Rocket Lab Stock Turns Higher Tuesday: What's Happening?

Rocket Lab Corp (NASDAQ:RKLB) shares are up on Tuesday as the company recently completed its 81st Electron launch, marking its second launch in the past two weeks. Here’s what investors need to know.

• Rocket Lab stock is moving in positive territory. Why is RKLB stock trading higher?

What This Satellite Deployment Means For RKLB

Rocket Lab announced that the latest launch deployed an Earth-observation satellite for the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), which is part of a larger constellation aimed at monitoring natural disasters and national security events.

CEO Peter Beck emphasized that these launches highlight the strong demand for the company’s Electron rocket and set the stage for a busy launch year in 2026.

The company is also gearing up for more missions, with a full slate of Electron launches planned for both new and returning customers from its launch sites in New Zealand and Virginia. This operational expansion is crucial as Rocket Lab continues to solidify its position in the competitive space launch market.

Unpacking The Mixed Momentum Signals

The stock is currently trading 11.1% below its 20-day simple moving average (SMA) but is 12% above its 50-day SMA, demonstrating a longer-term strength. Over the past 12 months, shares have surged 169.24% and are positioned closer to their 52-week highs, indicating strong upward momentum.

The RSI is at 43.69, which is considered neutral territory, suggesting that the stock is neither overbought nor oversold. Meanwhile, MACD is below its signal line, indicating bearish pressure on the stock.

The combination of neutral RSI and bearish MACD suggests mixed momentum, indicating that while there is potential for upward movement, caution may be warranted.

• Key Resistance: $80.00
• Key Support: $67.00

Rocket Lab’s Expanding Role In Space Exploration

Rocket Lab is engaged in space, building rockets and spacecraft. It provides end-to-end mission services that offer frequent and reliable access to space for civil, defense, and commercial markets.

The company designs and manufactures the Electron and Neutron launch vehicles and the Photon satellite platform, enabling operations in various sectors including national security and scientific research.

The recent successful launches underscore Rocket Lab’s growing importance in the space industry, particularly as it continues to expand its capabilities and customer base.

With a focus on reliability and responsiveness, Rocket Lab is positioning itself as a key player in the competitive landscape of space exploration and satellite deployment.

Are Analysts Underestimating Growth?

Investors are looking ahead to the next earnings report on Feb. 26.

• EPS Estimate: Loss of 9 cents (Up from Loss of 10 cents YoY)
• Revenue Estimate: $178.07 million (Up from $132.39 million YoY)

Analyst Consensus & Recent Actions: The stock carries a Buy Rating with an average price target of $64.00. Recent analyst moves include:

• Goldman Sachs: Neutral (Raises Target to $69.00) (Jan. 20)
• B of A Securities: Buy (Raises Target to $120.00) (Jan. 20)
• Morgan Stanley: Upgraded to Overweight (Raises Target to $105.00) (Jan. 16)

Benzinga Edge Rankings

Below is the Benzinga Edge scorecard for Rocket Lab, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses compared to the broader market:

• Momentum: Strong (Score: 96.26) — Stock is outperforming the broader market.

The Verdict: Rocket Lab’s Benzinga Edge signal reveals a classic ‘High-Flyer’ setup. While the strong momentum score confirms the positive trend, investors should remain vigilant as the stock approaches key resistance levels.

RKLB Shares Edge Higher Tuesday

RKLB Price Action: Rocket Lab shares were up 5.43% at $78.19 at the time of publication on Tuesday, according to Benzinga Pro data.

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