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Iridium Communications Inc (IRDM) Q1 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Strong Service Revenue ...

In This Article:

  • Operational EBITDA: Increased 6% to $122.1 million in Q1.

  • Service Revenue: Up 4% to $127.5 million, driven by IoT and Iridium PNT.

  • Voice and Data Revenue: Rose 2% to $55.9 million.

  • Commercial IoT Revenue: Increased 11% to $43.8 million.

  • Commercial Broadband Revenue: Decreased 6% to $12.9 million.

  • Hosting and Other Data Services Revenue: Up 7% to $14.9 million.

  • Government Service Revenue: Increased to $26.8 million.

  • Subscriber Equipment Sales: $23.1 million, down from Q1 last year.

  • Engineering and Support Revenue: Increased to $37.5 million from $30.4 million.

  • Cash and Cash Equivalents: $50.9 million as of March 31.

  • Share Repurchase: Retired approximately 2.4 million shares at an average price of $29.48.

  • Quarterly Dividend: $0.14 per share, with an increase to $0.15 per share starting Q3 2025.

  • Capital Expenditures: $24.5 million in Q1.

  • Pro Forma Free Cash Flow: Projected at $302 million for 2025.

Release Date: April 22, 2025

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

  • Service revenue continued to expand with the rollout of new services and subscriber growth.

  • Iridium's partner ecosystem remains strong, with partners bullish on new product offerings like Iridium PNT.

  • The company has successfully mitigated supply chain risks by avoiding exposure to China and expanding logistics in Europe.

  • Iridium's acquisition of Satelles has positioned it well in the PNT market, with growing interest from new customers.

  • The company is confident in its ability to leverage its unique network for long-term growth, supported by a strong spectrum position and technology.

Negative Points

  • New tariff levels have created uncertainty, potentially impacting equipment costs and operational EBITDA.

  • Commercial broadband revenue declined by 6% due to increased use of Iridium as a companion service.

  • There is ongoing uncertainty regarding U.S. trade policies, which could result in significant incremental costs.

  • Government service revenue growth is modest, with some deactivations related to USAID funding changes.

  • The geopolitical environment and potential funding challenges for foreign governments and NGOs could impact business.

Q & A Highlights

Q: How are tariffs expected to impact Iridium's costs and pricing strategy? A: Matthew Desch, CEO, explained that the current 10% tariffs could result in approximately $3 million in incremental costs, which Iridium plans to absorb without raising prices. If tariffs increase to 36%, costs could rise to $6-7 million. However, Iridium aims to mitigate these impacts through supply chain adjustments and does not foresee significant demand changes due to tariffs.