YSS — Ticker Eval done
1. Composite Trajectory Verdict
Given YSS's business model as a defense prime with long-term FFP contracts accounted for under percentage-of-completion, the income statement (revenue recognition, gross margin, EAC adjustments) and cash flow statement (working capital intensity, operating cash burn) carry the most weight for assessing trajectory, while the balance sheet reflects financing-driven liquidity changes.
Composite Trajectory: Mixed
Revenue is growing consistently: annual revenue rose 52% to $386.2M in 2025 (10-K FY2025, Consolidated Statements of Operations) and quarterly revenue rose 10% YoY to $92.5M in Q2 2026 (10-Q Q2 2026, Condensed Statements of Operations). Gross margin improved from 12.8% in 2024 to 19.5% in 2025 annually (10-K FY2025, MD&A) and from 11.4% to 24.0% in Q2 YoY (10-Q Q2 2026, MD&A). Net unfavorable EAC adjustments narrowed from $(22.9M) in 2024 to $(11.1M) in 2025 (10-K FY2025, MD&A) and from $(13.8M) to $(0.4M) in Q2 YoY (10-Q Q2 2026, MD&A). Backlog stabilized at $592.0M as of June 30, 2026 after declining from $861.7M at Dec 2024 to $542.6M at Dec 2025 (10-K FY2025, MD&A; 10-Q Q2 2026, MD&A). However, GAAP operating losses widened: annual loss from operations improved from $(92.0M) to $(70.7M) but quarterly loss from operations deteriorated from $(21.2M) to $(41.3M) in Q2 YoY and from $(27.9M) to $(151.8M) YTD YoY (10-K FY2025, Consolidated Statements of Operations; 10-Q Q2 2026, Condensed Statements of Operations). Operating cash flow deteriorated sharply: annual operating cash flow swung from +$31.6M in 2024 to -$121.3M in 2025 (10-K FY2025, Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows), and YTD operating cash outflow widened from -$99.8M to -$186.6M (10-Q Q2 2026, Condensed Statements of Cash Flows). The IPO raised $582.6M net proceeds (10-K FY2025, MD&A), eliminating the Class P derivative liability ($93.4M to $0) and temporary equity ($143.1M to $0), and boosting cash to $534.0M (10-Q Q2 2026, Consolidated Balance Sheets).
2. Red Flags
- Operating cash flow deterioration despite revenue growth: Annual operating cash flow went from +$31.6M (2024) to -$121.3M (2025) (10-K FY2025, Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows); YTD June 2026 operating cash outflow of -$186.6M vs -$99.8M YTD June 2025 (10-Q Q2 2026, Condensed Statements of Cash Flows).
- Working capital absorption: Contract assets grew from $21.6M (Dec 2024) to $76.8M (Dec 2025) to $115.0M (June 2026) while contract liabilities fell from $165.6M to $110.3M to $18.2M (10-K FY2025, Consolidated Balance Sheets; 10-Q Q2 2026, Consolidated Balance Sheets). Accounts receivable rose from $2.1M to $11.5M to $55.8M over the same periods.
- Large and growing stock-based compensation: $95.6M YTD June 2026 vs $0 prior (10-Q Q2 2026, Condensed Statements of Operations), driven by IPO-related RSA vesting (10-Q Q2 2026, Note 10). This non-cash charge masks core operating loss trends but will recur at lower levels.
- Recurring transaction costs: $12.1M in 2025 (vs $0.2M in 2024) and $11.9M YTD June 2026 (vs $0.1M) for acquisitions and IPO (10-K FY2025, MD&A; 10-Q Q2 2026, MD&A).
- Customer concentration: ~96% of 2025 revenue from one customer (10-K FY2025, Note 2).
- Minimum revenue covenants: Credit Agreement requires trailing 12-month revenue of $264.4M by June 30, 2026 and $372.5M by Dec 31, 2026 (10-K FY2025, Note 8; 10-Q Q2 2026, MD&A). TTM revenue as of June 30, 2026 was approximately $405M (derived from FY2025 $386.2M + YTD Q2 2026 $208.9M - YTD Q2 2025 $190.1M), providing limited cushion.
3. Earnings Assessment (Income Statement)
Earnings Trajectory: Mixed
Revenue growth is strong and consistent: +52% annually (2024 to 2025) and +10% quarterly/year-to-date YoY (10-K FY2025, Consolidated Statements of Operations; 10-Q Q2 2026, Condensed Statements of Operations). Gross margin expanded from 12.8% to 19.5% annually and from 11.4% to 24.0% in Q2 YoY, driven by favorable contract mix and lower net unfavorable EAC adjustments (10-K FY2025, MD&A; 10-Q Q2 2026, MD&A). However, GAAP operating losses widened in quarterly periods: Q2 loss from operations grew from $(21.2M) to $(41.3M) and YTD from $(27.9M) to $(151.8M), primarily due to $10.9M/$95.6M of stock-based compensation (zero in prior periods) and higher SG&A (+58% Q2, +47% YTD) and transaction costs (10-Q Q2 2026, Condensed Statements of Operations). Annual operating loss narrowed from $(92.0M) to $(70.7M) (10-K FY2025, Consolidated Statements of Operations). Net loss followed similar pattern: annual improved from $(98.9M) to $(84.5M); quarterly deteriorated from $(24.2M) to $(39.3M) Q2 and $(36.0M) to $(154.2M) YTD (10-K FY2025, Consolidated Statements of Operations; 10-Q Q2 2026, Condensed Statements of Operations). Contribution margin (non-GAAP) improved from 30% to 32% annually and 24% to 42% in Q2 (10-K FY2025, MD&A; 10-Q Q2 2026, MD&A).
4. Cash Generation Assessment (Statement of Cash Flows)
Cash Trajectory: Deteriorating
Operating cash flow has deteriorated materially across comparable periods. Annual net cash from operations swung from +$31.6M in 2024 to -$121.3M in 2025 (10-K FY2025, Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows). Year-to-date June 2026 operating cash outflow of -$186.6M nearly doubled the -$99.8M outflow in YTD June 2025 (10-Q Q2 2026, Condensed Statements of Cash Flows). The primary drivers are working capital changes: contract assets increased $38.2M YTD 2026 vs $42.9M YTD 2025, contract liabilities decreased $95.8M vs $72.9M, accounts receivable increased $43.4M vs $7.3M, and inventories increased $24.0M vs decreased $7.1M (10-Q Q2 2026, Condensed Statements of Cash Flows). Non-cash adjustments increased due to $95.6M stock-based compensation (vs $0) and higher D&A (10-Q Q2 2026, Condensed Statements of Cash Flows). Investing cash outflow grew to -$29.7M YTD 2026 from -$8.8M YTD 2025 due to Orbion and Solestial acquisitions (10-Q Q2 2026, MD&A). Financing cash inflow surged to $587.8M YTD 2026 from $25.0M YTD 2025, driven by $589.6M net IPO proceeds (10-Q Q2 2026, Condensed Statements of Cash Flows). Cash balance rose from $21.2M (June 2025) to $534.0M (June 2026) (10-Q Q2 2026, Condensed Statements of Cash Flows).
5. Balance Sheet Assessment
Balance Sheet Trajectory: Improving
The balance sheet strengthened significantly post-IPO. Cash increased from $162.6M (Dec 2025) to $534.0M (June 2026) (10-K FY2025, Consolidated Balance Sheets; 10-Q Q2 2026, Consolidated Balance Sheets). Total debt decreased slightly from $150.0M to $148.1M (net) with the Class P Units derivative liability ($93.4M) and temporary equity ($143.1M) fully eliminated upon IPO conversion (10-K FY2025, Consolidated Balance Sheets; 10-Q Q2 2026, Consolidated Balance Sheets). Stockholders' equity rose from $867.8M to $1,745.8M, reflecting $2.17B additional paid-in capital from IPO and equity consideration for acquisitions, offset by accumulated deficit growing from $(269.0M) to $(423.2M) (10-K FY2025, Consolidated Balance Sheets; 10-Q Q2 2026, Consolidated Balance Sheets). Goodwill increased from $674.3M to $793.5M and intangibles from $407.9M to $412.8M due to ATLAS, Orbion, and Solestial acquisitions (10-K FY2025, Note 4; 10-Q Q2 2026, Note 4). Contract liabilities fell sharply from $110.3M to $18.2M as deferred revenue was recognized (10-K FY2025, Consolidated Balance Sheets; 10-Q Q2 2026, Consolidated Balance Sheets). The company was in compliance with all debt covenants as of June 30, 2026 (10-Q Q2 2026, MD&A).
6. Data Gaps
- Q1 2026 standalone quarterly results (revenue, margins, cash flow) — only YTD June and Q2 figures provided in 10-Q; would need Q1 10-Q for full quarterly trend
- Full-year 2026 guidance or implied run-rate to assess covenant compliance trajectory beyond June 2026
- Breakdown of stock-based compensation by award type (RSA vs RSU) for future periods to model recurring expense
- Detailed contract-level EAC adjustment drivers beyond the two largest contracts cited
- Capital expenditure forecasts to assess free cash flow trajectory post-IPO
- TRA liability recognition timing and amount (currently unrecorded, estimated $347M attributes) (10-Q Q2 2026, MD&A)