Iridium Communications Misses on the Top and Bottom Lines

Seth Jayson, The Motley Fool
Updated

Iridium Communications (NAS: IRDM) reported earnings on Feb. 28. Here are the numbers you need to know.

The 10-second takeaway
 For the quarter ended Dec. 31 (Q4), Iridium Communications missed estimates on revenues and missed estimates on earnings per share.

Compared to the prior-year quarter, revenue contracted slightly. Non-GAAP earnings per share grew significantly. GAAP earnings per share increased significantly.


Margins expanded across the board.

Revenue details
 Iridium Communications reported revenue of $92.3 million. The six analysts polled by S&P Capital IQ predicted revenue of $98.1 million on the same basis. GAAP reported sales were the same as the prior-year quarter's.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

EPS details
 EPS came in at $0.19. The five earnings estimates compiled by S&P Capital IQ predicted $0.21 per share. Non-GAAP EPS of $0.19 for Q4 were 73% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.11 per share. GAAP EPS of $0.22 for Q4 were 100% higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.11 per share.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

Margin details
 For the quarter, gross margin was 72.5%, 610 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 33.6%, much better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 18.1%, 920 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead
 Next quarter's average estimate for revenue is $99.7 million. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.20.

Next year's average estimate for revenue is $415.3 million. The average EPS estimate is $0.99.

Investor sentiment
 The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 209 members out of 216 rating the stock outperform, and seven members rating it underperform. Among 61 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 58 give Iridium Communications a green thumbs-up, and three give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on Iridium Communications is outperform, with an average price target of $9.38.

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The article Iridium Communications Misses on the Top and Bottom Lines originally appeared on Fool.com.

Seth Jayson had no position in any company mentioned here at the time of publication. You can view his stock holdings here. He is co-advisor ofMotley Fool Hidden Gems, which provides new small-cap ideas every month, backed by a real-money portfolio. The Motley Fool owns shares of Iridium Communications. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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