Following Seeing Machines’ disappointing first half Trading Update combined with quarterly KPIs, both house broker Stifel and Peel Hunt downgraded their price targets and cut revenue expectations, while increasing their estimates for the losses expected for this year. 

In terms of the KPIs: cars produced with SEE technology grew more slowly than expected, falling 34% to 267K in 2Q25 compared with the previous quarter. In addition, sales of Gen 3 Guardian were only 288, making just 1,779 units sold in the first half of the 2025 financial year.

House broker Stifel’s Analyst Peter McNally cut his Price Target from 11.4p to 9.6p but maintained his ‘Buy’ recommendation. McNally summarised his view as follows:

“Seeing Machines’ H1 performance is indicative of wider auto industry struggles, with broadly flat revenues and ARR, leading to a larger-than-expected adjusted cash EBITDA loss of $17.5-18.0m. 

However, cost initiatives over the past 12 months and further planned in H2’25 should reduce cash operating expenses significantly. We also highlight the recent $32.8m strategic investment from Mitsubishi Electric Mobility, which provides  stability as the company gets closer to reaching cash flow breakeven.

While cars on the road has been healthy with 90% y/y growth, Q2 production was down 34% q/q. Although there is a lack of certainty with regard to when exactly this volatility will reverse, we still expect a strong tailwind from the approaching GSR deadline (July 2026) as it moves closer.

Sales of Aftermarket Guardian 3 units have also faced slight delays, however we expect sales to accelerate in H2 as a result of a full commercial release and benefit from the new referral agreement with Mitsubishi Electric Automotive America, which opens the Guardian 3 up to a 1m+ vehicle fleet market.

We reset revenue estimates to a more conservative level based on market uncertainty, but do expect a reduction in the cost base by FY26E to mitigate much of this in FY26/27E. We moderate our target price to 9.6p (from 11.4p) to reflect these new forecasts.”

Explaining in more detail his changes in forecast and valuation, McNally said: 

“We reduce FY25-27E revenues by $10m, primarily as a result of softer royalties, prudently assuming that production volumes do not pick up in FY25E, with possible upside. While the FY25E adj. EBITDA loss increases by $7.5m to $24.4m, we expect the revenue reduction beyond FY25E to be largely mitigated by cost initiatives and as a result we reduce adj. EBITDA profit by just $2m in FY26/27E. As a result of our forecast changes, our DCF-based target price reduces to 9.6p (11.4p). At current levels the shares trade at 3.6x our FY25E EV/Sales, or 11.8x FY26E EV/EBITDA. Buy.”

In addition, Peel Hunt today downgraded from a ‘Buy’ to ‘Reduce’, slashing its Price Target from 7p to 3p. In its note, analysts wrote: “We cut FY25/26/27E revenue by 17%/19%/10% to reflect weaker automotive demand and the slow start from the Guardian generation 3.”

My view

Naturally, I’m disappointed by the update today. I had expected cars on the road to whizz past 3m, despite volatility in the auto market. I didn’t expect car makers to sacrifice safety in an effort to cut costs, thereby risking reputational damage by producing more dangerous cars for consumers. It is shocking that saving lives from driver fatigue and distraction is deemed a lower priority than making profits. Still, it highlights why regulation (in the form of GSR) and pressure from Euro NCAP are vitally important in forcing car manufacturers to improve car safety.

I don’t hold the management of Seeing Machines responsible for this atrocious attitude from car manufacturers, although it has clearly impacted revenues in the short term – and is likely to continue for two more quarters we’ve been advised.

Still, it shouldn’t be ignored that Seeing Machines continues to have more cars on the road with its technology than any of its rivals and I don’t expect this to change.

That is because I expect Seeing Machines to win a significant share of the RFQs that are currently underway. News of a significant contract win could ease investor concerns and encourage brokers eventually to upgrade estimates.

However, I’m far less forgiving of the time it has taken to ramp up production of Guardian Gen 3, which to be frank was late to launch and has so far sold only in small volumes. It’s no wonder many private investors have sold out. However, given CEO Paul McGlone’s statement in a video interview with Tylah Tully that there are 7 significant trials in progress – one of which I believe is Amazon – I hope that things are now on track for significant sales in the final quarter of this financial year. 

Fortunately, the company currently has a $39.6m cash balance and time to set things right before the end of this financial year.

Personally, I’m prepared to hold as I expect the share price to rebound on contract news before the end of this financial year. However, do your own research.

The writer holds stock in Seeing Machines.