Shares of Rocket Lab USA (RKLB) gained 12% on March 31, after the company received regulatory approval to acquire Mynaric AG, a specialist in laser communication technology. This clears a big hurdle and brings the deal closer to completion, now expected in April 2026. Rocket Lab USA designs and launches small rockets and satellites in the booming space industry.
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Stifel Nicolaus’ top analyst Erik Rasmussen welcomed the news and reiterated his Buy rating with a $90 price target on RKLB (40.1% upside potential). He noted, “With this latest milestone, the company is one step closer to expanding its support of the German and European Space industry.”
Rasmussen is a five-star analyst on TipRanks, ranking #137 out of 12,128 analysts tracked. He boasts a 72% success rate and an impressive average return per rating of 36.10%.
Why Rasmussen Likes Mynaric’s Buyout
The analyst called the acquisition a smart, strategic move for several reasons:
- It adds laser tech for satellite networks (called constellations), which helps data transfer between satellites in space.
- It locks in a reliable supplier for two big U.S. Space Development Agency (SDA) contracts worth about $1.3 billion total.
- It gives Rocket Lab a foothold in Europe, opening doors to new customers, including the European Space Agency (ESA) and defense deals that were hard to access before.
- Rocket Lab can use Mynaric’s tech across its own products, create new income sources, and stop relying on unstable outside suppliers for this key component.
Meanwhile, Rocket Lab founder and CEO Sir Peter Beck emphasized that laser communications power today’s and tomorrow’s satellite networks. He added, “We look forward to joining forces with the Mynaric team so that we can make optical terminals available at the volume and pace that commercial and government satellite customers demand across Europe and our existing markets.”
Is RKLB a Good Stock to Buy?
Analysts remain divided on Rocket Lab USA’s long-term outlook. On TipRanks, RKLB has a Moderate Buy consensus rating based on nine Buys and four Hold ratings. The average Rocket Lab USA price target of $86.92 implies 35.3% upside potential from current levels. Over the past year, RKLB shares have rocketed nearly 254%.
