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Iridium Communications Inc (IRDM)



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Upturn Advisory Summary
04/01/2025: IRDM (1-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.
Analysis of Past Performance
Type Stock | Historic Profit -24.98% | Avg. Invested days 41 | Today’s Advisory PASS |
Upturn Star Rating ![]() ![]() | Upturn Advisory Performance ![]() | Stock Returns Performance ![]() |
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Key Highlights
Company Size Mid-Cap Stock | Market Capitalization 2.94B USD | Price to earnings Ratio 28.76 | 1Y Target Price 39.71 |
Price to earnings Ratio 28.76 | 1Y Target Price 39.71 | ||
Volume (30-day avg) 1383996 | Beta 0.7 | 52 Weeks Range 23.66 - 35.50 | Updated Date 04/2/2025 |
52 Weeks Range 23.66 - 35.50 | Updated Date 04/2/2025 | ||
Dividends yield (FY) 2.05% | Basic EPS (TTM) 0.94 |
Analyzing Revenue: Products, Geography and Growth
Revenue by Products
Product revenue - Year on Year
Revenue by Geography
Geography revenue - Year on Year
Earnings Date
Report Date - | When - | Estimate - | Actual - |
Profitability
Profit Margin 13.58% | Operating Margin (TTM) 24.61% |
Management Effectiveness
Return on Assets (TTM) 4.77% | Return on Equity (TTM) 15.4% |
Valuation
Trailing PE 28.76 | Forward PE 27.03 | Enterprise Value 4667943576 | Price to Sales(TTM) 3.54 |
Enterprise Value 4667943576 | Price to Sales(TTM) 3.54 | ||
Enterprise Value to Revenue 5.62 | Enterprise Value to EBITDA 11.55 | Shares Outstanding 108733000 | Shares Floating 96207286 |
Shares Outstanding 108733000 | Shares Floating 96207286 | ||
Percent Insiders 12.27 | Percent Institutions 92.5 |
Analyst Ratings
Rating 4.14 | Target Price 40.5 | Buy 2 | Strong Buy 3 |
Buy 2 | Strong Buy 3 | ||
Hold 2 | Sell - | Strong Sell - | |
Strong Sell - |
Upturn AI SWOT
Iridium Communications Inc

Company Overview
History and Background
Iridium Communications Inc. was founded in 1991 as a subsidiary of Motorola. After facing financial difficulties, it was acquired and restructured in 2000. Today, Iridium operates a global satellite constellation providing voice and data communication services.
Core Business Areas
- Commercial Services: Offers satellite voice and data services to businesses, governments, and individuals. Includes maritime, aviation, land-mobile, and personal communication devices.
- Government Services: Provides communication services to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and other government agencies.
- Equipment: Sells satellite handsets, modems, and other equipment.
Leadership and Structure
Matt Desch is the CEO. The company has a hierarchical structure with various departments overseeing engineering, sales, marketing, and operations.
Top Products and Market Share
Key Offerings
- Satellite Voice & Data: Provides global voice and data services using its satellite constellation. Market share is significant in niche areas like maritime and aviation. Competitors include Globalstar and Inmarsat. Revenue contribution is substantial.
- Iridium GO!: A portable Wi-Fi hotspot for satellite communication. Competes with other satellite hotspots. Growing user base and solid revenue stream.
- Certus Broadband: Iridium's global broadband service. Competitors include Inmarsat's Fleet Broadband, which is a similar service. Growing segment with long-term revenue potential.
Market Dynamics
Industry Overview
The satellite communication industry is evolving, driven by increasing demand for connectivity in remote areas and the growth of IoT. Demand for narrowband communication is on the rise due to the growing IoT space.
Positioning
Iridium holds a strong position with its truly global coverage, especially in polar regions. Competitive advantages include its next-generation constellation and focus on niche markets.
Total Addressable Market (TAM)
The total addressable market for satellite communications is estimated to be in the tens of billions of dollars, with a significant portion addressed by services like IoT connectivity and mobile satellite services. Iridium is positioned to capture a share of this growing market through its global reach and expanding services.
Upturn SWOT Analysis
Strengths
- Truly global coverage
- Next-generation satellite constellation (Iridium NEXT)
- Strong relationships with government clients
- Diverse product offerings
Weaknesses
- Higher service costs compared to terrestrial options
- Vulnerability to solar flares and space weather
- Relatively slower data speeds in certain areas
- Dependence on the US government.
Opportunities
- Expansion into IoT market
- Growth in aviation and maritime sectors
- Partnerships with terrestrial network providers
- Increasing demand for reliable communication in remote areas
Threats
- Competition from other satellite providers (e.g., Starlink, Globalstar, Inmarsat)
- Technological advancements in terrestrial networks
- Economic downturn affecting customer spending
- Regulatory changes impacting satellite operations
Competitors and Market Share
Key Competitors
- GLBC
- ISH
- ASTS
Competitive Landscape
Iridium faces competition from other satellite providers. Iridium's competitive advantages include its truly global coverage and advanced satellite constellation. Iridium's disadvantages may be higher service costs.
Major Acquisitions
Growth Trajectory and Initiatives
Historical Growth: Iridium has experienced growth in recent years due to increased demand for its services and the successful launch of its next-generation constellation.
Future Projections: Analyst estimates suggest continued growth, particularly in the IoT and broadband segments. Projecting strong growth in subscription revenue.
Recent Initiatives: Recent initiatives include expanding its Certus broadband service, focusing on IoT applications, and strengthening its partnerships with government agencies.
Summary
Iridium Communications Inc. is a solid player in the satellite communication market, driven by its global coverage and strong relationships. Its revenue stream is strong and growing due to government contracts and increased IoT. Competition from low-Earth orbit providers will require careful management.
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Sources and Disclaimers
Data Sources:
- Company Filings
- Market Research Reports
- Analyst Estimates
Disclaimers:
This analysis is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Market data and analyst estimates are subject to change.
AI Summarization is directionally correct and might not be accurate.
Summarized information shown could be a few years old and not current.
Fundamental Rating based on AI could be based on old data.
AI-generated summaries may have inaccuracies (hallucinations). Please verify the information before taking action.
About Iridium Communications Inc
Exchange NASDAQ | Headquaters McLean, VA, United States | ||
IPO Launch date 2008-03-20 | CEO & Director Mr. Matthew J. Desch | ||
Sector Communication Services | Industry Telecom Services | Full time employees 873 | Website https://www.iridium.com |
Full time employees 873 | Website https://www.iridium.com |
Iridium Communications Inc. provides mobile voice and data communications services and products to businesses, the United States and international governments, non-governmental organizations, and consumers worldwide. The company offers mobile satellite communications services for land mobile end users and aviation sectors; broadband terminals, embedded devices, and handsets for merchant shipping, fishing, leisure and research vessels, and specialized watercraft; satellite-based IoT services; hosted payload and other data services; and other data services and engineering services. It also provides postpaid mobile voice and data satellite communications; prepaid mobile voice satellite communications; push-to-talk; broadband data; Internet of Things (IoT); and satellite time and location services. In addition, the company offers personnel tracking devices; asset tracking devices for equipment, vehicles, and aircrafts; beyond-line-of-sight aircraft communications applications; maritime communications applications; specialized communications solutions for high-value individuals; and mobile communications and data devices for the military and other government agencies, such as secure satellite handsets; and maintenance services for the U.S. government's dedicated gateway. Further, it provides satellite handsets, voice and data modems, broadband data devices, and IoT data devices; and various accessories for its devices that include batteries, holsters, earbud headphones, portable auxiliary antennas, antenna adaptors, USB data cables, charging units, and others. The company sells its products and services to commercial end users through a wholesale distribution network that include service providers, and value-added resellers and manufacturers. The company was formerly known as Iridium Holdings LLC and changed its name to Iridium Communications Inc. in September 2009. Iridium Communications Inc. is headquartered in McLean, Virginia.
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