Knightscope Q2 sales beat estimate at $9M; EPS misses
Knightscope Inc. posted Q2 2026 revenue of $9.0 million, beating the $8.0 million estimate, driven by the Security Force acquisition. However, the net loss per share of $0.79 missed the $0.68 estimate as operating expenses rose sharply. The company achieved a positive gross margin of 7% and continues to advance its K7 robot and Signals platform.

*this image is generated using AI for illustrative purposes only.
Knightscope Inc. (NASDAQ: KSCP) delivered its strongest financial performance to date in the second quarter of 2026, reporting record revenue of $9.0 million. This figure surpassed analyst estimates of $8.0 million, marking a 228% year-over-year increase from $2.7 million in the same period last year. The surge was primarily driven by the full-quarter contribution from its recently acquired Security Force business. However, profitability concerns persisted as the net loss per share of $0.79 missed the consensus estimate of $0.68.
The company also achieved a positive gross margin for the second straight quarter, recording $0.7 million or approximately 7% of revenue. This contrasts with a gross loss of $0.9 million in the prior-year period. Management attributed this turnaround to the accretive nature of the Security Force acquisition and ongoing service cost reduction initiatives.
Financial Performance Overview
Despite top-line growth, profitability remained under pressure due to significant operational investments. Operating expenses more than doubled to $13.8 million from $5.4 million in Q2 2025. This increase reflected heavy investment in research and development, expanded headcount, and costs associated with integrating the Security Force. Consequently, the net loss widened to $14.1 million ($0.79 per share) compared to a net loss of $6.3 million ($0.90 per share) in the prior-year period.
| Metric: | Q2 2026 | Q2 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue: | $9.0 million | $2.7 million | +228% |
| Gross Margin: | $0.7 million (7%) | -$0.9 million | Turned Positive |
| Operating Expenses: | $13.8 million | $5.4 million | +156% |
| Net Loss: | $14.1 million | $6.3 million | Widened |
| Cash & Equivalents: | $8.2 million | N/A | N/A |
What the Numbers Show
The divergence between revenue growth and margin expansion highlights the transitional nature of Knightscope’s current strategy. While revenue tripled year-over-year and beat estimates, operating expenses grew at a faster absolute rate ($8.4 million increase) than revenue ($6.3 million increase). This indicates that the company is currently prioritizing scale and infrastructure build-out—specifically through R&D and headcount expansion—over immediate bottom-line efficiency. The positive gross margin suggests the core service model is becoming viable, but operating leverage has not yet materialized at the consolidated level.
Operational Updates and Outlook
Knightscope now serves 434 clients across 42 states. The integration of the Security Force is proceeding as planned, with teams collaborating on the H1 wearable device intended for future Augmented Security Agents (ASA).
On the product front, the K7 autonomous security robot passed its Alpha Prototype gate review and is moving into the Beta Prototype phase. Initial deployments are expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026. The company also highlighted progress on its Signals platform, an orchestration tool combining 3D digital twin technology with AI agents to manage autonomous robots and sensors.
Looking ahead, Knightscope outlined three priorities for the second half of 2026:
- Commencing initial K7 deployments in Q4 2026.
- Launching the Signals orchestration platform.
- Maintaining execution momentum consistent with the previous two record quarters.
William Santana Li, Founder, Chairman, and CEO, stated that the company is delivering on its commitment to institutional investors to produce progressively better quarterly results. The company will host a conference call and webcast on August 12, 2026, at 1:30 pm Pacific Time to discuss these results further.
Given the $8.2 million cash balance and widened net loss, how sustainable is Knightscope's current burn rate before requiring additional capital raises or debt financing?
Will the upcoming Q4 2026 deployment of the K7 autonomous robot significantly improve gross margins, or will high R&D and integration costs continue to suppress operating leverage?
How might the integration of the Security Force business impact customer retention rates, given the shift from pure robotics to a hybrid human-robot security model?



























