Rocket Lab USA, Inc. stock research
FY2023 Q4
Rocket Lab USA (RKLB) Gross Margin — Quarter Ended Dec 31, 2023
Revenue decreased from the prior quarter but increased compared to the same quarter last year. Gross profit rose slightly from the prior quarter and significantly from a year ago, while cost of revenue fell from the prior quarter but remained below the year-ago level; gross margin improved sequentially and year-over-year.
Gross margin takeaway
Quarter ended Dec 31, 2023 · FY2023 Q4
Revenue decreased from the prior quarter but increased compared to the same quarter last year. Gross profit rose slightly from the prior quarter and significantly from a year ago, while cost of revenue fell from the prior quarter but remained below the year-ago level; gross margin improved sequentially and year-over-year.
- The strongest observable margin driver is the reduction in cost of revenue relative to revenue, as cost of revenue declined more sharply than revenue from the prior quarter, leading to an improved gross margin.
- Compared to the immediately preceding quarter, revenue was lower but gross profit was slightly higher, cost of revenue was lower, and gross margin improved. Compared to the same quarter one year earlier, revenue, gross profit, and gross margin were all higher, while cost of revenue was lower.
Gross margin snapshot
The selected quarter's reported revenue, gross profit, direct costs, and margin comparisons.
Gross margin
25.8%
Gross profit
$15.5M
Revenue
$60.0M
Cost of revenue
$44.5M
Quarter-over-quarter change
+3.7 pts
Year-over-year change
+22.3 pts
Quarterly gross margin trend
A four-quarter view of the revenue and direct-cost bridge behind gross margin.
| Period | Revenue | Gross profit | Cost of revenue | Gross margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 31, 2023 | $54.9M | $6.4M | $48.5M | 11.6% |
| Jun 30, 2023 | $62.0M | $14.6M | $47.5M | 23.5% |
| Sep 30, 2023 | $67.7M | $15.0M | $52.7M | 22.1% |
| Dec 31, 2023 | $60.0M | $15.5M | $44.5M | 25.8% |
Quarterly comparisons
Compare the selected margin with the preceding quarter and the same fiscal quarter one year earlier.
Previous-quarter change
Sep 30, 2023
+3.7 pts
Year-over-year change
Dec 31, 2022
+22.3 pts
What the margin says
Filing-constrained interpretation of margin direction, comparisons, and what to monitor next.
The strongest observable margin driver is the reduction in cost of revenue relative to revenue, as cost of revenue declined more sharply than revenue from the prior quarter, leading to an improved gross margin.
Compared to the immediately preceding quarter, revenue was lower but gross profit was slightly higher, cost of revenue was lower, and gross margin improved. Compared to the same quarter one year earlier, revenue, gross profit, and gross margin were all higher, while cost of revenue was lower.
Monitor the trajectory of cost of revenue relative to revenue, as its decline was the primary factor behind the gross margin improvement this quarter.