Intuitive Machines Slides as Bullish Hype Meets Volatility

Intuitive Machines ( (LUNR) ) has fallen by -8.63%. Read on to learn why.

Intuitive Machines’ stock fell 8.63% over the past week, a pullback that comes after a period of sharp volatility and earlier gains. The space-exploration company, whose shares are still down 22.67% year-to-date, has been trading on heavy speculation as investors react to shifting sentiment around commercial lunar missions and broader space-policy headlines. Despite the recent slide, the stock continues to attract high trading volumes and maintains a Buy technical sentiment signal, underscoring how polarizing it has become for traders.

The main driver behind the earlier upside – and the current tug of war in the share price – has been a wave of bullish analyst coverage. B. Riley recently lifted its price target on Intuitive Machines from $14 to $20 while reiterating a Buy rating, citing the Trump administration’s executive order and supportive stance on U.S. space policy as a meaningful tailwind for the company’s future contracts. Wall Street, more broadly, still holds a Strong Buy consensus and sees substantial upside from current levels, even as the stock consolidates after its rally.

KeyBanc also initiated coverage with an Overweight rating and a $20 price target, pointing to “meaningful near-term opportunities” as Intuitive Machines moves from one-off demonstration missions toward scalable lunar services that could generate recurring revenue. The bank believes the company is a front-runner for NASA’s upcoming Lunar Terrain Vehicle award, though timing has likely been pushed back by the recent U.S. government shutdown. That mix of long-term optimism and near-term uncertainty helps explain why Intuitive Machines shares have retreated this week, even as analysts remain firmly in the bull camp.