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.
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.
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.
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. GlobeNewswire
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
