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York Space Systems Inc.: Q2 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q2 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 13 August 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 1 lowered. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 10% to $92.5 million: Second-quarter revenue was $92.5 million, up $8.7 million or 10%. Management said growth came mainly from major government programs. Six-month revenue was $208.9 million, up 10%. Source
  • Eight contract wins year to date: Management reports eight contracts secured year to date at an approximately 88% win rate across ten mission areas. Source
  • T1TL launch set program record: A second dedicated Falcon 9 launched 21 York-built satellites. The company says it is the first T1TL performer to complete deliveries, bringing its program record to 42-for-42. Source
  • Government shifting to IDIQ approach: Management says the government is moving from a rapid series of larger RFPs to IDIQ vehicles, which take longer to award but allow faster Task Orders afterward. Source
  • Pipeline of $11.5 billion: The government pipeline is $11.5 billion across 12 potential customers. It covers the next two years and includes only customers management has spoken to directly. Source
  • Backlog down from March, up year to date: Backlog was $592.0 million, down 8% from $642.3 million at March 31 and up 9% from the start of the year. The first-quarter release had cited a new commercial contract. Source
  • Total liquidity of $684 million: Cash was $534 million and revolver availability was $150 million at June 30, for total liquidity of $684 million, down from $806 million at March 31. Source

“Through the first half of 2026, we’ve secured eight contract wins at an 88% win rate, a reflection of both the breadth of our capabilities and the confidence customers place in our performance on orbit.”

Dirk Wallinger, CEO of York

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Revenue Sourcefull year 2026$375 million to $405 millionLowered from $545 million to $595 million

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance lowered: Full-year 2026 revenue guidance was brought down. Management attributes most of the decrease to removing new-business revenue given the shift in government acquisition methods. Source
  • New: ALL.SPACE acquisition, agreed in April according to the first-quarter release, was completed in July, adding assured communications terminals. Source
  • New: Solestial, Inc., a provider of space solar technology, was acquired and is now completed. Source
  • New: Brian Frantz is interim CFO and CAO. The first-quarter release had named Kevin Messerle as CFO. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 10% to $92.5 million: Second-quarter revenue was $92.5 million, up $8.7 million or 10%. Management said growth came mainly from major government programs. Six-month revenue was $208.9 million, up 10%. Source
  • Gross margin recovered on prior-year charge: Gross profit was $22.2 million against $9.5 million a year earlier, and gross margin was 24% against 11%. Management linked the rise mainly to a prior-year negative adjustment rolling off. Source
  • Net loss widened on stock compensation: Net loss was $39.3 million, up from $24.2 million. The quarter carried $10.9 million of stock compensation expense, against none in the prior-year quarter. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA loss little changed: Adjusted EBITDA was a loss of $9.5 million against a loss of $8.9 million a year earlier. The six-month Adjusted EBITDA loss was $13.1 million against $3.5 million. Source

Contract wins and programs

  • Eight contract wins year to date: Management reports eight contracts secured year to date at an approximately 88% win rate across ten mission areas. Source
  • Four national security awards in quarter: Four new national security awards in the quarter included three IDIQ vehicles. One of those IDIQs has already produced two delivery orders. Source
  • Task Orders followed IDIQ selection: A July Task Order under a highly selective IDIQ and an early-August Task Order for an on-orbit demonstration followed IDIQ selection within weeks, per management. Source
  • T1TL launch set program record: A second dedicated Falcon 9 launched 21 York-built satellites. The company says it is the first T1TL performer to complete deliveries, bringing its program record to 42-for-42. Source
  • Dragoon initial objectives completed: The company completed initial Dragoon mission objectives within months, which management says shows tactical communications delivery at speed and scale. Source

“As a result, we are bringing down our full year 2026 revenue guidance.”

Brian Frantz, interim CFO and CAO of York

Demand and government acquisition shift

  • Government shifting to IDIQ approach: Management says the government is moving from a rapid series of larger RFPs to IDIQ vehicles, which take longer to award but allow faster Task Orders afterward. Source
  • Six new-approach contracts expected to grow: York has been awarded six contracts under the new approach in 2026. The company believes they can drive growth into 2027 as follow-on programs advance. Source
  • Pipeline of $11.5 billion: The government pipeline is $11.5 billion across 12 potential customers. It covers the next two years and includes only customers management has spoken to directly. Source
  • Backlog down from March, up year to date: Backlog was $592.0 million, down 8% from $642.3 million at March 31 and up 9% from the start of the year. The first-quarter release had cited a new commercial contract. Source

Costs, margins and contribution

  • Contribution margin rose to 42%: Contribution margin, a non-GAAP measure, was 42% against 24% a year earlier. Direct labor costs were $11.1 million and direct overhead costs were $3.7 million. Source
  • Transaction costs rose with deal activity: Transaction costs were $6.0 million against $75 thousand a year earlier. The company says these cover legal and advisory fees tied to acquisitions and one-time IPO costs. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA definition text changed: The definition in this release drops stock-based compensation from the listed adjustments. The reconciliation table still adds back stock-based compensation. Source

“the contracts we’ve secured this year under the new acquisition approach are the onboarding positions that we expect to convert to significantly larger operational programs”

Brian Frantz, interim CFO and CAO of York

Cash, liquidity and capital

  • Total liquidity of $684 million: Cash was $534 million and revolver availability was $150 million at June 30, for total liquidity of $684 million, down from $806 million at March 31. Source
  • Operating cash outflow widened: Net cash used in operating activities was $186.6 million for the six months, against $99.8 million a year earlier. Capital expenditures were $3.4 million. Source
  • IPO proceeds in first half: Six-month cash flows include $592.8 million of IPO proceeds, net of underwriting discounts and commissions. Acquisitions of businesses used $25.2 million net of cash acquired. Source
  • Common shares outstanding reached 129.3 million: Common shares outstanding were 129,312,790 at June 30, 2026, following conversion of common units and Class P units at the IPO. Source

Acquisitions and strategy

  • ALL.SPACE brings Army and Navy work: ALL.SPACE brings established Army and Navy contracts, including a new Defense Innovation Unit contract and a $6 million follow-on Navy order, both awarded in Q3. Source
  • Acquisitions extend reach into unmanned systems: Management says ALL.SPACE extends York into assured communications and into demand for unmanned systems, tied to the changing character of conflict. Source

Coming up, as management said on 13 August 2026

  • Nemesis spacecraft delivery in Q4: Management expects the Nemesis mission to deliver its spacecraft in the fourth quarter of 2026, after clearing its Delta Critical Design Review. Source
  • Task Orders under NITE-STAR IDIQ: Following the NITE-STAR selection, York expects to compete for task orders that integrate its satellite platforms with the ATLAS Space Operations ground network. Source
  • Growth from new-approach awards in 2027: Management expects the new-approach IDIQ positions to become meaningful drivers of growth in 2027 and beyond. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Backlog Source$592.0 million
Potential on awarded contracts Source$1.85 billion
Identified pipeline Source$11.5 billion across 12 potential customers
Contract wins year to date Source8 contracts at approximately 88% win rate
Satellites launched on second T1TL launch Source21
T1TL program record Source42-for-42

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: Management said revenue depends on the government moving forward on larger budgeted programs, and the company is waiting on that progress. Source
  • Demand: The IDIQ approach has a longer award cycle, so initial awards take longer, though Task Orders can follow more quickly once IDIQs are in place. Source
  • External: Management says the Solestial acquisition reduces geopolitical exposure from a supply element now controlled by China. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • On track: Management says the Nemesis mission remains on track for spacecraft delivery in Q4. Source
  • Ahead: After the second T1TL launch, the program record is 42-for-42, which management describes as ahead of every other awardee. Source
  • Not stated: In May, management said first-quarter results reflected consistent execution against the objectives set at the start of the year. The second-quarter release does not restate that status.

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.