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    Planet Labs PBC (PL)

    Q4 2025 Earnings Summary

    Reported on Mar 26, 2025 (After Market Close)
    Pre-Earnings Price$4.24Last close (Mar 20, 2025)
    Post-Earnings Price$3.61Open (Mar 21, 2025)
    Price Change
    $-0.63(-14.86%)
    • Planet Labs is experiencing strong demand for its satellite services, especially following the successful JSAT partnership, and is pursuing additional strategic partnerships, indicating potential for significant revenue growth and market expansion.
    • The company anticipates doubling its growth rate in FY27, supported by a strong backlog and increased revenue visibility, demonstrating confidence in future performance.
    • Investments in AI-powered solutions are a strategic focus for the year, expected to accelerate opportunities, enhance product offerings, and maintain Planet Labs’ competitive edge in the market.
    • The company projects a decline in non-GAAP gross margin to between 55% and 57% for fiscal 2026, down from 60% in fiscal 2025, due to increased depreciation and costs related to the new JSAT contract, potentially impacting profitability.
    • Despite achieving adjusted EBITDA profitability in Q4 fiscal 2025, the company expects to have an adjusted EBITDA loss of between minus $13 million and minus $7 million in fiscal 2026, indicating a return to losses and delaying consistent profitability.
    • The company's revenue growth rate is expected to slow in fiscal 2026, with projected revenue between $260 million and $280 million, representing growth of approximately 6% to 15% over fiscal 2025's revenue of $244.4 million, compared to 11% growth in the prior year, signaling potential challenges in sustaining growth momentum.
    MetricYoY ChangeReason

    Total Revenue

    +4.7% (from $58.86M to $61.55M)

    Total Revenue increased modestly, driven by improved market conditions and continued demand both domestically and internationally, building on the revenue mix improvements seen in prior periods.

    U.S. Revenue

    +6% (from $25.2M to $26.75M)

    U.S. Revenue grew by 6% as stronger domestic sales and enhanced conversion of sales initiatives boosted revenue relative to Q4 2024, reflecting an ongoing focus on robust market engagement from the prior period.

    Rest of World Revenue

    +3.3% (from $33.65M to $34.8M)

    Rest of World revenue rose steadily by 3.3%, indicating more gradual market penetration overseas and a continuation of the international growth trends observed earlier.

    Cost of Revenue

    −11.5% (from $26,371K to $23,339K)

    A significant reduction in Cost of Revenue was achieved through operational efficiencies and cost-management measures that built on previous period improvements, contributing to stronger overall margins.

    Gross Profit

    +17.6% (from $32,481K to $38,215K)

    Gross Profit increased by 17.6% due to higher revenue combined with reduced cost of revenue, creating a more efficient cost structure than in Q4 2024.

    R&D Expenses

    −19.1% (from $28,410K to $22,951K)

    R&D expenses dropped by 19.1%, reflecting strategic cost optimizations and reduced spending on experimental initiatives compared to the higher investments made in Q4 2024.

    Sales & Marketing Expenses

    −22% (from $20,095K to $15,681K)

    Marked decrease in Sales & Marketing expenses by nearly 22% shows effective cost-containment measures and improved efficiency in the marketing function relative to the prior period.

    General & Administrative Expense

    +5.7% (from $17,894K to $18,949K)

    G&A expenses increased modestly by 5.7%, likely due to higher administrative overheads such as increased rent costs and other facility-related expenses, even as broader cost controls were implemented.

    Operating Loss

    −43% (from $33,918K to $19,366K)

    Operating loss improved significantly, cutting the loss by roughly 43% as stronger gross profit and cost reductions (in R&D, Sales & Marketing, and G&A) surpassed the incremental revenue, building on prior period initiatives for cost optimization.

    Net Loss

    +16.9% (from $30,086K to $35,154K)

    Despite operational improvements, net loss worsened by 16.9%, indicating that non-operational expenses or other one-off charges edged the bottom line further downward compared to the prior period.

    Cash and Cash Equivalents

    +40.7% (from $83,866K to $118,048K)

    Cash and cash equivalents surged by 40.7%, driven by strong inflows from maturing available-for-sale securities and disciplined capital management, building on an improved liquidity profile from Q4 2024.

    Total Stockholders’ Equity

    −14.9% (from $518,018K to $441,286K)

    Total Stockholders’ Equity declined by 14.9%, primarily due to accumulated net losses even as positive cash flows were realized, reflecting the impact of prior period losses that continued to weigh on the overall equity base.

    MetricPeriodPrevious GuidanceCurrent GuidanceChange

    Revenue

    Q4 2025

    $61 million to $63 million

    no current guidance

    no current guidance

    Non‑GAAP Gross Margin

    Q4 2025

    63% to 65%

    no current guidance

    no current guidance

    Adjusted EBITDA Profit

    Q4 2025

    $0 to $2 million

    no current guidance

    no current guidance

    Capital Expenditures (CapEx)

    Q4 2025

    $8 million to $11 million

    no current guidance

    no current guidance

    Revenue

    Q1 Fiscal 2026

    no prior guidance

    $61 million to $63 million

    no prior guidance

    Non‑GAAP Gross Margin

    Q1 Fiscal 2026

    no prior guidance

    58% to 60%

    no prior guidance

    Adjusted EBITDA Loss

    Q1 Fiscal 2026

    no prior guidance

    minus $3 million to minus $2 million

    no prior guidance

    Capital Expenditures (CapEx)

    Q1 Fiscal 2026

    no prior guidance

    $11 million to $16 million

    no prior guidance

    Revenue

    FY 2026

    no prior guidance

    $260 million to $280 million

    no prior guidance

    Non‑GAAP Gross Margin

    FY 2026

    no prior guidance

    55% to 57%

    no prior guidance

    Adjusted EBITDA Loss

    FY 2026

    no prior guidance

    minus $13 million to minus $7 million

    no prior guidance

    Capital Expenditures (CapEx)

    FY 2026

    no prior guidance

    $50 million to $65 million

    no prior guidance

    Cash Burn Reduction

    FY 2026

    no prior guidance

    reduce cash burn by approximately 50% compared to fiscal 2025

    no prior guidance

    MetricPeriodGuidanceActualPerformance
    Revenue
    Q4 2025
    Between $61M and $63M
    $61.55M
    Met
    Capital Expenditures (CapEx)
    Q4 2025
    Between $8M and $11M
    $11.60M + $1.18M = $12.78M
    Missed
    TopicPrevious MentionsCurrent PeriodTrend

    Government and Defense Contracts

    Consistently discussed from Q1 through Q3 with emphasis on revenue growth in the Defense and Intelligence sector, pilot programs (e.g. DoD and NRO contracts), NATO and international defense deals

    Q4 continued the focus with new high-value contracts such as the JSAT deal, enhanced maritime domain awareness initiatives, and continued discussions on global monitoring services

    Recurring focus with expansion to larger, higher‐value contracts and increased emphasis on maritime domain awareness and international opportunities.

    AI-powered Solutions and Integration

    Featured in Q1 through Q3 via pilots, partner integrations, and product enhancements—ranging from road detection and forest carbon monitoring to AI-enabled pilots for defense and commercial applications

    Q4 emphasized strategic AI partnerships (e.g. with Anthropic) and product improvements including AI-accelerated satellite data extraction and resolution sharpening techniques

    Continues as a core strategic theme with deeper integration and collaboration, underlining its growing role as a business accelerant.

    Satellite Technology Advancements and Fleet Expansion

    Addressed in Q1 through Q3 with updates on Tanager-1, Pelican tech demos, and SuperDove operations; ongoing fleet improvements and technology demos were key points

    Q4 highlighted successful launches like Pelican 2, ambitious future fleet expansion (nearly 100 satellites planned), and advances like physics-based resolution sharpening

    Consistently high priority with escalating ambitions and technological enhancements to scale the satellite fleet.

    Revenue Growth Projections and Financial Guidance

    Discussed across Q1–Q3 with steady revenue guidance, margin targets, and a focus on improving adjusted EBITDA and managing CapEx, with caution noted due to timing of contracts and evolving customer usage

    Q4 provided FY26 and Q27 projections, detailed guidance on revenue and margin (with expectations for 55–57% non-GAAP margins), and highlighted reduced cash burn while managing satellite-related expenses

    Steady improvement with cautious optimism; guidance becomes more defined and optimistic while still considering timing risks and partner cost impacts.

    Commercial Sector Challenges and Agricultural Revenue Decline

    Q1 through Q3 noted challenges, particularly in the agriculture vertical due to macroeconomic pressures and digital agriculture headwinds, with noticeable revenue declines and adjustments in customer strategies

    Q4 reported over a 10% year-on-year decline but signaled stabilization and early signs of recovery in agricultural usage

    Persistent challenges across periods—notably in agriculture—with Q4 showing initial stabilization but the sector remains soft.

    Contract Conversion Delays and Renewal Issues

    Mentioned in Q2 and Q3 with discussions on delayed renewals (e.g. NASA contract) and impacts on net retention, while Q1 referenced timing challenges in government pilots

    No explicit discussion in Q4.

    Previously notable issues appear absent in Q4, suggesting a possible resolution or strategic de-emphasis on this topic.

    International Expansion and Strategic Partnerships

    Q1–Q3 consistently highlighted international growth opportunities and various strategic partnerships, including engagements with U.K. EO Data Hub, Kenya Space Agency, and partner-led initiatives

    Q4 emphasized strong international revenue growth across regions and a blockbuster partnership with JSAT, reinforcing their commitment to global expansion

    Remains a key focus with increasing scale and high-profile partnerships driving strategic international market penetration.

    Cost Management and Operational Efficiency

    Across Q1 to Q3, the company discussed initiatives such as cloud infrastructure savings, headcount reductions, restructuring, and progressive EBITDA improvements aimed at better margins and operational efficiencies

    Q4 underlined improved non-GAAP gross margins, first adjusted EBITDA profitability, reduced cash burn, and continued strategic CapEx discipline

    Consistent and gradually improving, with Q4 marking tangible progress towards profitability and tighter operational controls.

    Macroeconomic Headwinds and Margin Pressure

    Q1 and Q2 referenced macroeconomic challenges affecting agriculture and overall cost pressures, with discussions on cloud efficiencies partly offsetting these issues; Q3 did not specifically mention these factors

    Q4 explicitly acknowledged macroeconomic headwinds impacting revenue guidance and noted margin pressure due to factors like increased satellite depreciation and partner costs, while still setting longer-term margin targets

    Recurring caution regarding external economic factors; while margin pressure persists, management remains focused on long‐term efficiency and margin improvement targets.

    Declining Emphasis on EU Deforestation Regulation

    In Q1, the EU deforestation regulation was discussed in the context of growing regulatory interest, with engagement from affected governments and companies as a potential long-term driver

    Not mentioned in Q2, Q3, or Q4.

    The topic has dropped out of focus in recent periods, suggesting a strategic de-prioritization or that its impact is no longer central to current business discussions.

    1. Free Cash Flow and Profitability Timeline
      Q: When will you achieve free cash flow profitability?
      A: We expect our cash burn to be roughly half of last year's, aided by the front-end loaded cash payments from the JSAT contract. Based on our current view, we could reach free cash flow profitability over the next 24 months.

    2. Growth Rate Doubling and Drivers
      Q: Does doubling growth rate include AI and new services?
      A: The anticipated doubling is based on contracts we've secured and our ability to renew existing business. Upside to this growth rate includes investments in AI, potential additional satellite services contracts, and the launch of Pelican and Tanager fleets. These would be incremental to our current projections.

    3. AI Partnerships and Monetization
      Q: How will you monetize AI deals like Anthropic?
      A: We're excited about our partnership with Anthropic and similar ventures. Our unique data set is ideal for training AI models tackling real-world problems. While near-term focus is on AI-enabled solutions like maritime domain awareness, foundational efforts can significantly speed time to value for customers.

    4. Revenue Guidance Amid Macro Pressures
      Q: How does macro uncertainty affect your revenue guidance?
      A: We've adopted a conservative approach, factoring in potential macro pressures and variability in customer usage. Despite uncertainties, our solutions are critical for government efficiency, and the current environment may present opportunities for us.

    5. Definition of Positive Cash Flow
      Q: Do you mean free cash flow or operating cash flow positive?
      A: We're referring to free cash flow, which is cash flow from operations minus CapEx.

    6. Increased Expenses: One-Time or Ongoing
      Q: Are increased expenses in '26 one-time or ongoing?
      A: These are ongoing investments in our Space Systems—including Pelican, Tanager, and staffing for the JSAT contract—as well as in AI and software engineering teams. We view them as essential R&D investments, not one-time costs.

    7. Monetizing Non-JSAT Capacity
      Q: How will you monetize capacity outside JSAT's region?
      A: The JSAT partnership funds our satellites and allows us to monetize the rest of the world, representing most of the capacity. This offers significant upside with strong margin potential, and we're pursuing similar strategic partnerships.

    8. Customer Strategy and Net Dollar Retention
      Q: How will you improve net dollar retention rates?
      A: By building solutions that accelerate time to value and integrating operationally with customers, we're aiming for strong retention and expansion rates. Aligning product development with customer needs and focusing on larger accounts are key strategies.

    9. Timeline for JSAT Satellite Launches
      Q: When will JSAT satellites be launched?
      A: We'll first launch our own satellites critical for SkySat fleet continuity. JSAT satellites will follow, launching primarily over the next 24 months.

    10. Additional Satellite Services Opportunities
      Q: What's the size of your satellite services pipeline?
      A: While it's early, we're seeing strong demand from other countries since announcing our JSAT partnership. Interest has accelerated, and we're strategically focusing on opportunities aligned with our product pipeline.

    Research analysts covering Planet Labs PBC.