Plug Power (PLUG) stock surged 5.48% in pre-market trading on Thursday, as investors reacted positively to the company's progress in its cost-saving initiative and improved financial performance. The hydrogen and fuel cell solutions provider has been implementing Project Quantum Leap, a strategic plan aimed at reducing expenses and advancing the company towards profitability.

The stock's upward movement comes on the heels of Plug Power's significant improvement in its gross profit margin. In the first quarter of 2025, the company reported a negative 55% gross profit margin, a substantial enhancement from the negative 132% reported in the same period last year. This progress is attributed to the early success of Project Quantum Leap, which targets $150 million to $200 million in annual savings through various measures including staff reductions, facility consolidations, and limits on discretionary spending.

Investors appear optimistic about Plug Power's future prospects, especially considering CFO Paul Middleton's earlier statement that the company expects "meaningful incremental improvement in margins and cash flows starting in Q2 of 2025 and building throughout the year." While Plug Power still faces challenges in achieving profitability, the market seems to be responding positively to these early signs of financial improvement and cost management efforts.