Iridium Set to Release Q1 Earnings: Here's What You Should Know

Core Viewpoint - Iridium Communications (IRDM) is expected to report first-quarter 2025 earnings on April 22, with revenue estimates of $212.9 million, reflecting a 4.4% increase year-over-year, and earnings per share estimated at 22 cents, unchanged from the previous month [1] Financial Performance - Iridium has beaten the Zacks Consensus Estimate in three of the last four quarters, with an average surprise of 35.2%. However, shares have declined by 8.6% over the past year, contrasting with the 24.2% growth in the Zacks Satellite and Communication industry [2] - The anticipated revenue breakdown includes $157.8 million from service, $21.7 million from subscriber equipment, and $32 million from engineering and support services [2] Growth Drivers - Rising commercial service revenues are a key growth driver, projected at $130.1 million, indicating a 6.5% increase from the previous year, supported by strong performance in voice, IoT data, broadband, and other data services [3] - The hosted payload and other data service segment is expected to benefit from the Iridium Satellite Time and Location (STL) offering, which aims to generate over $100 million in annual service revenue by 2030 [4] - Increased engineering and support revenues are driven by heightened activity with the U.S. government, particularly through the Space Development Agency contract [5] - Subscriber equipment sales have rebounded strongly, with a 38% year-over-year increase in the fourth quarter to $21.6 million, driven by strong demand for Iridium services [6] Strategic Developments - Iridium is positioning itself as a leading L-band partner to VSAT at sea, focusing on safety services, despite facing short-term challenges [7] - On March 11, 2025, Iridium announced a partnership with Heimdall Power to integrate Iridium connectivity into advanced grid monitoring solutions, enhancing real-time monitoring capabilities [8][10]