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Intuitive Machines, Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 12 November 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Record quarterly revenue of $269 million: Revenue was $269.3 million against $52.4 million a year earlier. The company credited execution across satellite production, lunar delivery, lunar data services and ground communication networks. Source
  • Operating loss widened on higher expenses: Operating loss was $34.2 million against $15.4 million a year earlier. Total operating expenses were $303.6 million against $67.9 million. Source
  • Gross margin reached $69 million: Gross margin was $69 million, or 26%. The company attributed it to satellite production contribution, higher volume and net favorable one-time program adjustments, including EAC and other cost adjustments. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA was $8.3 million: Adjusted EBITDA was $8.3 million, against negative $13.2 million a year earlier. Nine-month Adjusted EBITDA was negative $3.0 million. Source
  • Backlog reached $1.87 billion: Backlog was $1.87 billion at September 30, 2026, against $213.1 million at December 31, 2025 and $1.76 billion at June 30, 2026. Source
  • Operating cash flow was $66 million: Operating cash flow was positive $66 million with capital expenditures of $33 million, giving free cash flow of $33 million for the quarter. Source
  • Altus-1 on track for March/April launch: The first Altus-1 lunar satellite is planned for launch in the March/April timeframe, and management said it remains on track. Source

“In the third quarter, we delivered record financial performance across the board.”

Intuitive Machines CEO Steve Altemus

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue SourceFull-year 2026$920 - $950 million

What changed from last quarter

  • New: Awarded as a vendor on NASA's CLPS 2 IDIQ contract, a $10 billion contract with a $5 billion option. Source
  • New: Non-GAAP reporting now lists free cash flow and backlog alongside adjusted EBITDA. The prior release listed adjusted EBITDA only. Source
  • New: Altus-2 through Altus-5 deployment accelerated to 2028 on a NASA-provided launch vehicle. Source
  • Ended: Remaining scope of the Power Propulsion Element contract was descoped, and an IM-4 rideshare contract was partly descoped. Source
  • Guidance kept: Full-year 2026 Adjusted EBITDA positive appears in both the second and third quarter releases. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Record quarterly revenue of $269 million: Revenue was $269.3 million against $52.4 million a year earlier. The company credited execution across satellite production, lunar delivery, lunar data services and ground communication networks. Source
  • Operating loss widened on higher expenses: Operating loss was $34.2 million against $15.4 million a year earlier. Total operating expenses were $303.6 million against $67.9 million. Source
  • Net loss per share narrowed: Net loss per Class A share was $(0.02) for the quarter against $(0.06) a year earlier. Nine-month loss per share was $(0.55) against $(0.38). Source
  • Nine-month revenue far above last year: Nine-month revenue was $662.2 million against $165.3 million in the same period of 2025. Source

Products, services and customers

  • Product revenue made up most of growth: Product revenue was $215.1 million, against none in the third quarter of 2025. Service revenue was $54.1 million against $51.0 million. Source
  • Goonhilly added to ground network: The company closed the Goonhilly Earth Station and COMSAT acquisition in August to expand its space-to-ground data services network. Source
  • Earth observation contract with JPL: A contract with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory for FALCON-RADAR, an Earth observation mission studying clouds and convection, was signed in Q4. Source

“These results are an important proof point in our transformation from a company that advanced the state of lunar exploration into a next-generation space prime”

Intuitive Machines CEO Steve Altemus

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Gross margin reached $69 million: Gross margin was $69 million, or 26%. The company attributed it to satellite production contribution, higher volume and net favorable one-time program adjustments, including EAC and other cost adjustments. Source
  • Product costs rose with product sales: Cost of product revenue was $152.6 million against $215.1 million of product revenue. Nine-month product cost was $385.8 million. Source
  • G&A expense rose sharply: General and administrative expense was $82.9 million against $16.3 million a year earlier. Nine-month G&A expense was $193.9 million against $47.1 million. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA was $8.3 million: Adjusted EBITDA was $8.3 million, against negative $13.2 million a year earlier. Nine-month Adjusted EBITDA was negative $3.0 million. Source

Demand and the order book

  • Backlog reached $1.87 billion: Backlog was $1.87 billion at September 30, 2026, against $213.1 million at December 31, 2025 and $1.76 billion at June 30, 2026. Source
  • Acquired backlog added to order book: The increase of about $1.65 billion includes $612.8 million from the Lanteris acquisition and $31.7 million from the Goonhilly acquisition. Source
  • Revenue and descoping reduced backlog: Backlog was reduced by $662.2 million of revenue recognized on existing contracts and by $94.7 million of adjustments, mainly descoping. Source
  • $450 million of new awards in quarter: New awards of $450 million were booked in the quarter with acquired Goonhilly backlog, driven mainly by AMDT3, NASA JPL EAGLE-VSWIR and Hartford. Source

“We expect to convert contracted backlog into revenue through repeatable production, operational excellence, and reliable customer delivery.”

Intuitive Machines CEO Steve Altemus

Cash flow and balance sheet

  • Operating cash flow was $66 million: Operating cash flow was positive $66 million with capital expenditures of $33 million, giving free cash flow of $33 million for the quarter. Source
  • Nine-month free cash flow still negative: Nine-month operating cash use was $45.7 million and free cash flow was negative $112.3 million, against negative $33.0 million a year earlier. Source
  • Cash balance rose to $464 million: Cash and cash equivalents were $463.8 million at September 30, 2026, up from $367.4 million at June 30, 2026. Source
  • Securities issuance added $98 million: Proceeds from issuance of securities were $98.1 million in the quarter and $511.9 million for the nine months. Source

Capital and share count

  • Acquisitions used $465 million in nine months: Business acquisitions used $17.8 million in the quarter and $464.9 million in the nine months, net of cash acquired. Source
  • Weighted share count rose: Weighted average basic and diluted shares were 173.4 million for the quarter, against 117.8 million a year earlier. Source
  • Redeemable noncontrolling interests declined: Redeemable noncontrolling interests were $783.7 million at September 30, 2026, down from $1.19 billion at June 30, 2026. Source

Strategy, programs and missions

  • Altus-1 on track for March/April launch: The first Altus-1 lunar satellite is planned for launch in the March/April timeframe, and management said it remains on track. Source
  • CLPS 2 vendor award in Q4: The company was awarded as a vendor on NASA's $10 billion IDIQ, with a $5 billion option, for its next-generation CLPS 2 contract. Source
  • Altus constellation deployment accelerated: Altus-2 through Altus-5 are planned to deploy together in 2028 on a NASA-provided launch vehicle, which management described as an accelerated plan. Source
  • Next-generation space infrastructure positioning: The company describes itself as a next-generation space infrastructure company spanning spacecraft manufacturing, communications, networks, mission operations and ground infrastructure. Source

Reporting and non-GAAP measures

  • Free cash flow and backlog added as non-GAAP: The release now presents adjusted EBITDA, free cash flow and backlog as non-GAAP measures. The prior release listed only adjusted EBITDA. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA now excludes legal expense: Adjusted EBITDA definition now excludes non-recurring legal expenses, which were $10.3 million in the quarter, along with transaction and integration costs. Source
  • Backlog defined as contracted future revenue: Backlog is defined as the estimated future revenue on awarded contracts, less revenue already recognized. Source

Coming up, as management said on 12 November 2026

  • Altus-1 launch targeted March/April: The first Altus-1 lunar satellite is planned for launch in the March/April timeframe, which management said remains on track. Source
  • IM-3 remains the near-term focus: Management said it remains laser focused on IM-3 as the company turns into 2027. Source
  • Altus-2 to Altus-5 deploy together in 2028: Altus-2 through Altus-5 are planned to deploy together in 2028 on a NASA-provided launch vehicle. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Backlog Source$1.87 billion
New awards booked in quarter Source$450 million

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Descoping of the PPE contract and part of an IM-4 rideshare contract led to $94.7 million of backlog adjustments in the quarter. Source
  • Financial: Acquisition-related transaction and integration costs of $9.6 million, and non-recurring legal expense of $10.3 million, were excluded from Adjusted EBITDA in the quarter. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management said the Altus-1 satellite remains on track for a launch in the March/April timeframe. Source
  • Not stated: The full-year Adjusted EBITDA positive expectation was repeated from the second quarter release without a status update. Source
  • Not stated: The company described its constellation plan as accelerated, without stating a status against the earlier plan. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.