Ginkgo Bioworks Reaffirms 2026 Expected Cash Burn of $150M-$125M
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 2 days ago
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Should l Buy DNA?
Ginkgo Bioworks reaffirms 2026 expected total cash burn of ($150M)-($125M)
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Analyst Views on DNA
Wall Street analysts forecast DNA stock price to rise
1 Analyst Rating
1 Buy
0 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 10.320
Low
12.00
Averages
12.00
High
12.00
Current: 10.320
Low
12.00
Averages
12.00
High
12.00
About DNA
Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings, Inc. operates as a horizontal platform for cell programming, providing end-to-end services for organizations across diverse markets, from food and agriculture to pharmaceuticals to industrial and specialty chemicals. Its segments include Cell Engineering and Biosecurity. The Cell Engineering consists of research and development services performed under collaboration and license agreements relating to its cell programming platform. Its cell programming platform includes two core assets: the Foundry, and Codebase. The Biosecurity segment consists of biomonitoring and bioinformatics support services, offered to both government and non-government customers through its two core offerings: Canopy and Horizon. The Company provides comprehensive research and development services spanning the genetic medicine modalities: gene therapy, cell therapy and gene editing, and RNA therapeutics.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- Cash Burn Guidance: Ginkgo Bioworks projected a cash burn of $125M to $150M for FY26 during its Q1 earnings report, leading to a nearly 14% drop in stock price to $8.97 on Friday, indicating market concerns about its financial stability.
- Quarterly Performance: The company reported an EPS of -$1.28, slightly better than analysts' expectations, but revenue fell 50% year-over-year to $19M, primarily due to ongoing program rationalization and restructuring efforts, highlighting the challenges faced by the firm.
- Reduced Cash Burn: Cash burn for the first quarter was $48M, down 17% from $58M in the same quarter last year, which included a $14M payment to Google Cloud, reflecting the initial effectiveness of restructuring measures.
- Stock Price Fluctuations: Despite gaining 3.81% and 2.38% on Wednesday and Thursday respectively, Friday's decline erased previous gains, although the stock is up 7.22% year-to-date, moving in line with broader market trends.
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- Significant Revenue Decline: Ginkgo reported $19 million in revenue for Q1 2026, a 49% year-over-year decrease primarily due to $7.5 million in non-cash revenue from Q1 2025, indicating substantial challenges in revenue growth.
- Cash Burn Management: The company reaffirmed its cash burn guidance for 2026 at $125 million to $150 million, emphasizing a balance between cost efficiency and ongoing services, reflecting management's cautious approach to future investments.
- Biosecurity Spin-off: Ginkgo successfully completed the spin-off of its biosecurity unit, raising $60 million and becoming a shareholder in the new company Perimeter, allowing the company to focus on strategic development in autonomous labs.
- Nebula Expansion Progress: The Nebula lab is set to bring online 103 racks imminently, with CEO noting over 50 racks currently operational and 439 scientists submitting experiments on peak days, showcasing positive advancements in technology scaling and user engagement.
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- Earnings Presentation Scheduled: Ginkgo Bioworks plans to host a performance review on May 7, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. ET, focusing on Q1 results ending March 31, 2026, aimed at providing transparency and future outlook to investors.
- Interactive Q&A Session: Investors can submit questions via social media platform X (Twitter) using the hashtag #GinkgoResults or through email ahead of the presentation, enhancing interaction with management and increasing investor engagement.
- Investor Relations Website: Details and a webcast link for the presentation will be available on Ginkgo's investor relations website, ensuring all investors can easily access relevant information and participate in the replay, thereby improving information accessibility.
- Company Background: Ginkgo Bioworks focuses on developing tools for biological engineering, offering automated laboratory services that aim to enhance scientists' productivity through robotics, driving innovation and growth in the biotechnology sector.
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- AI Strategy Partnership: ProQR Therapeutics announced the formation of an AI advisory board in collaboration with Ginkgo Bioworks, aiming to leverage artificial intelligence to enhance drug discovery efficiency on its RNA editing technology platform, Axiomer, which is expected to significantly accelerate the R&D process.
- Access to Technology Platform: Through the partnership with Ginkgo, ProQR will gain access to Ginkgo's Nebula, an autonomous lab with over 50 instruments, a move that will eliminate a key bottleneck in AI-enabled drug discovery, thereby enhancing overall R&D capabilities.
- Investment and Development: Ginkgo has made an undisclosed equity investment in ProQR, indicating confidence in ProQR's AI-driven drug discovery initiatives while providing financial support to expedite its R&D efforts.
- Clinical Data Expectations: ProQR plans to report initial clinical data from its inaugural AI-driven drug discovery program by the end of this year, with a clinical trial application expected in mid-2026, marking a significant advancement in its AI drug discovery efforts.
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Partnership Announcement: ProQR has announced a partnership with Ginkgo BioWorks to enhance its research and development efforts.
Formation of Advisory Board: The collaboration will also involve the formation of an advisory board to guide the partnership's initiatives.
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- Musk's Wealth: Billionaire Elon Musk possesses enough wealth to buy every MLB, NBA, NFL, and NHL team, showcasing his immense influence in the global economy and potential for funding ambitious projects.
- Jurassic Park Franchise Success: Comcast's Jurassic Park franchise has grossed over $2.6 billion domestically, with the original 1993 film earning $357.1 million, highlighting its strong appeal in the entertainment industry.
- Biotech Advancements: Companies like Ginkgo Bioworks and Colossal Biosciences are working on de-extinction, with Ginkgo successfully reviving scents from extinct plants and Colossal bringing back the Dire Wolf in 2025, demonstrating the potential of modern biotechnology.
- Musk's Inspiration: Musk was inspired by X Head of Product Nikita Bier's post about Jurassic Park, expressing interest in reviving dinosaurs, although Colossal states there is currently no dinosaur DNA, reflecting the complex relationship between science and commercial aspirations.
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