Rocket Lab Stock Climbs 3.2% as HASTE Orbit Puzzles Analysts and Index Inclusion Nears
17.06.2026 - 17:43:32 | boerse-global.de
Rocket Lab's shares rebounded on Wednesday, gaining 3.21% to €93.30, as investors looked past a delayed Electron launch and an unusual test-flight trajectory that has sparked speculation about classified government work. The recovery comes amid a broader sector shakeout triggered by SpaceX's blockbuster IPO last week.
The HASTE suborbital test vehicle, flying a mission dubbed "Curveball" on June 17, unexpectedly reached a low Earth orbit at roughly 120 miles altitude with a 40-degree inclination, according to astronomer Jonathan McDowell. Rocket Lab has not disclosed the payload or mission objectives, fuelling market chatter that the flight may have involved a specialized contract for the U.S. Space Force. The company is also holding its official silence on the matter.
Adding to the operational noise, Rocket Lab postponed its 90th Electron launch — the "Ten Owl Of Ten" mission carrying Synspective's StriX SAR satellite — originally set for June 18. The company cited the need for additional pre-flight checks. Traders on platforms like Stocktwits appeared unfazed, noting that the multi-launch contract with Synspective covers 17 more missions through 2030.
The real pressure on the stock, however, came from an external source. After SpaceX went public on June 12, institutional investors rotated out of other space equities to free up cash for the new listing. Rocket Lab saw its shares tumble from a 52-week high of €133.80 to below €80, shaving roughly $27 billion off its market capitalization. The Wednesday bounce brings the stock back above its 50-day moving average of €89.55, while the relative strength index sits at 47 — neutral territory. Still, the annualized 30-day volatility remains elevated at 136.59%.
Should investors sell immediately? Or is it worth buying Rocket Lab?
ARK Investment Management exemplified the rotation, selling 50,746 Rocket Lab shares worth about $5.8 million on the day of the SpaceX IPO, while purchasing approximately 3.3 million SpaceX shares for $444 million across its ARKQ and ARKX funds. The move effectively pitted the two space contenders against each other — SpaceX explicitly named Rocket Lab a competitor in its S-1 prospectus.
Wall Street analysts are pushing back against the rotation. KeyBanc lifted Rocket Lab to "Overweight" on June 15 with a $135 price target, and Stifel raised its target to $132 on June 8, maintaining a buy rating. KGI Securities initiated coverage on June 11 at "Neutral" with a $105 target. The consensus from 21 analysts stands at $102.76, with 12 rating the stock a buy and three a strong buy; only one recommends selling.
The bullish case rests on solid fundamentals. Rocket Lab reported a record first-quarter revenue of $200.3 million, a 63% year-over-year jump, and saw its backlog double to $2.2 billion. That order book includes an $816 million contract from the U.S. Space Force, a $190 million deal for 20 hypersonic test launches, and other strategic agreements for surveillance satellites and Neutron upper-stage development.
Neutron, the company's reusable medium-lift rocket, remains the pivotal catalyst. Designed to deliver up to 13,000 kilograms to low Earth orbit, the rocket has already secured five commercial contracts. Its first flight is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026. A successful debut would position Rocket Lab to directly challenge SpaceX's Falcon 9.
Rocket Lab at a turning point? This analysis reveals what investors need to know now.
Adding a fresh dynamic, Rocket Lab will join the Nasdaq-100 index on June 22 alongside Astera Labs, CoreWeave, Nebius Group, and Teradyne. The inclusion forces more than 200 ETFs and index funds — with combined assets over $800 billion — to buy the stock. The announcement initially lifted shares more than 8% in premarket trading, but the rally faded into a "sell the news" pattern. With the stock still sitting roughly 30% below its peak, the question is whether the mechanical buying pressure from index rebalancing will outweigh the headwinds from ARK's SpaceX pivot and the broader cooling in sentiment.
For now, Rocket Lab's trajectory hinges on execution in the coming months: clearing the Electron backlog, delivering on classified test flights, and — most importantly — getting Neutron off the launch pad before year-end.
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Rocket Lab Stock: New Analysis - 17 June
Fresh Rocket Lab information released. What's the impact for investors? Our latest independent report examines recent figures and market trends.
