Daqo New Energy Corp is a polysilicon manufacturer based in China... Show more
Daqo New Energy is one of the world's lowest-cost producers of high-purity polysilicon, the essential raw material for solar photovoltaic (PV) cells. Its results are a closely watched barometer of the solar supply chain, where a multi-year oversupply has crushed prices below production costs. The third quarter of 2026 marked a potential turning point: Chinese "anti-involution" policies aimed at curbing below-cost selling helped N-type polysilicon prices bottom and rebound. Against that backdrop, Daqo shifted from a cautious, low-sales stance to an aggressive, market-oriented strategy, sharply lifting volumes. Investors are watching whether recovering prices, falling costs, and renewed sales momentum can narrow losses and, eventually, restore profitability.
For the third quarter ended September 30, 2026, Daqo New Energy reported revenue of $194.2 million, up from $62.7 million in the second quarter but down from $244.6 million a year earlier. The sequential jump was driven by higher sales volume following the company's return to normal sales activity, with external sales volume climbing to 46,910 MT from 15,190 MT in the prior quarter.
The company posted a gross loss of $60.6 million, narrowing from $82.7 million in the second quarter, while gross margin improved to negative 31.2% from negative 132.0%. This reflected a 2% sequential rise in the average selling price to $4.12 per kilogram, lower production costs, and reduced inventory impairment provisions of $30.9 million, down from $55.7 million. Average total production cost fell 9.7% sequentially to a record-low $5.37 per kilogram, while cash cost declined 7.4% to $4.23 per kilogram.
Net loss attributable to shareholders was $52.9 million, or $0.78 per basic ADS, compared with a loss of $81.2 million, or $1.20 per ADS, in the prior quarter. On a per-share basis, the loss came in wider than the consensus estimate of roughly $0.49 per ADS, while revenue handily beat expectations. Adjusted net loss, excluding non-cash share-based compensation, was also $52.9 million. EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization) improved to negative $9.2 million from negative $29.0 million sequentially.
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Shares of Daqo New Energy advanced in the wake of the report, with the sharp sequential revenue beat and narrowing losses signaling that the worst of the polysilicon downturn may be passing. Sentiment has been cautiously improving as Chinese regulators stepped up price-compliance enforcement and industry-wide anti-involution measures, which helped stabilize N-type polysilicon prices from their second-quarter trough. Still, investors remain mindful of elevated industry inventories and weak near-term demand, which have kept selling prices below full production costs. The company's zero-debt balance sheet and roughly $2.06 billion in readily convertible assets continue to provide a buffer that supports confidence through the downcycle.
Daqo guided for fourth-quarter 2026 polysilicon production of approximately 35,000–45,000 MT and full-year 2026 production of 175,000–185,000 MT, reflecting a deliberate reduction in utilization to better align output with demand and support destocking of industry inventory. This disciplined approach signals that management is prioritizing price recovery and inventory normalization over raw volume.
Investors will be watching whether polysilicon prices continue to climb toward production-cost levels, which would be the clearest path back to positive gross margins. Cost control remains another key lever, with management expecting further reductions and stable costs into 2027. On the demand side, downstream purchasing patterns and the pace of industry inventory drawdown will be critical.
Beyond its core business, Daqo is diversifying into power infrastructure for artificial intelligence data centers (AIDCs), including energy storage systems and solid-state transformers, with sales expected to begin in 2027. While early-stage, this initiative offers a potential avenue to reduce exposure to solar-sector cyclicality and broaden future earnings.
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a manufacturer of polysilicon products
Industry ElectronicProductionEquipment