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Rocket Lab USA (RKLB)
NASDAQ:RKLB
US Market

Rocket Lab USA (RKLB) AI Stock Analysis

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RKLB

Rocket Lab USA

(NASDAQ:RKLB)

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Neutral 57 (OpenAI - 4o)
Rating:57Neutral
Price Target:
$73.00
▼(-5.87% Downside)
Rocket Lab's overall stock score reflects strong revenue growth and strategic contract wins, which are offset by significant profitability challenges and valuation concerns. The company's technical indicators suggest potential overbought conditions, while the earnings call and corporate events highlight both opportunities and risks. Investors should be cautious of the high operational costs and cash flow issues despite the positive outlook.
Positive Factors
Revenue Growth
The strong revenue growth indicates increasing demand for Rocket Lab's services and successful market penetration, supporting long-term business expansion.
Strategic Contract Wins
Securing large contracts with government agencies enhances Rocket Lab's credibility and ensures a steady revenue stream, reinforcing its market position.
Space Systems Segment Growth
Growth in the Space Systems segment demonstrates Rocket Lab's expanding capabilities and diversification, reducing reliance on launch services alone.
Negative Factors
Profitability Challenges
Persistent profitability issues can hinder Rocket Lab's ability to reinvest in growth and innovation, affecting long-term financial health.
High Cash Usage
High cash usage reflects ongoing investments but can strain financial resources, potentially limiting flexibility for future strategic initiatives.
Increased Operating Expenses
Rising operating expenses can pressure margins and profitability, challenging Rocket Lab's ability to achieve sustainable financial performance.

Rocket Lab USA (RKLB) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

Rocket Lab USA Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company DescriptionRocket Lab USA, Inc. is a prominent aerospace manufacturer and small satellite launch service provider based in Long Beach, California. The company specializes in providing affordable and reliable launch services for small satellites, primarily through its Electron rocket, which is designed to carry payloads into low Earth orbit. Rocket Lab also develops the Photon satellite platform and offers various satellite solutions and services, positioning itself as a key player in the expanding space industry.
How the Company Makes MoneyRocket Lab generates revenue through multiple streams primarily focused on its launch services and satellite solutions. The main revenue source comes from the launch contracts it secures with commercial, government, and international customers to transport small satellites into orbit using its Electron rocket. Additionally, Rocket Lab derives income from the sales and services associated with its Photon satellite platform, which includes satellite design, manufacturing, and mission management. Significant partnerships, such as collaborations with NASA and various commercial entities, enhance its market presence and contribute to its earnings by securing a steady pipeline of launch contracts and satellite deployments.

Rocket Lab USA Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Any
Any
Revenue by Type
Revenue by Type
Shows how revenue is generated from different products or services, highlighting the company's diversification and potential areas of growth.
Chart InsightsRocket Lab's revenue shows a strong upward trajectory, particularly in 2024 and 2025, driven by the Space Systems segment. The latest earnings call highlights a record Q2 2025 revenue, with significant contributions from space systems and strategic acquisitions like Geost. Despite high R&D costs and negative cash flow due to Neutron development, the company is poised for growth with a robust backlog and plans for increased launch activity. This positions Rocket Lab as a key player in the space industry, balancing current challenges with future opportunities.
Data provided by:The Fly

Rocket Lab USA Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Nov 10, 2025
(Q3-2025)
|
% Change Since: |
Next Earnings Date:Mar 03, 2026
Earnings Call Sentiment Neutral
The earnings call highlighted strong revenue growth, robust demand for Electron, and strategic expansions. However, it also noted challenges with launch services revenue decline, increased operating expenses, and delays in Neutron launch. Despite these hurdles, the company remains optimistic about future growth and margin improvements.
Q3-2025 Updates
Positive Updates
Record-Breaking Revenue and Growth
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. reported $155 million in revenue for Q3 2025, up 48% year-over-year, marking another record-breaking quarter.
Strong Electron Demand
Electron demand is accelerating with a record backlog of 49 launches on contract, 17 dedicated launches signed in Q3, primarily with international customers.
Space Systems Segment Growth
The Space Systems segment delivered $114.2 million in revenue, reflecting a 16.7% sequential increase, driven by strong performance in satellite manufacturing.
Advancements in Neutron and Archimedes
Significant progress in Neutron testing and Archimedes engine development, with plans to bring Neutron to launch pad in Q1 next year.
Strategic Expansion in European Market
Completion of Geos acquisition and nearing completion of Manaruk acquisition, expanding capabilities and market presence in Europe.
Positive Financial Outlook
Q4 2025 revenue expected to range between $171-$180 million, with anticipated improvements in gross margins.
Negative Updates
Launch Services Segment Decline
Launch services revenue was $40.9 million, a 12.3% quarter-over-quarter decline due to fewer launches primarily caused by customer spacecraft delivery delays.
Increased Operating Expenses
GAAP operating expenses for Q3 2025 were $116.3 million, above the previous guidance range, driven by Neutron development costs.
Neutron Launch Delays
Neutron's first launch pushed to Q1 next year to ensure thorough testing and quality, impacting the projected launch cadence.
High Cash Usage
Non-GAAP free cash flow was a use of $69.4 million in Q3 2025, reflecting ongoing investments in Neutron and infrastructure expansion.
Company Guidance
During Rocket Lab USA, Inc.'s third-quarter 2025 earnings call, the company reported record-breaking revenue of $155 million, marking a 48% year-over-year increase. The company highlighted a strong backlog with 49 launches on contract and a significant increase in their launch cadence, having already matched last year's record of 16 launches with another scheduled soon. Rocket Lab also shared progress on their space systems programs, including the integration of twin spacecraft for a NASA Mars mission and developments in their Neutron program, with the first launch targeted for early next year. The company demonstrated robust financial performance with a GAAP gross margin of 37% and a non-GAAP gross margin of 41.9%. Rocket Lab's total backlog stands at $1.1 billion, with an anticipated 57% conversion to revenue within the next 12 months, driven by both launch services and space systems contributions. Looking ahead, Rocket Lab expects fourth-quarter revenue between $171 million and $180 million, with further improvements in gross margins.

Rocket Lab USA Financial Statement Overview

Summary
Rocket Lab USA is experiencing growth in revenue, but profitability and cash flow remain significant challenges. The company has improved its gross profit margin, yet it continues to face high operational costs and negative net income. The balance sheet shows a reasonable debt level, but the negative return on equity is concerning. Cash flow issues persist despite some growth in free cash flow, indicating the need for improved cash management strategies.
Income Statement
45
Neutral
Rocket Lab USA has shown a positive revenue growth rate of 9.97% in the TTM, indicating an upward trajectory in sales. However, the company is struggling with profitability, as evidenced by negative net profit and EBIT margins. The gross profit margin has improved to 29.04%, but the net profit margin remains deeply negative at -45.87%, highlighting ongoing challenges in cost management and operational efficiency.
Balance Sheet
50
Neutral
The balance sheet shows a moderate debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, suggesting manageable leverage levels. However, the return on equity is negative at -48.14%, reflecting the company's inability to generate profits from shareholders' equity. The equity ratio is relatively stable, indicating a solid asset base, but the negative ROE is a concern for investors.
Cash Flow
40
Negative
Cash flow analysis reveals a challenging situation with negative operating cash flow and free cash flow. Although there is a positive free cash flow growth rate of 13.48%, the operating cash flow to net income ratio is negative, indicating cash flow issues. The free cash flow to net income ratio is 1.84, suggesting that while free cash flow exceeds net income, the overall cash position remains weak.
BreakdownTTMDec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021Dec 2020
Income Statement
Total Revenue554.53M436.21M244.59M211.00M62.24M35.16M
Gross Profit175.77M116.15M51.41M18.99M-1.89M-11.82M
EBITDA-190.39M-151.80M-144.93M-95.20M-91.20M-45.61M
Net Income-197.63M-190.18M-182.57M-135.94M-117.32M-55.01M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets2.22B1.18B941.21M989.12M980.85M187.87M
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments976.74M418.99M244.77M471.79M690.96M52.79M
Total Debt516.62M468.42M176.69M152.78M128.43M27.30M
Total Liabilities940.41M801.89M386.67M315.92M282.40M354.58M
Stockholders Equity1.28B382.45M554.54M673.21M698.45M-166.71M
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-231.56M-115.98M-153.57M-148.95M-97.49M-52.88M
Operating Cash Flow-103.38M-48.89M-98.87M-106.54M-71.79M-27.76M
Investing Cash Flow-261.18M-98.33M12.02M-346.08M-92.13M-37.33M
Financing Cash Flow881.92M256.68M7.37M2.04M799.94M21.48M

Rocket Lab USA Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis Sentiment
Positive
Last Price77.55
Price Trends
50DMA
55.45
Positive
100DMA
52.10
Positive
200DMA
40.06
Positive
Market Momentum
MACD
5.65
Negative
RSI
74.05
Negative
STOCH
96.27
Negative
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For RKLB, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 77.55 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 54.48, above the 50-day MA of 55.45, and above the 200-day MA of 40.06, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 5.65 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 74.05 is Negative, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 96.27 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for RKLB.

Rocket Lab USA Risk Analysis

Rocket Lab USA disclosed 61 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Rocket Lab USA reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy
Latest Risks Added 0 New Risks

Rocket Lab USA Peers Comparison

Overall Rating
UnderperformOutperform
Sector (63)
Financial Indicators
Name
Overall Rating
Market Cap
P/E Ratio
ROE
Dividend Yield
Revenue Growth
EPS Growth
63
Neutral
$10.79B15.437.44%2.01%2.89%-14.66%
57
Neutral
$41.42B-199.07-23.24%52.42%-1.33%
57
Neutral
$6.46B-48.63-31.83%16.89%-4.41%
52
Neutral
$1.41B-2.52-50.08%-0.63%-163.11%
52
Neutral
$3.01B-8.848.07%33.37%
43
Neutral
$1.67B-6.82-115.63%-33.69%
* Industrials Sector Average
Performance Comparison
Ticker
Company Name
Price
Change
% Change
RKLB
Rocket Lab USA
77.18
50.58
190.15%
EVEX
Eve Holding
4.46
-0.92
-17.10%
RDW
Redwire
8.01
-7.06
-46.85%
PL
Planet Labs PBC
20.73
16.59
400.72%
LUNR
Intuitive Machines
16.51
-0.14
-0.84%

Rocket Lab USA Corporate Events

Business Operations and Strategy
Rocket Lab Wins Landmark $816 Million SDA Satellite Contract
Positive
Dec 19, 2025

On December 19, 2025, Rocket Lab announced it had secured an $816 million prime contract from the U.S. Space Development Agency to design, manufacture, operate and sustain 18 missile-defense satellites for the Tracking Layer Tranche 3 constellation, with work starting immediately and final satellite delivery expected in 2029. The award, which follows a prior $515 million SDA contract and can expand toward $1 billion when including additional subsystem sales to other Tranche 3 primes, marks Rocket Lab’s largest contract to date and reinforces its emergence as a vertically integrated, disruptive prime contractor in U.S. national security space, challenging legacy aerospace players and deepening its role in the U.S. Space Force’s missile warning and tracking architecture.

M&A TransactionsBusiness Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures
Rocket Lab Reports Record Q3 2025 Revenue Growth
Positive
Nov 10, 2025

Rocket Lab announced its third-quarter 2025 financial results, reporting a record quarterly revenue of $155 million, marking a 48% year-on-year growth. The company highlighted significant achievements including securing 17 Electron launch contracts, launching two HASTE missions, and acquiring Geost to enhance its capabilities in U.S. national security. Rocket Lab also opened Launch Complex 3 for its Neutron rocket and maintains a strong financial position with over $1 billion in liquidity, setting the stage for continued growth and strategic acquisitions.

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.Date of analysis: Dec 20, 2025