Iridium’s third quarter results topped Wall Street’s revenue and profit expectations, but the market responded negatively, reflecting investor concerns about emerging competitive pressures and business mix shifts. Management attributed growth to expansion in industrial IoT and position, navigation, and timing (PNT) services, while also acknowledging the impact from the non-renewal of a large broadband contract and the effects of recent price increases. CEO Matt Desch pointed out, “We have tremendous experience developing thousands of Iridium-connected solutions that are already in the market,” as the company navigates heightened competition and evolving industry dynamics.

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While we enjoy listening to the management's commentary, our favorite part of earnings calls are the analyst questions. Those are unscripted and can often highlight topics that management teams would rather avoid or topics where the answer is complicated. Here is what has caught our attention.

Our Top 5 Analyst Questions From Iridium’s Q3 Earnings Call

• Xin Yu (Deutsche Bank): Asked about the timeline and nature of potential M&A. CEO Matt Desch responded that M&A will be a bigger focus, targeting complementary businesses and emphasizing that timing depends on market opportunities.
• Brent Penter (Raymond James): Inquired about business lines insulated from competitive risk. Desch explained that services like cockpit safety and PNT are well-protected due to regulatory hurdles and long-term relationships, while IoT and industrial solutions remain robust despite broader competition.
• Mathieu Robilliard (Barclays): Questioned the impact of D2D competition and specifics of the Deutsche Telekom partnership. Desch clarified that the agreement is for Iridium NTN Direct, a standards-based solution currently in testing, which will open new markets with lower ARPU but broader reach.
• Timothy Horan (Oppenheimer): Probed the scale of the PNT opportunity and competitive threats. Desch expressed confidence in PNT’s growth potential, noting “significant competitive advantage” but acknowledged the timing of revenue realization is uncertain.
• Justin Lang (Morgan Stanley): Sought clarity on the scale of acquisition targets. Desch indicated openness to both small and transformational deals, with a preference for opportunities aligned with Iridium’s core strengths and not radically altering the business model.

Catalysts in Upcoming Quarters

In the coming quarters, our analysts will monitor (1) the commercialization and adoption rate of Iridium NTN Direct, especially through roaming partnerships with major mobile operators; (2) further developments and customer wins in the PNT and cybersecurity segments; and (3) progress on capital allocation, including any announced acquisitions or new strategic investments. Execution in regulated safety markets and traction in autonomous systems will also be important markers of success.

Iridium currently trades at $17.28, down from $19.69 just before the earnings. Is there an opportunity in the stock?See for yourself in our full research report (it’s free for active Edge members).

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