Rocket Lab (RKLB) is set to report its Q2 2026 earnings today, August 10, after the market closes. Heading into the report, RKLB stock has gained nearly 11% over the past five trading days, driven by SpaceX’s (SPCX) earnings report last week and new contract wins. Shares are also up another 4% as of this writing in pre-market trading today. Wall Street expects Rocket Lab to report a loss of $0.06 per share, narrowing from a $0.13 loss a year ago. Revenue is expected to rise nearly 60% year-over-year to $231.6 million.
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High conviction on SPCX? Try Tradr's SPCM or SPCGFor context, Rocket Lab is a space launch company specializing in small orbital rockets and satellite solutions, best known for its Electron rocket and upcoming Neutron launch vehicle.
What’s Behind RKLB’s Recent Surge?
Last week, Rocket Lab was awarded a $397 million U.S. Space Force contract to build and operate satellites that can track airborne threats in real time. The award adds to Rocket Lab’s growing defense business. Just days earlier, the company won a $266 million contract for 12 suborbital launches, with an option for up to six more. The missions are set to begin no earlier than late 2026.
Additionally, SpaceX’s strong earnings report gave space stocks a boost. SpaceX’s revenue jumped 92% year-over-year to $7.81 billion, helped by growth in Starlink and its AI business. The strong results may have added to investor interest in the space sector.
For Rocket Lab, the focus now shifts to whether its own results can keep the recent rally going.
What to Expect From RKLB’s Results
Beyond the headline numbers, Neutron is likely to be a key focus of Rocket Lab’s earnings report. Notably, Neutron is a reusable medium-lift rocket designed to carry larger payloads than Rocket Lab’s Electron. Its success is key to the company’s plan to take on larger launch missions.
Rocket Lab made progress on that front in July. The company completed a full-duration firing of Neutron’s second-stage Archimedes Vacuum engine. The test lasted nearly five-and-a-half minutes under flight-like conditions, bringing the rocket one step closer to its first launch.
Investors will want to know if Rocket Lab still expects Neutron’s first launch toward the end of 2026. Any delay could weigh on RKLB stock, while further progress could help keep the recent rally going.
Is RKLB a Good Stock to Buy?
According to TipRanks, RKLB stock has received a Strong Buy consensus rating, with 13 Buys and four Holds assigned in the last three months. The average price target for Rocket Lab is $110.53, suggesting a potential upside of 33.45% from the current level.
