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Showing posts with label US. Show all posts
Showing posts with label US. Show all posts

Thursday, July 3, 2025

Kraken Robotics in a great position to help supply NATO navies with their sub sea technology - July Update!

 


Did Desjardin just Release the Kraken? - Kraken Robotics Investment and Business Report (June 2025)

Kraken Robotics’ recent momentum as a growing business and investment opportunity, now including these strategic dimensions:


๐Ÿ’ฐ 1. C$100 Million Bought-Deal Financing

  • What’s new: Kraken announced a bought‑deal public offering in June 2025—raising roughly C$100 million with a 15% over-allotment.

  • Why it’s positive:

    • Bolsters liquidity, enabling aggressive expansions or debt reduction.

    • Supports continued investment in acquisitions and manufacturing scale-up.


๐Ÿงช 2. Acquisition of 3D at Depth (Closed April 2025)


๐Ÿญ 3. Nova Scotia Subsea Battery Facility

  • What happened: Plans for a high-energy SeaPower™ battery plant in Halifax slated for late 2025 krakenrobotics.com+2krakenrobotics.com+2krakenrobotics.com+2.

  • Why it matters:

    • Strategic location: Halifax—Canada East Coast Navy HQ and major NATO port—offers logistical and defense synergies.

    • Defense reach: Perfect staging for contracts, including those with NATO navies. Infrastructure and proven naval partnerships are already in place.


๐Ÿ“ˆ 4. Robust Q1 2025 Results & Backlog

  • What happened: Q1 revenue was C$16.1 M with 62.7% gross margin, C$58 M in cash (up sharply YOY), and C$94.6 M in working capital.

  • Why it’s positive:

    • Confirms improved profitability, operational efficiency, and a strong cushion for growth.


๐Ÿงญ 5. Growing Bookings & Service Expansion

  • What happened: Since Q4 2024, Kraken received ~$45 M in subsea battery orders and ~$3 M in sonar bookings.


  • Why it matters:

    • Reflects sustained demand in defense and offshore energy sectors.

    • Validates product-market fit across diverse offerings.


๐ŸŽฏ 6. Defense & NATO Engagement

  • What happened: Ongoing contracts include $50 M+ for Royal Canadian Navy mine hunting systems in Halifax and past contracts with NATO navies (Australia and UK).


  • Why it’s important:

    • Halifax facility aligns geographically with Kraken’s East Coast naval customers.

    • Strengthens NATO interoperability and trust amid global naval tensions.


✅ 7. Comprehensive Subsea Ecosystem & Diversification

  • What’s evolving: Kraken now offers sonar (KATFISH™), LiDAR (SeaVision + 3D at Depth), subsea batteries (SeaPower™), and RaaS.


  • Pipeline inspection through Kraken Seapower
  • Why it’s smart:

    • Reduced reliance on a single revenue stream.

    • Offers integrated solutions for underwater defense and infrastructure clients.


๐Ÿ“Š Summary Table

StrengthDetails
Financial PowerC$100M financing + C$58M cash = strong investment capability
North American ReachU.S. operations via 3D at Depth + Halifax manufacturing
Defense EcosystemHalifax ties to RCN and NATO; major contracts secured
Tech PortfolioIntegrated sensors + power + service delivery
Proven DemandOrder backlog and major contracts affirm market traction

๐ŸŽฏ Why This Update Matters for Investors

  • Global Expansion: A U.S. footprint hedges geopolitical trade risks, unlocking access to American contracts.

  • Strategic NATO Positioning: Halifax location and facility align with allied naval operations, reinforcing defense supply chain credentials.

  • Integrated Tech Stance: Offers deep-tech defense clients everything from data to power, buoyed by recurring service demand.

  • Financial Firepower: Strong capital reserves enable execution of strategy without dilution or debt stress.


In combining financial strength, geographic diversification (Canada + U.S.), purpose-built naval infrastructure, and a full-stack subsea solution, Kraken Robotics has elevated its status to more than a sensor company—it’s now a strategically aligned defense-tech enabler with actual commercial momentum. These developments make it a more compelling long-term investment.

Here’s a deeper look into Kraken Robotics (PNG/KRKNF) covering contract timelines, valuation considerations, and the competitive landscape:


๐Ÿ“… Contract Timelines & Execution

  • Royal Canadian Navy Remote Mine hunting & Disposal System (RMDS)

    • Awarded: December 2022, with formal kickoff in January 2023.

    • Acquisition phase: 24 months, through end-2024, followed by a 5‑year integrated logistics support (ILS) program ($40 M acquisition + $10 M ILS) .

    • Operational readiness: RMDS installations expected fully operational in 2025 .

  • KATFISH Sonar System for Royal Danish Navy

    • Integration began in 2023, achieving full operational capability in early 2024.

    • Sustenance contract spans 7 years with potential extensions up to 21 years .

  • NATO Vessels Upgrade Contract

    • Roughly US $9 M follow-on deal secured in late 2022 for additional KATFISH units, tentacle winches, and autonomous launch-recovery systems (ALARS) .



๐Ÿ“ˆ Valuation Snapshot & Market Outlook

  • Analyst price targets: Average 12% upside to CA $3.40 (range CA $3.28–$3.68) over the next 12 months .

  • Intrinsic value vs market price:

    • Simply Wall St: Fair value ~CA $3.28, placing current price ~7% below fair value .

  • Key metrics:

    • Trailing P/E around 38× (Yahoo Finance), forward P/E not yet meaningful .

    • P/E ~42× vs industry avg. ~31× (Simply Wall St) .

    • EV/EBITDA ~28× vs sector avg. ~18× .

  • Growth: Earnings projected ~8% annually; last year saw ~136% growth .


๐Ÿ† Competitive Positioning

Strengths:

  • Integrated solution platform: Combines advanced sonar (KATFISH™, AquaPix™), subsea LiDAR (SeaVision + 3D at Depth), batteries (SeaPower™), AUVs, and RaaS—enhancing defensibility.

  • Long-term contracts:

    • Danish results show FOC achieved and a multi-year sustainment contract .

    • Canadian RMDS creates 7+ years of recurring revenue .

  • Global adoption: 

  • Deployed across the U.S., U.K., Australia, Denmark, Poland—plus mounting interest from NATO .

Risks:

  • High valuation relative to peers: Premium multiples imply investor expectations for continued growth.

  • Execution risk: Meeting ambitious contract delivery timelines across multiple large-scale programs.

  • Geopolitical dependency: Much revenue tied to defense budgets, which can be cyclical.


๐Ÿงญ Investment Implications

MetricInsight
Cash flow & marginsLarge multi-year contracts with sustainment provide stable, predictable revenue.
Geographic diversificationU.S. and NATO footprint hedges trade/tension risks; Halifax location aligns with naval operations.
Valuation debateDisagreement between growth-based models (Simply Wall St) and DCF-based (Alpha Spread); current price sits between fair-value estimates.
Catalysts
  • RMDS ramp in 2025

  • Further U.S./EU contracts via 3D at Depth presence

  • Continued deployment of KATFISH on NATO-MCM vessels |

Conclusion: Kraken’s strategic positioning, recurring revenue pipelines, and expanding global engagement present a compelling growth narrative. However, execution reliability and valuation premiums warrant careful monitoring—especially given its ~40× P/E.


Here’s a refined look at how NATO’s new 5% GDP defense‑spending pledge bolsters Kraken Robotics’ strategic positioning—and why it matters:


๐ŸŒ NATO’s 5% Defense Commitment


๐Ÿ“ฃ What This Means for Kraken Robotics

  1. Boost in Core Defence Procurement

    • With NATO countries winding up core defense budgets, there's greater emphasis and funding available for equipment like sonar systems (e.g. KATFISH™), underwater LiDAR, power systems, and autonomous platforms—all in Kraken’s portfolio.

  2. Infrastructure Spending Tailwinds

    • The additional 1.5% of GDP aimed at dual-use infrastructure—ports, bridges, cyber, and shipyards—aligns perfectly with Kraken’s Halifax battery plant and its sensor systems used for marine infrastructure monitoring and readiness.

  3. Special Defense Focus on Canada & Allies

    • Canada (currently ~1.3% GDP on defense) is expected to scale up significantly. Kraken’s Halifax facility—on the East Coast naval hub at a major NATO port—is primed to capture more contracts as defense budgets grow.

  4. Leverage European/NATO Industrial Expansion

    • As NATO boosts its defense-industrial base under this plan, Kraken stands to benefit from increased R&D and procurement contracts across the alliance, particularly in the U.S., Canada, and Europe.


๐Ÿ“ˆ Strategic & Investment Implications for Kraken

AxisPositive Impact
Revenue GrowthLarger NATO defense budgets widen pipeline opportunities for sonar, LiDAR, batteries, AUV deployments, and sustainment contracts.
Geographic & Industrial PushKraken's U.S. and Canadian build-out is well‑aligned with NATO’s spending surge, increasing its positioning as a key supplier.
Valuation UpsideGiven Kraken’s high multiples (P/E ~40×), securing new, credible NATO contracts supports earnings growth and validates premium valuation.
Execution RiskWhile budget increases help, Kraken must still deliver projects on-time and scale its capabilities to meet heightened demand.

๐Ÿงญ Bottom Line

NATO’s 5% GDP commitment is a paradigm shift in defense spending—a ramp-up that directly plays to Kraken Robotics’ strengths:

  • Its full-stack subsea offerings — sonar, LiDAR, batteries, AUV deployment — become increasingly relevant.

  • Its Halifax and U.S. footprint aligns with infrastructure investments and defense-alliances.

  • With large-scale defense budgets unlocking in the coming decade, Kraken is uniquely positioned to capitalize.


Related NATO defense‑spending news