Rocket Lab Announces Third Quarter 2024 Financial Results, Posts 55% Year-on-Year Growth and Guides to Record Revenue in Q4

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Nov 12, 2024

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

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