New York, Feb 5, 2026, 21:26 EST — Market closed
- Rocket Lab shares dropped 9.3% to close at $66.32, slipping roughly 6% more in after-hours trading.
- The decline marked the end of two sharp sell-offs following a short-lived rally earlier in the week fueled by SpaceX-xAI news.
- Rocket Lab’s earnings and conference call on Feb. 26 mark the next key date for investors.
Shares of Rocket Lab Corp plunged 9.29% Thursday, ending the day at $66.32 and adding to a tough stretch for the small-launch and space-systems firm. After-hours trading saw the stock dip another 6%.
Rocket Lab has dropped about 18% since Tuesday’s close, sliding after two steep sell-offs that came after an initial rally. Traders are using the stock as a sort of high-volatility gauge for risk appetite in space-related companies, where sparse news can trigger quick price swings.
The stock dropped amid a widespread selloff in U.S. growth shares Thursday, with the Nasdaq tumbling 1.6% and the S&P 500 falling 1.2%, the Associated Press reported.
Rocket Lab climbed 3.9% on Tuesday following Elon Musk’s announcement of a SpaceX and xAI merger, pegging the combined company’s value at $1.25 trillion and boosting a group of space stocks. “Others may buy into Musk’s grand vision of data centers in the cosmos,” said AJ Bell investment director Russ Mould. Seraphim Space CEO Mark Boggett called it “the strongest validation yet that space will be the backbone of the next wave of AI.” Reuters
Shares came under continued pressure after Congress refused to allocate funds for NASA’s Mars Sample Return mission, a project Rocket Lab had positioned as a commercial solution. This move forced investors to rethink the growth potential baked into the stock’s valuation.
Rocket Lab, headquartered in Long Beach, California, offers launch services and space hardware, operating its Electron rocket while developing the larger Neutron vehicle. The company plans to release its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results after the U.S. market closes on Feb. 26, followed by a conference call at 5 p.m. Eastern.
The Feb. 26 report will be the next major trigger for the stock, with investors eager for updates on demand, margins, and timelines. They’ll also watch closely for any shifts in tone, especially after a week dominated more by outside headlines than by any new Rocket Lab announcements.
That said, the setup works both ways. A disappointing update on 2026 forecasts or further delays in hitting development targets could weigh on a stock known for momentum trading—especially if the wider market remains cautious.
Traders will be eyeing if Thursday’s late slide spills over into Friday, and if the stock can steady itself before the Feb. 26 earnings report.
