Rocket Lab's Q1 Revenue Soars 64% Amid SpaceX IPO Buzz
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 2 days ago
0mins
Source: NASDAQ.COM
- Significant Revenue Growth: Rocket Lab reported Q1 revenue of $200.3 million, reflecting a 63.5% year-over-year increase, indicating strong demand in the space launch market, particularly with heightened interest in the space sector due to the upcoming SpaceX IPO.
- Backlog Doubles: The company's backlog surged to $2.2 billion, more than doubling year-over-year, with 31 new contracts signed, including a $190 million block order from the U.S. Department of Defense, underscoring Rocket Lab's robust position in the defense sector.
- AST SpaceMobile Approval: AST SpaceMobile received FCC approval for commercial direct-to-device service in the U.S., with Q1 revenue at $14.7 million, but management forecasts 2026 revenue between $150 million and $200 million, highlighting its potential in the satellite broadband market.
- Optimistic Market Outlook: As the SpaceX IPO approaches, the overall valuation of the space industry is rising, suggesting that companies like Rocket Lab and AST SpaceMobile could benefit from increased investor interest in the space economy, despite their differing business models and associated risks.
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Analyst Views on RKLB
Wall Street analysts forecast RKLB stock price to fall
11 Analyst Rating
7 Buy
4 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 125.450
Low
63.00
Averages
86.89
High
120.00
Current: 125.450
Low
63.00
Averages
86.89
High
120.00
About RKLB
Rocket Lab Corporation is an end-to-end space company. The Company designs and manufactures small and medium-class rockets, spacecraft and spacecraft components, and related software and services to support the space economy. The Company delivers reliable launch services, satellite manufacture, spacecraft design services, spacecraft components, spacecraft manufacturing, and other spacecraft and on-orbit management solutions that make it easier to access space. Its Launch Services segment provides launch and launch-related services to customers on a dedicated mission or ride-share basis. Its Space Systems segment comprises the design and manufacture of spacecraft components and spacecraft program management services, space data applications, and mission operations. Its space systems solutions are the building blocks for spacecraft, which include composite structures, reaction wheels, star trackers, solar solutions, radios, separation systems, and command and control spacecraft software.
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.
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See More
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- Technological Integration Advantage: The new satellites will be built on Rocket Lab's Lightning bus, tailored for the thermal, radiation, propulsion, and station-keeping requirements of geostationary orbit, ensuring production efficiency and supply chain advantages across multiple national security programs.
- Transition from Prototype to Operations: This contract transitions the Heimdall space domain awareness payload development from the prototype phase to operational delivery, enhancing the Space Force's ability to monitor objects in geostationary orbit and bolstering the company's competitive position in the market.
- Production and Testing Hub: Rocket Lab will conduct spacecraft assembly, integration, and testing at its Long Beach, California facility, ensuring payload delivery and mission operations, further solidifying its leadership in the aerospace sector.
See More
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- Investor Enthusiasm: According to Vanda's report, retail investors are purchasing space-related funds at the fastest rate since 2021, with the Procure Space ETF (UFO) emerging as the standout favorite, indicating strong market interest in the space economy.
- Significant Capital Inflow: Over the past month, space-focused ETFs have attracted $1.3 billion in new capital, raising the total assets under management in this sector to $3.3 billion, reflecting investor optimism about the future of the space economy.
- Redwire's Strong Performance: Redwire (RDW) saw net buying of over $25 million this week, hitting record highs and gaining for the third consecutive week, indicating strong market interest in the company, especially with SpaceX's upcoming IPO.
- Emerging Products: Since the launch of UFO in 2019, six new ETFs have joined the space economy bandwagon, with the Tema Space Innovators ETF (NASA) accumulating over $1.27 billion in assets within seven weeks of its launch, showcasing investor enthusiasm for the burgeoning space market.
See More
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- Successful Launch: The company completed its ninth successful satellite launch for Synspective, further solidifying its position in the satellite launch market and demonstrating its capability to meet customer demands effectively.
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See More
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- Significant Market Potential: SpaceX's upcoming June IPO aims to raise up to $75 billion with a valuation of $1.75 trillion, which is expected to ignite investment across the aerospace sector, positioning Starfighters, as a smaller public company, to benefit from this trend.
- Partnership Agreement: Starfighters signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Mu-G Technologies to modify and certify the Falcon 50 aircraft at Midland International Air & Space Port in Texas, aiming to rebuild the U.S. commercial microgravity capability and fill a significant market gap.
- Diverse Flight Environments: Under the MOU, Starfighters will provide multiple flight environments, including microgravity, reduced gravity, and hypergravity, leveraging the capabilities of both the Falcon 50 and F-104 aircraft to enhance its competitiveness in the aerospace testing market.
- Executive Changes and Expansion: With Tim Franta taking over as CEO in February 2026, Starfighters has recently added two senior engineers from Blue Origin, further strengthening its technical capabilities and market competitiveness.
See More
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- Space Economy Boost: The upcoming SpaceX IPO is projected to raise up to $75 billion at a $1.75 trillion valuation, potentially becoming the largest IPO in history, which is expected to catalyze growth across space ETFs and the broader space economy.
- MOU Signing: Starfighters Space has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Mu-G Technologies to modify and flight test the Dassault Falcon 50 at Midland International Air & Space Port in Texas, addressing a gap in domestic microgravity services in the U.S.
- Diverse Flight Environments: This collaboration will provide four flight environments—microgravity, reduced gravity, hyper-gravity, and supersonic—enhancing Starfighters' competitiveness in the commercial microgravity market and meeting NASA's demand for novel flight platforms.
- Optimistic Industry Outlook: Starfighters is already conducting revenue missions for clients like Lockheed Martin, and its engagement in NASA's RFI highlights its significant position in the future space services market.
See More
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- Successful Launch: Rocket Lab successfully deployed the ninth StriX satellite for Synspective on May 22, 2026, further solidifying its commercial partnership with the Japan-based company and reinforcing its leadership in the small satellite launch sector.
- Customized Service: The launch featured a custom Electron rocket fairing tailored for the StriX satellite, ensuring a 100% mission success rate, which highlights Rocket Lab's adaptability to client needs and enhances its service offering.
- Increased Launch Count: This mission brings Rocket Lab's total launch count to 88, further establishing Electron as the premier small launch provider globally, with an additional 18 launches booked for Synspective in the pipeline.
- Global Market Impact: Through ongoing collaboration with Synspective, Rocket Lab not only enhances its market share but also strengthens its competitive position in the global satellite launch market, facilitating the worldwide delivery of high-resolution Earth observation data.
See More
