IRDM vs VSAT Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
Iridium is generally evaluated as a financially healthier, narrowly focused low-earth-orbit operator with improving cash generation, while Viasat is assessed as a larger but more leveraged geostationary satellite operator facing intensifying competition from low-earth-orbit broadband rivals. Both compete in satellite communications but carry very different balance sheet and competitive profiles. The choice depends on whether an investor prioritizes financial stability or diversified scale with turnaround potential.
Iridium suits investors wanting a financially stable, cash-generative satellite operator, while Viasat is a higher-risk turnaround story dependent on debt reduction and successful competition against low-earth-orbit broadband providers.
IRDM holds the edge across 4 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. IRDM leads on both 1-year return (+127.56%) and forward P/E quality (27.32x vs 432.05x for VSAT), a relatively favorable combination of momentum and valuation. IRDM leads on both revenue growth (3.80%) and operating margin (15.10%), suggesting a stronger fundamental setup on both dimensions. Analyst consensus implies meaningfully more upside for VSAT (+44.34%) than for IRDM (-10.35%).
Human Wall Street analysts' price targets, typically implying a ~12-month view — a separate signal from this site's own AI Prediction Signal further down the page, which is a 5-/30-day machine-learning forecast based on price history alone.
- Prefer a financially stable satellite operator with improving free cash flow
- Want diversified exposure across government, maritime, and IoT markets
- Value a fully deployed, modern satellite constellation
- Are cautious about balance sheet risk
- Believe in a successful turnaround following the Inmarsat integration
- Want exposure to aviation and maritime broadband connectivity
- Can tolerate higher leverage and competitive pressure
- See value in Viasat's discounted valuation relative to its asset base
| Metric | IRDM | VSAT |
|---|---|---|
| AI scorei | 42.0 | 27.8 |
| AI ranki | #896 | #2262 |
| Latest closei | $43.76 | $58.83 |
| 1M returni | -7.45% | -17.08% |
| 3M returni | -6.26% | -17.70% |
| 6M returni | +4.56% | -6.40% |
| 1Y returni | +127.56% | +62.69% |
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | IRDM | VSAT |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $23.38K (+133.8%) started 2025-10-16 | $16.27K (+62.7%) started 2025-10-16 |
| 5Y ago | $11.05K (+10.5%) started 2021-10-18 | $10.68K (+6.8%) started 2021-10-18 |
| 10Y ago | $51.66K (+416.6%) started 2016-10-17 | $8.1K (-19.0%) started 2016-10-17 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
| Metric | IRDM | VSAT |
|---|---|---|
| Market capi | $4.97B | $9.92B |
| Trailing P/Ei | 54.48 | N/A |
| Forward P/Ei | 27.32 | 432.05 |
| Price/Salesi | N/A | N/A |
| EV/Revenuei | 7.41 | 3.28 |
| Analyst targeti | $42.00 | $103.94 |
| Target upsidei | -10.35% | +44.34% |
| Metric | IRDM | VSAT |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growthi | 3.80% | -1.20% |
| Earnings growthi | -55.00% | N/A |
| EPS growthi | -55.00% | N/A |
| FCF margini | +27.05% | +5.41% |
| Operating margini | 15.10% | 4.44% |
| Profit margini | 10.55% | -0.64% |
| ROIC proxyi | 19.71% | 0.19% |
| Return on equityi | 19.71% | 0.19% |
| Dividend yieldi | 1.28% | 0.00% |
| Payout ratioi | 68.18% | 0.00% |
| Dividend growth streaki | N/A | N/A |
| Betai | 0.88 | 1.76 |
| Debt/equityi | 378.66 | 146.81 |
| Current ratioi | 2.78 | 1.68 |
| Quick ratioi | 2.13 | 1.34 |
Over the past year, IRDM and VSAT have moved moderately in the same direction (correlation of 0.58), based on daily returns.
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
| Period | Metric | IRDM | VSAT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growthi | +133.76% | +62.69% |
| CAGRi | +134.04% | +62.75% | |
| Volatilityi | 61.47% | 79.75% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 1.61 | 0.95 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 3.11 | 1.54 | |
| Max drawdowni | 21.46% | 34.50% | |
| Current drawdowni | 21.46% | 34.50% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 8.77% | 10.95% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 10.78% | 13.92% | |
| Max daily dropi | 9.11% | 13.21% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 13.89% | 19.01% | |
| 5Y | Growthi | +10.48% | +6.79% |
| CAGRi | +2.02% | +1.32% | |
| Volatilityi | 46.25% | 78.05% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.18 | 0.34 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.26 | 0.53 | |
| Max drawdowni | 76.45% | 89.81% | |
| Current drawdowni | 34.94% | 34.50% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 36.47% | 52.97% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 44.09% | 57.84% | |
| Max daily dropi | 22.09% | 28.48% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 29.18% | 31.00% | |
| 10Y | Growthi | +416.65% | -18.96% |
| CAGRi | +17.86% | -2.08% | |
| Volatilityi | 46.18% | 62.68% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.49 | 0.20 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.72 | 0.31 | |
| Max drawdowni | 76.45% | 92.75% | |
| Current drawdowni | 34.94% | 37.58% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 26.27% | 46.97% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 34.00% | 53.83% | |
| Max daily dropi | 22.09% | 28.48% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 29.18% | 37.81% |
| Category | IRDM | VSAT |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Iridium Communications Inc. | Viasat, Inc. |
| Sector | Communication Services | Technology |
| Industry | Telecom Services | Communication Equipment |
| Core business | Iridium operates a low-earth-orbit satellite constellation providing global voice and data communications for government, maritime, aviation, and IoT customers. | Viasat provides satellite broadband and communications services for consumer, aviation, government, and maritime markets, operating a mix of geostationary satellites and network infrastructure. |
| Investor focus | Investors watch subscriber growth in IoT and commercial services, government contract renewals, and free cash flow generation now that the constellation is fully deployed. | Investors focus on Viasat's debt load following its Inmarsat acquisition, satellite fleet reliability, and competition from low-earth-orbit broadband providers like Starlink. |
- Fully deployed, modern satellite constellation with global pole-to-pole coverage
- Diversified subscriber base across government, maritime, aviation, and IoT
- Improving free cash flow with major capital expenditure cycles largely complete
- Broad service portfolio spanning consumer broadband, in-flight connectivity, and government communications
- Expanded global footprint following the Inmarsat acquisition
- Long-standing relationships in aviation and maritime connectivity markets
- Government revenue concentration creates budget and renewal risk
- Competitive pressure from newer low-earth-orbit constellations
- Slower growth profile relative to newer satellite entrants
- High debt levels from the Inmarsat acquisition constrain financial flexibility
- Intensifying competition from low-earth-orbit broadband providers
- History of satellite technical issues and launch delays affecting fleet reliability
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