New York, January 21, 2026, 17:52 EST — After-hours
- RKLB gained 1.7% in after-hours trading, following a 1.5% drop during Wednesday’s session
- The stock has dropped roughly 9% across the last two sessions, including a 7.4% fall on Tuesday
- Traders have their eyes on an Electron launch attempt set for Jan. 22, with earnings expected around Feb. 26
Rocket Lab shares climbed 1.7% in after-hours trading Wednesday, hitting $89.28 after closing the main session down 1.5% at $87.82. The stock has dropped roughly 9% over the last two sessions, fluctuating between $82.71 and $91.25 during Wednesday’s session on volume of about 28.8 million shares.
The shake-up unfolded amid a Wall Street rally, driven by investor enthusiasm over a Greenland deal framework and the postponement of fresh U.S. tariffs on European allies. The Dow climbed 1.21%, the S&P 500 added 1.16%, and the Nasdaq rose 1.18%.
Rocket Lab is back in the spotlight as a high-beta space-and-defense stock this month. Its shares have climbed roughly 25.9% so far this year and surged about 265.9% over the past 12 months, per Finviz.
Bank of America Securities doubled its price target on Tuesday, lifting it from $60 to $120 while maintaining a Buy rating, TipRanks reported. Analyst Ronald Epstein’s note highlighted Rocket Lab’s potential to “leverage its vertical integration in 2026” and said the “Neutron’s debut could bolster launch demand.” The firm also pointed to a recent Space Development Agency award as a nod to its work in national security. GuruFocus data shows the average target it tracks at $79.29, with a peak estimate of $110. TipRanks
Focus is shifting back to upcoming operations. Rocket Lab is prepping an Electron launch called “The Cosmos Will See You Now” for Open Cosmos, aiming to place payloads into an orbit about 1,050 km up, according to NASASpaceflight. Space Launch Now has the tentative launch date set for Jan. 22. NASASpaceFlight.com
Electron is Rocket Lab’s go-to small-lift vehicle, but launch windows shift due to weather and range limits. With a stock this volatile, a scrub can hit just as hard as a successful launch.
Investors are eyeing Rocket Lab’s upcoming quarterly results, with Nasdaq’s earnings calendar pegging the report date at Feb. 26. The company, however, has yet to officially confirm this timing.
Plenty can derail this. A further launch delay, a mission hiccup, or slower progress on Neutron could quickly sour sentiment. That risk looms large given the shares already factor in rapid growth and heavy retail interest.
Thursday’s session will reveal if Wednesday’s after-hours rebound can sustain momentum. The next major event is the Jan. 22 Electron launch attempt, while a key update on results and timing from Rocket Lab is slated for late February.
