Orbital Sciences Corp.
21839 Atlantic Blvd.
Dulles, Va. 20166
www.orbital.com Year founded: 1982 Industry: Aerospace/defense Revenue: $581.50 Million Net Income/Loss: $20.24 Million Earnings per share: $0.35 Dividend: n/a Stockholder equity: $166.88 Million Auditor: PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Stock: ORB Assets: $439.30 Million Market capitalization: $591.77 Million 52-week high: 14 2/12/2004 52-week low: 5.08 5/20/2003 Chairman and CEO: David W. Thompson President and COO: James R. Thompson Employees: 2160 Local employees: 1100 Description: Orbital Sciences specializes in rocket and space systems used for such varied tasks as broadcasting, scientific research and missile defense. The Defense Department and intelligence agencies make up about half its customers. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration accounts for another quarter of its business, and the rest is from private-sector companies such as international satellite operators. Developments: Orbital Sciences got a boost late last year when it won a contract valued at up to $400 million to develop a kinetic energy interceptor, a missile-defense system designed to shoot down enemy missiles in the first few minutes of flight. Working with Raytheon and Northrop Grumman, Orbital will engineer the initial design. The company won 70 percent of the contracts it bid on last year, bringing in nearly $1.4 billion in new business. Much of the growth came from launch vehicles and missile defense. The growth was tempered by the company's communications satellite businesses and transportation management systems—software and wireless communication products sold to cities to help them manage bus fleets and light rail. Revenue in the transportation business fell by 44 percent last year, and the company is trying to figure out how to improve performance. But Orbital's overall revenue still increased last year, to $582 million from $552 million. This year Orbital expects revenue up to $660 million with growth led by the missile-defense business and a busy schedule of deliveries of spacecraft and launch vehicles.
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