Why Is ROCKET LAB CORP A (RKLB) Stock Down Today?

Rocket Lab Corp A (RKLB) shares fell 6.64% to $55.25 on Thursday. The primary driver was the company’s announcement that it has delayed the inaugural launch of its Neutron rocket to 2027. This development triggered a reassessment of the stock’s valuation and near-term growth trajectory.

What Happened

Rocket Lab confirmed that the first flight of its reusable medium-lift Neutron vehicle will not occur until 2027. The delay signals an engineering rework, as no specific launch window was disclosed. Management’s schedule for achieving positive adjusted EBITDA is now contingent on that first launch. In response to the news, KeyBanc cut its price target while maintaining a bullish stance. Goldman Sachs lowered its price target to $67 from $75. TD Cowen reiterated a Buy rating with a $90 price target. Analysts noted that the company still holds a $2.4 billion backlog. Cathie Wood’s ARK Investment bought 169,000 shares of Rocket Lab, a move valued at approximately $9.3 million. Jim Cramer also expressed support for the stock during a recent broadcast.

What The Data Shows

The stock has experienced a sharp decline, moving down 29.9% over the last eight sessions from $75.06 to $52.64. The 52-week range stands between $37.57 and $151.00. The company remains unprofitable with a trailing twelve-month EPS of -$0.28 and a net margin of -21.5%, though revenue grew 52.5% over the same period. The market cap is $38.4 billion, and the stock carries a high beta of 2.94. Unusual options activity in the last 36 hours included 28 notable prints, with put premium of $40.0 million significantly outweighing call premium of $10.7 million. The largest single print was $12.4 million. Recent insider filings show nine sells totaling $27.0 million in the last 90 days, with no buys. The CFO, Adam C. Spice, sold shares on October 1, 2026, and September 2, 2026.

What To Watch

Investors will monitor the company’s progress on the Neutron rocket’s engineering rework and its path toward positive adjusted EBITDA. The scheduled earnings date is not provided in the current data, so coverage breadth and analyst price target adjustments will be key indicators of sentiment.