Rocket Lab Shares Rise on $266 Million Space Force Contract, Though Deal Announced Previously

RKLB finished Friday at $63.91, down 8.69% after a turbulent session. In Monday premarket trade, the stock was near $66.50, up about 4%. The move follows Rocket Lab’s announcement of a $266 million contract with the U.S. Space Force, its largest to date. Friday’s closing price stayed about 58% beneath the 52-week peak of $151.00. Premarket increases may shift quickly when regular trading begins. MarketWatch

This marks the largest launch contract Rocket Lab has announced so far. The deal includes 12 suborbital launches, with up to six possible additional options. The first mission is anticipated no sooner than late 2026. Most launches will take place from a new Rocket Lab facility in Kodiak, Alaska. The contract’s headline value represents about 12% of the $2.2 billion backlog reported in March. Rocket Lab did not specify how much of the contract amount is tied to the options. Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab will announce its second-quarter results following the close of U.S. trading on August 10. The company has projected revenue in a range of $225 million to $240 million. The midpoint of $232.5 million represents roughly 16% quarter-over-quarter growth. GAAP gross margin is expected between 33% and 35%, compared to 38.2% in the prior quarter. Investors are also watching an adjusted EBITDA loss forecast of $20 million to $26 million. Rocket Lab Corporation

Revenue for the first quarter climbed 63.5% from a year earlier, reaching $200.3 million. GAAP gross margin stood at 38.2%, surpassing the guidance provided for the next quarter. The net loss decreased to $45.0 million from $60.6 million. Operating cash outflow totaled $50.3 million in the quarter, remaining significant. The company continues to operate at a loss. Second-quarter guidance projects an adjusted EBITDA loss between $20 million and $26 million. Rocket Lab Corporation

Rocket Lab continues to list late 2026 as the planned debut for Neutron’s first launch. Its tracker shows both stages, the fairing, and Archimedes as cleared for flight. Significant work is outstanding, including integrating the entire vehicle, carrying out two static fire tests, securing regulatory clearance, and conducting a launch rehearsal. In January 2026, a Stage 1 tank failed during qualification assessment. Rocket Lab stated the effect on the schedule is under evaluation. The late 2026 target remains achievable, though investors should regard the timeline as fluid. Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab assigns Iridium an enterprise value of about $8.0 billion, equating to almost 9.2 times Iridium’s projected 2025 revenue of $871.7 million and approximately 16.2 times operational EBITDA of $495 million. Iridium adds 2.55 million subscribers and reports an operational EBITDA margin of 57%. The deal’s outcome will largely hinge on integration success and financing costs, both of which are currently unclear. Shareholder and regulatory consents are still pending prior to an anticipated mid-2027 completion. Rocket Lab Corporation

Rocket Lab secured a $3.6 billion bridge facility with a 364-day term to support the acquisition. The company plans to use current cash alongside further debt and equity financing, though the exact structure is still undecided. In Q1, Rocket Lab generated $450.3 million from share offerings. The number of common shares outstanding climbed 5.9% from December to March. There could be more dilution ahead, but the amount cannot currently be determined. Rocket Lab Corporation

According to the official mission list, 12 launches have been completed as of June 27, 2026. Of these, nine used the Electron rocket, while three flights used the HASTE suborbital system. VICTUS HAZE achieved liftoff just 16 hours and 42 minutes after receiving formal notice. Rocket Lab’s first-quarter manifest featured more than 70 contracted launches. Market demand remains strong. Still, shares are priced at close to 42 times projected 2026 full-year sales. That leaves limited tolerance for any launch failures or delays with the Neutron program. Rocket Lab