Latest news with #Alpha


Business Insider
2 hours ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Firefly Aerospace Files for IPO after Moon Landing and 6x Revenue Growth
Firefly Aerospace has filed for an initial public offering on the Nasdaq under the ticker 'FLY,' aiming to turn its recent momentum into capital for expansion. The Texas-based space and defense company made headlines in March 2025 with the successful lunar landing of its Blue Ghost lander. The mission, part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services program, marked the first time a commercial vehicle landed and operated on the Moon for over 14 days. NASA paid $145 million for delivery and science experiments combined. Elevate Your Investing Strategy: Take advantage of TipRanks Premium at 50% off! Unlock powerful investing tools, advanced data, and expert analyst insights to help you invest with confidence. Make smarter investment decisions with TipRanks' Smart Investor Picks, delivered to your inbox every week. Sound Financials and Rising Revenue The company's revenue jumped 6x to $55.9 million in the most recent year. More importantly, Firefly holds a $1.1 billion contract backlog across launch and lunar services. That includes work with NASA, Lockheed Martin (LMT), and Northrop Grumman (NOC), giving it a level of revenue visibility that many early-stage aerospace firms lack. Firefly's main launch vehicle, the Alpha rocket, has experienced a few hiccups since its debut in 2021. The rocket reached operational status in 2023 and has since completed missions for NASA and other commercial customers. Alpha's design features carbon composite materials and proprietary engine technology. It can carry up to 1,030 kg to low Earth orbit. As of April 2025, Alpha has six launches under its belt, with four experiencing partial or full failure. Despite that, Firefly is increasing production to support rideshare and dedicated launches. The company is also developing a medium-lift rocket called Eclipse in partnership with Northrop Grumman, which invested $50 million in May 2025. Eclipse is expected to carry 16,300 kg to low Earth orbit and 3,200 kg to geosynchronous transfer orbit. It uses upgraded versions of Alpha's propulsion systems and components from Northrop's Antares program. The first launch is targeted for 2026. Not Competing Directly with SpaceX Firefly operates in the small to medium payload segment, a part of the market that remains less crowded than heavy-lift. Its backlog suggests strong demand, while the Blue Ghost mission demonstrated its ability to deliver complex government payloads on time. Firefly is not directly competing with larger players like SpaceX in the mega-constellation or heavy-lift categories. Still, it does offer bundled services including launch, lunar delivery, and orbital support. The FLY IPO will be one to watch for investors looking for exposure to commercial space firms with real revenue, government contracts, and a proven track record in both launch and lunar missions. Using TipRanks' comparison tool, we've assembled and compared the notable tickers in the Aerospace and Defense sector. This helps investors gain a proper perspective on each stock's performance and the industry as a whole.


CNBC
2 days ago
- Business
- CNBC
Rocket maker Firefly Aerospace files to go public under ticker FLY
Rocket maker Firefly Aerospace filed for an initial public offering on Friday, with plans to trade under the ticker symbol "FLY" on the Nasdaq. Firefly's planned offering comes during a resurgence period for IPOs after the market collapsed in 2022 as rising interest rates and skyrocketing inflation deterred investors from betting on riskier assets. Some companies, including Klarna and ticket reseller StubHub, delayed public offerings earlier this year as President Donald Trump's tariff plans rattled global markets. But venture capitalists are becoming more optimistic after a strong June for deal activity that included a surge in crypto company Circle and a major Meta Platforms deal with Scale AI. Figma also filed its prospectus earlier this month. Firefly, a Texas-based space transportation company, creates rockets, space tugs and lunar landers, and is widely lauded for its satellite launching Alpha rockets. Earlier this year, Firefly's lunar lander, known as Blue Ghost, successfully landed on the moon. The company said its revenue grew more than sixfold at the end of March to about $55.9 million, from $8.3 million a year ago. The company also reported a net loss of about $60.1 million, up from $52.8 million a year ago. Firefly said its backlog totaled about $1.1 billion. Lead underwriters on the deal include Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, Jefferies and Wells Fargo.


The Independent
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Ukrainian intelligence officer gunned down in Kyiv
A senior Ukrainian intelligence officer has been gunned down in Kyiv, officials have said. CCTV footage published on social media showed the agent was slain in a residential parking lot on Thursday morning before a gunman clad in dark clothing fled the scene on foot in broad daylight. Kyiv's police force said it was working to identify the shooter and that 'measures are being taken to detain him'. The victim's name has not been publicly disclosed and the identity of the suspect remains unclear. A Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) official said that the intelligence officer had been a colonel, according to Reuters. Ukrainska Pravda has claimed the agent was Colonel Ivan Voronych, adding he died at the scene after the assailant fired five aimed gun shots. The New York Times claimed that Voronych was a part of the SBU's Centre for Special Operations Alpha and had been within the organisation for decades. Kyiv Police confirmed a man was shot in the capital on Thursday. They said in a statement on social media: 'Police officers establish circumstances of shooting in Holosiivskyi district of the capital. 'Arriving on call, law enforcement officers discovered the body of a man with a gunshot wound. 'Currently, investigative and operational groups of the district and main police departments, criminal investigation officers, dog handlers and other services are working at the scene. All circumstances of the incident are being established.' It remains unclear whether the agent's death was a domestic issue or an assassination. The Independent has contacted Kyiv Police and the SBU for comment. The SBU is Ukraine's internal security and counter-intelligence base, but since Russia began its full-scale invasion of the country three years ago, it has played a role in assassinations and sabotage attacks in Moscow. The internal security agency played a key role in Ukraine's Operation Spider Web attack on Russia last month, which is believed to have destroyed 40 Russian bombers used to pummel the war torn country over the past three years. The death of the officer comes as Russia continues to intensify its aerial strikes against Ukraine, after the air force reported a record-breaking 728 drones and 13 cruise or ballistic missiles struck cities across the country on Tuesday.


Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor twin in black as they pose with a fan during their London vacation. See pics
Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor recently made waves as his look as Lord Ram was unveiled in the first glimpse of Ramayana. The introductory video left fans excited for the film. Amid this buzz, the actor is currently enjoying quality time with his wife, actor Alia Bhatt, in London. A couple of pictures of them have surfaced online. Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor's pictures from their London vacation. Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor's London vacation pics The pictures show Alia and Ranbir posing separately with a fan on the streets of London. In one photo, Ranbir is seen looking dashing in a black T-shirt and blue denims. He completed his look with brown Chelsea boots and black spectacles. Alia, on the other hand, looked stylish in a black dress paired with an oversized grey blazer. The actor was all smiles as she posed for the camera. Ranbir, Alia, and Neetu Kapoor flew out of Mumbai last week. They were spotted at the airport, smiling and posing together for the paparazzi. Earlier, photos of Ranbir chatting and posing with fans in London also surfaced online, where he was seen smiling and shaking hands with a fan. The first glimpse of Ranbir Kapoor and Yash's Ramayana left everyone spellbound, with many Bollywood celebrities praising the video. Alia took to Instagram to share the introduction clip, writing, 'Some things don't need words. This feels like the start of something unforgettable. Diwali 2026 – we're waiting.' Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt's upcoming films Ranbir will be seen playing the role of Lord Rama in Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana. The film also stars Sunny Deol, Sai Pallavi as Sita, Yash as Ravana, and Ravie Dubey as Lakshman. It is scheduled to release in two parts – one on Diwali 2026 and the second on Diwali 2027. Alia, meanwhile, is awaiting the release of her upcoming spy action film Alpha, directed by Rahul Rawail. The film also stars Sharvari in the lead and is slated for release in theatres on 25 December 2025. Additionally, Ranbir and Alia will share the screen again with Vicky Kaushal in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Love & War.


India Today
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Two lords, one frame: Bobby Deol's selfie with Rohit Sharma wins hearts
During the third test match between India and England at Lord's Cricket Ground, London, Bollywood actor Bobby Deol took a selfie with Indian cricket star Rohit Sharma, sparking excitement among fans. The unexpected meeting of Bollywood's 'Lord Bobby' and cricket's 'Hitman' caught the attention of social media Deol shared the viral photo on his Instagram, captioning it "Rooting for our team." Both stars appeared cheerful in the image, leading to a flurry of memes and humorous fan edits. Their camaraderie was evident, and fans couldn't get enough of this delightful out the post here: Photo: Instagram/Bobby Deol As fans celebrated the interaction, social media was flooded with creative memes, showcasing the excitement generated by this star-studded moment. Bobby Deol's Instagram post further amplified the buzz, highlighting the enthusiastic reactions from followers. The engagement was massive, reflecting the power of celebrity a few comments here: Bobby Deol's professional commitments remain robust, with upcoming films such as 'Alpha' featuring Alia Bhatt, the Telugu drama 'Hari Hara Veera Mallu: Part 1,' the Tamil film 'Jana Nayagan,' and the multi-starrer 'Welcome to the Jungle'. These projects underline his continued prominence in the film industry, showcasing his diverse talent.- Ends