Rocket Lab (NASDAQ:RKLB) Sets New 12-Month High - Should You Buy?

Key Points

• Rocket Lab's stock reached a new 52-week high of $68.53, closing at $65.31 after trading 36 million shares.
• Analysts have set a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" for Rocket Lab, with target prices ranging from $27 to $55.
• CEO Peter Beck and CFO Adam C. Spice sold significant shares of the company recently, resulting in a decrease of 36.49% and 29.82% in their ownership stakes, respectively.

Rocket Lab Corporation (NASDAQ:RKLB - Get Free Report)'s share price reached a new 52-week high on Thursday . The company traded as high as $68.53 and last traded at $65.31, with a volume of 36074930 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $61.51.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

RKLB has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on Rocket Lab in a research report on Monday, June 30th. They set a "neutral" rating and a $27.00 price objective on the stock. Craig Hallum initiated coverage on Rocket Lab in a report on Monday, July 28th. They issued a "hold" rating and a $51.00 target price on the stock. Cantor Fitzgerald increased their target price on Rocket Lab from $35.00 to $54.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, August 8th. KeyCorp increased their target price on Rocket Lab from $40.00 to $50.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, August 8th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on Rocket Lab from $34.00 to $55.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, August 5th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have assigned a Buy rating, four have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $42.27.

Rocket Lab Stock Performance

The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $47.61 and a 200-day simple moving average of $34.98. The company has a market cap of $32.30 billion, a PE ratio of -148.60 and a beta of 2.14. The company has a quick ratio of 2.33, a current ratio of 2.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60.

Rocket Lab (NASDAQ:RKLB - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 7th. The rocket manufacturer reported ($0.13) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.07) by ($0.06). The firm had revenue of $144.50 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $135.42 million. Rocket Lab had a negative return on equity of 48.14% and a negative net margin of 45.87%.The business's revenue for the quarter was up 35.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted ($0.08) EPS. Rocket Lab has set its Q3 2025 guidance at EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that Rocket Lab Corporation will post -0.38 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Rocket Lab

In other news, CEO Peter Beck sold 1,436,442 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $48.75, for a total transaction of $70,026,547.50. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 2,500,000 shares in the company, valued at approximately $121,875,000. This represents a 36.49% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, CFO Adam C. Spice sold 874,588 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, September 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $48.01, for a total transaction of $41,988,969.88. Following the sale, the chief financial officer owned 2,057,889 shares of the company's stock, valued at $98,799,250.89. This trade represents a 29.82% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 5,406,361 shares of company stock valued at $267,483,973. Corporate insiders own 11.90% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Rocket Lab

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Rocket Lab by 109.5% during the second quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 796 shares of the rocket manufacturer's stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 416 shares during the period. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp acquired a new stake in Rocket Lab in the second quarter valued at about $36,000. Kilter Group LLC acquired a new stake in Rocket Lab in the second quarter valued at about $37,000. ORG Partners LLC lifted its position in Rocket Lab by 491.9% in the second quarter. ORG Partners LLC now owns 1,095 shares of the rocket manufacturer's stock valued at $38,000 after purchasing an additional 910 shares during the period. Finally, Golden State Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in Rocket Lab by 3,250.0% in the second quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,340 shares of the rocket manufacturer's stock valued at $48,000 after purchasing an additional 1,300 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 71.78% of the company's stock.

About Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab USA, Inc, a space company, provides launch services and space systems solutions for the space and defense industries. The company provides launch services, spacecraft design services, spacecraft components, spacecraft manufacturing, and other spacecraft and on-orbit management solutions; and constellation management services, as well as designs and manufactures small and medium-class rockets.

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