Orbital Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2013 Financial Results

-- Record Quarterly Revenues and Strong EPS and Cash Flow Reported --

-- 2014 Financial Guidance and Operational Outlook Provided --

DULLES, Va.Feb. 13, 2014-- Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE:ORB) today reported its fourth quarter and full year 2013 financial results. Fourth quarter 2013 revenues were $375.4 million, a new quarterly record for the company, compared to $354.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2012. Fourth quarter 2013 operating income was $30.5 million, or 8.1% operating margin, compared to $31.3 million, or 8.8% operating margin, in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Net income in the fourth quarter of 2013 was $16.9 million, or $0.28 diluted earnings per share, compared to $13.9 million, or $0.23 diluted earnings per share, in the fourth quarter of 2012. Adjusted net income* was $18.2 million, or $0.30 adjusted diluted earnings per share*, in the fourth quarter of 2013. Orbital s free cash flow* in the fourth quarter of 2013 was $12.7 million compared to $0.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Full year 2013 revenues were $1,365.3 million, compared to $1,436.8 million in 2012. Operating income was $113.5 million in 2013, or 8.3% operating margin, compared to $112.6 million, or 7.8% operating margin, in 2012. Full year 2013 net income was $68.4 million, or $1.13 diluted earnings per share, compared to $61.0 million, or $1.02 diluted earnings per share, in 2012. Adjusted net income was $69.7 million, or $1.15 adjusted diluted earnings per share, in 2013. Full year free cash flow was positive $17.0 million in 2013, compared to negative $34.3 million in 2012.

Mr. David W. Thompson, Orbital s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, Orbital s fourth quarter financial results reflected solid growth in revenues, earnings per share and free cash flow, and capped a very successful year in 2013. The company s operations last year were highlighted by the successful introduction of our Antares medium-class space launch vehicle and Cygnus cargo logistics spacecraft, as we concluded a multi-year research and development program to create these products and set the stage for expanded operational performance in 2014 and beyond. He added, With new orders and option exercises for 38 major launch vehicles and satellites and other new business wins last year valued at $2.3 billion, Orbital looks forward to a promising year in 2014.

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* Adjusted net income, adjusted diluted earnings per share and free cash flow are non-GAAP financial measures. For additional details concerning these measures, please refer to the sections of this press release entitled Cash Flow and Disclosure of Non-GAAP Financial Measures.

Revenues increased $20.8 million, or 6%, in the fourth quarter of 2013 compared to the fourth quarter of 2012. Revenues increased $21.3 million in the launch vehicles segment and $16.3 million in the advanced space programs segment. Revenues declined $20.5 million in the satellites and space systems segment. Intersegment revenue eliminations decreased $3.7 million.

Operating income decreased $0.8 million, or 3%, in the fourth quarter of 2013 compared to the fourth quarter of 2012. Operating income declined $11.8 million in the satellites and space systems segment, but increased $5.9 million in the advanced space programs segment and $5.1 million in the launch vehicles segment.

Adjusted net income was $18.2 million, or $0.30 adjusted diluted earnings per share, in the fourth quarter of 2013, compared to adjusted net income of $17.4 million, or $0.29 adjusted diluted earnings per share, in the fourth quarter of 2012. These adjusted results exclude the impact of certain transactions that are not reflective of recurring operations. Fourth quarter 2013 results reflected a $1.6 million improvement due to a reduction in interest expense attributable to the company s refinancing of its debt in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Full year 2013 revenues decreased $71.5 million, or 5%, compared to full year 2012. Revenues declined $108.7 million in the satellites and space systems segment and $0.7 million in the advanced space programs segment, partly offset by a revenue increase of $24.4 million in the launch vehicles segment and a $13.5 million reduction in intersegment revenue eliminations.

Full year 2013 operating income increased $0.9 million, or 1%, compared to full year 2012 operating income. Operating income increased $12.6 million in the launch vehicles segment, but decreased $12.3 million in the satellites and space systems segment and $1.5 million in the advanced space programs segment. Full year 2012 also included $2.1 million of costs related to a potential acquisition that was not consummated.

Adjusted net income was $69.7 million, or $1.15 adjusted diluted earnings per share in 2013, compared to adjusted net income of $64.5 million, or $1.08 adjusted diluted earnings per share, in 2012. Full year 2013 results reflected a $6.7 million improvement due to lower interest expense attributable to the company s refinancing of its debt in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Launch vehicles segment revenues increased $21.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2013 compared to the fourth quarter of 2012 primarily due to increased activity on missile defense interceptors for the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) program and Antares launch vehicles for the Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) program. These revenue improvements were partially offset by lower revenues from certain space and target launch vehicles.

Segment operating income increased $5.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2013 compared to the fourth quarter of 2012 principally due to increased activity and improved profit margins from Antares launch vehicles and missile defense interceptors. Segment operating margin increased primarily due to the profit margin improvements from GMD missile defense interceptors and CRS Antares launch vehicles.

Satellites and space systems segment revenues decreased $20.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2013 compared to the fourth quarter of 2012 primarily due to decreased activity on commercial communications satellite contracts attributable to the completion of several satellites in late 2012 and early 2013.

Segment operating income decreased $11.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2013 compared to the fourth quarter of 2012 principally due to decreased activity on commercial communications satellite contracts and favorable changes in profit estimates in the fourth quarter of 2012 on contracts that were substantially completed. Segment operating margin decreased primarily due to the effect of the favorable changes in contract profit estimates recognized in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Advanced space programs segment revenues increased $16.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2013 compared to the fourth quarter of 2012 primarily due to activity on a new advanced programs contract awarded in 2013, partially offset by decreased activity on national security satellite contracts.

Segment operating income increased $5.9 million principally due to a profit margin improvement on the CRS contract and activity on a new advanced programs contract awarded in 2013. Segment operating margin increased mainly due to the margin improvement on the CRS contract.

New Business Highlights

In the fourth quarter of 2013, Orbital recorded approximately $155 million in new firm and option contract bookings. In addition, the company received approximately $470 million of option exercises under existing contracts. For full year 2013, Orbital received approximately $1.70 billion in firm and option bookings and approximately $640 million of option exercises under existing contracts. As of December 31, 2013, the company s firm contract backlog was approximately $2.15 billion and its total backlog (including options, indefinite-quantity contracts and undefinitized orders) was approximately $5.16 billion.

Operational Highlights

In the fourth quarter of 2013, Orbital successfully carried out several important satellite and launch vehicle missions for its customers, highlighted by the completion of the Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) demonstration mission to the International Space Station (ISS) for NASA in October. This successful demonstration mission marked the completion of the research and development phase of the Antares rocket and Cygnus spacecraft projects, paving the way for the company s first operational cargo delivery mission to the ISS under the CRS contract, which was launched in January 2014. Also in the fourth quarter, the company launched its 25th Minotaur rocket for the U.S. Air Force from Wallops Island, Virginia, deployed the SES-8 commercial communications satellite for SES of Luxembourg, conducted two short-range Coyote target launches for the U.S. Navy, and launched four suborbital research rockets carrying scientific experiments for NASA. For all of 2013, Orbital averaged approximately one satellite or rocket mission, major test event or product delivery to customers per week, making it one of the busiest periods in the company s history.

Orbital expects another active year of operations in 2014, with up to 60 operational events planned this year. These will include three CRS missions (including the CRS-1 mission launched in January) using the Antares rocket and Cygnus spacecraft, the deployment of an Earth science satellite for NASA and commercial communications satellites for Thaicom of Thailand and Hispasat of Spain, as well as numerous launches of missile defense vehicles and smaller research rockets, and product deliveries to customers for future use.

2014 Financial Guidance

The company updated its 2014 preliminary outlook provided in October 2013 with the following financial guidance for 2014:

The guidance for 2014 is based on a variety of assumptions about future business conditions and operational events, including new business bookings, U.S. Government budget levels, production and operational schedules and tax policies. This guidance assumes that the effective income tax rate will be between 35% and 37% in 2014.

Disclosure of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We define free cash flow as GAAP (U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) net cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment, plus net proceeds from disposition of property in 2012. A reconciliation of free cash flow to net cash provided by operating activities for 2013 is included above in the section entitled Cash Flow. Management believes that the company s presentation of free cash flow is useful because it provides investors with an important perspective on the company s liquidity, financial flexibility and ability to fund operations and service debt.

Adjusted net income is defined as GAAP net income adjusted to exclude the following: (i) a $10 million charge ($6.1 million after tax) in 2013 to write off an option payment in connection with a business agreement that was terminated in the fourth quarter of 2013 in connection with the conclusion of litigation, (ii) a $3.7 million gain ($3.7 million after tax) on the sale of investments in the fourth quarter of 2013, (iii) $10.3 million ($6.3 million after tax) of debt extinguishment expense in the fourth quarter of 2012 and (iv) favorable income tax adjustments pertaining to extraterritorial income exclusions in 2013 and 2012. Adjusted diluted earnings per share is equal to adjusted net income divided by diluted shares. These measures are provided so investors can more easily compare current and prior period results without the impact of these significant charges and adjustments. The reconciliation of GAAP net income to adjusted net income is as follows:

Orbital does not intend for the above non-GAAP financial measures to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the related GAAP measures. Other companies may define these measures differently.

Social Media Disclosure

Orbital communicates material financial information to its investors using press releases, SEC filings, its investor relations website, public conference calls and webcasts. From time to time, Orbital communicates information regarding its business and operations, such as new contract awards and mission updates, via Twitter and Facebook. It is possible that the information disclosed through such social media channels could be deemed to be material. Therefore, we encourage investors, the media, and others interested in Orbital to review the information we disclose through Twitter at https://twitter.com/OrbitalSciences and on Facebook at https://facebook.com/OrbitalSciencesCorp.

About Orbital

Orbital develops and manufactures small- and medium-class rockets and space systems for commercial, military and civil government customers. The company s primary products are satellites and launch vehicles, including low-Earth orbit, geosynchronous-Earth orbit and planetary exploration spacecraft for communications, remote sensing, scientific and defense missions; human-rated space systems for Earth-orbit, lunar and other missions; ground- and air-launched rockets that deliver satellites into orbit; missile defense systems that are used as interceptor and target vehicles; and advanced flight systems for atmospheric and space missions. Orbital also provides satellite subsystems and space-related technical services to U.S. Government agencies and laboratories. More information about Orbital can be found at http://www.orbital.com.

Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

Certain statements in this press release may be forward-looking in nature or forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those related to our financial outlook, liquidity, goals, business strategy, projected plans and objectives of management for future operating results and forecasts of future events. These statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements often include the words anticipate, forecast, expect, believe, should, will, intend, plan and words of similar substance. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause the actual results or performance of the company to be materially different from the forward-looking statement. Uncertainty surrounding factors such as continued government support and funding for key space and defense programs, including the impact of sequestration under the Budget Control Act of 2011, new product development programs, the availability of key product components, product performance and market acceptance of products and technologies, achievement of contractual milestones, government contract procurement and termination risks and income tax rates, as well as other risk factors and business considerations described in the company s SEC filings, including its annual report on Form 10-K, may materially impact Orbital s actual financial and operational results. Orbital assumes no obligation for updating the information contained in this press release.

A transcript of the earnings teleconference call will be available on Orbital s website at http://www.orbital.com/Investor.

Source: Orbital Sciences Corporation

Orbital Sciences Corporation
Barron Beneski, (703) 406-5528
Public and Investor Relations
beneski.barron@orbital.com