Harvard Bioscience's 2025 Q1 Earnings Call: Unpacking Contradictions in BTX Competition, Animal Testing, and Revenue Dynamics

Earnings DecryptTuesday, May 20, 2025 7:21 am ET
2min read
BTX and MaxSight competition, animal testing and MeshMEA demand, MeshMEA product line and market demand, CRO revenue as a percentage of total revenue are the key contradictions discussed in Harvard Bioscience's latest 2025Q1 earnings call.



Revenue Trends and Market Conditions:
- Harvard Bioscience reported revenue of $21.8 million for Q1 2025, below $24.5 million in the prior year, aligning with the higher end of their guidance.
- The decline was due to seasonal factors, uncertainties in research funding, and market conditions, particularly in China following tariff announcements.

Goodwill Impairment and Financial Impact:
- The company recorded a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $48 million, primarily due to a decrease in market capitalization, impacting operating income.
- This charge was recorded following additional impairment testing as the company's market capitalization decreased.

Product Launches and Market Opportunities:
- Harvard Bioscience is expanding its product offerings, including new SoHo family devices, Viva Mars, and MeshMEA organoid platforms, which are showing early success and interest from industrial and academic customers.
- These product launches aim to strengthen the company's position in high-growth areas like electroporation, bioproduction, and organoid systems.

Geographic Sales Performance:
- Revenue in the Americas declined by 9.4% year-on-year, reflecting a lack of budget clarity for academics and lower CRO sales.
- In Europe, revenue decreased by 29% sequentially and 9% year-on-year, attributed to a strong seasonal bump at the end of 2024 and lower academic sales.

China Market Challenges and Tariff Impact:
- APAC revenue was down 17% compared to the prior year, with a 29% sequential decline in Europe, partly due to softening revenue in China following tariff announcements in early April.
- The company has factored these challenges into their Q2 guidance, anticipating a potential headwind from the tariff situation.