The EBITDA forecast included $7.5 million of merger and acquisition expenses associated with its recent proposed merge with former rival GeoEye, which analysts believe will significantly boost DigitalGlobe’s growth and profitability, while decreasing the company’s risk profile. The performance overall allowed DigitalGlobe management to augment its forecast and raise its full-year outlook to forecast revenue growth of between 18 percent and 21 percent.

Both of DigitalGlobe’s customer segments achieved double-digit growth for the fourth consecutive quarter. DigitalGlobe Defense and Intelligence (D&I) grew 24 percent compared to the same period last year and the company’s commercial segment experienced an increase of 57 percent. The company’s overall 12-month backlog currently stands at 20 percent higher than at the same period last year, reaching $366.2 million.

DigitalGlobe value-added services were up 44 percent from last year. Location Based Services sales grew by more than 100 percent, while other verticals grew 67 percent as new partners and distributors populate geospatial solutions to new customers and end-markets. 

“An increasing percentage of customers are converting to long-term contracts as opposed to spot purchases,” Raymond James Analyst Chris Quilty said in a research note. “SLA payments will plateau beginning in the fourth quarter, but DigitalGlobe is continuing to add new Direct Access Program (DAP) customers and grow its value-added services despite budget headwinds. The transition to Web-based content, which begun in 2010, appears to be a contributing factor.”

DigitalGlobe should be responding to a second request from the U.S. Department of Justice to review its merge with GeoEye shortly, followed by a ruling within 30 days, DigitalGlobe management said. The company’s shareholder vote is scheduled for Dec. 3, which could position the deal to close before the end of the year.