Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab”, “the
Company”, “we,” “us,” or “our”), a global leader in launch services
and space systems, today shared the financial results for fiscal
third quarter, ended September 30, 2024.
Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, said: “In the third
quarter 2024 we once again executed against our end-to-end space
strategy with successes and key achievements reached across small
and medium launch, as well as space systems. Revenue grew 55%
year-on-year to $105 million and we continue to see strong demand
growth with our backlog at $1.05 billion. Significant achievements
for the quarter included signing a launch service agreement for
multiple launches on Neutron with a confidential commercial
satellite constellation customer; successfully launching twelve
Electron launches year-to-date, making 2024 a record year for
launches with more still to come; signing $55 million in new
Electron launches, further cementing Electron’s position as a
global launch leader; and being selected by NASA to complete a
study contract for a proposal to retrieve samples from Mars and
return them to Earth as part of a world-first mission. We expect to
close out the year strongly with more Electron launches scheduled
in November and December, alongside continued progress across
Neutron and space systems, that is behind our guidance for a record
$125-$135 million revenue quarter in Q4.”
Business Highlights for the Third Quarter 2024, plus updates
since September 30, 2024.
Electron:
- Achieved a new annual launch record of 12 Electron launches to
date, with more scheduled across November and December 2024.
Electron is the world’s third most-frequently launched rocket
annually by vehicle type and remains the United States’ second
most-frequently launched rocket annually.
- Signed several new Electron launch contracts in Q3 2024 with a
total value of $55m, demonstrating an increased average selling
price of $8.4m and showcasing a 67% pricing increase since the
rocket’s debut launch.
- Successful Electron launches for three separate commercial
satellite constellation operators in Q3, including two missions
launched within just eight days. In addition to these, Electron’s
most recent mission, launched in the fourth quarter on November
5th, 2024, included an expedited turnaround of just 10 weeks
between contract signing and launch.
Neutron:
- Signed a launch service agreement for multiple launches on
Neutron with a confidential commercial satellite constellation
operator that signifies the beginning of a productive collaboration
that could see Neutron deploy the entire constellation.
- Announced a federal defense contract that supports Neutron and
the development of its Archimedes engine with the U.S. Air Force’s
Research Laboratory.
- Doubled engine testing cadence for Archimedes over the quarter
at Rocket Lab’s engine test site in Mississippi, alongside strong
production execution at the Company’s Engine Development Complex in
California which included multiple engines manufactured, assembled,
and shipped for engine testing.
- Significant progress made across Neutron’s structures and
infrastructure, including the completion of construction on the
rocket’s Assembly, Integration, and Test (A.I.T.) facility in
Virginia.
- Well-positioned to on-ramp to the U.S. Space Force’s National
Security Space Launch (NSSL) Lane 1 program, which began accepting
proposals in November 2024 to on-ramp new launch providers to an
indefinite delivery indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract valued at
$5.6 billion over a five-year period.
Space Systems:
- Completed production and delivery of two spacecraft on time and
on budget for NASA’s ESCAPADE mission to Mars.
- Selected by NASA to complete a study contract for a proposal to
retrieve samples from Mars and return them to Earth, a
first-of-its-kind mission.
- Completed two new spacecraft for Varda Space Industries to
conduct the 2nd and 3rd missions to return in-space manufacturing
capsules to Earth.
- Executed on schedule against the Company’s $515 million prime
contract with the Space Development Agency to build 18 spacecraft
for its Tranche 2 Transport Layer program.
Fourth Quarter 2024 Guidance
For the fourth quarter of 2024, Rocket Lab expects:
- Revenue between $125 million and $135 million.
- GAAP Gross Margins between 26% and 28%.
- Non-GAAP Gross Margins between 32% and 34%.
- GAAP Operating Expenses between $84 million and $86
million.
- Non-GAAP Operating Expenses between $75 million and $77
million.
- Expected Interest Expense (Income), net $1.5 million.
- Adjusted EBITDA loss of $27 million and $29 million.
- Basic Shares Outstanding of 501 million.
See “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below for an
explanation of our use of Non-GAAP financial measures, and the
reconciliation of historical Non-GAAP measures to the comparable
GAAP measures in the tables attached to this press release.
We have not provided a reconciliation for the forward-looking
Non-GAAP Gross Margin, Non-GAAP Operating Expenses or Adjusted
EBITDA expectations for Q4 2024 described above because, without
unreasonable efforts, we are unable to predict with reasonable
certainty the amount and timing of adjustments that are used to
calculate these non-GAAP financial measures, particularly related
to stock-based compensation and its related tax effects.
Stock-based compensation is currently expected to range from $12
million to $14 million in Q4 2024.
Conference Call Information
Rocket Lab will host a conference call for investors at 2 p.m.
PT (5 p.m. ET) today to discuss these business highlights and
financial results for our third quarter, to provide our outlook for
the fourth quarter, and other updates.
The live webcast and a replay of the webcast will be available
on Rocket Lab’s Investor Relations website:
https://investors.rocketlabusa.com/events-and-presentations/events
+ About Rocket Lab
Founded in 2006, Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company with
an established track record of mission success. We deliver reliable
launch services, satellite manufacture, spacecraft components, and
on-orbit management solutions that make it faster, easier, and more
affordable to access space. Headquartered in Long Beach,
California, Rocket Lab designs and manufactures the Electron small
orbital launch vehicle, a family of spacecraft platforms, and the
Company is developing the large Neutron launch vehicle for
constellation deployment. Since its first orbital launch in January
2018, Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle has become the second
most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered 198
satellites to orbit for private and public sector organizations,
enabling operations in national security, scientific research,
space debris mitigation, Earth observation, climate monitoring, and
communications. Rocket Lab’s spacecraft platforms have been
selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and Mars, as well as
the first private commercial mission to Venus. Rocket Lab has three
launch pads at two launch sites, including two launch pads at a
private orbital launch site located in New Zealand and a third
launch pad in Virginia. To learn more, visit
www.rocketlabusa.com.
+ Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by
the safe harbor provisions for forward looking statements contained
in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
“Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). All statements contained in
this press release other than statements of historical fact,
including, without limitation, statements regarding our
expectations of financial results for the fourth quarter of 2024,
launch and space systems operations, launch schedule and window,
safe and repeatable access to space, Neutron development,
operational expansion and business strategy are forward-looking
statements. The words “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,”
“potential,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,”
“strategy,” “future,” “could,” “would,” “project,” “plan,”
“target,” and similar expressions are intended to identify
forward-looking statements, though not all forward-looking
statements use these words or expressions. These statements are
neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown
risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our
actual results, performance or achievements to be materially
different from any future results, performance or achievements
expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including
but not limited to the factors, risks and uncertainties included in
our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December
31, 2023, as such factors may be updated from time to time in our
other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“SEC”), accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and the
Investor Relations section of our website at www.rocketlabusa.com,
which could cause our actual results to differ materially from
those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this
press release. Any such forward-looking statements represent
management’s estimates as of the date of this press release. While
we may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some
point in the future, we disclaim any obligation to do so, even if
subsequent events cause our views to change.
+ Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
We supplement the reporting of our financial information
determined under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the
United States of America (“GAAP”) with certain non-GAAP financial
information. The non-GAAP financial information presented excludes
certain significant items that may not be indicative of, or are
unrelated to, results from our ongoing business operations. We
believe that these non-GAAP measures provide investors with
additional insight into the company's ongoing business performance.
These non-GAAP measures should not be considered in isolation or as
a substitute for the related GAAP measures, and other companies may
define such measures differently. We encourage investors to review
our financial statements and publicly filed reports in their
entirety and not to rely on any single financial measure.
Reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial information to the
corresponding GAAP measures for the historical periods disclosed
are included at the end of the tables in this press release. We
have not provided a reconciliation for forward-looking non-GAAP
financial measures because, without unreasonable efforts, we are
unable to predict with reasonable certainty the amount and timing
of adjustments that are used to calculate these non-GAAP financial
measures, particularly related to stock-based compensation and its
related tax effects. The following definitions are provided:
+ Adjusted EBITDA
EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, taxes,
depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA further excludes
items of income or loss that we characterize as unrepresentative of
our ongoing operations. Such items are excluded from net income or
loss to determine Adjusted EBITDA. Management believes this measure
provides investors meaningful insight into results from ongoing
operations.
+ Other Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Non-GAAP gross profit, research and development, net, selling,
general and administrative, operating expenses, operating loss and
total other income (expense), net, further excludes items of income
or loss that we characterize as unrepresentative of our ongoing
operations. Such items are excluded from the applicable GAAP
financial measure. Management believes these non-GAAP measures
provide investors meaningful insight into results from ongoing
operations.
ROCKET LAB U.S.A., INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF
OPERATIONS
FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS
ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 AND 2023
(unaudited; in thousands,
except share and per share data)
Three Months Ended September
30,
Nine Months Ended September
30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Revenues
$
104,808
$
67,661
$
303,826
$
184,601
Cost of revenues
76,812
52,694
224,494
148,684
Gross profit
27,996
14,967
79,332
35,917
Operating expenses:
Research and development, net
47,723
26,626
126,139
81,566
Selling, general and administrative
32,172
27,200
91,445
84,386
Total operating expenses
79,895
53,826
217,584
165,952
Operating loss
(51,899
)
(38,859
)
(138,252
)
(130,035
)
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net
(454
)
(1,413
)
(2,176
)
(2,843
)
Loss on foreign exchange
(490
)
(120
)
(465
)
(76
)
Other income, net
1,848
1,176
3,152
3,519
Total other income (expense), net
904
(357
)
511
600
Loss before income taxes
(50,995
)
(39,216
)
(137,741
)
(129,435
)
Provision for income taxes
(944
)
(1,352
)
(89
)
(2,639
)
Net loss
$
(51,939
)
$
(40,568
)
$
(137,830
)
$
(132,074
)
Net loss per share attributable to Rocket
Lab USA, Inc.:
Basic and diluted
$
(0.10
)
$
(0.08
)
$
(0.28
)
$
(0.28
)
Weighted-average common shares
outstanding:
Basic and diluted
497,701,715
484,034,071
493,976,025
480,018,578
ROCKET LAB U.S.A., INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE
SHEETS
AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 AND
DECEMBER 31, 2023
(unaudited; in thousands,
except share and per share data)
September 30, 2024
December 31,
(unaudited)
2023
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$
292,470
$
162,518
Marketable securities, current
149,919
82,255
Accounts receivable, net
22,148
35,176
Contract assets
49,461
12,951
Inventories
114,435
107,857
Prepaids and other current assets
67,066
66,949
Assets held for sale
—
9,016
Total current assets
695,499
476,722
Non-current assets:
Property, plant and equipment, net
170,983
145,409
Intangible assets, net
61,582
68,094
Goodwill
71,020
71,020
Right-of-use assets - operating leases
53,985
59,401
Right-of-use assets - finance leases
14,518
14,987
Marketable securities, non-current
61,292
79,247
Restricted cash
4,322
3,916
Deferred income tax assets, net
1,419
3,501
Other non-current assets
18,409
18,914
Total assets
$
1,153,029
$
941,211
Liabilities and Stockholders’
Equity
Current liabilities:
Trade payables
$
42,434
$
29,303
Accrued expenses
8,063
5,590
Employee benefits payable
19,335
16,342
Contract liabilities
167,129
139,338
Current installments of long-term
borrowings
11,758
17,764
Other current liabilities
20,480
15,036
Total current liabilities
269,199
223,373
Non-current liabilities:
Convertible senior notes, net
344,865
—
Long-term borrowings, net, excluding
current installments
46,915
87,587
Non-current operating lease
liabilities
51,906
56,099
Non-current finance lease liabilities
15,042
15,238
Deferred tax liabilities
726
426
Other non-current liabilities
4,541
3,944
Total liabilities
733,194
386,667
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock, $0.0001 par value;
authorized shares: 2,500,000,000; issued and outstanding shares:
499,700,976 and 488,923,055 at September 30, 2024 and December 31,
2023, respectively
50
49
Additional paid-in capital
1,178,828
1,176,484
Accumulated deficit
(761,356
)
(623,526
)
Accumulated other comprehensive income
2,313
1,537
Total stockholders’ equity
419,835
554,544
Total liabilities and stockholders’
equity
$
1,153,029
$
941,211
ROCKET LAB U.S.A., INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF
CASH FLOWS
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED
SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 AND 2023
(unaudited; in
thousands)
For the Nine Months Ended
September 30,
2024
2023
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING
ACTIVITIES:
Net loss
$
(137,830
)
$
(132,074
)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net
cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization
24,516
21,577
Stock-based compensation expense
39,944
43,398
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets
(2,356
)
240
Loss on extinguishment of long-term
debt
1,330
—
Amortization of debt issuance costs and
discount
2,272
2,166
Noncash lease expense
4,437
4,062
Change in the fair value of contingent
consideration
(218
)
1,138
Accretion of marketable securities
purchased at a discount
(2,272
)
(3,399
)
Deferred income taxes
2,310
644
Changes in operating assets and
liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net
12,928
13,798
Contract assets
(36,510
)
(3,592
)
Inventories
(7,118
)
(10,933
)
Prepaids and other current assets
1,951
(15,819
)
Other non-current assets
544
(10,712
)
Trade payables
13,853
12,026
Accrued expenses
2,980
(2,187
)
Employee benefits payables
3,525
5,285
Contract liabilities
27,791
25,450
Other current liabilities
4,088
(4,632
)
Non-current lease liabilities
(4,321
)
(3,316
)
Other non-current liabilities
1,653
230
Net cash used in operating activities
(46,503
)
(56,650
)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING
ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property, equipment and
software
(45,539
)
(44,293
)
Proceeds on disposal of assets, net
11,756
—
Cash paid for asset acquisition
—
(16,934
)
Purchases of marketable securities
(149,548
)
(207,266
)
Maturities of marketable securities
102,930
219,340
Net cash used in investing activities
(80,401
)
(49,153
)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING
ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from the exercise of stock
options
2,074
2,293
Proceeds from Employee Stock Purchase
Plan
4,098
3,780
Proceeds from sale of employees restricted
stock units to cover taxes
14,991
12,390
Minimum tax withholding paid on behalf of
employees for restricted stock units
(15,169
)
(12,352
)
Payment of contingent consideration
—
(1,000
)
Purchase of capped calls related to
issuance of convertible senior notes
(43,168
)
—
Proceeds from issuance of convertible
senior notes
355,000
—
Repayments on Trinity Loan Agreement
(48,853
)
—
Payment of debt issuance costs
(12,205
)
—
Finance lease principal payments
(269
)
(248
)
Net cash provided by financing
activities
256,499
4,863
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
and cash equivalents
763
(439
)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash
equivalents and restricted cash
130,358
(101,379
)
Cash and cash equivalents, and restricted
cash, beginning of period
166,434
245,871
Cash and cash equivalents, and restricted
cash, end of period
$
296,792
$
144,492
ROCKET LAB U.S.A., INC. AND
SUBSIDIARIES
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP
FINANCIAL MEASURES
FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS
ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 AND 2023
(unaudited; in
thousands)
The tables provided below reconcile the
non-GAAP financial measures Adjusted EBITDA, Non-GAAP gross profit,
Non-GAAP research and development, net, Non-GAAP selling, general
and administrative, Non-GAAP operating expenses, Non-GAAP operating
loss and Non-GAAP total other income (expense), net with the most
directly comparable GAAP financial measures. See above for
additional information on the use of these non-GAAP financial
measures.
Three Months Ended September
30,
Nine Months Ended September
30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
NET LOSS
$
(51,939
)
$
(40,568
)
$
(137,830
)
$
(132,074
)
Depreciation
4,793
4,237
14,513
11,463
Amortization
3,302
3,555
10,003
10,114
Stock-based compensation expense
12,896
14,098
39,944
43,398
Transaction costs
23
142
407
311
Interest expense, net
454
1,413
2,176
2,843
Change in fair value of contingent
consideration
—
(462
)
(218
)
1,138
Performance reserve escrow
—
1,800
—
5,426
Provision for income taxes
944
1,352
89
2,639
Loss on foreign exchange
490
120
465
76
Accretion of marketable securities
purchased at a discount
(666
)
(1,447
)
(2,272
)
(3,601
)
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets
(1,164
)
213
(2,356
)
240
Employee retention credit
—
—
—
(3,841
)
Loss on extinguishment of debt
—
—
1,330
—
ADJUSTED EBITDA
$
(30,867
)
$
(15,547
)
$
(73,749
)
$
(61,868
)
Three Months Ended September
30,
Nine Months Ended September
30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
GAAP Gross profit
$
27,996
$
14,967
$
79,332
$
35,917
Stock-based compensation
3,029
3,182
10,205
10,325
Amortization of purchased intangibles and
favorable lease
1,763
1,710
5,247
5,129
Performance reserve escrow
—
76
—
209
Employee retention credit
—
—
—
(2,130
)
Non-GAAP Gross profit
$
32,788
$
19,935
$
94,784
$
49,450
Non-GAAP Gross margin
31.3
%
29.5
%
31.2
%
26.8
%
GAAP Research and development,
net
$
47,723
$
26,626
$
126,139
$
81,566
Stock-based compensation
(4,626
)
(6,219
)
(13,660
)
(17,893
)
Amortization of purchased intangibles and
favorable lease
(302
)
(315
)
(686
)
(333
)
Employee retention credit
—
—
—
631
Non-GAAP Research and development,
net
$
42,795
$
20,092
$
111,793
$
63,971
GAAP Selling, general and
administrative
$
32,172
$
27,200
$
91,445
$
84,386
Stock-based compensation
(5,241
)
(4,697
)
(16,079
)
(15,180
)
Amortization of purchased intangibles and
favorable lease
(960
)
(1,378
)
(3,274
)
(4,207
)
Transaction costs
(23
)
(142
)
(407
)
(311
)
Performance reserve escrow
—
(1,724
)
—
(5,217
)
Change in fair value of contingent
consideration
—
462
218
(1,138
)
Employee retention credit
—
—
—
1,080
Non-GAAP Selling, general and
administrative
$
25,948
$
19,721
$
71,903
$
59,413
GAAP Operating expenses
$
79,895
$
53,826
$
217,584
$
165,952
Stock-based compensation
(9,867
)
(10,916
)
(29,739
)
(33,073
)
Amortization of purchased intangibles and
favorable lease
(1,262
)
(1,693
)
(3,960
)
(4,540
)
Transaction costs
(23
)
(142
)
(407
)
(311
)
Performance reserve escrow
—
(1,724
)
—
(5,217
)
Change in fair value of contingent
consideration
—
462
218
(1,138
)
Employee retention credit
—
—
—
1,711
Non-GAAP Operating expenses
$
68,743
$
39,813
$
183,696
$
123,384
GAAP Operating loss
$
(51,899
)
$
(38,859
)
$
(138,252
)
$
(130,035
)
Total non-GAAP adjustments
15,944
18,981
49,340
56,101
Non-GAAP Operating loss
$
(35,955
)
$
(19,878
)
$
(88,912
)
$
(73,934
)
GAAP Total other income (expense),
net
$
904
$
(357
)
$
511
$
600
Loss on foreign exchange
490
120
465
76
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets
(1,164
)
213
(2,356
)
240
Loss on extinguishment of debt
—
—
1,330
—
Non-GAAP Total other income (expense),
net
$
230
$
(24
)
$
(50
)
$
916
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241112640424/en/
+ Rocket Lab Investor Relations Contact Adam Spice
investors@rocketlabusa.com
+ Rocket Lab Media Contact Murielle Baker
media@rocketlabusa.com
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