NEW YORK, January 4, 2026, 10:39 ET — Market closed
- Rocket Lab shares closed Friday up 8.9% at $75.99, after swinging more than $9 intraday.
- A regulatory filing showed Rocket Lab’s COO filed a notice to sell up to 100,000 shares under a pre-arranged trading plan. SEC
- Investors are watching 2026 execution on U.S. defense satellite work and the timeline for the company’s larger Neutron rocket.
Rocket Lab Corp shares ended Friday’s session up 8.93% at $75.99, with U.S. markets shut on Sunday. The stock was last indicated at $76.21 in after-hours trade on Friday, according to StockAnalysis.
The move matters now because Rocket Lab has become a bellwether for a fast-moving corner of the market — publicly listed “space economy” names that can swing sharply when risk appetite shifts. Friday’s jump came as investors started 2026 leaning back into smaller, higher-beta stocks. Reuters
For Rocket Lab, the early-year bid also keeps attention on its transition from a small-launch provider into a bigger defense and space-systems supplier. That story is tied to recent U.S. military satellite awards and the company’s own 2026 milestones, including progress on its medium-lift Neutron rocket.
On Friday, Rocket Lab traded between $66.85 and $76.24 before closing near the top of the day’s range, on volume of about 31.2 million shares. That compared with roughly 17.5 million shares the prior session, the same source showed.
Broader markets were supportive. The Dow rose 0.66% and the S&P 500 added 0.19% on Friday, while the Nasdaq finished little changed, and the Russell 2000 small-cap index gained about 1.1%, a Reuters report said. Reuters
Rocket Lab has been in focus since the U.S. Space Development Agency said in December it reached agreements with four suppliers — Lockheed Martin, L3Harris Technologies, Northrop Grumman and Rocket Lab — to build 72 infrared satellites worth about $3.5 billion in total. Each company is slated to build 18 satellites under fixed-price contracts, meaning contractors typically shoulder the risk of cost overruns.
In its most recent quarterly update, Rocket Lab said it posted record revenue of $155 million in the third quarter of 2025 at a GAAP gross margin of 37%, and guided for fourth-quarter revenue of $170 million to $180 million. “We’ve once again delivered record revenue of $155m at record GAAP gross margin of 37%,” CEO Peter Beck said in that earnings release.
A separate item hit filings late Friday. A Form 144 submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission showed Rocket Lab chief operating officer Frank Klein filed a notice to sell up to 100,000 shares, with the filing listing an aggregate market value of about $7.0 million. SEC
Form 144 is a required notice when insiders intend to sell restricted or control securities. The filing referenced a Rule 10b5-1 plan, which is a pre-arranged trading plan designed to schedule sales and reduce the risk of trading on material nonpublic information. SEC
But the setup carries risks for investors chasing momentum. Rocket Lab is taking on more fixed-price government work alongside much larger defense primes, while also funding development of Neutron — a larger rocket aimed at constellation launches where SpaceX dominates. Any slip in cost control or schedule on those programs can hit margins and sentiment quickly.
From a tape perspective, traders are watching whether Rocket Lab can sustain levels near its late-December peak. The stock’s recent high was $79.83 on Dec. 24, 2025, and Friday’s close put it within about 5% of that level, StockAnalysis data showed.
Macro data could also matter early in the week for high-growth names sensitive to rates. The ISM Manufacturing PMI is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. ET on Monday, Jan. 5, and the U.S. monthly jobs report is due at 8:30 a.m. ET on Friday, Jan. 9, according to the ISM and BLS release calendars. Institute for Supply Management
The next Rocket Lab-specific catalyst is its fourth-quarter results and guidance refresh, with earnings calendars such as Zacks pointing to Feb. 26 as an expected report date. Investors will be listening for updates on Neutron’s 2026 timeline and how quickly new defense satellite work converts into revenue.
