New York, February 7, 2026, 06:15 EST — The market’s done for the day.
- Intuitive Machines shares jumped 18.3% on Friday, well ahead of the broader market.
- Wall Street staged a sharp rebound, sending risk assets and small caps higher.
- Up next: U.S. jobs figures and inflation numbers, both set for release next week—traders are eyeing rate expectations once again.
Intuitive Machines, Inc. surged 18.3% Friday, wrapping up the day at $17.50. Shares traded in a volatile band from $15.23 to $17.55 before settling. The stock had closed Thursday at $14.79. 1
Moves like that hit hard for Intuitive Machines, a high-beta small-cap that can rocket higher when risk is in favor—and just as quickly tumble. U.S. markets are closed for the weekend, so heading into Monday, the focus shifts: will buyers stay put, or was Friday just a quick squeeze before the music stops?
Broader market momentum played a part, with the Dow surpassing the 50,000 mark for the first time. Chipmakers fueled gains in both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq, which ended sharply up as investors responded to major AI spending plans. “This trade has been volatile,” noted Ross Mayfield, investment strategy analyst at Baird. 2
No obvious catalyst tied to the company set off the late-week rally. Traders instead pointed to positioning and broader market sentiment—this after a stretch when confidence in pricey growth stocks looked uncertain.
Investors are weighing Intuitive Machines’ push to move past its lunar focus. Last month, the company wrapped up its $800 million purchase of Lanteris Space Systems. CEO Steve Altemus hailed the acquisition as “a defining moment,” stressing the addition of “flight-proven manufacturing at scale.” Lanteris president Chris Johnson, staying on in his role, said this was “exactly what we would have envisioned.” 3
The announcement laid out the plan: a vertically integrated contractor capable of building spacecraft, handling communications and navigation networks, and working in both low Earth orbit and cislunar space. Intuitive Machines flagged NASA’s Artemis and Lunar Terrain Vehicle programs as targets where it sees room to compete.
Mostly a macro picture right now. The government shutdown put key releases on hold, but the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has confirmed the January jobs report lands next Wednesday, while January’s CPI will hit Friday, Feb. 13, at 8:30 a.m. ET. 4
Still, the risks here aren’t hard to spot. Intuitive Machines leans on government budgets and mission delivery, and the track record for space projects is littered with hold-ups. A missed contract window, headaches from folding in Lanteris, even a hiccup with another flight — any of it could weigh on shares that already swing sharply during the day.
LUNR rolls into Monday riding a bit of momentum, set against a market that’s finally shown some signs of life. Eyes will be on the bell to see if that carries over. The next key event for risk assets lands Feb. 13, when U.S. CPI drops.
