Stock market today: S&P 500 climbs as ongoing AI-led rebound pushes tech higher
Rocket Lab has once again reminded investors why it remains one of the most closely watched names in the public space industry. Despite bouts of sharp volatility along the way, the stock has delivered another remarkable year, rising roughly 111% year-to-date and pushing its three-year gain to more than 1,200%.
That type of performance is not purely speculative; it has been underpinned by consistent execution, mission success, and a steadily strengthening position within the global launch and space services market.
Just weeks ago, sentiment looked far less confident. After hitting fresh 52-week and all-time highs, shares retraced nearly 50%, a move that tested investor confidence and flushed out weaker hands.
Importantly, the stock found firm support near the $40 level, a zone that buyers defended aggressively.
From there, Rocket Lab staged an impressive recovery, climbing nearly 30% as momentum was rebuilt. While the technical bounce mattered, the resurgence has been driven by factors beyond chart dynamics.
Talk of a SpaceX IPO Boosts the Sector
One of the most significant tailwinds has come from renewed enthusiasm across the broader space sector. Reports suggesting that Rocket Lab’s competitor SpaceX is targeting a blockbuster IPO in 2026, potentially at a valuation near $1.5 trillion, have forced investors to reprice the entire industry.
With SpaceX dominating launch, satellite connectivity, and orbital infrastructure through Starlink, that kind of valuation has acted as a powerful benchmark for publicly traded peers. As one of the few scaled and accessible space companies in public markets, Rocket Lab quickly became a beneficiary of that reassessment.
Following the IPO chatter, Rocket Lab shares surged, gaining more than 20% in the days after the news was widely reported in early December. The stock briefly pushed toward the mid-$60s before pulling back to the low-$50s.
The move highlighted how sensitive the stock remains to shifts in sector sentiment, particularly when investors begin to consider long-term industry economics rather than near-term volatility. While some of that enthusiasm following the IPO buzz has cooled, it helped re-establish Rocket Lab as a core name within a revitalized space trade.
Rocket Lab Continues to Deliver Mission Success
Crucially, the company has continued to execute on the operational front. In mid-December, Rocket Lab completed its first dedicated launch for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. The successful launch marked a significant milestone for Electron, its flagship small-lift rocket, and its role in providing reliable, responsive access to space for international partners. The mission was part of JAXA’s Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration Program and underscored Rocket Lab’s growing credibility with government and institutional customers outside the United States.
That momentum carried into another high-profile success just days later. On Dec. 18, Rocket Lab launched the STP S30 mission for the U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command, completing the mission five months ahead of schedule. Awarded earlier this year under the Orbital Services Program contract, the mission highlighted Rocket Lab’s flexibility, speed, and ability to support national security priorities. Executing ahead of schedule is not just a symbolic win; it reinforces the company’s reputation as a dependable partner in an industry where reliability is everything.
The Neutron Inflection Point Ahead
Looking ahead, the most crucial catalyst remains. Rocket Lab’s Neutron rocket, a medium lift vehicle scheduled for its maiden flight in the first half of 2026, represents a giant leap forward for the business. Neutron is designed to carry payloads of up to 13,000 kilograms to low Earth orbit, a massive leap from Electron’s roughly 300-kilogram capacity. That capability would allow Rocket Lab to compete for far larger commercial and government contracts, placing it more directly into Falcon 9 territory.
If Rocket Lab can replicate the operational consistency it has achieved with Electron and successfully scale it through Neutron, the company’s revenue profile and strategic positioning could change dramatically. With improving sentiment, steady execution, and its most transformative product still ahead, the recent recovery in RKLB looks increasingly rooted in fundamentals rather than hype alone.