Rocket Lab (NASDAQ:RKLB) Stock Price Down 4.9% – Here’s Why

Rocket Lab Corporation (NASDAQ:RKLB)’s share price fell 4.9% during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as $64.10 and last traded at $69.10. 25,555,840 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 15% from the average session volume of 22,180,059 shares. The stock had previously closed at $72.65.

Key Stories Impacting Rocket Lab

Here are the key news stories impacting Rocket Lab this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Recorded revenue and backlog growth — Q4 revenue ~ $180M, FY revenue ~$602M and backlog surged to ~$1.85B, giving multi‑quarter revenue visibility and improved margins that support the longer‑term growth thesis. Rocket Lab Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Financial Results
• Positive Sentiment: New and repeat customer demand — secured a multi‑launch deal with BlackSky for four dedicated Electron missions, reinforcing launch cadence and recurring revenue from a repeat customer. Rocket Lab Secures Latest Multi-Launch Contract with BlackSky
• Positive Sentiment: Vertical integration and capability expansion — completed acquisitions (Optical Support, Precision Components) and announced production/solar innovations (silicon solar arrays) to deepen spacecraft, payload and manufacturing control — positives for margin improvement and defense/constellation content. Rocket Lab Acquires Optical Support, Inc.
• Neutral Sentiment: Guidance mix — Q1 revenue guidance of $185M–$200M shows growth but the midpoint is slightly below some sell‑side estimates, creating short‑term uncertainty around beat/miss expectations. Rocket Lab Q4 2025 Earnings Call Highlights
• Neutral Sentiment: Macro volatility — broader market weakness after surprise inflation data pressured growth/tech stocks today, which amplified moves in higher‑beta space names including RKLB. Stock Market Today: Dow Sinks On Hot Inflation; CoreWeave, Rocket Lab Plunge
• Negative Sentiment: Neutron maiden flight delayed again to late‑2026 — management cited a Stage‑1 tank rupture during testing; this delays revenue/leverage drivers tied to Neutron and raises near‑term execution and timeline risk, a primary reason for the down move. Rocket Lab’s stock slides as yet another rocket delay overshadows ‘record year’
• Negative Sentiment: Profitability and execution concerns — GAAP EPS missed consensus (loss of $0.09 vs. expected loss of $0.05), R&D for Neutron will peak in near term, and some analysts flagged execution/cash‑flow risks, prompting cautious ratings and pressure on the stock. Rocket Lab Just Doubled Its Business, So Why Is The Stock Tanking?

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have weighed in on RKLB shares. Roth Mkm reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $75.00 price target on shares of Rocket Lab in a report on Tuesday, November 11th. Wall Street Zen upgraded Rocket Lab from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Sunday, February 8th. Weiss Ratings restated a “sell (d-)” rating on shares of Rocket Lab in a research note on Thursday, January 22nd. Needham & Company LLC increased their price objective on Rocket Lab from $63.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 23rd. Finally, TD Cowen reissued a “buy” rating on shares of Rocket Lab in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have given a Buy rating, seven have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $75.50.

Rocket Lab Stock Down 4.9%

The company has a market cap of $36.91 billion, a P/E ratio of -181.84 and a beta of 2.16. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $78.14 and a 200 day moving average of $60.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 3.18 and a quick ratio of 2.83.

Insider Buying and Selling at Rocket Lab

In other news, Director Edward H. Frank sold 2,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $77.39, for a total transaction of $193,475.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director owned 142,504 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $11,028,384.56. The trade was a 1.72% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Adam C. Spice sold 1,365,665 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.50, for a total value of $103,107,707.50. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer directly owned 1,359,568 shares in the company, valued at $102,647,384. This trade represents a 50.11% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold a total of 4,138,979 shares of company stock worth $265,048,346 in the last three months. Company insiders own 11.90% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Rocket Lab

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in RKLB. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB acquired a new stake in shares of Rocket Lab during the 3rd quarter valued at $25,000. Hara Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Rocket Lab during the third quarter valued at about $25,000. Aventura Private Wealth LLC bought a new stake in shares of Rocket Lab during the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. UMB Bank n.a. increased its stake in shares of Rocket Lab by 352.5% in the third quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 543 shares of the rocket manufacturer’s stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 423 shares during the period. Finally, Sound Income Strategies LLC bought a new stake in Rocket Lab during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $27,000. 71.78% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab is an aerospace company that provides launch services, spacecraft, and space systems for commercial and government customers. The company’s primary launch vehicle is Electron, a small-lift orbital rocket designed to deploy small satellites and rideshare payloads to low Earth orbit. Rocket Lab also develops and manufactures the Rutherford engine, noted for its electric-pump-fed design and additive-manufactured components, which powers Electron and supports the company’s propulsion capabilities.