Rocket Lab Announces Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results, Posts Record Revenue on 71% Year-on-Year Growth

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Aug 08, 2024

Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab” or “the Company”), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today shared the financial results for fiscal second quarter, ended June 30, 2024.

Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, said: “This year’s second quarter was Rocket Lab’s highest revenue quarter in Company history at $106 million. This 71% year-on-year revenue increase demonstrates the strong and growing demand for our launch services and space systems products, and importantly, our team’s ability to execute against it. Meanwhile, we reached a critical milestone in the development of our new medium lift rocket Neutron, with the successful completion of the first hot fire for the Archimedes engine. Over the same period, we made significant progress in Neutron production and launch infrastructure with the scaling of engine production facilities, installation of the automated fiber placement machine that will produce Neutron’s largest carbon fiber structures, and we furthered development of Launch Complex 3 and the integration and assembly facility on site in Wallops, Virginia. On the small launch front, Electron remains the leading small rocket globally with successful launches in the quarter for government and commercial customers, and demand for it continues to grow with 17 new launches signed so far this year. We also continue to reach development and production milestones across our space systems programs, in which we have more than $720 million in spacecraft under contract. Some significant achievements on this front include the completion of twin Rocket Lab-designed and built satellites for a NASA mission to Mars, as well as completing successful development reviews for the government and commercial constellations we have in work.”

Business Highlights for the Second Quarter 2024, plus updates since June 30, 2024:

  • Achieved our highest revenue quarter in Company history at $106 million.
  • Successful Electron launches for NASA, commercial constellation operators Synspective, Kineis, and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). Electron remains the most frequently launched small rocket globally and Electron launches have accounted for 64% of all non-SpaceX orbital U.S. launches in 2024 to date.
  • Successfully launched our 50th Electron mission, reaching 50 launches faster than any commercially developed rocket in history.
  • Demonstrated pinpoint deployment accuracy by launching customer payload to within eight meters of target orbit (accepted industry tolerance is typically 15 kilometers).
  • Signed 17 new launch contracts year-to-date, including multi-launch deals with commercial constellation operators, a HASTE (Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron) launch for a government customer, and two highly complex missions for the Department of Defense, including a responsive launch demonstration in which Rocket Lab will build a spacecraft, as well as launch and operate it as an end-to-end space service.
  • Reached major development milestone with successful completion of first Archimedes engine hot fire. Now moving into full production for remaining flight engines.
  • Significant progress made in development and flight hardware of Neutron structures, fairing, avionics, and flight software.
  • Infrastructure development progressing to support first Neutron flight and operational launch cadence, including scaling Archimedes engine production line, arrival of long lead cryogenic systems at launch site, installation of automated fiber placement machine for Neutron production, and entering final construction phase of establishing final assembly facility at Wallops, Virginia.
  • Completed production of two spacecraft for NASA’s ESCAPADE mission to Mars, scheduled to launch this year.
  • Signed preliminary terms for $49.4m in state and federal funding, including a portion under the CHIPS Act, to expand production of solar cells in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
  • Progressing development and production of spacecraft for Varda Space Industries, as well as constellations on contract for the Space Development Agency and MDA/Globalstar.
  • Introduced a new satellite dispenser at the Small Satellite Conference in Utah to provide customers with more flexibility when designing spacecraft.

Third Quarter 2024 Guidance

For the third quarter of 2024, Rocket Lab expects:

  • Revenue between $100 million and $105 million.
  • Space Systems revenue between $79 million and $84 million.
  • Launch Services revenue of approximately $21 million.
  • GAAP Gross Margins between 25% and 27%.
  • Non-GAAP Gross Margins between 30% and 32%.
  • GAAP Operating Expenses between $80 million and $82 million.
  • Non-GAAP Operating Expenses between $69 million and $71 million.
  • Expected Interest Expense (Income), net $1 million.
  • Adjusted EBITDA loss of $31 million to $33 million.
  • Basic Shares Outstanding of 498 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 Q3 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 Q3 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 second quarter, to provide our outlook for the third 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, various satellite platforms, and is developing the Neutron launch vehicle for large spacecraft and constellation deployment. From its first orbital launch in January 2018 to date, Rocket Lab’s Electron launch vehicle has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually and has delivered 191 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 Photon spacecraft platform has 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 site in Virginia, USA. To learn more, visit www.rocketlabusa.com.

+ FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release may contain certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, contained in this press release, including statements regarding our expectations of financial results for the third quarter of 2024, strategy, future operations, future financial position, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management, are forward-looking statements. Words such as, but not limited to, “anticipate,” “aim,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “continue,” “could,” “design,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “suggest,” “strategy,” “target,” “will,” “would,” and similar expressions or phrases, or the negative of those expressions or phrases, are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. These forward-looking statements are based on Rocket Lab’s current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (many of which are beyond Rocket Lab’s control), or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this release, including risks related to delays and disruptions in expansion efforts; delays in the development of our Neutron rocket; our dependence on a limited number of customers; the harsh and unpredictable environment of space in which our products operate which could adversely affect our launch vehicle and spacecraft; increased competition in our industry due in part to rapid technological development; technological change in our industry which we may not be able to keep up with or which may render our services uncompetitive; average selling price trends; general economic uncertainty and turbulence which could impact our customers’ ability to pay what we are owed; failure of our launch vehicles, spacecraft and components to operate as intended either due to our error in design, in engineering, in production or through no fault of our own; launch schedule disruptions; supply chain disruptions, product delays or failures; launch failures; natural disasters and epidemics or pandemics; any inability to effectively integrate recently acquired assets; a US government shutdown or delays in government funding; changes in governmental regulations including with respect to trade and export restrictions, or in the status of our regulatory approvals or applications; or other events that force us to cancel or reschedule launches, including customer contractual rescheduling and termination rights; risks that acquisitions may not be completed on the anticipated time frame or at all or do not achieve the anticipated benefits and results; and the other risks detailed from time to time in Rocket Lab’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including under the heading “Risk Factors” in Rocket Lab’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, which was filed with the SEC on February 28, 2024, and elsewhere. There can be no assurance that the future developments affecting Rocket Lab will be those that we have anticipated. Except as required by law, Rocket Lab is not undertaking any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Notes to Editor: All dollar amounts in this press release are expressed in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise stated.

+ 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 SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2024 AND 2023

(unaudited; in thousands, except share and per share data)

Three Months Ended June 30,

Six Months Ended June 30,

2024

2023

2024

2023

Revenues

$

106,251

$

62,045

$

199,018

$

116,940

Cost of revenues

79,089

47,452

147,682

95,990

Gross profit

27,162

14,593

51,336

20,950

Operating expenses:

Research and development, net

39,912

31,035

78,416

54,940

Selling, general and administrative

30,524

28,717

59,273

57,186

Total operating expenses

70,436

59,752

137,689

112,126

Operating loss

(43,274

)

(45,159

)

(86,353

)

(91,176

)

Other income (expense):

Interest expense, net

(824

)

(745

)

(1,722

)

(1,430

)

(Loss) gain on foreign exchange

(286

)

(90

)

25

44

Other income, net

1,893

866

1,304

2,343

Total other income (expense), net

783

31

(393

)

957

Loss before income taxes

(42,491

)

(45,128

)

(86,746

)

(90,219

)

Benefit (provision) for income taxes

860

(761

)

855

(1,287

)

Net loss

$

(41,631

)

$

(45,889

)

$

(85,891

)

$

(91,506

)

Net loss per share attributable to Rocket Lab USA, Inc.:

Basic and diluted

$

(0.08

)

$

(0.10

)

$

(0.17

)

$

(0.19

)

Weighted-average common shares outstanding:

Basic and diluted

494,190,708

479,735,858

492,092,709

477,977,551

ROCKET LAB U.S.A., INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

AS OF JUNE 30, 2024 AND DECEMBER 31, 2023

(unaudited; in thousands, except share and per share data)

June 30, 2024

(unaudited)

December 31,

2023

Assets

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$

340,911

$

162,518

Marketable securities, current

155,844

82,255

Accounts receivable, net

50,476

35,176

Contract assets

18,744

12,951

Inventories

104,539

107,857

Prepaids and other current assets

81,322

66,949

Assets held for sale

9,016

Total current assets

751,836

476,722

Non-current assets:

Property, plant and equipment, net

155,894

145,409

Intangible assets, net

64,243

68,094

Goodwill

71,020

71,020

Right-of-use assets - operating leases

55,283

59,401

Right-of-use assets - finance leases

14,667

14,987

Marketable securities, non-current

46,411

79,247

Restricted cash

3,640

3,916

Deferred income tax assets, net

1,573

3,501

Other non-current assets

24,031

18,914

Total assets

$

1,188,598

$

941,211

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

Current liabilities:

Trade payables

$

26,468

$

29,303

Accrued expenses

11,937

5,590

Employee benefits payable

13,918

16,342

Contract liabilities

184,042

139,338

Current installments of long-term borrowings

11,345

17,764

Other current liabilities

18,731

15,036

Total current liabilities

266,441

223,373

Non-current liabilities:

Convertible senior notes, net

344,344

Long-term borrowings, net, excluding current installments

50,061

87,587

Non-current operating lease liabilities

52,888

56,099

Non-current finance lease liabilities

15,112

15,238

Deferred tax liabilities

619

426

Other non-current liabilities

3,953

3,944

Total liabilities

733,418

386,667

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Stockholders’ equity:

Common stock, $0.0001 par value; authorized shares: 2,500,000,000; issued and outstanding shares: 496,500,849 and 488,923,055 at June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively

50

49

Additional paid-in capital

1,165,322

1,176,484

Accumulated deficit

(709,417

)

(623,526

)

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

(775

)

1,537

Total stockholders’ equity

455,180

554,544

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

$

1,188,598

$

941,211

ROCKET LAB U.S.A., INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2024 AND 2023

(unaudited; in thousands)

For the Six Months Ended June 30,

2024

2023

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

Net loss

$

(85,891

)

$

(91,506

)

Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization

16,421

13,785

Stock-based compensation expense

27,048

29,300

(Gain) loss on disposal of assets

(1,192

)

27

Loss on extinguishment of long-term debt

1,330

Amortization of debt issuance costs and discount

1,454

1,431

Noncash lease expense

2,959

2,026

Change in the fair value of contingent consideration

(218

)

1,600

Accretion of marketable securities purchased at a discount

(1,605

)

(2,116

)

Deferred income taxes

2,000

248

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

Accounts receivable, net

(15,420

)

11,433

Contract assets

(5,793

)

(7,264

)

Inventories

2,530

(10,611

)

Prepaids and other current assets

(4,638

)

(10,839

)

Other non-current assets

(5,289

)

(5,634

)

Trade payables

(1,930

)

13,234

Accrued expenses

6,566

(2,845

)

Employee benefits payables

(1,064

)

4,116

Contract liabilities

44,718

26,230

Other current liabilities

4,222

(1,881

)

Non-current lease liabilities

(2,860

)

(1,942

)

Other non-current liabilities

1,064

(241

)

Net cash used in operating activities

(15,588

)

(31,449

)

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

Purchases of property, equipment and software

(34,521

)

(23,246

)

Proceeds on disposal of assets, net

10,815

Cash paid for asset acquisition

(16,119

)

Purchases of marketable securities

(113,274

)

(132,000

)

Maturities of marketable securities

73,883

154,176

Net cash used in investing activities

(63,097

)

(17,189

)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

Proceeds from the exercise of stock options and public warrants

1,159

1,808

Proceeds from Employee Stock Purchase Plan

2,665

2,522

Proceeds from sale of employees restricted stock units to cover taxes

9,270

7,801

Minimum tax withholding paid on behalf of employees for restricted stock units

(9,479

)

(6,968

)

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

(45,822

)

Payment of debt issuance costs

(12,205

)

Finance lease principal payments

(477

)

(160

)

Net cash provided by financing activities

256,943

4,003

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

(141

)

(482

)

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash

178,117

(45,117

)

Cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash, beginning of period

166,434

245,871

Cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash, end of period

$

344,551

$

200,754

ROCKET LAB U.S.A., INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

FOR THE THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 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 June 30,

Six Months Ended June 30,

2024

2023

2024

2023

NET LOSS

$

(41,631

)

$

(45,889

)

$

(85,891

)

$

(91,506

)

Depreciation

4,796

3,513

9,720

7,226

Amortization

3,312

3,239

6,701

6,559

Stock-based compensation expense

13,955

15,264

27,048

29,300

Transaction costs

12

4

384

169

Interest expense, net

824

745

1,722

1,430

Change in fair value of contingent consideration

53

1,300

(218

)

1,600

Performance reserve escrow

1,788

3,626

(Benefit) provision for income taxes

(860

)

761

(855

)

1,287

Loss (gain) on foreign exchange

286

90

(25

)

(44

)

Accretion of marketable securities purchased at a discount

(764

)

(989

)

(1,606

)

(2,154

)

(Gain) loss on disposal of assets

(1,195

)

22

(1,192

)

27

Employee retention credit

(3,841

)

Loss on extinguishment of debt

1,330

ADJUSTED EBITDA

$

(21,212

)

$

(20,152

)

$

(42,882

)

$

(46,321

)

Three Months Ended June 30,

Six Months Ended June 30,

2024

2023

2024

2023

GAAP Gross profit

$

27,162

$

14,593

$

51,336

$

20,950

Stock-based compensation

3,673

3,330

7,176

7,143

Amortization of purchased intangibles and favorable lease

1,741

1,709

3,484

3,419

Performance reserve escrow

76

133

Employee retention credit

(2,130

)

Non-GAAP Gross profit

$

32,576

$

19,708

$

61,996

$

29,515

Non-GAAP Gross margin

30.7

%

31.8

%

31.2

%

25.2

%

GAAP Research and development, net

$

39,912

$

31,035

$

78,416

$

54,940

Stock-based compensation

(5,049

)

(6,652

)

(9,034

)

(11,674

)

Amortization of purchased intangibles and favorable lease

(155

)

(9

)

(384

)

(18

)

Employee retention credit

631

Non-GAAP Research and development, net

$

34,708

$

24,374

$

68,998

$

43,879

GAAP Selling, general and administrative

$

30,524

$

28,717

$

59,273

$

57,186

Stock-based compensation

(5,233

)

(5,282

)

(10,838

)

(10,483

)

Amortization of purchased intangibles and favorable lease

(1,382

)

(1,395

)

(2,314

)

(2,829

)

Transaction costs

(12

)

(4

)

(384

)

(169

)

Performance reserve escrow

(1,712

)

(3,493

)

Change in fair value of contingent consideration

(53

)

(1,300

)

218

(1,600

)

Employee retention credit

1,080

Non-GAAP Selling, general and administrative

$

23,844

$

19,024

$

45,955

$

39,692

GAAP Operating expenses

$

70,436

$

59,752

$

137,689

$

112,126

Stock-based compensation

(10,282

)

(11,934

)

(19,872

)

(22,157

)

Amortization of purchased intangibles and favorable lease

(1,537

)

(1,404

)

(2,698

)

(2,847

)

Transaction costs

(12

)

(4

)

(384

)

(169

)

Performance reserve escrow

(1,712

)

(3,493

)

Change in fair value of contingent consideration

(53

)

(1,300

)

218

(1,600

)

Employee retention credit

1,711

Non-GAAP Operating expenses

$

58,552

$

43,398

$

114,953

$

83,571

GAAP Operating loss

$

(43,274

)

$

(45,159

)

$

(86,353

)

$

(91,176

)

Total non-GAAP adjustments

17,298

21,469

33,396

37,120

Non-GAAP Operating loss

$

(25,976

)

$

(23,690

)

$

(52,957

)

$

(54,056

)

GAAP Total other income (expense), net

$

783

$

31

$

(393

)

$

957

Loss (gain) on foreign exchange

286

90

(25

)

(44

)

(Gain) loss on disposal of assets

(1,195

)

22

(1,192

)

27

Loss on extinguishment of debt

1,330

Non-GAAP Total other income (expense), net

$

(126

)

$

143

$

(280

)

$

940

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