Cytek Biosciences, Inc.

1. Description of business

Cytek Biosciences, Inc. (“Cytek” or the “Company”) is a leading cell analysis solutions company advancing the next generation of cell analysis tools with its novel technical approach of leveraging the full spectrum of fluorescence signatures from multiple lasers to distinguish fluorescent tags on single cells (“Full Spectrum Profiling™” or “FSP®” technology). The Company is focused on becoming the premier cell analysis company through continued innovation that facilitates scientific advances in biomedical research and clinical applications.

The Company has successfully developed and manufactured its full spectrum flow cytometry platform (“instrument(s)” or “product(s)”). The Company’s FSP cell analyzers, the Cytek® Aurora™, Northern Lights™, and Cytek Aurora Evo systems, deliver high-resolution, high-content and high-sensitivity cell analysis. The Company also launched its Cytek Aurora cell sorter (“Aurora CS system”), which leverages FSP technology to further broaden potential applications across cell analysis. The Company’s FSP platform includes instruments, accessories, reagents, software, and services to provide a comprehensive and integrated suite of solutions for its customers.

On February 28, 2023, the Company completed the acquisition of certain assets (the “FCI Acquisition”) relating to the flow cytometry and imaging business of Luminex Corporation (“Luminex”), including relating to the business of manufacturing, marketing, selling, servicing and maintaining Amnis®- and Guava®-branded instruments, and flow cytometry reagent products and services (the “FCI Business”). The acquired FCI Business includes conventional flow and image-based flow cytometry instrumentation and related products and services (the “FCI Products”).

The Company was incorporated in the state of Delaware in December 2014 and is headquartered in Fremont, California with offices, manufacturing facilities and distribution channels across the globe.

2. Basis of presentation and summary of significant accounting policies

The Company has prepared the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). Any reference in these notes to applicable guidance is meant to refer to the authoritative GAAP as found in the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) and Accounting Standards Updates (“ASUs”) of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”).

Principles of consolidation

The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Cytek Biosciences, Inc., its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Cytek Biosciences B.V. (Netherlands), Cytek Biosciences GmbH (Germany), Cytek Biosciences Ltd (UK), Cytek Biosciences Pte. Ltd. (Singapore), Cytek Biosciences S.A.S. (France), Cytek Limited (Hong Kong), Cytek Japan Corporation (“Cytek Japan”), Cytek (Shanghai) Biosciences Co., Ltd., and Cytek (Wuxi) Biosciences Co., Ltd. (“Cytek Wuxi”), and Cytek Biosciences Canada Ltd. (Canada). All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Variable interest entities and voting interest entities

The Company determines whether it has a controlling financial interest in an entity by first evaluating whether the entity is a variable interest entity (“VIE”) and therefore subject to the consolidation requirements under the VIE model. Only if the entity does not meet the definition of a VIE, the Company will apply the voting interest entity model (“VOE”) or other applicable GAAP metric. VOEs are entities in which the total equity investment at risk is sufficient to enable the entity to finance itself independently and provides the equity holders with the obligation to absorb losses, the right to receive residual returns and the right to make decisions about the entity’s activities. The Company consolidates VOEs in which it has greater than 50% of the voting shares and other equity holders do not have substantive voting, participating or liquidation rights. As defined in applicable accounting standards, VIEs are entities that lack one or more of the characteristics of a voting interest entity. A controlling financial interest in a VIE is present when an enterprise has both the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and an obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The Company consolidates a VIE where it has been determined that the Company is the primary beneficiary of the entity’s operations. The Company does not currently hold an interest in a VIE.

Use of estimates

The preparation of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities in the Company’s unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes as of the date of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements. These estimates and assumptions are based on current facts, historical experience and various other factors believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities and the recording of expenses that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ materially and adversely from these estimates.

Operating segments

Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate discrete information is available for evaluation by the chief operating decision maker, or decision-making group, in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. The Company’s Chief Executive Officer, who is the chief operating decision maker, reviews financial information on an aggregate basis for allocating and evaluating financial performance. The Company operates and manages its business asone reportable and operating segment.

Foreign currency translation and transactions

The Company has determined that the functional and reporting currency for its operations across the globe is the functional currency of the Company’s international subsidiaries. Accordingly, all foreign balance sheet accounts have been translated into U.S. dollars using the rate of exchange at the respective balance sheet date. Components of the unaudited interim consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss have been translated at the average exchange rate for the year or the reporting period. Translation gains and losses are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income as a component of stockholders’ equity. Gains or losses arising from currency exchange rate fluctuations on transactions denominated in a currency other than the local functional currency are included in the unaudited interim consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income.

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are carried at cost, which approximates fair value.

The Company’s cash and cash equivalents consist of money held in demand depository accounts and money market funds. The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents was $65.7 million and $90.9 million as of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively, which approximates fair value and was determined based upon Level 1 inputs. The money market account is valued using quoted market prices with no valuation adjustments applied and is categorized as Level 1. The Company limits its credit risk associated with cash and cash equivalents by maintaining its bank accounts at major and reputable financial institutions. The Company’s cash and cash equivalents balance exceeded the federally insured limit of $250,000 as of March 31, 2026.

The following is a summary of cash and cash equivalents on the unaudited interim consolidated balance sheets (in thousands):

The Company classifies restricted cash as current on the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated balance sheets based on the expected timing of the release of the restrictions. There was no restricted cash as of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025.

Investments

Available-for-sale investments. The Company’s investments may consist of U.S. treasury and U.S. government agency securities, corporate notes and bonds, commercial paper, and money market funds. The Company has designated all investments as available-for-sale and, therefore, such investments are reported at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses recorded in accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income. The Company generally holds securities until maturity; however, they may be sold under certain circumstances including, but not limited to, when necessary for the funding of acquisitions and other strategic investments. Realized gains and losses on the sale of investments are recorded in interest and other income, net in the unaudited interim consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. Investments with remaining maturities at date of purchase greater than 90 days and remaining maturities as of the reporting period less than one year are classified as short-term investments. Investments with remaining maturities greater than one year are classified as long-term investments.

Equity Investments. The Company’s equity investments consist of non-marketable equity investments in a privately held company. The Company’s non-marketable equity investments do not have readily determinable fair values. Therefore, the Company elects to apply the measurement alternative and record these investments at cost, less any impairment, plus or minus observable price changes in orderly transactions for identical or similar investments of the same issuer. Investment is included within other noncurrent assets on our unaudited interim consolidated balance sheets and adjustments to their carrying amounts are recorded in other income, net in the unaudited interim consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. There were no material events or circumstances impacting the carrying amount of our strategic investments during the three months ended March 31, 2026.

Trade accounts receivable, net

The Company’s accounts receivable consists principally of amounts due related to product sales of instrument systems, reagents and accessories, as well as installation and repair services. These receivables are generally due within 30 to 90 days of the period in which the corresponding sales occur, do not bear interest and are classified as trade accounts receivable, net on the unaudited interim consolidated balance sheets. Trade accounts receivable are reported at their estimated net realizable value.

Allowance for credit losses

The allowance for doubtful accounts is based on the Company’s assessment of the collectibility of customer accounts. The Company regularly reviews the allowance by considering factors such as historical experience, credit quality, age of the accounts receivable balances, and current economic conditions that may affect a customer’s ability to pay.

Expected credit losses for uncollectible receivable balances consider both current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts of future conditions. Current conditions considered include pre-defined aging criteria, as well as specified events that indicate the balance due is not collectible. Reasonable and supportable forecasts used in determining the probability of future collection consider publicly available macroeconomic data and whether future credit losses are expected to differ from historical losses.

The Company is not party to any off-balance sheet arrangements that would require an allowance for credit losses in accordance with this accounting standard.

The changes in the allowance for credit losses for the three months ended March 31, 2026 were as follows (in thousands):

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Cost is computed using standard cost, which approximates actual cost on a first-in, first-out basis. The Company regularly monitors inventory quantities on hand and records write-downs for excess and obsolete inventories based on an estimate of demand for products, potential obsolescence of technology, product life cycles, and whether pricing trends or forecasts indicate that the carrying value of inventory exceeds its estimated selling price. These factors are impacted by market and economic conditions, technology changes, and new product introductions and require estimates that may include elements that are uncertain. The Company’s estimates of forecasted demand are based upon analysis and assumptions including, but not limited to, expected product lifecycles, product development plans and historical usage by product. If inventory is written down, a new cost basis is established that cannot be increased in future periods.

Property and equipment, net

Property and equipment are recorded at cost, net of accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is recorded using the straight-line method based on the estimated useful lives of the depreciable property or, for leasehold improvements, the remaining term of the lease, whichever is shorter. Assets not yet placed in use are not depreciated. The Company’s estimated useful lives of its property and equipment are as follows:

Upon sale or retirement of the assets, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts and the resulting gain or loss is recognized in the unaudited interim consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. Expenditures for general maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred.

Goodwill and intangible assets, net

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired in a business combination. Intangible assets resulting from the acquisition of entities are estimated by management based on the fair value of assets received. Intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives. The Company’s estimated useful lives of its intangible assets are as follows:

Accounting for impairment of long-lived assets

Long-lived assets with finite lives include property and equipment, as well as acquired finite-lived intangible assets. The Company evaluates long-lived assets, including acquired finite-lived intangible assets, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets held and used is measured by comparing the carrying amount of an asset or an asset group to the estimated undiscounted future net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset or asset group. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds these estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset or asset group.

Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets

Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are not amortized but rather tested for impairment at least annually in the fourth quarter, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that impairment may exist. Goodwill impairment is recognized when the quantitative assessment indicates the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, in which case an impairment charge is recorded to goodwill to the extent the carrying value exceeds the fair value, limited to the amount of goodwill. The Company did not recognize any impairment of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for all periods presented.

Fair value of financial instruments

Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. Valuation techniques used to measure fair value must maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. Financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value are to be classified and disclosed in one of the following three levels of the fair value hierarchy, of which the first two are considered observable and the last is considered unobservable:

Level 1—Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2—Observable inputs (other than Level 1 quoted prices), such as quoted prices in active markets for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active for identical or similar assets or liabilities, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.

Level 3—Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to determining the fair value of the assets or liabilities, including pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies and similar techniques.

The categorization of a financial instrument within the valuation hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company recognizes transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy on the date of the event or change in circumstances that caused the transfer.

The carrying amounts reflected in the unaudited interim consolidated balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents, trade accounts receivable, net, trade accounts payable, and accrued expenses approximate their fair values due to their short maturities.

Revenue recognition

The Company’s product revenue consists of sales of its instrument systems, reagents and accessories. The Company recognizes product revenue at the point in time when control of the product is transferred to the customer.

The Company’s service revenue primarily consists of post-warranty service contracts, installations and repairs, which are recognized over time. Post-warranty service contracts are recognized ratably over the term of the contract and installations and repair services are recognized as they are delivered to the customer.

Revenue is recognized when control of promised goods or services is transferred to a customer in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. To determine revenue recognition for its arrangements with customers, the Company performs the following five steps: (i) identify the contract(s) with a customer; (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (iii) determine the transaction price; (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation.

Invoicing for products occurs upon shipment and is adjusted based on the applicable International Commercial Terms, and payment terms are 30 to 90 days. Service contracts are invoiced upfront and payment terms are generally 30 days. For those arrangements that have terms longer than one year, any payments received upfront are for reasons other than financing. Revenue is recognized only to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal of the cumulative amount recognized will not occur in future periods. The Company does not typically offer discounts, rebates, incentives, or rights of return. Variable consideration is not material.

Certain of the Company’s sales contracts involve the delivery or performance of multiple products and services within contractually binding arrangements. The Company has determined these performance obligations qualify as distinct performance obligations, as the customer can benefit from the good or service on its own or together with other resources that are readily available to the customer, and the Company’s promise to transfer the good or service is separately identifiable from other promises in the contract. For these arrangements that contain multiple performance obligations, the Company allocates transaction price based on the relative standalone selling price (“SSP”) method by comparing the SSP of each distinct performance obligation to the total value of the contract. The Company uses a range of amounts to estimate SSP for products and services sold together in a contract to determine whether there is a discount to be allocated based on the relative SSP of the various products and services. In instances where SSP is not directly observable, such as when the Company does not sell the product or service separately, the Company determines the SSP using information that may include market conditions and other observable inputs.

Sales, value-add and other taxes, collected from customers concurrent with revenue generating activities and remitted to governmental authorities are not included in revenue. Shipping and handling costs associated with outbound freight are accounted for as a fulfillment cost and are included in cost of sales.

The Company recognizes revenue in certain circumstances before product delivery occurs (commonly referred to as bill-and-hold transactions). When the Company enters into bill-and-hold arrangements, the Company determines if the customer obtains control of the product by determining (a) the reason for the bill-and-hold arrangement; (b) whether the product was identified separately as belonging to the customer; (c) whether the product was ready for physical transfer to the customer; and (d) whether the Company was unable to utilize the product or direct it to another customer. For bill-and-hold arrangements, the associated product inventory is identified separately by the Company as belonging to the customer and is ready for physical transfer.

Product revenue

The Company’s standard arrangement for sales to end users is a purchase order or an executed contract. Revenue is recognized upon transfer of control of the product to the customer, which occurs at a point in time depending on the shipping terms.

The Company’s arrangements with its distributors include a purchase order. The purchase order is governed by terms and conditions set forth in the applicable distribution agreement. Revenue is recognized upon transfer of control of the products to the distributor, which occurs at a point in time depending on the shipping terms.

Service revenue

The Company’s service revenue primarily consists of post-warranty service contracts, installations and repairs, which are recognized over time. Post-warranty service contracts are recognized ratably over the term of the contract and installations and repair services are recognized as they are delivered to the customer. Service contracts are typically betweenone andthree years.

Contract liabilities

Contract liabilities consist of fees invoiced or paid by the Company’s customers for which the associated services have not been performed and revenue has not been recognized based on the Company’s revenue recognition criteria described above. Such amounts are reported as deferred revenue for service and customer deposits for instruments on the unaudited interim consolidated balance sheets. Deferred revenue that is expected to be recognized during the following 12 months is recorded as a current liability and the remaining portion is recorded as noncurrent.

Assurance-type product warranties

The Company provides aone-year assurance-type warranty that is included with the sale of its instruments. At the time revenue is recognized for the products, the Company establishes an accrual for estimated warranty expense based on historical data and trends of product reliability and costs of repairing and replacing defective products. The Company exercises judgment in estimating the expected product warranty costs, using data such as the historical repair costs. While management believes that historical experience provides a reliable basis for estimating such warranty cost, unforeseen quality issues or component failure rates could result in future costs in excess of such estimates, or alternatively, improved quality and reliability in the Company’s products could result in actual expenses that are below those currently estimated.

Research and development costs

Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Research and development expenses to date consist primarily of salaries, benefits, stock-based compensation, independent contractor costs, laboratory supplies, equipment maintenance, materials expenses, and software license fees. Payments made prior to the receipt of goods or services to be used in research and development activities are recorded as prepaid expenses until the related goods or services are received.

Advertising costs

The cost of advertising, marketing and media is expensed as incurred. For the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025, advertising, marketing and media expenses were $0.9 million and $1.2 million, respectively.

Stock-based compensation

The Company maintains an equity incentive compensation plan under which incentive stock options and nonqualified stock options to purchase common stock, and restricted stock units for common stock, are granted to employees and non-employee consultants. Stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date, based on the fair value of the award, and is recognized as expense over the requisite service period. The fair value of stock options granted to employees is estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The Company records forfeitures as they occur. The weighted-average assumptions used in estimating the fair value of stock options granted during each of the periods presented are:

Expected Volatility—Expected volatility is estimated by analyzing the historical volatility of the Company’s historical market data for the assessment corresponds to the expected term of the awards.

Expected Term—Expected term represents the period that the Company’s stock-based awards are expected to be outstanding and is determined using the simplified method.

Dividend Yield— The expected dividend yield is zero as the Company has never declared or paid cash dividends and has no current plans to do so in the foreseeable future.

Risk-Free Interest Rate—The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issued in effect at the time of grant for periods corresponding with the expected term of the option.

Income taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes under an asset and liability approach. Deferred income taxes comprise the impact of temporary differences between assets and liabilities recognized for financial reporting purposes and the amounts recognized for income tax reporting purposes, net operating loss carryforwards, and other tax credit carryforwards measured by applying currently enacted tax laws. A valuation allowance is provided when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to an amount that is more likely than not to be realized.

The Company determines whether a tax position is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. The Company uses a two-step approach to recognize and measure uncertain tax positions. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon tax authority examination, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company’s policy for interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions is to recognize interest and penalties, if any, in interest expense and other expense, respectively, in the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. Accrued interest and penalties, if any, are included in accrued expenses in the unaudited interim consolidated balance sheet.

The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, various U.S. state jurisdictions and foreign jurisdictions. The U.S. federal, state and foreign jurisdictions have statutes of limitations that generally range from three to five years. The Company’s federal, state and foreign income tax returns are subject to examination unless the statutes of limitations close. The Company is not currently under examination for federal, state, and foreign income tax purposes.

The Company intends to reinvest its undistributed earnings of its foreign operations. Following enactment of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the repatriation of cash to the United States is generally no longer taxable for federal income tax purposes. However, the repatriation of cash held outside the United States could be subject to applicable foreign withholding taxes and state income taxes. The Company may remit foreign earnings to the United States to the extent it is tax efficient to do so. It does not expect the tax impact from remitting these earnings to be material. The Company adopted this guidance on January 1, 2021 on a prospective basis, and the adoption did not have a material impact to the Company’s unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.

Net loss per share

Basic net loss per share and diluted net loss per share are computed using the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period. Net loss per share is calculated using the two-class method, which is an earnings allocation formula that determines net loss per share for the holders of shares of the Company’s common stock and participating securities. The Company’s redeemable convertible preferred stock contains participation rights in any dividend paid by the Company and is deemed to be a participating security. The participating securities include a contractual obligation to participate in the income of the Company and are included in the calculation of net loss per share in the periods in which net loss is recorded.

Diluted net loss per share is computed using the more dilutive of (a) the two-class method or (b) the if-converted method. The Company allocates earnings first to preferred stockholders based on non-cumulative dividend rights if and when declared and then to common and preferred stockholders based on ownership interests. The weighted-average number of shares of common stock included in the computation of diluted net loss per share gives effect to all potentially dilutive common stock equivalents, including outstanding options and redeemable convertible preferred stock.

Common stock equivalents are excluded from the computation of diluted net loss per share if their effect is antidilutive.

Business Combinations

The Company uses the acquisition method of accounting under ASC 805, Business Combinations. Each acquired company’s operating results are included in the Company’sunaudited interim consolidated financial statements starting on the date of acquisition. The purchase price is equivalent to the fair value of consideration transferred. Tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the date of acquisition are recorded at the acquisition date fair value. Goodwill is recognized for the excess of purchase price over the net fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed.

Amounts allocated to assets and liabilities are based upon their estimated fair values. Such valuations require management to make significant estimates and assumptions, especially with respect to the identifiable intangible assets. Management makes estimates of fair value based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable and that of a market participant. These estimates are based on historical experience and information obtained from the management of the acquired companies and the estimates are inherently uncertain. The separately identifiable intangible assets generally include developed technology, customer relationships, trade names, and reagent licenses.

Recently adopted accounting pronouncements

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures (“ASU 2023-09”), which requires enhanced income tax disclosures, including specific categories and disaggregation of information in the effective tax rate reconciliation, disaggregated information related to income taxes paid, income or loss from continuing operations before income tax expense or benefit, and income tax expense or benefit from continuing operations. The Company adopted ASU 2023-09 during the fourth quarter of 2025 on a prospective basis. The standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements. Refer to Note 15 for more information.

In July 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-05, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses for Accounts Receivable and Contract Assets (“ASU 2025-05”), which provides a practical expedient and an accounting policy election related to the estimation of expected credit losses for current accounts receivable and current contract assets. ASU 2025-05 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2025, including interim periods within those annual periods. The Company adopted ASU 2025-05 effective January 1, 2026, on a prospective basis. In connection with this adoption, the Company elected to apply the practical expedient permitted by the standard, which assumes that current conditions as of the balance sheet date do not change for the remaining life of the assets. The adoption of ASU 2025-05 did not have a material impact on the Company’sunaudited interim consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Recently issued accounting pronouncements

In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses (“ASU 2024-03”), and in January 2025 issued ASU 2025-01, Clarifying the Effective Date (“ASU 2025-01”) to provide clarification as to the effective date. ASU 2024-03 requires disaggregated disclosure of income statement expenses. ASU 2024-03 does not change the expense captions currently presented on the income statement; rather it requires disaggregation of certain expense captions into specified categories in disclosures within the footnotes to the financial statements. ASU 2024-03, as amended by ASU 2025-01, is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim reporting periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2027. ASU 2024-03 can be applied on a prospective basis. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of this pronouncement on its related disclosures.

In September 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-06, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other-Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Internal-Use Software (“ASU 2025-06”), which modernizes the accounting for internal-use software costs. ASU 2025-06 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2027, with early adoption permitted as of the beginning of an annual period. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of this pronouncement on its unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

3. Concentrations of credit risk and other risks and uncertainties

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities. The Company maintains accounts in federally insured financial institutions in excess of federally insured limits. Management believes the Company is not exposed to significant credit risk due to the financial position of the depository institutions in which these deposits are held and of the money market funds in which these investments are made. The Company holds marketable securities with high credit ratings.

4. Revenue from contracts with customers

Disaggregation of revenue

The following table depicts the disaggregation of revenue by sales channel mix and customer mix as defined by the nature of workflows (in thousands):

Revenue by geographical markets is presented in Note 20.

Remaining performance obligations

The following table includes estimated revenues expected to be recognized in the future related to performance obligations that are unsatisfied (or partially satisfied) as of March 31, 2026 (in thousands):

Contract balances

The Company had immaterial amounts of contract assets included within prepaid expenses and other current assets on the unaudited interim consolidated balance sheets. The following table provides information about deferred revenue from contracts with customers, and customer deposits (in thousands):

The following provides a roll-forward of the contract liabilities (in thousands):

5. Balance sheet details

Inventories

The following table shows the components of inventory (in thousands):

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

The following table shows the components of prepaid expenses and other current assets (in thousands):

Accrued expenses

The following table shows the components of accrued expenses (in thousands):

For the product warranty analysis refer to Note 18.

Other current liabilities

The following table shows the components of other current liabilities (in thousands):

6. Fair value of financial instruments

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the reporting date. The categorization of a financial instrument within the valuation hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The following table sets forth the fair value of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities by level within the fair value hierarchy (in thousands):

The Company did not have any transfers of financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis to or from Level 1, Level 2 or Level 3 for any of the periods presented.

The table above does not include the Company’s investments in privately held equity securities. Non-marketable equity investments of $1.6 million are included within Other noncurrent assets on the unaudited interim consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2026.

7. Investments

The following tables summarize the Company’s investments in available-for-sale securities by significant investment category reported as short-term as of March 31, 2026 (in thousands):

The following table summarizes the contractual maturities of the Company’s available-for-sale securities at March 31, 2026 (in thousands):

The following tables summarize the Company’s investments in available-for-sale securities by significant investment category reported as short-term as of December 31, 2025 (in thousands):

The following table summarizes the contractual maturities of the Company’s available-for-sale securities at December 31, 2025 (in thousands):

8. Property and equipment, net

The following table shows the components of property and equipment, net (in thousands):

Total depreciation expense for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025 was $1.0 million and $0.9 million, respectively.

9. Goodwill and intangible assets, net

The following table shows the components of intangible assets, net (in thousands):

Total amortization expense for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025 was approximately$0.9 million and $0.9 million, respectively. During the three months ended March 31, 2026, there were no additions to goodwill, the minor changes were due to the impact of foreign currency.

10. Legal settlement liability

On February 13, 2018, Becton, Dickinson, and Company (“BD”) filed a lawsuit against the Company alleging trade secret misappropriation and copyright infringement. On October 6, 2020, the Company entered into a Settlement, License and Equity Issuance Agreement with BD pursuant to which the Company and BD agreed to a mutual release of all claims against each other as of the date thereof (the “BD Agreement”). Additionally, BD granted Cytek a non-exclusive, irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide and non-transferable license to certain BD patents and covenanted that it would not enforce or permit or encourage the enforcement of BD patents against Cytek or its affiliates in connection with the development, manufacture, use, importation, offer for sale or sale of its then-current instruments. In exchange, the Company agreed that Cytek and its affiliates would not dispute or challenge in a legal proceeding the validity, enforceability or scope of the applicable BD patent claims and agreed to make certain payments to BD, including (i) a one-time upfront payment of $2.0 million, (ii) a low single digit royalty payment forten years, based on net sales of certain of its products, (iii) $6.0 million milestone payment upon the occurrence of a certain sales threshold, and (iv) a specified payment upon the closing of a change of control transaction, if any. The Company also issued 2,087,545 shares of the Company’s common stock to BD during the year ended December 31, 2020 in connection with the BD settlement. The Company achieved the sales milestone and made the milestone payment in the quarter ended December 31, 2021.

The Company separated the settlement agreement into two elements, the litigation settlement and future licensing rights. The Company could not readily determine the fair value of the litigation settlement of prior infringement claims between the Company and BD. Therefore, the Company applied the residual method and allocated the difference between the total present value consideration payable under the BD Agreement and the estimated fair value of the future licensing rights to the litigation settlement element. The Company determined the estimated fair value of the future licensing rights based on the relief from royalty method. The significant assumptions used were the market royalty rate estimated as a royalty rate that a market participant would pay to license the BD intellectual property, forecasted sales subject to the market royalty rate and the discount rate.

The patents in question were determined to have an average useful life of 18 months. Accordingly, beginning with the second quarter of 2022, the remaining contractual payments were classified as operating expenses as they were considered deferred litigation settlement. The Company recorded$0.2 million and $0.3 million of interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025, respectively, to accrete the present value discount of the payment streams over the payment period often years from the settlement date using the effective interest rate method. The Company made a one-time upfront payment and issued 2,087,545 shares of the Company’s common stock to BD during the year ended December 31, 2020. The Company recorded legal settlement liability on the unaudited interim consolidated balance sheets of $8.8 million and $9.3 million as of March 31, 2026 and December 31, 2025, respectively.

The following table shows the components of the legal settlement liability (in thousands):

11. Debt

On November 7, 2022, Cytek Wuxi entered a fixed asset loan agreement with Bank of Communications, China (the “Wuxi Loan”). The Wuxi Loan was denominated in Chinese renminbi and collateralized by Cytek Wuxi’s cash deposit to the bank. The deposit was in a separate account with Cytek Wuxi’s name, but the use of such account was restricted. The Company presented the deposit as restricted cash on the audited consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2022. In April 2023, the restricted cash account was released. The purchased building in Wuxi serves as collateral for the Wuxi Loan. The total loan amount was $2.9 million and the loan term isfive years. As of March 31, 2026, the total outstanding loan amount is $1.0 million. The current portion of the loan,$0.6 million, is included in other current liabilities. As of March 31, 2026, the interest rate on the loan was 3.7%, which is based on thefive-year Loan Prime Rate (LPR) plus a margin of 0.2%.

On October 24, 2024, the Company signed a maximum credit agreement with the Bank of China, Wuxi Branch (the “Bank of China Maximum Credit Agreement”), for 37 million Chinese renminbi (approximately US $5.2 million), which was renewed on August 26, 2025. This credit is collateralized by Cytek Wuxi’s cash deposit to the bank. The 37 million Chinese renminbi (approximately US $5.2 million) can be borrowed, as needed, as a short-term loan for normal business operation requirements. Under the renewed Bank of China Maximum Credit Agreement, the line of credit is available until August 14, 2026. During the fourth quarter of 2024, the Company withdrew 20 million Chinese renminbi (approximately US $2.8 million) to support its operational needs. During the third quarter of 2025, the Company withdrew 15 million Chinese renminbi (approximately US$2.1 million) to support its operational needs. During the fourth quarter of 2025, the Company repaid the short-term loan of 20 million Chinese renminbi (approximately US $2.8 million) and withdrew 10 million Chinese renminbi (approximately US $1.4 million). In January 2026, the Company withdrew 10 million Chinese renminbi (approximately US $1.4 million) to support its operational needs. The remaining available credit as of March 31, 2026, was 2 million Chinese renminbi (approximately US$0.3 million). The total loan amount of 37 million Chinese renminbi (approximately US$5.2 million) is included in other current liabilities.

On January 6, 2025, Cytek (Shanghai) Biosciences Co., Ltd. signed a maximum credit agreement with the Bank of Ningbo for 10 million Chinese renminbi (approximately US $1.4 million). Collateral for the credit was provided to the bank by Cytek Wuxi. In January and March of 2025, Cytek (Shanghai) Biosciences Co., Ltd. withdrew 2.0 million Chinese renminbi (approximately US $0.3 million) and 3.0 million Chinese renminbi (approximately US $0.45 million), respectively, to support its operational needs. The interest rate was at 3.1% and 2.55%, respectively, and the lines of credit are due on January 9 and March 3, 2026, respectively. In January and March 2026, the Company repaid 2.0 million

Chinese renminbi (approximately US $0.3 million) and 3.0 million Chinese renminbi (approximately US $0.45 million) to the Bank of Ningbo, renewed its maximum credit agreement with the Bank of Ningbo for 10 million Chinese renminbi (approximately US $1.4 million), and withdrew 10 million Chinese renminbi (approximately US $1.4 million) to support its operational needs. The total loan amount of 10 million Chinese renminbi (approximately US $1.4 million) is included in other current liabilities.

On June 11, 2025, Cytek Wuxi entered into aone-year loan agreement with Bank of Communications, China. The loan was denominated in Chinese renminbi and collateralized by the building purchased by Cytek Wuxi in November 2023. The total loan amount was 10 million Chinese renminbi (approximately US $1.4 million) and the interest rate was fixed at 2.8%. The loan effective term is June 11, 2025 to June 10, 2026. The interest expenses are paid on a monthly basis. The loan was used for operating expenses. The total loan amount of 10 million Chinese renminbi (approximately US $1.4 million) is included in other current liabilities.

On February 9, 2026, Cytek Wuxi entered into aone-year loan agreement with China Construction Bank Corporation, Wuxi Branch for 15 million Chinese renminbi (approximately US$2.2 million) at a fixed interest rate of 2.5%, with interest payable monthly. The total loan amount of 15 million Chinese renminbi (approximately US $2.2 million) is included in other current liabilities. The loan matures on February 9, 2027 and is used to pay operating expenses.

12. Common stock

As of March 31, 2026, the Company has authorized 1,000,000,000 shares of common stock at $0.001 par value. Holders of common stock are entitled toone vote per share, and to receive dividends, only and if declared by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) and, upon liquidation or dissolution, are entitled to receive all assets available for distribution to stockholders, subordinate to the rights, preferences and privileges of any outstanding preferred stock with respect to dividends and in connection with a liquidation, winding up and dissolution of the Company. The holders have no preemptive or other subscription rights.

13. Stock-based compensation plan

Stock Plans

As of March 31, 2026, the Company hadthree stock-based compensation plans (the “Plans”) which are described below.

2015 Equity Incentive Plan

In March 2015, the Board approved the 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2015 Plan”), which provided for the granting of stock options to employees, directors and consultants of the Company. As of the effective date of the 2021 Plan described below, the 2015 Plan was terminated and no further equity awards may be granted pursuant to the 2015 Plan. Outstanding stock options granted under the 2015 Plan will continue to be governed by the provisions of the 2015 Plan until expiration or exercise, whichever is earlier.

2021 Equity Incentive Plan

In July 2021, the Board approved the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”), which provides for the granting of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards, restricted stock unit (“RSU”) awards, performance awards, and other awards to employees, directors and consultants of the Company. The 2021 Plan became effective on July 22, 2021 in connection with the IPO. Upon the 2021 Plan’s effective date, there were 18,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock reserved for issuance thereunder. On January 1 of each year commencing after the effective date of the IPO and continuing through and including January 1, 2031, the number of shares of the Company’s common stock reserved for issuance under the 2021 Plan will increase automatically by an amount equal to 4% of the number of shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding on the preceding December 31, unless the Company’s Board of Directors elects to authorize a lesser number of shares prior to the applicable January 1. As of March 31, 2026, the total number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the 2021 Plan was 24,218,755 shares.

2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan

In July 2021, the Board approved the 2021 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”). The ESPP became effective on July 22, 2021 in connection with the IPO. Upon the ESPP’s effective date, there were 2,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock reserved for issuance thereunder. On January 1 of each year commencing after the effective date of the IPO and continuing through and including January 1, 2031, the number of shares of the Company’s common stock reserved for issuance under the ESPP will increase automatically by an amount equal to the lesser of (1)1% of the number of shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding on the preceding December 31, (2)5,000,000 shares and (3) a number of shares determined by the Board. As of March 31, 2026, the total number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the ESPP was 7,250,921 shares.

Stock option valuation assumptions

The Company estimates the fair value of each stock option grant on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The model assumptions include expected volatility, expected term, dividend yield, and the risk-free interest rate. The expected volatility was based on the volatility of a group of similar entities. The Company derived expected term by using the “simplified” method (the expected term is determined as the average of the time-to-vesting and contractual life of the option), as the Company has limited historical information to develop expectations about future exercise patterns and post vesting employment termination behavior. The Company based the risk-free rate on U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues with remaining terms similar to the expected term of the option. The Company has never paid any dividends and does not anticipate paying dividends in the foreseeable future, and therefore used an expected dividend yield of zero in the valuation model.

Stock Options

The following table shows stock option activity during the periods indicated (in thousands except share and per share data):

The weighted-average grant date fair value of options granted during the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025 was $2.66 and $2.72 per share, respectively.

There was $12.9 million of unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to unvested stock options as of March 31, 2026. The unrecognized stock-based compensation expense is estimated to be recognized over a period of 2.72 years as of March 31, 2026.

The aggregate intrinsic value is calculated as the difference between the exercise price and the estimated fair value of the Company’s common stock as of March 31, 2026.

RSU Awards

The following table shows RSU awards activity during the periods indicated:

As of March 31, 2026, there was $34.6 million of unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to unvested RSU awards. The unrecognized stock-based compensation expense is estimated to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 3.08 years.

Stock-based compensation expense

The following table shows the allocation of stock-based compensation expense related to the Company’s stock-based awards (in thousands):

The following table shows the weighted-average valuation assumptions used in determining the fair value of employee stock options:

The following table summarizes the weighted-average assumptions used in estimating the fair value of the ESPP for the current offering period using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model:

14. Employee benefit plans

The Company sponsors various retirement plans for its eligible U.S. and non-U.S. employees. For U.S. employees, the Company currently maintains a 401(k) retirement savings plan (“401(k) Plan”). The 401(k) Plan permits voluntary contributions by employees, a portion of which is matched by the Company. The Company’s contributions to the employee benefits plans were approximately$0.5 million and $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2026, and 2025, respectively.

15. Income taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes under an asset and liability approach. Deferred income taxes comprise the impact of temporary differences between assets and liabilities recognized for financial reporting purposes and the amounts recognized for income tax reporting purposes, net operating loss carryforwards, and other tax credit carryforwards measured by applying currently enacted tax laws. A valuation allowance is provided when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to an amount that is more likely than not to be realized.

The Company determines whether a tax position is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination, including resolution of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. The Company uses a two-step approach to recognize and measure uncertain tax positions. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon tax authority examination, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step is to measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company’s policy for interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions is to recognize interest and penalties, if any, in interest expense and other expense, respectively, in the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. Accrued interest and penalties, if any, are included in accrued expenses in the unaudited interim consolidated balance sheet.

The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, various U.S. state jurisdictions and foreign jurisdictions. The U.S. state and foreign jurisdictions have statutes of limitations that generally range from three to five years. The Company’s federal, state and foreign income tax returns are subject to examination unless the statutes of limitations close. The Company is not currently under examination for federal, state, and foreign income tax purposes.

The Company intends to reinvest its undistributed earnings of its foreign operations. Following enactment of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the repatriation of cash to the United States is generally no longer taxable for federal income tax purposes. However, the repatriation of cash held outside the United States could be subject to applicable foreign withholding taxes and state income taxes. The Company may remit foreign earnings to the United States to the extent it is tax efficient to do so. It does not expect the tax impact from remitting these earnings to be material. The Company adopted this guidance on January 1, 2021 on a prospective basis, and the adoption did not have a material impact to the Company’s unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.

The Company’s effective income tax rate from continuing operations was (8.6)% and (1.1)% for the three months ended March 31, 2026 and 2025, respectively. The Company’s effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2026, is lower than the U.S. federal statutory tax rate due to valuation allowance, which derecognizes deferred tax assets and related future tax benefits, partially offset by the impact of state income taxes, naked credits related to indefinitely lived goodwill, and the Company’s mix of earnings between various taxing jurisdictions. The effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2025, was lower than the U.S. federal statutory tax rate primarily due to state income taxes, non-deductible stock-based compensation, the Company’s mix of earnings between various taxing jurisdictions, partially offset by a deduction for foreign-sourced revenue, and federal and state research credits.

Realization of the Company’s deferred tax assets is dependent primarily on the generation of future taxable income. In considering the need for a valuation allowance, the Company considers its historical, as well as future projected, taxable income along with other objectively verifiable evidence. Objectively verifiable evidence includes the Company’s realization of tax attributes, assessment of tax credits, and utilization of net operating loss carryforwards during the year.

Components of our results of operations:

Income Taxes:

As of December 31, 2025, the Company maintained a valuation allowance against all deferred tax assets as Management believed these were not more likely than not to be realized. The Company continues to reassess the valuation allowance quarterly, and if future evidence allows for a partial or full release of the valuation allowance, a tax benefit will be recorded accordingly.

On July 4, 2025, legislation commonly referred to as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (“OBBBA”) was signed into law in the U.S. The OBBBA includes significant changes to the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including restoration of immediate deductions of domestic research and experimental expenditures and reinstatement of 100% bonus depreciation for qualifying property. The Company continues to evaluate the impact of the OBBBA on itsunaudited interim consolidated financial statements, including the effects on its deferred tax assets and liabilities. The provisions of the OBBBA will allow a deduction for unamortized domestic research and development expenses of approximately $58 million in 2025, which will decrease taxable income and eliminate permanent deductions for Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income and Foreign Derived Intangible Income, causing an increase in the effective tax rate. In addition, there will be an impact in future years due to changes in these two deductions that are not expected to have a material impact to the Company.

The Company’s income tax expenses consists primarily of provision for foreign taxes. As the Company plans to expand the scale and scope of its international business activities, any changes in the United States and foreign taxation of such activities may increase the Company’s overall provision for income taxes in the future.