Constellations, Launch, New Space and more…
Commercial

Rocket Lab Earnings Report – Revenue, Net Loss Increased in First Quarter

By Doug Messier
Parabolic Arc
May 10, 2023
Filed under , , , , ,
Rocket Lab Earnings Report – Revenue, Net Loss Increased in First Quarter
An Electron launches two BlackSky satellites from New Zealand on March 24, 2023.
Image credit: Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab released an earnings report that showed both higher revenue and a larger net loss for the first quarter on Tuesday compared with the same period last year.

Revenue rose to $54.9 million from $40.7 million in the first quarter of 2022. Rocket Lab’s gross profit increased from $3.7 million to $6.4 million when the cost of revenue is subtracted.

The company’s net loss increased from $26.7 million to $45.6 million year over year. Adjusted EBITDA loss increased to $26.2 million from the $8 million loss reported during the same period last year.

Rocket Lab had $398.7 million in cash, cash equivalents, and marketable securities as of March 31. This was a reduction from the $471.8 million the company had at the end of March 2022.

“Rocket Lab started the year strong with three successful Electron missions in the first quarter across our global launch facilities and to date, remains the only commercial U.S. small launch vehicle to successfully deliver satellites to orbit in 2023,” Rocket Lab CEO Peter Beck said in a company announcement accompanying the Rocket Lab earnings report. “At a time when we’re starting to see a contraction of available small rockets, we’re also seeing an increase in launch bookings for Electron launches in 2023 and beyond from new and returning customers across government and commercial sectors.”

Rocket Lab’s net research and development spending rose from $13.5 million to $23.9 million as the company continued work on its reusable Neutron launch vehicle.

Neutron’s Hungry Hippo fairing opens to release a satellite. Image credit: Rocket Lab.

“The development of our larger rocket Neutron is continuing at pace with launch and testing facilities expanded, engine hardware being printed at our headquarters in Long Beach, and vehicle hardware in production for upcoming structural tests throughout the year that we expect will keep the program on track,” Beck added. “Space Systems also continues its strong performance, with the majority of our products supporting customer missions across several launches in the quarter, and major program milestones reached on Photon spacecraft build programs for government and commercial customers.”

Rocket Lab also announced that the company had signed multiple launch contracts since the first quarter ended on March 30, including that an Electron rocket will launch NASA’s Starling mission. Starling’s four CubeSats will demonstrate autonomous satellite swarm technologies as well as automated space traffic management.

Rocket Lab did not disclose the identities of the other companies that have signed launch contracts since the end of the quarter.

Rocket Lab also announced it had shipped a Photon module to Varda Space Industries. Photon will provide power, communications, propulsion, and attitude control for Varda’s capsule, which will manufacture pharmaceutical products in orbit and return them to Earth.

Rocket Lab issued the following guidance for the second quarter of 2023:

  • Revenue between $60 million and $63 million.
  • Launch services revenue of approximately $23 million.
  • Space systems revenue of between $37 million to $40 million.
  • GAAP gross margins between 14 percent to 16 percent.
  • Non-GAAP gross margins between 22 percent to 24 percent.
  • GAAP operating expenses between $55 million to $57 million.
  • Non-GAAP operating expenses between $41 million to $43 million.
  • Expected interest expense (income), net $1 million.
  • Adjusted EBITDA loss of $22 million to $24 million.
  • Basic shares outstanding of 480 million.

Rocket Lab Earnings

Rocket Lab’s first-quarter financials, as well as excerpted disclaimers from the company’s press release, are below.

ROCKET LAB U.S.A., INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2023 AND 2022
(unaudited; in thousands, except share and per share data)

Three Months Ended March 31, 2023Three Months Ended March 31, 2022
Revenues$54,895$40,703
Cost of revenues48,53836,968
Gross profit6,3573,735
Operating expenses:
Research and development, net23,90513,477
Selling, general and administrative28,46923,078
Total operating expenses52,37436,555
Operating loss(46,017)(32,820)
Other income (expense):
Interest expense, net(685)(2,989)
Gain (loss) on foreign exchange134(20)
Change in fair value of liability classified warrants13,482
Other income, net1,47726
Total other income, net92610,499
Loss before income taxes(45,091)(22,321)
Provision for income taxes(526)(4,388)
Net loss$(45,617)$(26,709)
Net loss per share attributable to Rocket Lab USA, Inc.:
Basic and diluted$(0.10)$(0.06)
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:
Basic and diluted476,199,710456,495,288

ROCKET LAB U.S.A., INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AS OF MARCH 31, 2023 AND DECEMBER 31, 2022
(unaudited; in thousands, except share and per share values)

March 31, 2023 (unaudited)December 31, 2022
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents$208,365$242,515
Marketable securities, current190,357229,276
Accounts receivable, net50,69036,572
Contract assets12,5589,451
Inventories98,45392,279
Prepaids and other current assets63,20352,201
Assets held for sale11,630
Total current assets635,256662,294
Non-current assets:
Property, plant and equipment, net95,981101,514
Intangible assets, net76,49579,692
Goodwill71,02071,020
Right-of-use assets – operating leases34,83935,239
Right-of-use assets – finance leases15,45815,614
Marketable securities, non-current47,9209,193
Restricted cash3,3373,356
Deferred income tax assets, net3,5003,898
Other non-current assets7,1027,303
Total assets$990,908$989,123
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Trade payables$22,852$12,084
Accrued expenses8,6788,723
Employee benefits payable12,3338,634
Contract liabilities125,635108,344
Current installments of long-term borrowings2,9342,906
Other current liabilities24,86322,249
Total current liabilities197,295162,940
Non-current liabilities:
Long-term borrowings, excluding current installments100,724100,043
Non-current operating lease liabilities33,87034,266
Non-current finance lease liabilities15,47815,568
Deferred tax liabilities17095
Other non-current liabilities3,3533,005
Total liabilities350,890315,917
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock, $0.0001 par value; authorized shares: 2,500,000,000; issued and outstanding shares: 478,153,075 and 475,356,517 at March 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, respectively4848
Additional paid-in capital1,125,9761,112,977
Accumulated deficit(486,572)(440,955)
Accumulated other comprehensive income5661,136
Total stockholders’ equity640,018673,206
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity$990,908$989,123

ROCKET LAB U.S.A., INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2023 AND 2022
(unaudited; in thousands)

For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2023For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2022
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net loss$(45,617)$(26,709)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization7,0336,088
Stock-based compensation expense14,03611,958
Loss on disposal of assets55
Amortization of debt issuance costs and discount709690
Noncash lease expense988731
Noncash income associated with liability-classified warrants(13,482)
Change in the fair value of contingent consideration3002,500
Accretion of marketable securities purchased at a discount(1,147)
Deferred income taxes420(1,558)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable, net(14,116)(5,644)
Contract assets(3,109)(3,668)
Inventories(6,712)(9,132)
Prepaids and other current assets(10,035)(1,071)
Other non-current assets103772
Trade payables11,305805
Accrued expenses403(3,245)
Employee benefits payables1,294475
Contract liabilities17,29210,652
Other current liabilities2,3054,266
Non-current lease liabilities(891)(783)
Other non-current liabilities4911
Net cash used in operating activities(25,385)(26,339)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property, equipment and software(12,674)(6,242)
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of acquired cash and restricted cash(65,588)
Purchases of marketable securities(76,394)
Maturities of marketable securities78,099)
Net cash used in investing activities(10,969)(71,830)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and public warrants7711,379
Proceeds from Employee Stock Purchase Plan1,2021,025
Proceeds from sale of employees restricted stock units to cover taxes3,07820,841
Minimum tax withholding paid on behalf of employees for restricted stock units(1,915)(8,756)
Payment of contingent consideration(1,000)
Finance lease principal payments(78)(45)
Net cash provided by financing activities2,05814,444
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents127(574)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash(34,169)(84,299)
Cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash, beginning of period245,871692,075
Cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash, end of period$211,702$607,776

ROCKET LAB U.S.A., INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2023 AND 2022
(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 March 31, 2023Three Months Ended March 31, 2022
NET LOSS$(45,617)$(26,709)
Depreciation3,7133,193
Amortization3,3202,895
Stock-based compensation expense14,03611,958
Transaction costs165375
Interest expense, net6852,989
Change in fair value of liability classified warrants(13,482)
Change in fair value of contingent consideration3002,500
Performance reserve escrow1,8381,895
Amortization of inventory step-up2,002
Provision for income taxes5264,388
(Gain) loss on foreign exchange(134)20
Accretion of marketable securities purchased at a discount(1,165)
Loss on disposal of assets55
Employee retention credit(3,841)
ADJUSTED EBITDA$(26,169)$(7,971)
Three Months Ended March 31, 2023Three Months Ended March 31, 2022
GAAP Gross profit$6,357$3,735
Stock-based compensation3,8133,335
Amortization of purchased intangibles1,710565
Amortization of inventory step-up2,002
Performance reserve escrow57114
Employee retention credit(2,130)
Non-GAAP Gross profit$9,807$9,751
Non-GAAP Gross margin17.9%24.0%
GAAP Research and development, net$23,905$13,477
Stock-based compensation(5,022)(5,026)
Amortization of purchased intangibles(9)(1,632)
Employee retention credit631
Non-GAAP Research and development, net$19,505$6,819
GAAP Selling, general and administrative$28,469$23,078
Stock-based compensation(5,201)(3,597)
Amortization of purchased intangibles(1,434)(598)
Transaction costs(165)(375)
Performance reserve escrow(1,781)(1,781)
Change in fair value of contingent consideration(300)(2,500)
Employee retention credit1,080
Non-GAAP Selling, general and administrative$20,668$14,227
GAAP Operating expenses$52,374$36,555
Stock-based compensation(10,223)(8,623)
Amortization of purchased intangibles(1,443)(2,230)
Transaction costs(165)(375)
Performance reserve escrow(1,781)(1,781)
Change in fair value of contingent consideration(300)(2,500)
Employee retention credit1,711
Non-GAAP Operating expenses$40,173$21,046
GAAP Operating loss$(46,017)$(32,820)
Total non-GAAP adjustments15,65121,525
Non-GAAP Operating loss$(30,366)$(11,295)
GAAP Total other income (expense), net$926$10,499
Change in fair value of liability classified warrants(13,482)
(Gain) loss on foreign exchange(134)20
Non-GAAP Total other income (expense), net$792$(2,963)

Leave a Reply