Intuitive Machines Plans 2026 Lunar Mission with $4.82 Billion in NASA Contracts
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 24 2026
0mins
Should l Buy LUNR?
Source: NASDAQ.COM
- Lunar Mission Catalyst: Intuitive Machines' upcoming third lunar mission, IM-3, scheduled for mid-2026, could significantly boost the company's stock price if successful, demonstrating lessons learned from its previous missions.
- Significant Contract Value: The company has secured $4.82 billion in contracts with NASA, highlighting its crucial role in lunar infrastructure development and laying a solid foundation for future business growth.
- Improving Financials: In Q3 2025, revenue reached $52.4 million, with net losses shrinking from $81.1 million in Q3 2024 to $10.3 million, indicating a gradual improvement in financial performance that enhances investor confidence.
- Strong Cash Reserves: As of the most recent quarter, Intuitive Machines holds $622 million in cash reserves against $371 million in debt, providing robust financial support for future projects and expansions.
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Analyst Views on LUNR
Wall Street analysts forecast LUNR stock price to rise
10 Analyst Rating
8 Buy
1 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 15.720
Low
9.50
Averages
17.74
High
25.00
Current: 15.720
Low
9.50
Averages
17.74
High
25.00
About LUNR
Intuitive Machines, Inc. is a space technology, infrastructure, and services company. It is a provider and supplier of space products and services that enable sustained robotic and human exploration to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. Its services include delivery services, data transmission services, and infrastructure as a service. Its delivery services provide transportation and delivery of payloads, such as satellites, scientific instruments and cargo to various destinations in space, in addition to rideshare delivery and lunar surface access. Its data transmission services offerings include the collection, processing, and interpretation of space-based data, utilizing applications, such as command, control, communications, reconnaissance and prospecting. Its infrastructure as a service delivers space assets, performing tasks and making decisions without human intervention that are designed to perform essential functions, such as navigation, scientific data collection, and others.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Deutsche Bank Sets $18 Price Target for LUNR Stock
- Price Target Analysis: Deutsche Bank has set a price target of $18 for LUNR stock, indicating a potential upside of approximately 16.5% from the current price of $15.45, reflecting optimistic market expectations for its future performance.
- Lunar Economy Potential: The analyst noted that while launch and satellite communications are central to the space industry, lunar infrastructure and connectivity services are less competitive, positioning Intuitive Machines as a key potential beneficiary of the U.S. lunar initiative.
- White House Space Policy: In December 2025, the White House unveiled an ambitious space policy aimed at achieving a human lunar landing by 2028 and establishing a preliminary permanent lunar station by 2030, signaling a strong commitment to U.S. leadership in space exploration.
- Market Consensus: According to Koyfin, LUNR has a 12-month average price target of $18.33, with seven out of nine analysts rating it as a 'Buy', indicating a positive outlook for the stock in the market.
See More
U.S. Moon Return Signals Boost for Intuitive Machines
- Market Focus on Lunar Plans: Deutsche Bank analysts indicate that signals of the U.S. returning to the moon could benefit Intuitive Machines' stock, expected to attract renewed interest in the lunar economy and drive future growth for the company.
- Anticipation for NASA LTVS Award: Analyst Edison Yu mentions that market expectations for the NASA Lunar Terrain Vehicle Services (LTVS) award may serve as a key inflection point, further boosting investor confidence.
- Price Target Increase: Deutsche Bank sets a price target of $18 for Intuitive Machines, indicating over 5% upside from Wednesday's close, reflecting optimistic market expectations for its future performance.
- Changing Competitive Landscape: With SpaceX and Blue Origin reallocating resources to lunar infrastructure, Intuitive Machines, as a provider of lunar infrastructure and connectivity services, may emerge as a key beneficiary, further solidifying its market position.
See More
University of Pennsylvania Increases Stake in Intuitive Machines
- Increased Holdings: The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania increased their stake in Intuitive Machines by 2,571,424 shares in Q4 2026, with an estimated transaction value of $29.78 million, indicating a bullish outlook on the stock.
- Asset Management Overview: Following the purchase, Intuitive Machines accounted for 25.87% of the fund's 13F reportable AUM, with a quarter-end valuation of $52.69 million, reflecting its growing significance in the investment portfolio with a $47.26 million increase from the previous period.
- Market Performance: Despite a 24.6% decline in share price over the past year, Intuitive Machines saw a 22% year-to-date increase as of February 9, 2026, reaching a 52-week high of $23.32 on January 28, driven by excitement in the space sector.
- Investment Advice: Given Intuitive Machines' price-to-sales ratio around 10, investors are advised to wait for a price drop before considering purchases to mitigate the risk of high valuations.
See More
University of Pennsylvania Increases Stake in Intuitive Machines
- Share Acquisition: The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania acquired 2,571,424 shares of Intuitive Machines, with an estimated transaction value of approximately $29.78 million, indicating a bullish outlook towards the stock and reflecting the fund's confidence in the space sector.
- Asset Management Shift: This trade increased Intuitive Machines' share of the fund's reportable assets under management to 25.87%, making it the second-largest holding, which signifies the growing importance of the company within the investment portfolio.
- Quarter-End Valuation Growth: The fund's quarter-end position in Intuitive Machines was valued at $52.69 million, up $47.26 million from the previous period, demonstrating the dual impact of new purchases and price movements, thereby enhancing investor confidence in the company.
- Market Performance Analysis: Despite Intuitive Machines' stock price declining by 24.6% over the past year, it has surged by 22% year-to-date in 2026, reflecting market enthusiasm for the space industry, particularly in anticipation of SpaceX's IPO, which has attracted more investor attention.
See More
Valaris Shares Surge 21.8% Amid Transocean Acquisition Deal
- Significant Price Surge: Valaris shares jumped 21.8% to $76.02 on Monday, reflecting strong market confidence in the company's upcoming acquisition by Transocean, indicating a positive investor sentiment towards the deal.
- Clear Transaction Terms: Under the terms of the all-stock transaction, Valaris shareholders will receive 15.235 shares of Transocean stock for each Valaris share, which may attract more investor interest in Valaris's future performance.
- Mixed Market Performance: U.S. stocks were mixed on Monday, with the Nasdaq gaining around 100 points, showcasing strong performance in tech stocks amidst volatility in other sectors, reflecting the complexity of market sentiment.
- Investor Focus: The acquisition news surrounding Valaris has sparked widespread market attention, potentially influencing the stock prices of other related companies, prompting investors to closely monitor subsequent market reactions and industry developments.
See More
Space Stocks Face Resistance in 2026 Amid SpaceX IPO Hype
- IPO Anticipation: SpaceX's potential IPO in 2026, valued at $1.5 trillion, is drawing investor attention while simultaneously causing capital outflows from other space companies, indicating a strong market preference for SpaceX.
- Capital Rotation: As investors shift funds from established public players to SpaceX, many public peers have experienced significant double-digit declines over the past 30 days, reflecting a cautious market sentiment towards emerging space companies.
- Divergent Stock Performance: While AST SpaceMobile has shown resilience due to its satellite-to-phone milestones, hardware and launch providers like Rocket Lab and Sidus Space have suffered greater losses, highlighting varying levels of market confidence among different companies.
- Challenges for Rocket Lab: Rocket Lab is racing to deploy its reusable Neutron rocket, but remains at a disadvantage until it transitions from the expendable Electron model, impacting its competitive position in the market.
See More
Deutsche Bank Sets $18 Price Target for LUNR Stock
- Price Target Analysis: Deutsche Bank has set a price target of $18 for LUNR stock, indicating a potential upside of approximately 16.5% from the current price of $15.45, reflecting optimistic market expectations for its future performance.
- Lunar Economy Potential: The analyst noted that while launch and satellite communications are central to the space industry, lunar infrastructure and connectivity services are less competitive, positioning Intuitive Machines as a key potential beneficiary of the U.S. lunar initiative.
- White House Space Policy: In December 2025, the White House unveiled an ambitious space policy aimed at achieving a human lunar landing by 2028 and establishing a preliminary permanent lunar station by 2030, signaling a strong commitment to U.S. leadership in space exploration.
- Market Consensus: According to Koyfin, LUNR has a 12-month average price target of $18.33, with seven out of nine analysts rating it as a 'Buy', indicating a positive outlook for the stock in the market.
See More
U.S. Moon Return Signals Boost for Intuitive Machines
- Market Focus on Lunar Plans: Deutsche Bank analysts indicate that signals of the U.S. returning to the moon could benefit Intuitive Machines' stock, expected to attract renewed interest in the lunar economy and drive future growth for the company.
- Anticipation for NASA LTVS Award: Analyst Edison Yu mentions that market expectations for the NASA Lunar Terrain Vehicle Services (LTVS) award may serve as a key inflection point, further boosting investor confidence.
- Price Target Increase: Deutsche Bank sets a price target of $18 for Intuitive Machines, indicating over 5% upside from Wednesday's close, reflecting optimistic market expectations for its future performance.
- Changing Competitive Landscape: With SpaceX and Blue Origin reallocating resources to lunar infrastructure, Intuitive Machines, as a provider of lunar infrastructure and connectivity services, may emerge as a key beneficiary, further solidifying its market position.
See More
University of Pennsylvania Increases Stake in Intuitive Machines
- Increased Holdings: The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania increased their stake in Intuitive Machines by 2,571,424 shares in Q4 2026, with an estimated transaction value of $29.78 million, indicating a bullish outlook on the stock.
- Asset Management Overview: Following the purchase, Intuitive Machines accounted for 25.87% of the fund's 13F reportable AUM, with a quarter-end valuation of $52.69 million, reflecting its growing significance in the investment portfolio with a $47.26 million increase from the previous period.
- Market Performance: Despite a 24.6% decline in share price over the past year, Intuitive Machines saw a 22% year-to-date increase as of February 9, 2026, reaching a 52-week high of $23.32 on January 28, driven by excitement in the space sector.
- Investment Advice: Given Intuitive Machines' price-to-sales ratio around 10, investors are advised to wait for a price drop before considering purchases to mitigate the risk of high valuations.
See More
University of Pennsylvania Increases Stake in Intuitive Machines
- Share Acquisition: The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania acquired 2,571,424 shares of Intuitive Machines, with an estimated transaction value of approximately $29.78 million, indicating a bullish outlook towards the stock and reflecting the fund's confidence in the space sector.
- Asset Management Shift: This trade increased Intuitive Machines' share of the fund's reportable assets under management to 25.87%, making it the second-largest holding, which signifies the growing importance of the company within the investment portfolio.
- Quarter-End Valuation Growth: The fund's quarter-end position in Intuitive Machines was valued at $52.69 million, up $47.26 million from the previous period, demonstrating the dual impact of new purchases and price movements, thereby enhancing investor confidence in the company.
- Market Performance Analysis: Despite Intuitive Machines' stock price declining by 24.6% over the past year, it has surged by 22% year-to-date in 2026, reflecting market enthusiasm for the space industry, particularly in anticipation of SpaceX's IPO, which has attracted more investor attention.
See More
Valaris Shares Surge 21.8% Amid Transocean Acquisition Deal
- Significant Price Surge: Valaris shares jumped 21.8% to $76.02 on Monday, reflecting strong market confidence in the company's upcoming acquisition by Transocean, indicating a positive investor sentiment towards the deal.
- Clear Transaction Terms: Under the terms of the all-stock transaction, Valaris shareholders will receive 15.235 shares of Transocean stock for each Valaris share, which may attract more investor interest in Valaris's future performance.
- Mixed Market Performance: U.S. stocks were mixed on Monday, with the Nasdaq gaining around 100 points, showcasing strong performance in tech stocks amidst volatility in other sectors, reflecting the complexity of market sentiment.
- Investor Focus: The acquisition news surrounding Valaris has sparked widespread market attention, potentially influencing the stock prices of other related companies, prompting investors to closely monitor subsequent market reactions and industry developments.
See More
Space Stocks Face Resistance in 2026 Amid SpaceX IPO Hype
- IPO Anticipation: SpaceX's potential IPO in 2026, valued at $1.5 trillion, is drawing investor attention while simultaneously causing capital outflows from other space companies, indicating a strong market preference for SpaceX.
- Capital Rotation: As investors shift funds from established public players to SpaceX, many public peers have experienced significant double-digit declines over the past 30 days, reflecting a cautious market sentiment towards emerging space companies.
- Divergent Stock Performance: While AST SpaceMobile has shown resilience due to its satellite-to-phone milestones, hardware and launch providers like Rocket Lab and Sidus Space have suffered greater losses, highlighting varying levels of market confidence among different companies.
- Challenges for Rocket Lab: Rocket Lab is racing to deploy its reusable Neutron rocket, but remains at a disadvantage until it transitions from the expendable Electron model, impacting its competitive position in the market.
See More
