Rocket Lab Reveals Launch Contracts, Solar Arrays, Acquisition With Q4 Beat

2026-03-01 01:51:30

Launch services provider Rocket Lab topped estimates late Thursday with a slew of announcements, including launch contracts, a manufacturing acquisition, and new solar arrays to power space-based data centers. SpaceX rival AST SpaceMobile follows on Monday. Elsewhere, the U.S. Space Force on Wednesday paused launch missions for the Vulcan rocket while it investigates a launch irregularity.

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Rocket Lab (RKLB) reported a loss of 9 cents per share, improved by 1 cent from last year. Revenue jumped almost 36% to $179.65 million.

FactSet analysts expected a loss of 10 cents per share on 33% revenue growth to $176.8 million.

For the Q1, Rocket Lab expects revenue to range between $185 million and $200 million. The company guided for an adjusted EBITDA loss between $21 million and $27 million.

The midpoint of the revenue guidance was slightly ahead of FactSet forecasts for $184.3 million in Q1 sales. However, analysts expect an adjusted EBITDA loss of $19 million.

However, Rocket Lab said that it has delayed its Neutron development schedule, citing an earlier stage 1 tank test failure. The company is now targeting Q4 2026 for the first launch of its medium-lift rocket.

Launch Deals, Space-Based Solar Arrays

Separately, Rocket Lab announced that it signed a multiyear launch deal with space-based intelligence company, BlackSky Technology (BKSY). Per the agreement, Rocket Lab will be the primary launch provider to deploy BlackSky’s artificial intelligence-enabled Gen-3 Earth observation constellation, via its Electron rocket. Financial details were not disclosed in the release.

Rocket Lab also introduced new advanced silicon solar arrays, which are designed to power massive space-based data centers.

Additionally, Rocket Lab reported that it acquired New Zealand-based Precision Components to bolster its manufacturing footprint. Though financial details were not included, Precision Components has a total contract backlog of $1.85 billion across its launch and space systems businesses.

Rocket Lab Mission Plans, Awards

Rocket Lab shares hit a snag earlier this month after Congress declined to approve funding for a proposed Mars mission until 2031. In January, Rocket Lab proposed a roughly $4 billion mission to retrieve samples from the Mars Perseverance Rover.

In December, Rocket Lab announced plans to expand its Electron rocket launches this year. The company launched 21 Electron missions in 2025, bringing the total to 79. Rocket Lab during the first half of this year also plans to conduct the first launch for its medium-lift Neutron rocket.

Rocket Lab in its Q3 earnings call said it plans for the Neutron to arrive at the launchpad in Q1 2026 and launch shortly thereafter. The company plans for Neutron to have a reusable target of “up to 20 launches per engine.” Meanwhile, Rocket Lab plans to price Neutron rockets at around $55 million per launch, compared to around $9 million for Electron launches, according to prior reports from Cantor analyst Andres Sheppard.

Also in December, Rocket Lab won an $805 million contract from the Space Development Agency to deliver 18 satellites. Lockheed Martin (LMT), Northrop Grumman (NOC), and L3Harris (LHX) were also tapped to deliver satellites to the SDA, as part of a total $3.5 billion contract award.

Rocket Lab fell 4.9% Friday on results.

The stock climbed more than 3% during Thursday’s regular session, marking its third consecutive advance.

Shares have pulled back from their Jan. 16 record high of 99.58 and are now down about 1% this year.

RKLB stock trades above its 200-day line, but below its other technical lines of support.

AST SpaceMobile Results On Deck

For AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) results late Monday, FactSet expects the company’s loss to improve by a penny to 17 cents per share. Analysts predict revenue will soar to $41.8 million from $1.9 million last year.

AST, which aims to create a space-based cellular constellation, on Monday announced a $30 million contract from the SDA to test how to best use its Bluebird satellites to transmit Department of Defense messages. The Pentagon has similar satellite contracts with rival SpaceX’s Starlink service, which provides secure communications to various military branches.

ASTS stock retreated 7.7% Friday, ending the week down 1.3%.

Shares have retreated from their Jan. 30 record high of 129.89 to drop below their 50-day line. Still, AST SpaceMobile remains up more than 9% in 2026.

Space Force Launch Missions Paused

Elsewhere, the U.S. Space Force has paused its National Security Space Launch missions, an unnamed official told AviationWeek on Wednesday. The mission halt comes as the agency completes an investigation into the United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan rocket, following a Feb. 12 launch anomaly.

The Vulcan successfully completed its payload delivery mission during the USSF-87 launch, but there was a solid rocket motor issue that prompted an investigation.

The discovery is still in its initial stage but the process could drag on for multiple months, AviationWeek reported. The investigation may impact the next NSSL mission for a GPS III satellite, which was scheduled to launch this spring.

Space Force previously switched three GPS III satellite launches to SpaceX and its Falcon 9 rocket, which were initially contracted to launch on Vulcan.

You can follow Harrison Miller for more stock news and updates on X/Twitter @IBD_Harrison.

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