Rocket Lab (NASDAQ:RKLB) Stock Price Target Lowered at Citizens Jmp

Key Points

• Citizens JMP lowered Rocket Lab’s price target from $130 to $90 while maintaining a “market outperform” rating, implying approximately 62.9% upside from the reported share price.
• Analyst sentiment remains broadly positive, with a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and average target price of $102.05, despite the stock’s 6.6% decline and wide 12-month trading range.
• Rocket Lab reported quarterly revenue of $234.07 million, slightly above estimates, but missed EPS expectations and remains unprofitable; investors also face execution concerns after the Neutron rocket’s inaugural launch was delayed to 2027.

Rocket Lab (NASDAQ:RKLB - Get Free Report) had its price objective lowered by investment analysts at Citizens Jmp from $130.00 to $90.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Friday, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a "market outperform" rating on the rocket manufacturer's stock. Citizens Jmp's price objective points to a potential upside of 62.90% from the stock's current price.

RKLB has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Berenberg Bank assumed coverage on Rocket Lab in a report on Wednesday, September 2nd. They set a "buy" rating and a $83.00 target price for the company. Morgan Stanley restated an "overweight" rating on shares of Rocket Lab in a report on Wednesday, July 8th. Citigroup reissued a "market outperform" rating on shares of Rocket Lab in a research report on Friday. Roth Capital reissued a "buy" rating on shares of Rocket Lab in a report on Thursday. Finally, Raymond James Financial assumed coverage on Rocket Lab in a research note on Friday, September 11th. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $80.00 target price on the stock. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have assigned a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $102.05.

Rocket Lab Stock Down 6.6%

RKLB opened at $55.25 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $33.06 billion, a P/E ratio of -204.62 and a beta of 2.93. Rocket Lab has a 12 month low of $37.57 and a 12 month high of $151.00. The business's 50-day moving average price is $69.50 and its 200-day moving average price is $84.29. The company has a current ratio of 5.48, a quick ratio of 4.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01.

Rocket Lab (NASDAQ:RKLB - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, August 10th. The rocket manufacturer reported ($0.08) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates 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 return on equity of 6.48% and a negative net margin of 21.51%. On average, equities analysts expect that Rocket Lab will post -0.20 EPS for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, CAO Agostino Ricupati sold 669 shares of Rocket Lab 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 sale, the chief accounting officer directly owned 26,863 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,870,470.69. This trade represents a 2.43% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 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 the business's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, August 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $66.61, for a total value of $2,368,518.38. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 925,737 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $61,663,341.57. This trade represents a 3.70% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 400,749 shares of company stock worth $26,964,474. 8.40% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Rocket Lab

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in RKLB. TB Alternative Assets Ltd. boosted its holdings in Rocket Lab by 508.5% in the third quarter. TB Alternative Assets Ltd. now owns 320,703 shares of the rocket manufacturer's stock worth $22,347,000 after purchasing an additional 268,000 shares during the last quarter. Cornerstone Enterprises LLC grew its holdings in shares of Rocket Lab by 74.4% in the third quarter. Cornerstone Enterprises LLC now owns 6,122 shares of the rocket manufacturer's stock worth $427,000 after acquiring an additional 2,611 shares during the period. NFSG Corp increased its position in Rocket Lab by 315.0% during the third quarter. NFSG Corp now owns 10,841 shares of the rocket manufacturer's stock valued at $755,000 after acquiring an additional 8,229 shares during the last quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC lifted its holdings in Rocket Lab by 207.4% in the third quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 2,327 shares of the rocket manufacturer's stock valued at $162,000 after acquiring an additional 1,570 shares during the period. Finally, YANKCOM Partnership purchased a new position in shares of Rocket Lab in the third quarter worth approximately $73,000. 71.78% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Key Headlines Impacting Rocket Lab

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

• Positive Sentiment: Rocket Lab reported record second-quarter revenue of approximately $234 million, up 62% year over year, supported by its Electron launch business, satellite operations and defense-related contracts. The company also reportedly has a backlog of about $2.4 billion. 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 price target, while Roth Capital maintained a Buy rating and a $110 target. These targets imply significant potential upside from recent levels. Stay Cool, Says Analyst About Rocket Lab Stock
• Neutral Sentiment: Rocket Lab’s broader business remains active, including Electron and HASTE launches, spacecraft components and government and defense programs. However, investors are increasingly focused on whether the company can execute its longer-term growth strategy while Neutron development continues.
• Negative Sentiment: Rocket Lab moved Neutron’s inaugural launch to 2027 from its prior fourth-quarter 2026 target. The delay followed a manufacturing flaw in a carbon-composite propellant-tank dome; the company plans additional repairs and testing before setting a launch date. Neutron is strategically important because management’s path to positive adjusted EBITDA depends heavily on the program’s progress. Rocket Lab pushes Neutron rocket's debut flight to 2027, shares fall
• Negative Sentiment: The setback heightened concerns about execution risk, cash burn and competition with SpaceX. KeyBanc and Clear Street reportedly reduced their price targets, while prior equity issuance to help fund the Iridium acquisition and continued insider selling added to the stock’s overhang. RKLB Stock Alert: What to Know as Rocket Lab Announces Neutron Launch Delay

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.

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