9m and total stockholders’ equity of $221.7m; net debt to trailing 12 months adjusted EBITDA around 1.0x; robust operating cash flow ($6.88m) and free cash flow ($6.19m); liquidity appears comfortable but net debt remains meaningful in absolute terms; pricing/tariff management and onshoring are key to sustaining margins.
SWOT Analysis
Strengths
Integrated Lighting and Display Solutions platform delivering complete, scalable solutions (lighting + display) rather than components.
Backlog strength, especially in Lighting (book-to-bill >1, lighting backlog +18% YoY).
Two-step onshoring strategy (domestic sourcing ~70% today) reducing exposure to foreign tariffs and supply-chain risk.
EMI integration progressing, enabling cross-selling opportunities and margin improvements.
Strong management execution in a volatile, project-driven environment; experienced in shifting production between projects to meet demand.
Weaknesses
Material and logistics inefficiencies during transition periods causing margin compression.
EMI mix and higher project-driven revenue can depress overall gross margins in near term.
Reliance on large, multi-quarter projects introduces cadence risk and quarterly variability (especially Grocery/retail cycles).
Net debt remains meaningful and interest coverage, while solid, could compress if demand slows or margins deteriorate.
Opportunities
Cross-sell opportunities across Lighting and Display Solutions to broaden addressable market.
Further acquisitions (incremental and transformational) to accelerate growth and diversify end-markets under the Fast Forward plan.
Onshoring and tariff resilience providing cost-advantage vs. foreign-sourced competitors; potential for share gains in value-oriented product lines.
Growth in Grocery, Refueling/C-store, and Automotive verticals supported by ongoing store renovations and signage programs.
Threats
Tariff volatility and policy shifts that could affect component costs and pricing dynamics.
Customer project delays or postponements impacting order velocity and bookings.
Competition from other turnkey display/lighting providers and potential commoditization in select product lines.
Macroeconomic softness in construction and retail sectors could dampen capex in Lighting/Display initiatives.