New York, January 14, 2026, 12:15 EST — Regular session
Rocket Lab Corp shares rose about 3.5% on Wednesday, outperforming a weaker Nasdaq and trading within sight of a fresh 52-week high near $90.49. The stock had ended the prior session down 1.5%. 1
The move matters because Rocket Lab has become a crowded trade. The stock has surged from the mid-teens to around $90 over the past year, leaving investors sensitive to any change in expectations on contracts, launches and cash burn.
It also puts the spotlight back on execution in 2026. Rocket Lab is one of the few listed pure-plays in U.S. space launch and satellite hardware, and price swings have been sharp as money moves between defense-linked growth names and the broader market.
Baird raised its price target on Rocket Lab to $100 from $83 on Monday and kept an “Outperform” rating — a bullish call that signals the broker expects the shares to beat the market. The firm pointed to a record $1 billion-plus PWSA contract win late last year, part of a U.S. defense satellite program, and said it expects that work to add revenue between 2026 and 2030. 2
Baird analyst Peter Arment also urged clients to “stay long RKLB,” StreetInsider reported — meaning keep a bet that the shares will rise. 3
Rocket Lab sells launch services for small satellites and builds spacecraft components and satellite systems. Investors tend to trade the stock on two things: the cadence of Electron launches and the pace of contract awards and deliveries on the space-systems side.
But the downside is obvious in the tape. After a run like this, delays, contract timing slips, or a bigger-than-expected funding need can hit the shares quickly, especially if risk appetite keeps fading across growth stocks.
The next hard catalyst is results: Rocket Lab is expected to report earnings on Feb. 26, according to market calendars, and investors will be watching for updates on backlog conversion, margins and spending plans. 4
