NASA Awards Firefly $75 Million for Lunar Drone Mission
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 3 days ago
0mins
Source: NASDAQ.COM
Firefly Aerospace's stock rose by 7.84% as it crossed above the 5-day SMA, reflecting positive investor sentiment following NASA's announcement.
NASA has awarded Firefly Aerospace $75 million to deliver four 'hopping' drones for the MoonFall project, enhancing its role in lunar exploration and competitiveness in future contracts. The Elytra Dark spacecraft is set to launch in 2028, showcasing Firefly's technological capabilities and potential for significant revenue growth from $160 million last year to over $2.1 billion by 2030.
This funding not only solidifies Firefly's position in NASA projects but also boosts its market profile, indicating strong growth potential in the aerospace sector.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy FLY?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on FLY
Wall Street analysts forecast FLY stock price to rise
7 Analyst Rating
4 Buy
3 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 30.950
Low
27.00
Averages
34.83
High
65.00
Current: 30.950
Low
27.00
Averages
34.83
High
65.00
About FLY
Firefly Aerospace Inc. is a space and defense technology company. The Company provides comprehensive mission solutions to national security, government, and commercial customers. It has designed, developed, and deployed its vehicles and dynamic spacecraft solutions to support critical customer missions across the space domain. It has a differentiated and scalable platform of Launch and Spacecraft Solutions with flight heritage. Within Launch, it has two offerings built on common technologies: Alpha and Eclipse. Alpha is a United States-based orbital rocket in the 1,000 kilograms class to successfully reach orbit, with four launches completed. Eclipse, a reusable and scaled up version of Alpha. Its Spacecraft Solutions include Blue Ghost lander (Blue Ghost) and Elytra offerings, highlight the heritage of common technologies from its launch vehicles. Blue Ghost Lander and Elytra are highly maneuverable spacecraft enabled by high-performance rocket engine technology.
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.
Rocket Lab and Firefly Upgraded to Overweight by KeyBanc
- Stock Price Surge: Rocket Lab's stock rose 4.77% and Firefly's increased by 6.90% after KeyBanc upgraded both companies to Overweight, indicating a renewed market confidence in the space sector.
- Price Target Increase: KeyBanc set a $135 price target for Rocket Lab, implying approximately 35% upside from current levels, reflecting analysts' optimistic outlook on its future growth potential.
- Strengthened Market Position: As the second-largest player in the commercial space launch market, Rocket Lab's Electron rocket has successfully completed around 90 missions, showcasing its competitive edge and technological capabilities in the industry.
- Technical Advancements: Rocket Lab's Neutron rocket program gained additional visibility over the past six months, with a testing anomaly resolved in January, and the first launch on track for later this year, further solidifying its market position.
See More
SpaceX Shares Surge After Strong IPO Performance
- SpaceX IPO Performance: SpaceX shares surged 19% on their Nasdaq debut from the IPO price of $135 per share and gained an additional 9% on the second day, reflecting strong investor confidence and raising a total of $85.7 billion, including the underwriters' greenshoe overallotment.
- Ferrari Stock Upgrade: Morgan Stanley upgraded Ferrari from equal weight to overweight with a price target of $438, resulting in a 5% stock increase, as analysts noted that the brand's decline over the past year was due to value compression rather than earnings deterioration, indicating sustained demand for its luxury models.
- Tripadvisor Strategic Sale: Tripadvisor's stock rose nearly 7% following the announcement of the sale of its European online restaurant reservation platform, The Fork, to American Express, a move driven by activist investor Starboard's push for strategic options to enhance overall company value.
- Energy Stocks Decline: Energy stocks fell sharply as U.S. oil prices dropped 5% to around $80 per barrel due to a U.S.-Iran deal, with shares of APA, Devon Energy, Marathon Petroleum, and EOG Resources all declining, reflecting market concerns about the energy sector's outlook.
See More
Analyst Upgrades Rocket Lab and Firefly Amid SpaceX IPO Selloff
- Market Opportunity Analysis: KeyBanc Capital Markets analyst Michael Leshock upgraded Rocket Lab (RKLB) and Firefly Aerospace (FLY) to Overweight from Sector Weight, arguing that despite the selloff following SpaceX's (SPCX) IPO, the long-term growth drivers of the commercial space industry remain robust, indicating potential market opportunities.
- Rocket Lab's Outlook: KeyBanc set a $135 price target for Rocket Lab, highlighting its position as the clear No. 2 player in the commercial space sector, with approximately 90 successful Electron launches and the upcoming Neutron rocket expected to further enhance its market standing.
- Firefly's Catalyst: Firefly's price target was raised to $50, primarily due to its growing role in NASA's lunar exploration efforts and the recent $75 million NASA MoonFall contract, which is anticipated to drive revenue growth.
- Industry Outlook: Analysts suggest that the future of the commercial space industry could be as significant as the Industrial Revolution, with surging satellite deployments and expanding defense budgets supporting multiple winners, prompting investors to consider long-term investment opportunities in this sector.
See More
SpaceX IPO Boosts Aerospace Stocks Outlook
- Aerospace Stock Upgrades: KeyBanc Capital Markets upgraded Firefly Aerospace and Rocket Lab from sector weight to overweight, reflecting optimism about the aerospace sector's outlook, particularly in the wake of SpaceX's IPO-related market volatility.
- Significant Price Target Increases: KeyBanc set a price target of $50 for Firefly, implying a 57% upside from last Friday's close, while Rocket Lab's target is $135, suggesting a 32% potential increase, showcasing analysts' strong confidence in both companies.
- Market Reaction and Institutional Interest: Despite the iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF declining about 1% on SpaceX's IPO day, analysts believe that rising institutional interest in aerospace firms will likely lead to a rebound in Firefly and Rocket Lab's stock prices, indicating a long-term bullish sentiment in the sector.
- Accelerating NASA Activities: KeyBanc analysts noted that NASA's activities are accelerating, with launch supply remaining structurally constrained amid exponential growth in satellites and space applications, further driving investment opportunities in the aerospace industry.
See More
Market Update: US-Iran Agreement Boosts Futures
- Futures Surge: Stocks futures are rising over 2% after the US and Iran reached a memorandum of understanding to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, indicating a positive market sentiment towards reduced geopolitical risks and potentially stimulating investor interest in related sectors.
- SpaceX IPO Performance: Following Friday's record-breaking IPO, SpaceX shares are up over 5% in premarket trading, reflecting market confidence in its future growth potential, while analysts' upgrades for Rocket Lab and FireFly indicate optimism in the space economy.
- Fox Acquires Roku: Fox Corporation announced plans to acquire Roku in a cash-and-stock deal valued at $25 billion; despite Roku's stock soaring 20% on acquisition news, Fox shares are selling off, highlighting differing investor perspectives on the transaction.
- AmEx Buys TheFork: American Express announced it will acquire TheFork, an online restaurant reservation platform, for $700 million, further strengthening its position in the European dining management market and demonstrating the company's ongoing commitment to diversifying its business portfolio.
See More
Latest Wall Street Ratings Overview
- Morgan Stanley Bullish on Onto Innovation: Morgan Stanley initiates Onto Innovation with an overweight rating, citing potential upside to consensus estimates driven by its process control capabilities in both front-end and back-end operations, suggesting a favorable re-rating ahead.
- Needham Initiates Ceva as Buy: Needham launches coverage of Ceva with a Buy rating and a price target of $55, indicating a 70x P/E based on CY27 EPS estimates, as the company is positioned to benefit from AI advancements in the semiconductor sector.
- UBS Initiates Jade Biosciences as Buy: UBS rates Jade Biosciences as a Buy, highlighting its best-in-class potential, with expectations that the FDA's acceptance of shorter eGFR kidney function data will expedite enrollment in pivotal studies.
- Morgan Stanley Upgrades Ferrari: Morgan Stanley upgrades Ferrari to overweight from equal weight, raising the price target to $438, arguing that the current de-rating overstates brand risk and that the company’s wealth creation and product pipeline support a positive re-rating.
See More
Rocket Lab and Firefly Upgraded to Overweight by KeyBanc
- Stock Price Surge: Rocket Lab's stock rose 4.77% and Firefly's increased by 6.90% after KeyBanc upgraded both companies to Overweight, indicating a renewed market confidence in the space sector.
- Price Target Increase: KeyBanc set a $135 price target for Rocket Lab, implying approximately 35% upside from current levels, reflecting analysts' optimistic outlook on its future growth potential.
- Strengthened Market Position: As the second-largest player in the commercial space launch market, Rocket Lab's Electron rocket has successfully completed around 90 missions, showcasing its competitive edge and technological capabilities in the industry.
- Technical Advancements: Rocket Lab's Neutron rocket program gained additional visibility over the past six months, with a testing anomaly resolved in January, and the first launch on track for later this year, further solidifying its market position.
See More
SpaceX Shares Surge After Strong IPO Performance
- SpaceX IPO Performance: SpaceX shares surged 19% on their Nasdaq debut from the IPO price of $135 per share and gained an additional 9% on the second day, reflecting strong investor confidence and raising a total of $85.7 billion, including the underwriters' greenshoe overallotment.
- Ferrari Stock Upgrade: Morgan Stanley upgraded Ferrari from equal weight to overweight with a price target of $438, resulting in a 5% stock increase, as analysts noted that the brand's decline over the past year was due to value compression rather than earnings deterioration, indicating sustained demand for its luxury models.
- Tripadvisor Strategic Sale: Tripadvisor's stock rose nearly 7% following the announcement of the sale of its European online restaurant reservation platform, The Fork, to American Express, a move driven by activist investor Starboard's push for strategic options to enhance overall company value.
- Energy Stocks Decline: Energy stocks fell sharply as U.S. oil prices dropped 5% to around $80 per barrel due to a U.S.-Iran deal, with shares of APA, Devon Energy, Marathon Petroleum, and EOG Resources all declining, reflecting market concerns about the energy sector's outlook.
See More
Analyst Upgrades Rocket Lab and Firefly Amid SpaceX IPO Selloff
- Market Opportunity Analysis: KeyBanc Capital Markets analyst Michael Leshock upgraded Rocket Lab (RKLB) and Firefly Aerospace (FLY) to Overweight from Sector Weight, arguing that despite the selloff following SpaceX's (SPCX) IPO, the long-term growth drivers of the commercial space industry remain robust, indicating potential market opportunities.
- Rocket Lab's Outlook: KeyBanc set a $135 price target for Rocket Lab, highlighting its position as the clear No. 2 player in the commercial space sector, with approximately 90 successful Electron launches and the upcoming Neutron rocket expected to further enhance its market standing.
- Firefly's Catalyst: Firefly's price target was raised to $50, primarily due to its growing role in NASA's lunar exploration efforts and the recent $75 million NASA MoonFall contract, which is anticipated to drive revenue growth.
- Industry Outlook: Analysts suggest that the future of the commercial space industry could be as significant as the Industrial Revolution, with surging satellite deployments and expanding defense budgets supporting multiple winners, prompting investors to consider long-term investment opportunities in this sector.
See More
SpaceX IPO Boosts Aerospace Stocks Outlook
- Aerospace Stock Upgrades: KeyBanc Capital Markets upgraded Firefly Aerospace and Rocket Lab from sector weight to overweight, reflecting optimism about the aerospace sector's outlook, particularly in the wake of SpaceX's IPO-related market volatility.
- Significant Price Target Increases: KeyBanc set a price target of $50 for Firefly, implying a 57% upside from last Friday's close, while Rocket Lab's target is $135, suggesting a 32% potential increase, showcasing analysts' strong confidence in both companies.
- Market Reaction and Institutional Interest: Despite the iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF declining about 1% on SpaceX's IPO day, analysts believe that rising institutional interest in aerospace firms will likely lead to a rebound in Firefly and Rocket Lab's stock prices, indicating a long-term bullish sentiment in the sector.
- Accelerating NASA Activities: KeyBanc analysts noted that NASA's activities are accelerating, with launch supply remaining structurally constrained amid exponential growth in satellites and space applications, further driving investment opportunities in the aerospace industry.
See More
Market Update: US-Iran Agreement Boosts Futures
- Futures Surge: Stocks futures are rising over 2% after the US and Iran reached a memorandum of understanding to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, indicating a positive market sentiment towards reduced geopolitical risks and potentially stimulating investor interest in related sectors.
- SpaceX IPO Performance: Following Friday's record-breaking IPO, SpaceX shares are up over 5% in premarket trading, reflecting market confidence in its future growth potential, while analysts' upgrades for Rocket Lab and FireFly indicate optimism in the space economy.
- Fox Acquires Roku: Fox Corporation announced plans to acquire Roku in a cash-and-stock deal valued at $25 billion; despite Roku's stock soaring 20% on acquisition news, Fox shares are selling off, highlighting differing investor perspectives on the transaction.
- AmEx Buys TheFork: American Express announced it will acquire TheFork, an online restaurant reservation platform, for $700 million, further strengthening its position in the European dining management market and demonstrating the company's ongoing commitment to diversifying its business portfolio.
See More
Latest Wall Street Ratings Overview
- Morgan Stanley Bullish on Onto Innovation: Morgan Stanley initiates Onto Innovation with an overweight rating, citing potential upside to consensus estimates driven by its process control capabilities in both front-end and back-end operations, suggesting a favorable re-rating ahead.
- Needham Initiates Ceva as Buy: Needham launches coverage of Ceva with a Buy rating and a price target of $55, indicating a 70x P/E based on CY27 EPS estimates, as the company is positioned to benefit from AI advancements in the semiconductor sector.
- UBS Initiates Jade Biosciences as Buy: UBS rates Jade Biosciences as a Buy, highlighting its best-in-class potential, with expectations that the FDA's acceptance of shorter eGFR kidney function data will expedite enrollment in pivotal studies.
- Morgan Stanley Upgrades Ferrari: Morgan Stanley upgrades Ferrari to overweight from equal weight, raising the price target to $438, arguing that the current de-rating overstates brand risk and that the company’s wealth creation and product pipeline support a positive re-rating.
See More
