Why Rocket Lab Stock Popped Today
Key Points
Rocket Lab customer iQPS just signed up for three more Electron rocket launches.
Rocket Lab has already launched four times for iQPS this year.
Its launch manifest now shows seven more launch missions ahead for this one single customer.
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Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB) stock surged 6.2% through 10:15 a.m. ET Thursday after announcing (yet another) big contract win last night.
Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space has hired space company Rocket Lab for three more Electron rocket launch missions.
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Image source: Rocket Lab.
Rocket Lab + Q-shu: Better together
One of Rocket Lab's longer-term customers, Japan's Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space (iQPS for short) aims to build out a 36-satellite constellation of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites orbiting Earth. The company most recently signed up for a four-launch series of missions in February, and now iQPS is reserving space in Rocket Lab's lineup for three more launches.
That's a total of seven launches for a single customer -- iQPS -- upcoming, from now through 2026.
And it's on top of the four iQPS launches that Rocket Lab has already performed this year.
In total, Rocket Lab is still targeting "20-plus launches" this year, so at least 25% growth in launch cadence compared to 2024, and potentially closer to 100%.
Is Rocket Lab stock a buy?
Admittedly, these launches aren't yet profitable for Rocket Lab. At last report, the rocket stock had racked up $127 million in losses through H1 2025, and analysts are forecasting total losses of more than $218 million ($0.43 per share) through the end of this year.
That said, if all goes right, Rocket Lab could also start to turn the corner this year, if it gets its inaugural Neutron rocket launch off as planned -- and then begins ramping Neutron launches next year. If that happens, losses could start slimming in 2026, and by 2027, Rocket Lab could report its first honest-to-goodness full year profit.
Fingers crossed for this momentum stock.
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Rich Smith has positions in Rocket Lab. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Rocket Lab. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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