Rocket Lab (RKLB) stock is down 44% — but NASA just handed it three new launches

TLDR

• Rocket Lab has been selected by NASA to provide three electron launches for the PolSIR and TSIS-2 missions, starting in early 2027.
• The company set a world record for launch turnaround speed with the US Space Force’s VICTUS HAZE mission.
• RKLB stock recently closed at $80.69, up 6.2% year to date but down 43.7% over the past month.
• KeyBanc upgraded RKLB to overweight on June 14 with a price target of $135, due to limited launch capacity and increased NASA activity.
• KGI Securities also initiated coverage with a Neutral rating and $105 price target on June 11.

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Rocket Lab had a busy week. The company secured a triple-launch contract from NASA and set a world record for defense launch speed, all while its stock continues to trade well below its recent highs.

Rocket Lab USA, Inc., RKLB

NASA has selected Rocket Lab to launch three Electron rockets for two separate missions: PolSIR and TSIS-2. Two successive PolSIR launches from Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand are scheduled no later than June 2027. A third TSIS-2 launch will take place from the same location in early 2027.

Rlp stock It closed at $80.69. This puts it about 24% below the analyst consensus target price of $106.92.

The stock is up 6.2% year to date and has returned 123.3% over the past 12 months. But it has fallen sharply recently, down 43.7% over the past 30 days and 24.8% over the past week alone.

KeyBanc upgrades for increased weight

On June 14, KeyBanc upgraded RKLB to Overweight from Sector Weight with a price target of $135. The company indicated weak investor sentiment after a SpaceX IPO-related sell-offs, which she sees as creating entry points into well-positioned space companies.

KeyBanc said NASA activity is accelerating at a pace not seen since the Apollo era. She noted that launch capacity remains structurally limited even as demand for satellites and space applications continues to grow.

The company identified Rocket Lab as the preferred choice due to its alignment with national security and NASA priorities.

On June 11, just days ago, KGI Securities initiated coverage with a Neutral rating and a price target of $105. The start signaled growing institutional interest as Rocket Lab expands across launch, spacecraft systems and satellite infrastructure.

Analyst targets currently range from $60 to $150.

Setting up defense launch log

Along with the NASA contract, Rocket Lab supported the US Space Force’s VICTUS HAZE mission and set a world launch speed record. Details of the record have not been disclosed, but the mission underscores how Rocket Lab is positioning itself for time-critical defense work.

This combination — the ability to respond quickly to defense customers and growing NASA footprint — reflects how the company has built its government revenue base.

Rocket Lab is headquartered in Long Beach, California. It designs and manufactures rockets, spacecraft and satellite components while providing customized launch services for small and medium-sized payloads.

The company is listed among the stocks that have the potential to double over the next two years, according to one analysis, with a market capitalization of about $62 billion.

The Wall Street firm simply notes that RKLB trades approximately 10.3% above its estimated fair value. He also points to insider selling and shareholder dilution as risk factors worth monitoring.

The stock is currently trading at $80.69, with NASA’s triple-launch contract and VICTUS HAZE record as the latest catalysts.