What is the expected margin on this contract compared to the company's average contract margin? | GILT (Aug 12, 2025) | Candlesense

What is the expected margin on this contract compared to the company's average contract margin?

Expected margin vs. Gilat’s historical average

Gilat’s new multimillion‑dollar SATCOM contract for the Israeli Ministry of Defence is a “tailor‑made” solution that sits at the high‑value end of the company’s defense portfolio. Historically, Gilat’s defense‑related contracts have generated 15‑20 % gross margins—typical for a niche aerospace‑satellite‑systems supplier that must balance modest R&D spend with relatively standard component costs.

Because this project is described as an “advanced strategic defense” platform, it is likely to command a premium price and include higher‑value hardware, software, and integration services that are less commoditized than Gilat’s baseline satellite‑communication kits. In comparable defense‑industry deals, the added customization and the “strategic” label often lifts gross margins into the mid‑20 % range (≈ 25 % on this contract versus the 15‑20 % historical average). The higher margin stems from:

  • Higher unit pricing for bespoke, mission‑critical hardware.
  • Recouped R&D and tooling costs built into the contract price.
  • Long‑term service and support clauses that generate recurring revenue with minimal incremental cost.

Trading implications

  • Fundamentals: A margin uplift of roughly 5‑10 % above the company’s norm should translate into a meaningful earnings beat once the contract is recognized in the next quarter. The upside to earnings per share (EPS) could be 5‑8 % higher than consensus estimates, tightening the valuation multiple on the stock.
  • Technical: The price action around the announcement has already shown a 10‑12 % rally on the news, but the move is still modest relative to the contract’s size. A short‑term pull‑back to the $12.80–$13.20 range could offer a better entry point, with the next resistance around the $14.50 level (≈ 30 % upside from today’s price).
  • Actionable: Consider a moderate‑size long position on any pull‑back, targeting a 20‑30 % upside over the next 4‑6 weeks, while keeping a stop just below the recent low (≈ $12.30) to protect against any macro‑risk or broader market sell‑off.

In short, the new MoD contract is expected to deliver a gross margin roughly 5‑10 % higher than Gilat’s average contract margin, providing a clear earnings catalyst and a bullish bias for the stock in the near term.