On Wednesday, H.C. Wainwright adjusted the price target for BlackSky Technology Inc. (NYSE:BKSY) to $12.00 from the previous $15.00, while keeping a Buy rating on the stock. The firm acknowledged a misjudgment regarding the company's capital raise following a 1-for-8 reverse stock split that took place on September 9, 2024. Contrary to the firm's expectations, BlackSky successfully sold 11.5 million shares at $4.00 each, securing around $46.0 million in proceeds.
The analyst noted that although the new capital was not essential for meeting near-term financial obligations, the decision to raise funds was understandable amidst the current high levels of economic uncertainty. The additional capital is expected to provide BlackSky with more flexibility and potentially speed up the production and deployment of its next-generation Gen-3 satellites.
The company has recently experienced a significant share price recovery, now trading 52.5% higher than the offering price. This rebound is attributed to a series of contract wins announced in the past three weeks, including a $6.0 million extension from an international defense customer, a potentially $290 million indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), and a seven-figure deal for advanced space domain awareness solutions.
These new contracts are seen as evidence of BlackSky's positive business trajectory, which could be further boosted by the anticipated launch of the higher-resolution Gen-3 satellites in the fourth quarter of 2024. H.C. Wainwright anticipates that these satellites could act as a significant catalyst for revenue growth, offering existing customers enhanced capabilities at higher price points.
Despite the recent adjustments to earnings per share (EPS) estimates and the price target reduction, the analyst remains optimistic about BlackSky's strategy execution. The path to generating cash appears more tangible, which could potentially draw new investors to BKSY shares.
In other recent news, BlackSky Technology Inc. reported a 29% year-over-year revenue growth in the second quarter of 2024, totaling $24.9 million. The company has secured several significant contracts, including a five-year contract with the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency potentially valued at up to $290 million, and a multi-year contract with NASA worth up to $476 million. BlackSky also expanded a contract with an international defense customer by approximately $6 million, bringing the total annual commitment to nearly $18 million.
In terms of recent developments, BlackSky has entered the Space Domain Awareness services sector, providing non-Earth Imaging services to an undisclosed customer. Analysts at Craig-Hallum upgraded BlackSky from Hold to Buy, citing the company's recent $46 million capital raise, which is expected to help the company achieve free cash flow breakeven by 2026. Lake Street Capital Markets significantly increased its price target on BlackSky's shares from $4.00 to $32.00, while maintaining a Buy rating.
Lastly, BlackSky announced a public offering of its Class A common stock priced at $4.00 per share and approved a 1-for-8 reverse stock split of its Class A common stock.
InvestingPro Insights
BlackSky Technology Inc. (NYSE:BKSY) presents a mixed financial picture that aligns with H.C. Wainwright's analysis. According to InvestingPro data, the company's revenue growth is impressive, with a 43.02% increase over the last twelve months as of Q2 2024. This robust growth supports the analyst's optimism about BlackSky's business trajectory and recent contract wins.
However, investors should note that BlackSky is currently unprofitable, with an adjusted operating income of -$44.13 million in the same period. This aligns with an InvestingPro Tip indicating that the company is "quickly burning through cash," which may explain the recent capital raise discussed in the article.
On a positive note, BlackSky boasts impressive gross profit margins of 69.14%, which an InvestingPro Tip highlights as a strength. This suggests that as the company scales and potentially benefits from its new Gen-3 satellites, it could improve its profitability profile.
For investors seeking a more comprehensive analysis, InvestingPro offers 12 additional tips for BlackSky Technology Inc., providing a deeper understanding of the company's financial health and market position.
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