Intuitive Machines (NASDAQ:LUNR) Shares Gap Down Following Weak Earnings

Key Points

• Intuitive Machines missed earnings expectations, reporting a quarterly loss of $0.16 per share versus the consensus estimate of a $0.09 loss. Shares opened at $14.29, down from the prior close of $16.95, after the weak results and outlook disappointed investors.
• Despite the loss, second-quarter revenue rose more than 300% year over year and quarter-end backlog reached a record $1.8 billion, supporting the company’s long-term lunar exploration and government-contract prospects.
• Analysts remain broadly constructive, with seven Buy ratings and a consensus price target of about $33.31, but the overall rating is Hold. Insider selling—including a director’s $4.3 million sale under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan—adds to investor caution.

Intuitive Machines, Inc. (NASDAQ:LUNR - Get Free Report) shares gapped down prior to trading on Thursday after the company announced weaker than expected quarterly earnings. The stock had previously closed at $16.95, but opened at $14.29. Intuitive Machines shares last traded at $16.9130, with a volume of 8,987,183 shares changing hands.

The company reported ($0.16) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.09) by ($0.07).

Intuitive Machines News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Intuitive Machines this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Second-quarter revenue increased more than 300% year over year, while quarter-end backlog reached a record $1.8 billion. The expanding backlog supports the company’s long-term outlook for lunar exploration, space infrastructure and government-related contracts. Intuitive Machines Reports Second Quarter 2026 Financial Results
• Positive Sentiment: Analysts have generally maintained a constructive long-term view, with several Buy ratings and an average price target of approximately $33.31, well above the current trading range. However, the overall consensus remains Hold, indicating meaningful execution risk.
• Neutral Sentiment: Intuitive Machines updated its fiscal 2026 earnings guidance, but the available report does not provide a numerical EPS outlook, limiting investors’ ability to assess whether expectations have improved or deteriorated.
• Neutral Sentiment: Shares had risen ahead of the earnings release as investors anticipated strong sales growth and space-sector demand. The pre-earnings optimism increased the risk of a negative reaction if the results or outlook did not exceed expectations.
• Negative Sentiment: The strong revenue growth was not enough to satisfy Wall Street. Reports indicate that second-quarter results and/or the outlook fell short of investor expectations, causing the stock to sink after the release. Intuitive Machines previously reported a quarterly loss and analysts expect another full-year loss, underscoring continuing profitability concerns. Intuitive Machines Stock Sinks on Earnings Even as Revenue Jumps 310%
• Negative Sentiment: Director Kamal Seyed Ghaffarian sold 267,448 shares worth approximately $4.3 million, reducing his direct holdings by 7.11%. The sale occurred under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan, which reduces its signaling value but may still weigh on sentiment. Intuitive Machines Director Sells Shares

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

LUNR has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Cantor Fitzgerald increased their price target on Intuitive Machines from $26.00 to $43.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, May 19th. B. Riley Financial reiterated a "buy" rating on shares of Intuitive Machines in a report on Wednesday, June 24th. Zacks Research upgraded Intuitive Machines from a "strong sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 14th. Canaccord Genuity Group raised their target price on shares of Intuitive Machines from $24.00 to $41.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, May 15th. Finally, KeyCorp lifted their price target on shares of Intuitive Machines from $26.00 to $27.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 29th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Intuitive Machines presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $33.31.

Insider Transactions at Intuitive Machines

In other news, Director Kamal Seyed Ghaffarian sold 267,448 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $16.17, for a total transaction of $4,324,634.16. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 3,494,768 shares of the company's stock, valued at $56,510,398.56. This represents a 7.11% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, SVP Timothy Price Crain II sold 150,000 shares of Intuitive Machines stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, June 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $21.87, for a total value of $3,280,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 351,279 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,682,471.73. This represents a 29.92% 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. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 12,546,222 shares of company stock worth $173,386,975. Company insiders own 54.10% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Intuitive Machines

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Invesco Ltd. raised its holdings in shares of Intuitive Machines by 19.7% in the first quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 16,092 shares of the company's stock valued at $120,000 after purchasing an additional 2,643 shares during the last quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. boosted its holdings in Intuitive Machines by 43.8% during the first quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 24,715 shares of the company's stock worth $184,000 after purchasing an additional 7,528 shares during the last quarter. Caxton Associates LLP bought a new position in Intuitive Machines in the first quarter valued at $139,000. Creative Planning grew its position in Intuitive Machines by 29.3% in the second quarter. Creative Planning now owns 30,407 shares of the company's stock valued at $331,000 after purchasing an additional 6,886 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cetera Investment Advisers grew its position in Intuitive Machines by 15.3% in the second quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 18,835 shares of the company's stock valued at $205,000 after purchasing an additional 2,506 shares in the last quarter. 72.21% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Intuitive Machines Trading Down 0.5%

The firm's 50 day simple moving average is $18.70 and its 200-day simple moving average is $21.94. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.66 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -19.23 and a beta of 1.83.

About Intuitive Machines

Intuitive Machines is a Houston, Texas–based aerospace company specializing in commercial lunar exploration and services. The firm develops end-to-end solutions for robotic missions to the Moon, providing spacecraft design, mission management, navigation, communications, and data services under NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program.

Founded in 2013 by aerospace engineers Steve Altemus, Tim Crain and Kris Kimel, Intuitive Machines has grown from a small startup into one of the leading private entities pursuing lunar surface deliveries.

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