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Iridium Announces 2024 Results, Issues 2025 Outlook

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Iridium Communications (IRDM) reported its Q4 and full-year 2024 results, with Q4 net income of $36.3M ($0.32 per share) and full-year net income of $112.8M ($0.94 per share). Total revenue for 2024 reached $830.7M, up 5% year-over-year, with service revenue at $614.9M.

The company returned a record $469M to shareholders in 2024 through dividends and share repurchases. Total billable subscribers grew 8% year-over-year to 2.46M, driven by commercial IoT growth. Q4 total revenue was $213.0M, with service revenue representing 72%.

For 2025, Iridium expects service revenue growth between 5-7% and OEBITDA between $490M-$500M. The company maintains its net leverage target of below 4.0x OEBITDA through 2026, falling below 2.0x by decade's end.

Iridium Communications (IRDM) ha riportato i risultati del quarto trimestre e dell'intero anno 2024, con un reddito netto nel quarto trimestre di 36,3 milioni di dollari (0,32 dollari per azione) e un reddito netto per l'intero anno di 112,8 milioni di dollari (0,94 dollari per azione). Il fatturato totale per il 2024 ha raggiunto 830,7 milioni di dollari, in aumento del 5% rispetto all'anno precedente, con un fatturato da servizi di 614,9 milioni di dollari.

La società ha restituito un record di 469 milioni di dollari agli azionisti nel 2024 attraverso dividendi e riacquisti di azioni. Il numero totale di abbonati fatturabili è cresciuto dell'8% anno su anno, raggiungendo 2,46 milioni, sostenuto dalla crescita dell'IoT commerciale. Il fatturato totale del quarto trimestre è stato di 213,0 milioni di dollari, con il fatturato da servizi che rappresenta il 72%.

Per il 2025, Iridium prevede una crescita del fatturato da servizi compresa tra il 5% e il 7% e un OEBITDA tra i 490 milioni e i 500 milioni di dollari. La società mantiene il suo obiettivo di leva netta al di sotto di 4,0 volte l'OEBITDA fino al 2026, prevedendo di scendere sotto 2,0 volte entro la fine del decennio.

Iridium Communications (IRDM) reportó sus resultados del cuarto trimestre y del año completo 2024, con un ingreso neto en el cuarto trimestre de 36,3 millones de dólares (0,32 dólares por acción) y un ingreso neto para el año completo de 112,8 millones de dólares (0,94 dólares por acción). Los ingresos totales para 2024 alcanzaron los 830,7 millones de dólares, un aumento del 5% interanual, con ingresos por servicios de 614,9 millones de dólares.

La compañía devolvió un récord de 469 millones de dólares a los accionistas en 2024 a través de dividendos y recompra de acciones. El total de suscriptores facturables creció un 8% interanual, alcanzando los 2,46 millones, impulsado por el crecimiento del IoT comercial. Los ingresos totales del cuarto trimestre fueron de 213,0 millones de dólares, con los ingresos por servicios representando el 72%.

Para 2025, Iridium espera un crecimiento de ingresos por servicios entre el 5% y el 7% y un OEBITDA entre 490 millones y 500 millones de dólares. La compañía mantiene su objetivo de apalancamiento neto por debajo de 4,0 veces el OEBITDA hasta 2026, con la expectativa de caer por debajo de 2,0 veces para finales de la década.

이리듐 커뮤니케이션즈 (IRDM)는 2024년 4분기 및 연간 실적을 발표하였습니다. 4분기 순이익은 3,630만 달러(주당 0.32달러)였으며, 연간 순이익은 1억 1,280만 달러(주당 0.94달러)였습니다. 2024년 총 수익은 8억 3,070만 달러에 달하며, 전년 대비 5% 증가했고, 서비스 수익은 6억 1,490만 달러였습니다.

회사는 2024년 주주에게 4억 6,900만 달러를 기록적으로 환원했습니다, 이는 배당금과 자사주 매입을 통해 이루어졌습니다. 청구 가능한 총 가입자는 전년 대비 8% 증가하여 246만 명에 달하며, 이는 상업용 IoT 성장에 힘입은 것입니다. 4분기 총 수익은 2억 1,300만 달러였으며, 서비스 수익이 72%를 차지했습니다.

2025년을 위해 이리듐은 서비스 수익 성장률을 5-7%로, OEBITDA를 4억 9,000만 달러에서 5억 달러 사이로 예상하고 있습니다. 회사는 2026년까지 OEBITDA의 4.0배 이하의 순 부채 비율 목표를 유지하고 있으며, 10년 말까지 2.0배 이하로 낮출 계획입니다.

Iridium Communications (IRDM) a annoncé ses résultats du quatrième trimestre et de l'année complète 2024, avec un bénéfice net au quatrième trimestre de 36,3 millions de dollars (0,32 dollar par action) et un bénéfice net pour l'année complète de 112,8 millions de dollars (0,94 dollar par action). Le chiffre d'affaires total pour 2024 a atteint 830,7 millions de dollars, en hausse de 5 % par rapport à l'année précédente, avec des revenus de services de 614,9 millions de dollars.

L'entreprise a restitué un montant record de 469 millions de dollars aux actionnaires en 2024 par le biais de dividendes et de rachats d'actions. Le nombre total d'abonnés facturables a augmenté de 8 % d'une année sur l'autre pour atteindre 2,46 millions, soutenu par la croissance de l'IoT commercial. Le chiffre d'affaires total du quatrième trimestre était de 213,0 millions de dollars, les revenus de services représentant 72 %.

Pour 2025, Iridium prévoit une croissance des revenus de services entre 5 % et 7 % et un OEBITDA entre 490 millions et 500 millions de dollars. L'entreprise maintient son objectif de levier net en dessous de 4,0 fois l'OEBITDA jusqu'en 2026, visant à descendre sous 2,0 fois d'ici la fin de la décennie.

Iridium Communications (IRDM) hat seine Ergebnisse für das vierte Quartal und das gesamte Jahr 2024 veröffentlicht, mit einem Nettogewinn im vierten Quartal von 36,3 Millionen US-Dollar (0,32 US-Dollar pro Aktie) und einem Nettogewinn für das gesamte Jahr von 112,8 Millionen US-Dollar (0,94 US-Dollar pro Aktie). Der Gesamtumsatz für 2024 erreichte 830,7 Millionen US-Dollar, ein Anstieg von 5% im Vergleich zum Vorjahr, wobei der Umsatz aus Dienstleistungen 614,9 Millionen US-Dollar betrug.

Das Unternehmen hat 2024 rekordverdächtige 469 Millionen US-Dollar an Aktionäre zurückgegeben durch Dividenden und Aktienrückkäufe. Die Gesamtzahl der abrechenbaren Abonnenten wuchs um 8% im Jahresvergleich auf 2,46 Millionen, unterstützt durch das Wachstum im kommerziellen IoT-Bereich. Der Gesamtumsatz im vierten Quartal betrug 213,0 Millionen US-Dollar, wobei der Umsatz aus Dienstleistungen 72% ausmachte.

Für 2025 erwartet Iridium ein Wachstum des Serviceumsatzes zwischen 5% und 7% und ein OEBITDA zwischen 490 Millionen und 500 Millionen US-Dollar. Das Unternehmen hält sein Ziel für die Nettoverschuldung von unter 4,0x OEBITDA bis 2026 aufrecht und strebt an, bis Ende des Jahrzehnts unter 2,0x zu fallen.

Positive
  • Record $469M returned to shareholders in 2024
  • Total revenue increased 5% YoY to $830.7M in 2024
  • Net income increased significantly from $15.4M in 2023 to $112.8M in 2024
  • 8% YoY growth in total billable subscribers to 2.46M
  • Q4 total revenue up 9% YoY to $213.0M
  • Commercial IoT data revenue up 15% YoY in Q4
Negative
  • Q4 net income declined from $38.0M in 2023 to $36.3M in 2024
  • Commercial broadband revenue down 9% YoY in Q4
  • Sequential decline in billable subscribers from Q3 2024
  • Equipment revenue decreased from $105.1M in 2023 to $91.4M in 2024

Insights

Iridium's Q4 and full-year 2024 results demonstrate robust operational execution and financial discipline. The 9% revenue growth to $213 million in Q4, driven by a 4% increase in service revenue, reflects the company's successful focus on high-margin recurring revenue streams. Service revenue now comprises 72% of total revenue, providing stable, predictable cash flows.

The commercial IoT segment shows particular strength, with 10% subscriber growth to 1.89 million customers and improved ARPU of $7.29. This growth in IoT, despite changes in retail subscriber plans by a major customer, indicates strong underlying demand and effective monetization strategies. The sequential subscriber decline doesn't impact revenue due to fixed-price contracts, showcasing Iridium's intelligent contract structuring.

Government sector performance remains solid with the $738.5 million EMSS contract providing steady revenue streams through 2026. The 23% increase in engineering and support revenue to $124.4 million in 2024 demonstrates deepening government relationships and diversification beyond core satellite services.

Capital allocation strategy deserves particular attention. The company returned a record $469 million to shareholders in 2024 while maintaining net leverage at 3.6x OEBITDA. The combination of $64.7 million in dividends and substantial share repurchases ($121.9 million in Q4 alone) demonstrates management's commitment to shareholder returns while maintaining financial flexibility.

The 2025 outlook of 5-7% service revenue growth and OEBITDA between $490-500 million suggests continued momentum. The projected engineering revenue increase and stable equipment sales indicate a well-balanced growth strategy across multiple revenue streams.

The company's low projected cash taxes through 2026 and declining leverage targets (below 2.0x OEBITDA by decade's end) provide additional financial flexibility for future growth initiatives and capital returns. This conservative financial management, combined with strong recurring revenue growth, positions Iridium favorably in the expanding satellite communications market.

  • Returned a record $469 million to shareholders in 2024

MCLEAN, Va., Feb. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq:IRDM) ("Iridium") today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full-year 2024 and issued its full-year 2025 guidance. Net income was $36.3 million, or $0.32 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2024, as compared to net income of $38.0 million, or $0.30 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2023. Operational EBITDA ("OEBITDA")(1) for the fourth quarter was $117.1 million, as compared to $114.1 million for the prior-year period, representing a year-over-year increase of 3%.

Iridium reported fourth-quarter total revenue of $213.0 million, which consisted of $154.0 million of service revenue and $59.0 million of revenue related to equipment sales and engineering and support projects. Total revenue increased 9% from last year's comparable period, in part due to a 4% increase in total service revenue. Service revenue, which represents primarily recurring revenue from Iridium's growing subscriber base, was 72% of total revenue for the fourth quarter of 2024.

The Company ended the quarter with 2,460,000 total billable subscribers, which is up from 2,279,000 for the year-ago period and compares to 2,482,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2024. Total billable subscribers grew 8% year-over-year, driven by growth in commercial IoT. The sequential decline in billable subscribers from the third quarter primarily reflected changes to retail subscriber plans by a large IoT customer, with no impact on Iridium revenue.

Full-Year 2024 Iridium Business Highlights

For the full year, Iridium reported net income of $112.8 million, or $0.94 per diluted share, as compared to net income of $15.4 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, for 2023. The change primarily resulted from a decrease in depreciation expense associated with the extension of the estimated useful lives of the Company's satellites in the prior year and an increase in engineering and support revenue, offset in part by the change in income tax expense. The Company reported total revenue in 2024 of $830.7 million, which was up 5% from the year-ago period. Total revenue included $614.9 million of service revenue, $124.4 million of engineering and support services revenue and $91.4 million of equipment sales revenue. OEBITDA for 2024 was $470.6 million, a 2% increase from $463.1 million in the prior year. Capital expenditures were $69.9 million for the full-year 2024.

"Turning our eyes to 2025, Iridium will return to a more normalized OEBITDA growth profile," said Matt Desch, CEO, Iridium. Desch added, "Our continued strong cash flow supported return of capital to shareholders approaching a half billion dollars in 2024, including dividends and share repurchases."

Fourth-Quarter Iridium Business Highlights

Service – Commercial

Commercial service remained the largest part of Iridium's business, representing 60% of the Company's total revenue during the fourth quarter. The Company's commercial customer base is diverse and includes markets such as maritime, aviation, oil and gas, mining, recreation, forestry, construction, transportation and emergency services. These customers rely on Iridium's products and services as critical to their daily operations and integral to their communications and business infrastructure.

  • Commercial service revenue was $127.3 million, up 5% from last year's comparable period due to broad-based growth across all revenue lines.
    • Commercial voice and data: Revenue was $57.1 million, up 3% from the year-ago period. Subscribers grew 2% from the year-ago period to 415,000. Average revenue per user ("ARPU") was $45 during the fourth quarter, unchanged from last year's comparable period.
    • Commercial IoT data: Revenue was $41.4 million, up 15% from the year-ago period. Subscribers grew 10% from the year-ago period to 1,887,000 customers, driven by continued growth in consumer personal communications devices. ARPU was $7.29 in the fourth quarter, compared to $7.12 in last year's comparable period.
    • Commercial broadband: Revenue was $13.4 million, down 9% from $14.6 million in the year-ago period, and subscribers declined modestly from the year-ago period to 16,600. ARPU was $268 during the fourth quarter, compared to $294 in last year's comparable period, reflecting the increased prevalence of Iridium's use as a companion service and the conversion of customers to other plans.
    • Hosted payload and other data service: Revenue was $15.4 million, up 2% from $15.2 million in the year-ago period. The year-over-year change primarily reflected strong contributions from Iridium's growing PNT services, which more than offset a non-recurring benefit from a customer contract recognized in last year's comparable period.
  • Iridium's commercial business ended the quarter with 2,319,000 billable subscribers, which is up from 2,134,000 for the prior-year quarter and compares to 2,341,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2024. The sequential decline in billable subscribers for the quarter was driven by the commencement of phasing out annual plans by a large IoT customer, resulting in higher subscriber seasonality, with no impact on Iridium revenue due to a fixed-price contract with this customer. IoT data subscribers represented 81% of billable commercial subscribers at the end of the quarter, an increase from 80% at the end of the prior-year period.

Service – U.S. Government

Iridium's voice and data solutions improve situational awareness for military personnel and track critical assets in tough environments around the globe, providing a unique value proposition that is not easily duplicated.

Under Iridium's Enhanced Mobile Satellite Services contract (the "EMSS Contract"), a seven-year, $738.5 million fixed-price airtime contract with the U.S. Space Force signed in September 2019, Iridium provides specified satellite airtime services, including unlimited global standard and secure voice, paging, fax, Short Burst Data®, Iridium Burst®, RUDICS and Distributed Tactical Communications System services for an unlimited number of Department of Defense and other federal government subscribers. Iridium also provides maintenance and support work for the U.S. government's dedicated Iridium® gateway under two other contracts with the U.S. Space Force. Iridium Certus® airtime services are not included under these contracts and may be procured separately for an additional fee.

  • Government service revenue grew 1% to $26.8 million in the fourth quarter reflecting a contractual rate increase in the EMSS Contract.
  • Iridium's U.S. government business ended the quarter with 141,000 subscribers, which compares to 145,000 for the prior-year quarter and 141,000 for the quarter ended September 30, 2024. Government voice and data subscribers remained flat as of December 31, 2024 at 62,000 compared to the year-ago period. Government IoT data subscribers decreased 5% year-over-year and represented 56% of government subscribers at year-end.

Equipment

  • Equipment revenue was $21.6 million in the fourth quarter compared to $15.7 million in the prior-year quarter.
  • Equipment revenue totaled $91.4 million in 2024, compared to $105.1 million in 2023. In 2025, the Company expects equipment sales to be in line with 2024.

Engineering & Support

  • Engineering and support revenue was $37.4 million during the fourth quarter, compared to $31.1 million in the prior-year quarter, primarily due to increasing activity with the U.S. government.
  • Engineering and support revenue totaled $124.4 million in 2024, compared to $101.1 million in 2023. In 2025, the Company expects engineering and support revenue to increase from 2024.

Capital expenditures were $24.3 million for the fourth quarter, including $1.3 million in capitalized interest. The Company ended the fourth quarter with gross debt of $1.8 billion and a cash and cash equivalents balance of $93.5 million, for a net debt balance of $1.7 billion.

Iridium paid its fourth quarter dividend of $0.14 per common share on December 31, 2024. Total dividends paid to stockholders during 2024 totaled $64.7 million.

During the quarter ended December 31, 2024, the Company repurchased approximately 4.1 million shares of its common stock under its previously announced share repurchase program at a total purchase price of $121.9 million. As of December 31, 2024, $430.3 million remained available and authorized for repurchase under this program through 2027.

2025 and Longer-Term Outlook

The Company issued its full-year 2025 outlook and reaffirmed its long-term guidance on cash taxes and net leverage:

  • Total service revenue growth between 5% and 7% for full-year 2025. Total service revenue for 2024 was $614.9 million.
  • Full-year 2025 OEBITDA between $490 million and $500 million. OEBITDA for 2024 was $470.6 million.
  • Cash taxes of less than $10 million per year through 2026. We expect that the longer-term cash tax rate will move closer to the statutory rate in 2028.
  • Net leverage below 4.0 times OEBITDA through 2026 and falling below 2.0 times OEBITDA by the end of the decade, assuming ongoing execution of the Company's share repurchase authorization and the payment of expected quarterly dividends. Net leverage was 3.6 times OEBITDA at December 31, 2024.

(1) Non-GAAP Financial Measures & Definitions

In addition to disclosing financial results that are determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP, the Company provides Operational EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, as a supplemental measure to help investors evaluate the Company's fundamental operational performance. Operational EBITDA represents earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, gain (loss) on equity method investments, acquisition and related costs, and share-based compensation expenses. The Company considers the loss on early extinguishment of debt to be financing-related costs associated with interest expense or amortization of financing fees, which by definition are excluded from Operational EBITDA. Management believes such charges are incidental to, but not reflective of, the Company's day-to-day operating performance. Operational EBITDA does not represent, and should not be considered, an alternative to U.S. GAAP measurements such as net income or loss. In addition, there is no standardized measurement of Operational EBITDA, and the Company's calculations thereof may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. The Company believes Operational EBITDA is a useful measure across time in evaluating its fundamental core operating performance. Management also uses Operational EBITDA to manage the business, including in preparing its annual operating budget, debt covenant compliance, financial projections and compensation plans. The Company believes that Operational EBITDA is also useful to investors because similar measures are frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in their evaluation of companies in similar industries. As indicated, Operational EBITDA does not include interest expense on borrowed money, the payment of income taxes, amortization of the Company's definite-lived intangible assets, or depreciation expense on the Company's capital assets, which are necessary elements of the Company's operations. Since Operational EBITDA does not account for these and other expenses, its utility as a measure of the Company's operating performance has material limitations. Due to these limitations, the Company's management does not view Operational EBITDA in isolation, but also uses other measurements, such as net income, revenues and operating profit, to measure operating performance. Please refer to the schedule below for a reconciliation of consolidated GAAP net income to Operational EBITDA and Iridium's Investor Relations webpage at www.iridium.com for a discussion and reconciliation of this and other non-GAAP financial measures. The Company does not provide a forward-looking reconciliation of expected full-year 2025 Operational EBITDA guidance as the amount and significance of certain items such as share-based compensation, acquisition related costs and gain/loss on equity method investments, that are required to develop meaningful comparable GAAP financial measures cannot be estimated at this time without unreasonable efforts.

Iridium Communications Inc.

Supplemental Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to Operational EBITDA

(In thousands)












Three Months Ended December 31,


Year Ended December 31,



2024


2023


2024


2023

GAAP net income


$               36,341


$               38,023


$             112,776


$              15,415

Interest expense, net


22,428


19,114


91,134


90,387

Income tax (benefit) expense


(6,242)


(9,578)


12,259


(26,251)

Depreciation and amortization


51,447


52,787


203,127


320,000

Share-based compensation


12,431


11,955


63,457


57,455

Acquisition and related costs(1)


289



3,074


(Gain) loss on equity method investments


413


1,768


(15,251)


6,089

Operational EBITDA


$             117,107


$             114,069


$             470,576


$            463,095



(1)

Represents direct costs incurred in connection with the negotiation, consummation and integration of acquisition transactions, whether or not actually completed. These costs generally include legal and advisory fees, severance and other related costs.

Conference Call Information

As previously announced, the Company will host a conference call to discuss its results at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, February 13, 2025. Callers should dial 1-412-902-6740 to access the call. The conference call will also be simultaneously webcast on Iridium's Investor Relations webpage at www.iridium.com. An archive of the webcast will be available following the live conference call.

About Iridium Communications Inc.

Iridium® is the only mobile voice and data satellite communications network that spans the entire globe. Iridium enables connections between people, organizations and assets to and from anywhere, in real time. Together with its ecosystem of partner companies, Iridium delivers an innovative and rich portfolio of reliable solutions for markets that require truly global communications. In 2019, the company completed a generational upgrade of its satellite network and launched its specialty broadband service, Iridium Certus. Iridium Communications Inc. is headquartered in McLean, Va., U.S.A., and its common stock trades on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker symbol IRDM. For more information about Iridium products, services and partner solutions, visit www.iridium.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release that are not purely historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding Iridium's expectations with respect to total service revenue growth, OEBITDA and cash taxes for 2025; net leverage and cash taxes over the longer-term; anticipated equipment sales and engineering and support service revenue for 2025; amount and timing of share repurchases and the payment of dividends, and expected revenues from its EMSS contract with the U.S. government.  Forward-looking statements can be identified by the words "anticipates," "may," "can," "believes," "expects," "projects," "intends," "likely," "will," "to be" and other expressions that are predictions or indicate future events, trends or prospects. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Iridium to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, uncertainties regarding customer demand for Iridium's products and services, including demand from the U.S. government; Iridium's ability to maintain the health, capacity and content of its satellite constellation, and the development of and market for Iridium's products and services, as well as general industry and economic conditions, and competitive, legal, governmental and technological factors. Other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements include those factors listed under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on February 13, 2025, as well as other filings Iridium makes with the SEC from time to time.  There is no assurance that Iridium's expectations will be realized. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if Iridium's underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those expected, estimated or projected. Iridium's forward-looking statements are based on information available to it as of the date of this press release and speak only as of the date of this press release, and Iridium undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements.

Iridium Communications Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(In thousands)








Three Months Ended December 31,



2024


2023

Revenue





Service revenue





  Commercial


$              127,265


$              121,513

  Government


26,750


26,500

  Total service revenue


154,015


148,013

Subscriber equipment


21,597


15,662

Engineering and support service


37,379


31,065

  Total revenue


212,991


194,740

Operating expenses





Cost of services (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)


48,379


45,279

Cost of subscriber equipment sales


11,832


10,335

Research and development


8,523


5,728

Selling, general and administrative


40,695


34,315

Depreciation and amortization


51,447


52,787

  Total operating expenses


160,876


148,444

Operating income


52,115


46,296

Other expense, net





Interest expense, net 


(22,428)


(19,114)

Other income, net


825


3,031

  Total other expense, net


(21,603)


(16,083)

Income before income taxes


30,512


30,213

Income tax benefit


6,242


9,578

Loss on equity method investments


(413)


(1,768)

Net income


$                36,341


$                38,023

Operational EBITDA


$              117,107


$              114,069

 

Iridium Communications Inc.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(In thousands)








Year Ended December 31,



2024


2023

Revenue





Service revenue





  Commercial


$              508,618


$              478,454

  Government


106,296


106,000

  Total service revenue


614,914


584,454

Subscriber equipment


91,416


105,136

Engineering and support service


124,352


101,133

  Total revenue


830,682


790,723

Operating expenses





Cost of services (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)


178,140


158,710

Cost of subscriber equipment sales


52,427


66,410

Research and development


28,422


20,269

Selling, general and administrative


168,182


143,706

Depreciation and amortization


203,127


320,000

  Total operating expenses


630,298


709,095

Operating income


200,384


81,628

Other expense, net





Interest expense, net


(91,134)


(90,387)

Other income, net


534


4,012

  Total other expense, net


(90,600)


(86,375)

Income (loss) before income taxes


109,784


(4,747)

Income tax benefit (expense)


(12,259)


26,251

Gain (loss) on equity method investments


15,251


(6,089)

Net income


$              112,776


$                15,415

Operational EBITDA


$              470,576


$              463,095

 

Iridium Communications Inc.

Summary Revenue and OEBITDA Highlights

(In thousands)














Three Months Ended December 31,




Year Ended December 31,




2024


2023


% Change


2024


2023


% Change

Revenue












Service revenue(1)












  Commercial service revenue












Voice and data

$          57,072


$          55,649


3 %


$  226,197


$  219,242


3 %

IoT data(2)

41,407


36,065


15 %


166,166


141,036


18 %

Broadband(3)

13,376


14,620


(9) %


56,095


57,878


(3) %

Hosted payload and other data service(4)

15,410


15,179


2 %


60,160


60,298


— %

Total commercial service revenue

127,265


121,513


5 %


508,618


478,454


6 %

Government service revenue(5)

26,750


26,500


1 %


106,296


106,000


— %

Total service revenue

154,015


148,013


4 %


614,914


584,454


5 %

Subscriber equipment

21,597


15,662


38 %


91,416


105,136


(13) %

Engineering and support(6)












Commercial

2,903


1,746


66 %


7,307


11,050


(34) %

Government

34,476


29,319


18 %


117,045


90,083


30 %

Total engineering and support

37,379


31,065


20 %


124,352


101,133


23 %

Total revenue

$        212,991


$        194,740


9 %


$  830,682


$  790,723


5 %

Operational EBITDA












Operational EBITDA

$        117,107


$        114,069


3 %


$  470,576


$  463,095


2 %

Other












Capital expenditures(7)

$          24,268


$          16,202




$    69,890


$    73,487



Net debt(8)

$     1,714,219


$     1,428,130









Cash and cash equivalents

$          93,526


$          71,870









Term Loan

$     1,807,745


$     1,500,000









Deferred financing costs

(16,860)


(17,510)









Term Loan, net

$     1,790,885


$     1,482,490











(1)

Service revenue consists of primarily subscription-based services which often generate a long-term recurring revenue stream from subscribers.

(2)

IoT data service provides a two-way short burst data transmission between Iridium's network and a telemetry unit, which may be located, for example, on a container in transit or a buoy monitoring oceanographic conditions.

(3)

Broadband is comprised of Iridium OpenPort® and Iridium Certus.

(4)

Hosted payload and other services consist primarily of services that do not have traditional billable subscribers. Hosted payload services consist of hosting and data services to our payload customers, Aireon and Harris. Other services include primarily Iridium's one-way satellite timing, location, and authentication services (STL) which provides position, navigation and timing technology.

(5)

Government service revenue consists of voice and IoT data subscription-based services provided to agencies of the U.S. government through prime contracts.

(6)

Engineering and support includes maintenance services to the U.S. government's dedicated gateway and engineering services to assist customers in developing new technologies for use on Iridium's satellite system.

(7)

Capital expenditures based on cash spent in the respective period.

(8)

Net debt is calculated by taking the sum of the gross Term Loan and gross drawn Revolving Facility, less cash and cash equivalents.

 

Iridium Communications Inc.

Subscriber Highlights

(In thousands, except ARPU)














As of December 31,










2024


2023


% Change







Billable Subscribers (1) (2)












Commercial












  Voice and data, IoT data and Broadband service












Voice and data

415


408


2 %







IoT data

1,887


1,709


10 %







Broadband (3)

16.6


16.7


(1) %







Total commercial voice and data, IoT data
     and Broadband service

2,319


2,134


9 %







Government












  Voice and data and IoT data service












Voice and data

62


62


— %







IoT data

79


83


(5) %







Total government voice and data and IoT
     data service

141


145


(3) %







Total billable subscribers

2,460


2,279


8 %




















Three Months Ended December 31,




Year Ended December 31,




2024


2023


% Change


2024


2023


% Change

Net Billable Subscriber Additions












Commercial












  Voice and data. IoT data and Broadband service












Voice and data

(7)


(2)


(250) %


7


11


(36) %

IoT data

(15)


42


(136) %


178


261


(32) %

Broadband

(0.1)


0.2


(150) %


(0.1)


1.7


(106) %

Total commercial voice and data, IoT data
     and Broadband service

(22)


40


(155) %


185


274


(32) %

Government












  Voice and data and IoT data service












Voice and data

(1)


1


(200) %



2


(100) %

IoT data

1


2


(50) %


(4)


4


(200) %

Total government voice and data and IoT
     data service


3


(100) %


(4)


6


(167) %

Total net billable subscriber additions

(22)


43


(151) %


181


280


(35) %














Three Months Ended December 31,




Year Ended December 31,




2024


2023


% Change


2024


2023


% Change

 ARPU (2) (4)












  Commercial












Voice and data

$                45


$                45


— %


$          46


$          45


2 %

IoT data

$             7.29


$             7.12


2 %


$      7.70


$       7.45


3 %

Broadband

$              268


$              294


(9) %


$       282


$        305


(8) %



(1)

Subscribers as of the end of the respective period.

(2)

Billable subscriber and ARPU data is not applicable for Hosted payload and other data service revenue items and is excluded from presentation above.

(3)

Broadband is comprised of Iridium OpenPort® and Iridium Certus.

(4)

Average monthly revenue per unit, or ARPU, is calculated by dividing revenue in the respective period by the average of the number of billable subscribers at the beginning of the period and the number of billable subscribers at the end of the period and then dividing the result by the number of months in the period.

 

Investor Contact:

Press Contact:



Kenneth Levy

Jordan Hassin

Iridium Communications Inc.

Iridium Communications Inc.

+1 (703) 287-7570

+1 (703) 287-7421

ken.levy@iridium.com

jordan.hassin@iridium.com 

 

Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/iridium-announces-2024-results-issues-2025-outlook-302374032.html

SOURCE Iridium Communications Inc.

FAQ

What is Iridium's (IRDM) revenue guidance for 2025?

Iridium expects total service revenue growth between 5% and 7% for full-year 2025, with 2024 service revenue at $614.9M as the baseline.

How much did IRDM return to shareholders in 2024?

Iridium returned a record $469 million to shareholders in 2024 through dividends ($64.7M) and share repurchases.

What was Iridium's (IRDM) subscriber growth in 2024?

Total billable subscribers grew 8% year-over-year to 2.46 million, primarily driven by growth in commercial IoT.

What is IRDM's OEBITDA guidance for 2025?

Iridium expects full-year 2025 OEBITDA between $490 million and $500 million, compared to $470.6 million in 2024.

How much did Iridium's (IRDM) net income increase in 2024?

Iridium's net income increased from $15.4 million in 2023 to $112.8 million in 2024.

Iridium Comm

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