Rafael Holdings, Inc. holds interests in clinical and early stage pharmaceutical companies, and commercial real estate assets in the United States and Israel. The company operates in two segments, Pharmaceuticals and Real Estate. It engages in the leasing of a commercial office building, as well as an associated 800-car public garage; and development and commercialization of therapies that exploit the metabolic differences between normal cells and cancer cells. The company's lead drug candidate is CPI-613 (devimistat), which is being evaluated in various clinical studies, including two Phase III registrational clinical trials for the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer and r/r acute myeloid leukemia. Rafael Holdings, Inc. is headquartered in Newark, New Jersey.
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Here are 1-3 brief analogies to describe Rafael:
- An Israeli Lockheed Martin.
- Like Raytheon (now RTX), but an Israeli firm specializing in advanced defense systems.
- The Northrop Grumman of Israel, developing cutting-edge military technology.
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- Iron Dome: A mobile all-weather air defense system primarily designed to intercept and destroy short-range rockets and artillery shells.
- Spike Missile Family: A series of electro-optical, multi-purpose, multi-platform precision-guided missiles used for anti-tank and other precision strike missions.
- David's Sling: A joint Israel-US military system designed to intercept medium- to long-range rockets and cruise missiles.
- Trophy Active Protection System (APS): A military system designed to protect armored vehicles from anti-tank guided missiles, rockets, and other threats.
- Litening Targeting Pod: An advanced airborne targeting and navigation pod system that provides pilots with real-time, all-weather, day/night targeting capabilities.
- Spyder Air Defense System: A family of quick-reaction, low-level surface-to-air missile systems for defending against aircraft and various munitions.
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Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. primarily sells its advanced defense systems to governments and other defense companies, operating in a Business-to-Government (B2G) and Business-to-Business (B2B) model. It does not sell directly to individuals.
Major Customers:
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Israeli Ministry of Defense (IMOD): As Israel's leading defense technology company, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israeli Ministry of Defense are Rafael's primary and largest domestic customers. This is a government entity and not a public company.
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RTX Corporation (symbol: RTX): Through its Raytheon division, RTX is a significant international partner and customer of Rafael. They collaborate on the co-production and integration of key Rafael systems, such as the Iron Dome and David's Sling air defense systems, for the U.S. military and other global markets.
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Various Foreign Governments: Rafael is a major global exporter, with a substantial portion of its sales going to numerous governments and their respective defense ministries worldwide. These customers span various regions, including Europe, Asia, and North America. These are government entities and not public companies.
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Yoav Turgeman, Chief Executive Officer
Yoav Turgeman was appointed CEO of Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. in December 2023, succeeding Yoav Har-Even. Prior to this role, he served as the CEO of Elta Systems, a subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), a position he held since 2018. Turgeman joined IAI in 2006 after a 25-year career in the Israeli Navy, where he retired as a colonel and headed its combat systems department. At IAI, he held various positions, including leading the Arrow air defense system program and managing the company's anti-aircraft plant. He is credited with strengthening Elta's cyber, autonomous combat vehicle, and patrol vehicle businesses. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees with honors in electrical engineering from Tel Aviv University, along with additional degrees from the University of Haifa and Bar Ilan University.
Moshe Lipel, Executive Vice President of Finance and Control (CFO)
Brigadier General (Ret.) Moshe Lipel was appointed Executive Vice President of Finance and Control (CFO) of Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. in November 2020. He replaced David Vaish, who retired after 15 years as the company's CFO. For 13 years prior to joining Rafael, Lipel served as the CFO of Elta Systems Ltd., an IAI subsidiary. His background also includes various positions within Israel's defense establishment, such as financial advisor to the Chief of Staff of the IDF and head of the Defense Ministry's budget department. Mr. Lipel holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Bar Ilan University, specializing in Finance.
Pini Yungman, Executive Vice President; General Manager - Air & Missile Defense Division
Pini Yungman serves as an Executive Vice President and the General Manager of the Air & Missile Defense Division at Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. He was among the serving vice presidents at Rafael considered for the CEO position.
Judith Hocherman-Frommer, Executive Vice President - Research and Development
Judith Hocherman-Frommer is the Executive Vice President for Research and Development at Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd., a position she has held since 2023.
Yuval Miller, Executive Vice President
Yuval Miller holds the title of Executive Vice President at Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. He previously served as the head of the air and intelligence division and was considered as a candidate for the CEO position.
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The accelerating pace of innovation and successful commercialization of novel oncology therapies by well-capitalized pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies represents a clear emerging threat. These new therapies continuously redefine standards of care and capture market share in therapeutic areas Rafael Pharmaceuticals aims to target, making it increasingly difficult for its lead candidate, devimistat, to establish a viable market presence, particularly given its prior clinical setbacks in pancreatic cancer.
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Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. (RFL) operates in several key defense technology markets. The addressable market sizes for its main products and services vary by product category and region, primarily spanning global and regional defense sectors.
Main Products and Addressable Markets:
- Iron Dome (Air Defense System): The global market for advanced missile defense systems, which includes Iron Dome, is expected to see sales exceeding $10 billion in the next five years. The broader global air defense systems market size was valued at USD 87.63 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to USD 154.81 billion by 2032, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.11% from 2025 to 2032.
- Spike Missiles (Anti-Tank Guided Missiles): Rafael has sold over 30,000 Spike missiles to 32 customers, with the Spike family being used in 45 nations globally. Recent significant deals include Germany's procurement of Spike anti-tank missiles valued at approximately 2 billion euros. The global missile market, encompassing Spike missiles, was estimated at USD 55.70 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 93.56 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 7.4% from 2024 to 2030. North America dominated this market with a revenue share over 39.37% in 2023, while Asia-Pacific is noted as the fastest-growing market.
- David's Sling (Air Defense System): David's Sling operates within the global surface-to-air missile (SAM) market, which was estimated at approximately $12 billion in 2023 and can be valued in the "tens of billions of dollars" for 2025. This market is projected to increase from USD 6.21 billion in 2025 to approximately USD 10.78 billion by 2034, expanding at a CAGR of 6.32% from 2025 to 2034. Notable sales include a €316 million (approximately $354 million) contract with Finland.
- Trophy Active Protection System (APS): The global active protection systems market size was valued at USD 3.76 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to nearly USD 6.70 billion by 2032, at a CAGR of 7.5% from 2025. Other estimates place the market at USD 4.42 billion in 2024, expanding to USD 5.91 billion by 2030 at a 5.98% CAGR, and at USD 5.64 billion in 2025, reaching around USD 8.76 billion by 2034 at a 5.01% CAGR. North America is a dominant region, holding 34.28% of the market in 2024 and surpassing USD 1.88 billion in 2024, projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.16% during the forecast period. Europe also holds a significant share, with 38.78% of revenue in 2024, and is expected to grow significantly.
- Litening Targeting Pod (Targeting Pods): The global targeting pods market size was valued at USD 5.36 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.2% from 2025 to 2030. Another report estimates the market size at USD 5.65 billion in 2025, projected to reach USD 8.24 billion by 2030 at a 7.84% CAGR. North America dominated this market, accounting for 32.8% of global revenue in 2024 and 38.25% in 2024. Asia-Pacific is projected to exhibit the highest regional CAGR at 8.97% through 2030. Rafael has sold over 2,000 Litening units to 28 air forces worldwide.
- Python Missiles (Air-to-Air Missiles): Python missiles are part of the broader global missile market, which was estimated at USD 55.70 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 93.56 billion by 2030. The air segment, which includes air-to-air missiles, accounted for the largest revenue share of 42.3% in the missile market in 2023.
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Here are 3-5 expected drivers of future revenue growth for Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. over the next 2-3 years:
- Growing Order Backlog: Rafael reported an unprecedented order backlog of $17.76 billion in 2024, a 24% increase from the previous year, with nearly half of these orders stemming from export contracts. This substantial backlog represents approximately 3.6 years of sales, providing a strong foundation for future revenue generation. Analysts also estimate Rafael's order backlog to be around $18 billion, equivalent to more than three years of revenue, suggesting consistent future income.
- Increased Global Defense Budgets and Demand: The company's operational performance is significantly benefiting from governments' increased defense budgets and a strengthening demand across the broader defense industry. Ongoing global conflicts are contributing to a surge in demand for Rafael's products and services, acting as a tailwind for the company.
- International Expansion and Strategic Partnerships: Approximately half of Rafael's sales in 2024 were directed to international customers. The company's strategy emphasizes strategic international partnerships and localization efforts to ensure customer sovereignty. Rafael's key international markets include the US, Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa, with customers in 20 NATO countries. Notable expansions include a new production facility in Arkansas, USA, for Tamir interceptor manufacturing and the integration of its Trophy system on Germany's Leopard tank.
- Development and Launch of New, Advanced Defense Systems: Rafael consistently invests approximately 8% of its annual revenue into research and development. This investment fuels the creation of next-generation technologies and future systems. The company has showcased advancements such as the successful testing of the IRON BEAM High Energy Laser Weapon System, which complements the IRON DOME system, and continues to innovate in areas like advanced aerodynamics, autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, and cyber warfare.
- Sustained Demand for Existing Combat-Proven Technologies: Rafael's established and combat-proven defense systems, including Iron Dome, David's Sling, and Trophy, continue to experience strong global demand due to their critical protection capabilities. For instance, the company secured a contract in 2024 to supply the David's Sling air defense system to Finland, underscoring the ongoing need for its core products.
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Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. is a government-owned company in Israel and is not publicly traded under the symbol RFL. Therefore, information related to share repurchases and share issuances in the context of a public company's capital allocation decisions is not applicable.
Inbound Investments
- Rafael Advanced Defense Systems received a grant of $469K from the European Union in October 2023.
- The company secured an undisclosed amount in funding in April 2021.
Outbound Investments
- In 2023, Rafael acquired the remaining part of Aeronautics, making it fully owned, for approximately ILS 500 million.
- Rafael, in a joint venture with Raytheon (R2S), inaugurated a new production facility in Arkansas, USA, for manufacturing Tamir interceptors, representing an investment of tens of millions of dollars.
- Rafael continuously invests in investee companies, partially implementing its annual budget for acquisitions of company shares between 2017 and 2021.
Capital Expenditures
- Rafael's capital expenditures are expected to rise gradually to more than ILS 1 billion in 2024 and slightly higher in 2025.
- The company consistently allocates approximately 8% of its annual revenue to research and development.
- Capital expenditures include expanding its development footprint by opening a new branch in Hadera, complementing existing R&D centers in northern Israel, Be'er Sheva, Jerusalem, and Tel Aviv.