NASDAQ$IRDM

Iridium Communications Inc · Q4 2024 earnings

Q4 2024 earnings · · Before market open · Investor relations

Briefing

Iridium reported strong Q4 revenue growth of 9% YoY, driven by a 5% increase in commercial service revenue and a 20% rise in engineering & support services. Net income declined due to higher interest expenses, but the company maintained solid profitability.

Headline financials

Total Revenue

$213M

Previous: $195M+9.4%
EPS (adj)

$0.32

Previous: $0.30+6.7%
Total Billable Subscribers

2.5M

No prior period
Commercial IoT Subscribers

1.9M

No prior period
Government Subscribers

141.0K

No prior period
Commercial Voice & Data ARPU

$45.00

Previous: $45.00+0.0%
Commercial IoT Data ARPU

$7.29

Previous: $7.12+2.4%
Commercial Broadband ARPU

$268.00

No prior period
Net Income

$36.3M

Previous: $38M-4.4%
Operating Income

$52.1M

Previous: $46.3M+12.6%

Revenue & EPS history

Iridium · Revenue · Quarterly

$213M

Q4 2024+9.4%vs Q4 2023
Beat estimate in 10 of 15 quarters(67%)
ActualEstimate

Revenue by segment

Iridium · $182M total across 6 segments · Q3 2023

  • Commercial Voice and Data
    $56.2M+11.8%
  • Commercial IoT Data
    $38.5M+13.8%
  • Government Services
    $26.5M+0.0%
  • Engineering and Support Services
    $25.2M+47.3%
  • Subscriber Equipment
    $20.4M-27.0%
  • Commercial Hosted Payload & Other Data
    $15M+1.2%

Forward guidance

Iridium expects steady growth in 2025, forecasting a 5-7% increase in service revenue and OEBITDA of $490M-$500M, supported by IoT and government contracts.

Tailwinds

  • Service revenue expected to grow between 5-7% in 2025.
  • OEBITDA projected to reach $490M-$500M in 2025.
  • Continued strong cash flow and capital return to shareholders.
  • Stable government revenue from long-term EMSS contract.
  • Engineering and support revenue expected to increase.

Headwinds

  • Higher interest expenses impacting net income.
  • Broadband revenue declined YoY, reflecting shifting usage patterns.
  • Subscriber growth slowed due to changes in IoT customer plans.
  • Equipment sales remain below 2023 levels despite a Q4 increase.
  • Expected tax rate to increase after 2026, affecting profitability.

Historical earnings impact

How earnings announcements have historically affected this stock's price.

Avg. return before/after earnings

Based on 20 quarterly earnings reports · overlaid with Q4 2024

Historical avgQ4 2024

+1.7%

Avg return

Earnings day

+1.1%

Avg return

5 days after

+1.8%

Avg return

30 days after

55%

36 / 65 earnings

Positive

+25.9%

Q3 2015

Best reaction

-18.1%

Q2 2013

Worst reaction

Earnings price reactions
QuarterReport dateReaction (Day 0)+5 days+30 days
Q1 2026+2.8%-7.5%+21.0%
Q4 2025+21.3%+27.5%+34.7%
Q3 2025-7.6%-11.9%-18.4%
Q1 2025-6.9%-0.2%+10.0%
Q4 2024+15.4%+17.1%-0.5%
Q3 2024+4.6%-4.3%-6.3%
Q2 2024+2.1%+12.2%+2.0%
Q1 2024+10.9%+16.3%+27.4%
Q4 2023-14.0%-16.6%-22.9%
Q3 2023-12.1%-13.7%-14.9%
Q2 2023-15.0%-9.8%-19.9%
Q1 2023+14.7%+9.9%+2.3%
Q4 2022+13.8%+11.8%+3.8%
Q3 2022+0.1%+1.7%+10.0%
Q2 2022+10.0%+12.3%+16.8%
Q1 2022+4.2%-5.8%-9.8%
Q4 2021+4.9%+5.2%+15.0%
Q3 2021+5.3%+2.3%+1.9%
Q2 2021+10.6%+8.9%+3.5%
Q1 2021-2.0%-2.1%-2.7%
Q4 2020+0.0%+3.2%-12.7%
Q3 2020-0.5%-3.5%+14.6%
Q2 2020+3.4%+0.1%+3.8%
Q1 2020-3.8%-9.0%-4.9%
Q4 2019+1.7%-5.9%-19.5%
Q3 2019+0.4%-1.6%-6.4%
Q2 2019+4.6%+7.7%-2.7%
Q1 2019-0.3%+2.3%-15.3%
Q4 2018+5.6%+2.6%+20.6%
Q3 2018+0.6%+2.3%+22.3%
Q2 2018+3.7%+7.1%+14.7%
Q1 2018-2.4%-6.8%+6.4%
Q4 2017-0.4%-6.0%-9.2%
Q3 2017+16.5%+10.1%+10.6%
Q2 2017-5.0%-9.2%-5.5%
Q1 2017+4.4%+5.4%-1.0%
Q4 2016-2.7%-4.4%-2.2%
Q3 2016+1.2%+0.6%+13.1%
Q2 2016-2.7%-6.1%-8.9%
Q1 2016-0.5%
Q4 2015-2.4%
Q3 2015+25.9%
Q2 2015-3.9%
Q1 2015-7.2%
Q4 2014-1.3%
Q3 2014+4.6%
Q2 2014+2.6%
Q1 2014+14.4%
Q4 2013+4.3%
Q3 2013-10.5%
Q2 2013-18.1%
Q1 2013+7.8%
Q4 2012-5.7%
Q3 2012-11.3%
Q2 2012-17.1%
Q1 2011-1.1%
Q1 2012-1.1%
Q4 2009+18.4%
Q4 2011+18.4%
Q3 2011+9.2%
Q3 2010+9.2%
Q2 2010-4.4%
Q2 2011-4.4%
Q4 2010-4.4%
Q1 2010+4.5%

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