Rocket Lab Pauses Ahead Of Q4 Earnings: What Investors Need To Know

by | Feb 26, 2026 | General

Rocket Lab Corp (NASDAQ:RKLB) shares are trading marginally higher Thursday afternoon as investors position ahead of the space launch and spacecraft maker’s fourth-quarter earnings report, due after the closing bell. Here’s what investors need to know.

Loss Expected To Narrow

Wall Street expects Rocket Lab to post revenue of $178 million for the quarter, up from $132 million a year earlier, marking a third consecutive quarterly revenue record if achieved. Analysts are looking for a net loss of 9 cents per share, narrowing from a 10-cent loss in the prior-year period.

The company has topped revenue estimates for six straight quarters and beaten or met earnings forecasts in seven of the last 10 reporting periods.

Management is also expected to update investors on contract momentum and launch cadence. Rocket Lab booked 17 Electron launch contracts in the third quarter and has signaled it plans to exceed its prior annual launch record, while early 2026 flights in January underscored demand from government and commercial customers.

Rocket Lab’s Recent Expansions

The company has been expanding its defense and national security work, including participation in the Pentagon’s SHIELD missile-defense initiative and additional hypersonic testing missions for the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit using its HASTE vehicle.

Despite a sharp rally of more than 200% in 2025, Rocket Lab shares remain down this year amid sector volatility and investor focus on a potential initial public offering from rival SpaceX.

Analysts Maintain Buy Rating Consensus

Analyst Consensus & Recent Actions: The stock carries a Buy Rating with an average price target of $64.00. Recent analyst moves include:

  • Goldman Sachs: Neutral (Raises Target to $69.00) (Jan. 20)
  • B of A Securities: Buy (Raises Target to $120.00) (Jan. 20)
  • Morgan Stanley: Upgraded to Overweight (Raises Target to $105.00) (Jan. 16)

RKLB Trades Below Key Moving Averages

The stock is currently trading 5.2% below its 20-day simple moving average (SMA) and 12.3% below its 100-day SMA, indicating some short-term weakness.

Over the past 12 months, shares have increased by 280%, and they are currently positioned closer to their 52-week highs than lows, suggesting strong long-term performance.

RKLB Shares Trade Flat Thursday Afternoon

RKLB Price Action: Rocket Lab shares were up 0.60% at $70.62 at the time of publication on Thursday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

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