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York Space Systems Inc.: Q4 FY2025 earnings call

What management said about Q4 FY2025, from the documents filed with the SEC on 19 March 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 52% to $386 million: Full-year revenue was $386.2 million, up $133 million or 52%, mainly from increased completion on two Transport Layer Tranche 2 contracts. Gross profit reached $75.5 million. Source
  • Backlog converted $319 million to revenue: Backlog ended 2025 at $543 million, down from $861.7 million a year earlier, after $319 million was converted to revenue during the year. Source
  • Tranche 1 satellites delivered on orbit: York delivered 21 Tranche 1 Transport Layer satellites to orbit for the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, becoming the first prime to execute an on-orbit delivery under that contract. Source
  • Gross margin up 6.8 points to 19.5%: Gross margin rose 6.8 percentage points to 19.5%. The company attributed this to reduced negative EAC adjustments and improved program mix compared with 2024. Source
  • Year-end cash and revolver availability: Cash and cash equivalents were $162.6 million at December 31, 2025, with $150 million available under the Revolving Facility, for total liquidity of $312.6 million. Source
  • Operating cash used $121.3 million: Net cash used in operating activities was $121.3 million for 2025, against $31.6 million provided in 2024. Source

“2025 was the year York defined what a modern mission prime looks like,”

CEO Dirk Wallinger

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue SourceFull year 2026$545 million to $595 million
Backlog coverage of revenue expectation Source2026, at the midpointover 70%

What changed from last quarter

  • New: York completed its initial public offering in January 2026, selling 18.5 million common shares at $34 per share. Source
  • New: York acquired ATLAS Space Operations, which adds a global ground station network and a software-defined operations platform. The release lists it among 2025 highlights. Source
  • New: In March 2026 York acquired Orbion Space Technology, adding flight-proven electric propulsion systems to its supply chain. Source
  • New: In February 2026 York finalized a $187 million commercial contract for a constellation of more than 20 satellites built on the M-CLASS platform. Source

Results, backlog and growth

  • Revenue rose 52% to $386 million: Full-year revenue was $386.2 million, up $133 million or 52%, mainly from increased completion on two Transport Layer Tranche 2 contracts. Gross profit reached $75.5 million. Source
  • Net loss narrowed; adjusted EBITDA improved: Net loss was $84.5 million, against $98.9 million in 2024. Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) was negative $8.3 million, against negative $43.0 million. Source
  • Fourth-quarter revenue up 38%: Fourth-quarter revenue was $105.3 million, against $76.6 million a year earlier. Gross profit was $21.1 million and adjusted EBITDA was negative $1.4 million. Source
  • Backlog converted $319 million to revenue: Backlog ended 2025 at $543 million, down from $861.7 million a year earlier, after $319 million was converted to revenue during the year. Source

Programs and customer contracts

  • Tranche 1 satellites delivered on orbit: York delivered 21 Tranche 1 Transport Layer satellites to orbit for the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, becoming the first prime to execute an on-orbit delivery under that contract. Source
  • Contact with all spacecraft after launch: Management said York made contact with all spacecraft within hours of launch separation. Source
  • BARD demonstrations exceeded objectives: York launched and executed more than 100 mission demonstrations for NASA's BARD mission, which the release says exceeded baseline performance objectives. Source

“We didn’t just win contracts, we delivered real capability on accelerated timelines, at scale, and at approximately half the cost of our competitors.”

CEO Dirk Wallinger

Margins and cost of revenue

  • Gross margin up 6.8 points to 19.5%: Gross margin rose 6.8 percentage points to 19.5%. The company attributed this to reduced negative EAC adjustments and improved program mix compared with 2024. Source
  • Contribution margin rose to 32%: Non-GAAP contribution margin was 32% for 2025, against 30% for 2024. The fourth-quarter figure was 33%, against 35% a year earlier. Source
  • Transaction costs rose to $12.1 million: Transaction costs were $12.1 million in 2025, against $0.2 million in 2024. The release attributes them to acquisition activity and one-time IPO costs. Source
  • SG&A rose; R&D fell: Selling, general and administrative expenses were $115.6 million, against $103.8 million. Research and development fell to $18.4 million from $20.4 million. Source

Capital, cash and liquidity

  • Year-end cash and revolver availability: Cash and cash equivalents were $162.6 million at December 31, 2025, with $150 million available under the Revolving Facility, for total liquidity of $312.6 million. Source
  • IPO added $582.6 million net: The company received $582.6 million in net IPO proceeds. Total liquidity stood at $895.4 million on January 31, 2026, including the undrawn Revolving Facility. Source
  • Operating cash used $121.3 million: Net cash used in operating activities was $121.3 million for 2025, against $31.6 million provided in 2024. Source
  • Capital spending of $8.9 million: Capital expenditures and capitalized software development costs were $8.9 million in 2025, against $18.0 million in 2024. Source
  • Class P derivative liability $93.4 million: The derivative liability associated with Class P Units was $93.4 million at December 31, 2025. The balance sheet shows none at December 31, 2024. Source

“With a strong balance sheet further bolstered by our recent IPO, we believe we are well-positioned to scale as demand for our products and services continues to grow.”

CFO Kevin Messerle

Platforms and strategy

  • M-CLASS extends platform to 8kW: York introduced the M-CLASS platform for payloads up to 8kW, built on substantially the same core hardware and flight-proven software as its S-CLASS and LX-CLASS platforms. Source
  • Positioned as leading PWSA provider: Management said York emerged as a leading provider to the Department of Defense's PWSA, measured by spacecraft on orbit, number of contracts and mission types. Source
  • Broader reach across customer types: Management said the M-CLASS platform broadens York's ability to serve national security, civil and commercial customers. Source

Mission demonstrations and delivery speed

  • Optical laser links demonstrated: York demonstrated in-plane, cross-vendor and space-to-ground optical laser communications, as well as K-Band connectivity and orbit maneuvering. Source
  • Only provider to demo Link 16 from space: The company said it remains the only provider to demonstrate Link 16 from space to ground. Source
  • Dragoon reached orbit in seven months: York launched the Dragoon mission in seven months from contract signing to orbit, a 75% reduction against typical 30-month programs, by reallocating a production line platform. Source

Coming up, as management said on 19 March 2026

  • Pipeline work beyond 2026: Management said backlog coverage allows it to focus on building the pipeline for beyond this year. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Tranche 1 Transport Layer satellites delivered to orbit Source21
BARD mission demonstrations executed Sourcemore than 100
Backlog at year end ($ thousands) Source542,557
Satellites in commercial constellation contract Source20+

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Backlog may not be fully realized: terminations, amendments or cancellations could reduce backlog and revenue that is never recognized. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Ahead: Management said BARD demonstrations exceeded baseline performance objectives. Source
  • Ahead: Management said York launched its Tranche 1 Transport Layer vehicles a month ahead of its nearest competitor. 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.