New York, Jan 26, 2026, 19:41 EST — After-hours
- Rocket Lab shares fell 9.5% by the close, then inched up during after-hours trading
- Company scheduled to report fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results on Feb. 26, following the U.S. market close
- Rocket Lab reported a schedule update for the February Neutron launch following a rupture during a Stage 1 tank test
Shares of Rocket Lab Corporation plunged 9.5% to close at $80.45 on Monday. In after-hours trading, the stock clawed back slightly, rising about 0.5% to $80.84. 1
Rocket Lab’s stock jumped around this week as investors pressed for clearer timelines on Neutron, the company’s upcoming rocket designed for heavier payloads. Two after-hours updates provided fresh dates — though not the definitive schedule many hoped for. 1
Rocket Lab announced Monday that it will release its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 financial results after U.S. markets close on Feb. 26. The company also scheduled a conference call for 5 p.m. Eastern. 2
Separately, Rocket Lab announced that the “Hungry Hippo” captive fairing for Neutron has reached Wallops Island, Virginia. It will now undergo inspections before moving on to more pre-launch tests near Launch Complex 3. The payload fairing, which protects the spacecraft during ascent, is unique for Neutron—it stays attached throughout the mission and return. 3
Neutron’s progress has sparked volatility since Rocket Lab revealed in an SEC filing last week that a Stage 1 tank burst during a hydrostatic pressure test, which stresses the tank to verify its strength. The company is now analyzing the data to understand how this might affect Neutron’s launch timeline. 4
The company confirmed that production of the next Stage 1 tank is underway and intends to provide an update on Neutron’s timeline during its February earnings call. 5
Rocket Lab’s shares fluctuated from $80.01 up to $87.16 on Monday, as over 21 million shares exchanged hands, data from Stock Analysis shows. 1
Neutron aims to be a reusable, medium-lift rocket—a field currently led by SpaceX’s Falcon 9. Rocket Lab markets it as a bigger step beyond its smaller Electron launcher, targeting more substantial government and commercial missions. 6
The downside is clear: any delays in Neutron’s test flights could push back its first launch, prompting investors to slash near-term growth forecasts as the company keeps burning cash on development. 5
Rocket Lab will report earnings after the close on Feb. 26, followed by a conference call at 5 p.m. Eastern. The company has indicated it will use that call to provide its latest update on the Neutron schedule. 2
