The Filing Desk

Cogent Communications vs Iridium Communications

Cogent Communications CCOI · Iridium Communications IRDM · Alternative Carriers

Cogent Communications reported revenue of $976 million in fiscal 2025, about the same as Iridium Communications' $872 million in fiscal 2025. Cogent Communications' revenue fell 5.8% in its latest year, and Iridium Communications' grew 4.9%. Cogent Communications had an operating margin of -10.4%, against 27.1% at Iridium Communications. Free cash flow was −$198 million at Cogent Communications and $300 million at Iridium Communications.

Side by side

Cogent CommunicationsIridium Communications
Latest fiscal yearFY2025, Dec 31, 2025FY2025, Dec 31, 2025
Revenue$976M$872M
Revenue growth−5.8%4.9%
Revenue growth a year, last 5 years11.4%8.4%
Gross margin45.2%—
Operating margin−10.4%27.1%
Net margin−18.7%13.1%
Free cash flow−$198M$300M
Free cash flow margin−20.3%34.4%
Return on capital−3.8%8.7%
Net debt to EBITDA13.0x3.7x
Dividends and buybacks$167M$249M
Change in diluted share count0.6%−10.0%
Last close$7.36$44.52
P/E at the last close—29.5×
Insider trades, last 12 monthssold $995,500bought $871,300, sold $20.4 million
Piotroski F-score4 of 97 of 8
Amounts in each company's own currency, US$ unless marked (a foreign company may report in another), each company's latest fiscal year from its 10-K, or 20-F or 40-F for a foreign company. Growth rates compare with the year before; the five-year rate is the average a year. Free cash flow is cash from operations minus capital spending; return on capital is after-tax operating income over the money invested in the business; P/E is the last close over the latest earnings per share. Banks are measured differently (return on equity, efficiency ratio), so some rows apply to one company only.

Ten years

Revenue
US$ billions, fiscal years
Cogent CommunicationsIridium Communications
Operating margin
Percent of revenue
Cogent CommunicationsIridium Communications
Free cash flow
US$ billions. Cash from operations minus capital expenditure.
Cogent CommunicationsIridium Communications

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Source: the companies' Form 10-K filings, from SEC EDGAR, and the last close. For information only, not investment advice: the figures describe results, not which company is the better investment. The Filing Desk is not affiliated with either company. Full figures on the Cogent Communications and Iridium Communications pages.