BlackRock Inc. Acquires New Position in Rocket Lab Corporation $RKLB

Key Points

• BlackRock acquired 40.6 million Rocket Lab shares worth approximately $4.12 billion, giving it a 7.01% stake. Institutional investors collectively own 71.78% of the company.
• Rocket Lab reported quarterly revenue of $234.1 million, slightly above estimates, but its $0.08-per-share loss was worse than expected. The company remains unprofitable, with a market capitalization of about $47.4 billion.
• Analyst sentiment remains generally positive, with a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and a $110.65 price target, although insider selling and the stock’s elevated valuation remain potential concerns.

BlackRock Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Rocket Lab Corporation (NASDAQ:RKLB - Free Report) in the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 40,580,130 shares of the rocket manufacturer's stock, valued at approximately $4,124,970,000. BlackRock Inc. owned approximately 7.01% of Rocket Lab as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Pallas Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Rocket Lab during the second quarter valued at approximately $205,000. Deutsche Bank AG bought a new position in Rocket Lab in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $137,128,000. Perigon Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Rocket Lab in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $484,000. Principle Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Rocket Lab during the 2nd quarter valued at $329,000. Finally, Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. purchased a new stake in Rocket Lab during the 2nd quarter valued at $85,105,000. 71.78% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Rocket Lab Price Performance

NASDAQ RKLB opened at $79.16 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $47.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -293.17 and a beta of 2.60. Rocket Lab Corporation has a 1-year low of $37.57 and a 1-year high of $151.00. 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 fifty day moving average price is $83.88 and its 200-day moving average price is $85.42.

Rocket Lab (NASDAQ:RKLB - Get Free Report) last issued 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). Rocket Lab had a negative return on equity of 6.48% and a negative net margin of 21.51%.The firm had revenue of $234.07 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $231.62 million. On average, equities analysts predict that Rocket Lab Corporation will post -0.25 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity at Rocket Lab

In other Rocket Lab news, insider Frank Klein sold 44,390 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $142.57, for a total value of $6,328,682.30. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 1,043,847 shares in the company, valued at $148,821,266.79. This represents a 4.08% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Also, SVP Arjun Kampani sold 88,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, June 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $107.98, for a total value of $9,502,240.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 264,705 shares in the company, valued at $28,582,845.90. This trade represents a 24.95% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold 3,749,294 shares of company stock valued at $351,008,208 in the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 8.40% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on RKLB shares. Wall Street Zen cut Rocket Lab from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research note on Saturday. Citizens Jmp reaffirmed a "market outperform" rating and set a $130.00 price objective on shares of Rocket Lab in a research report on Tuesday, August 11th. New Street Research started coverage on Rocket Lab in a report on Wednesday, May 13th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $150.00 price objective for the company. Piper Sandler started coverage on Rocket Lab in a research report on Wednesday, July 15th. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $83.00 target price for the company. Finally, Citigroup restated a "market outperform" rating on shares of Rocket Lab in a research note on Tuesday, July 28th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, thirteen have assigned a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $110.65.

More Rocket Lab News

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

• Positive Sentiment: The U.S. Space Force added Rocket Lab to its Space Data Network Consortium and awarded the company $12 million in contracts supporting a secure, high-speed military communications network. The selection expands Rocket Lab’s role in defense and could lead to additional work. Space Force Selects Rocket Lab For Space Data Network Consortium
• Positive Sentiment: Rocket Lab was also onboarded to the Space Force’s $981 million NITE-STAR indefinite-delivery contract for space test and training infrastructure. The ceiling is not guaranteed revenue, since Rocket Lab must compete for task orders, but the program creates a sizable pipeline for its satellite, software and mission-operations businesses. Rocket Lab NITE-STAR Program
• Positive Sentiment: Viasat selected Rocket Lab to build the satellite bus for a maneuverable, anti-jam spacecraft supporting the Space Force’s Protected Tactical SATCOM-Global program. The win reinforces Rocket Lab’s transition from a launch provider into a broader defense and space-systems contractor. Viasat Selects Rocket Lab
• Positive Sentiment: Rocket Lab successfully launched and deployed eight satellites built for MDA Space under a $143 million, 17-satellite Globalstar constellation contract. The milestone demonstrates execution across both satellite manufacturing and launch services. Rocket Lab launches eight Globalstar satellites
• Neutral Sentiment: The company is promoting GHOST, a deployable system intended to support responsive orbital and suborbital missions worldwide. The technology could improve Rocket Lab’s defense-market capabilities, although the reports provide limited detail on revenue or contract commitments. Can GHOST Strengthen Rocket Lab’s Responsive Launch Capabilities?
• Negative Sentiment: Trading pressure reflected weakness across major space stocks, suggesting sector-wide profit-taking rather than a Rocket Lab-specific operational setback.
• Negative Sentiment: Rocket Lab remains unprofitable, with the latest quarterly EPS loss worse than analysts expected despite revenue of approximately $234 million, up 62% year over year. Its roughly $47 billion market capitalization and negative earnings leave the stock vulnerable to valuation-driven pullbacks.
• Negative Sentiment: Reported insider activity shows executives have made numerous open-market sales and no purchases during the past six months. While sales may reflect compensation or diversification, the pattern can weigh on investor sentiment at an elevated share price.

Rocket Lab Profile

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.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.

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