Rocket Lab shares fell 21.5% in October, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence, while the S&P 500 dipped 0.9%. The decline followed an Oct. 14 announcement that the inaugural launch of the partially reusable Neutron rocket, scheduled for later this year, was pushed into 2027 after a manufacturing issue created voids between carbon fiber layers in the propellant dome. The company said the issue has been corrected and a dome made with a different process has passed inspection, and on Oct. 28 it said Neutron's Stage 2 and Thrust Modules had arrived at the Virginia launch complex. The article notes the timing of the first flight remains uncertain, as the original 2024 target had been pushed back several times. Rocket Lab also plans to acquire Iridium Communications and recently announced its 99th successful Electron launch.
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Rocket Lab shares rose as much as 10% on Tuesday and were up 8.4% as of 2:51 p.m. ET, after the company said the Neutron rocket's second stage and thrust module had left its factory for Launch Complex 3 in Wallops Island, Virginia, where the thrust module will be placed on the launch mount for checkouts and systems demonstrations. Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Andres Sheppard reiterated an overweight rating and a $122 price target, suggesting potential gains of 127% from Monday's close, and expects a Neutron launch in the second quarter of 2027. The article notes that Neutron's inaugural launch was delayed to 2027 after a defect was found in the propellant dome. Rocket Lab stock had been volatile, gaining 115% in the first five months of 2026 before plunging more than 61% since the recent SpaceX IPO, and it trades at 44 times sales versus 61 times sales for SpaceX.
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