Cantor Fitzgerald Reaffirms Mixed Rating for Rocket Lab (NASDAQ:RKLB)

Rocket Lab (NASDAQ:RKLB)‘s stock had its “mixed” rating reiterated by research analysts at Cantor Fitzgerald in a research report issued to clients and investors on Thursday, MarketBeat Ratings reports. They presently have a $122.00 price objective on the rocket manufacturer’s stock. Cantor Fitzgerald’s target price indicates a potential upside of 128.47% from the company’s previous close.

Other equities analysts have also issued research reports about the company. KGI Securities upgraded Rocket Lab from a “neutral” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $107.00 target price for the company in a research note on Monday, July 27th. Berenberg Bank initiated coverage on Rocket Lab in a report on Wednesday, September 2nd. They issued a “buy” rating and a $83.00 price objective on the stock. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “sell (d-)” rating on shares of Rocket Lab in a report on Friday, July 17th. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Rocket Lab from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Saturday, August 15th. Finally, KeyCorp reissued an “overweight” rating on shares of Rocket Lab in a research report on Tuesday, August 11th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $104.05.

Rocket Lab Stock Down 9.8%

NASDAQ RKLB traded down $5.78 during trading on Thursday, hitting $53.40. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 35,876,392 shares, compared to its average volume of 23,026,705. Rocket Lab has a fifty-two week low of $37.57 and a fifty-two week high of $151.00. The company has a market cap of $31.95 billion, a PE ratio of -197.70 and a beta of 2.93. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01, a current ratio of 5.48 and a quick ratio of 4.98. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $69.91 and its 200-day simple moving average is $84.33.

Rocket Lab (NASDAQ:RKLB) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, August 10th. The rocket manufacturer reported ($0.08) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.06) by ($0.02). The company had revenue of $234.07 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $231.62 million. Rocket Lab had a negative net margin of 21.51% and a negative return on equity of 6.48%. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Rocket Lab will post -0.20 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Rocket Lab

In related news, CAO Agostino Ricupati sold 669 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $69.63, for a total value of $46,582.47. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer owned 26,863 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,870,470.69. This represents a 2.43% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Also, insider Frank Klein sold 35,558 shares of Rocket Lab stock in a transaction on Thursday, August 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $66.61, for a total transaction of $2,368,518.38. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 925,737 shares in the company, valued at $61,663,341.57. This represents a 3.70% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 400,749 shares of company stock worth $26,964,474. 8.40% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Rocket Lab

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Highland Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Rocket Lab during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $30,000. Meeder Asset Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Rocket Lab during the 2nd quarter worth $30,000. NBH Bank acquired a new position in shares of Rocket Lab during the 2nd quarter valued at about $30,000. Cherry Tree Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Rocket Lab during the 2nd quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, Keating Financial Advisory Services Inc. acquired a new stake in Rocket Lab during the second quarter worth about $39,000. 71.78% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Key Stories Impacting Rocket Lab

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

• Positive Sentiment: Rocket Lab retains a reported $2.4 billion backlog and continues generating growth through its Electron rocket, satellite systems, and defense contracts while Neutron development continues. Rocket Lab Still Has a $2.4B Backlog While Neutron Waits
• Positive Sentiment: Several analysts remained constructive despite the setback: TD Cowen reaffirmed a Buy rating with a $90 target, while Roth Capital maintained Buy with a $110 target. Analysts cited Rocket Lab’s focus on reliability and its diversified space business. Roth Capital Sees the Bright Side
• Neutral Sentiment: Rocket Lab’s HASTE hypersonic testing program and government work provide additional growth opportunities, but these businesses do not fully offset investor concerns about the timing and commercial importance of Neutron.
• Negative Sentiment: Rocket Lab moved Neutron’s inaugural launch to 2027, abandoning its prior fourth-quarter 2026 target. The company identified air pockets and other manufacturing defects in a carbon-composite first-stage propellant-tank dome, requiring repairs and further testing after a tank rupture during testing in January. Rocket Lab Pushes Neutron Rocket’s Debut Flight to 2027
• Negative Sentiment: The delay raises execution risk, extends the wait for Neutron’s reusable medium-lift launch opportunity, and may increase cash-burn concerns. Investors are also weighing recent share issuance for the Iridium acquisition, insider selling, and lower expected gross margins. Rocket Lab Dilution, Insider Selling, and Margin Guidance

About Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab USA, Inc is a space and launch company that provides launch services, spacecraft, satellite components and other space systems for commercial, civil and national-security customers. The company designs and manufactures many of its products in-house, supporting missions from initial spacecraft development through launch and on-orbit operations.

Rocket Lab’s primary launch vehicle is Electron, a small-lift rocket designed to place satellites into low Earth orbit. The company also operates the HASTE suborbital test platform for hypersonic and other advanced aerospace technologies and is developing Neutron, a larger reusable rocket intended to serve commercial and government missions.