LUNR Stock Set For Liftoff? Investors Bet On Blowout Q1 After Major Space Force Win

• Intuitive Machines secured a spot on the U.S. Space Force’s Andromeda contract program.
• Under the contract, the company will compete to develop systems that detect, track and characterize objects in orbit.
• The award marks Intuitive Machines’ first major contract win since its $800 million acquisition of Lanteris Space Systems in January.

Shares of Intuitive Machines (LUNR) soared to a three-year high on Wednesday after the space company landed a major U.S. Space Force contract just ahead of its first-quarter earnings report, which is expected to deliver massive revenue growth.

LUNR stock jumped 11% on Wednesday and is on-track to record its best week in over a month. 

Space Force Win Boosts LUNR Rally

Late Wednesday, Intuitive Machines said on X that the company has been selected by the U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command for the Andromeda Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract. Under the Andromeda program, Intuitive Machines will compete to design and field Space Domain Awareness capabilities to detect, track and characterize objects in geosynchronous orbit. 

“Our focus is to provide innovative and dependable SDA mission solutions for the U.S. Space Force to maintain space superiority through 2030 and beyond,” the company said.

The contract marks Intuitive Machines’ first major award since completing its $800 million acquisition of Lanteris Space Systems in January.The company paid $450 million in cash and $350 million in stock for Lanteris, formerly known as Maxar Space Systems. The deal positions the company as a vertically integrated space contractor, spanning spacecraft manufacturing, communications, navigation infrastructure and mission operations across low Earth orbit, medium Earth orbit, geosynchronous orbit and cislunar space.

At the time, CEO Steve Altemus said the deal would transform Intuitive Machines into a “multi-domain, end-to-end solutions provider” capable of supporting national security, civil and commercial space programs.

The company also said the Lanteris acquisition would strengthen its ability to compete for future Golden Dome missile defense initiatives, Space Development Agency contracts, NASA Artemis missions and future Mars telecom opportunities.

The broader Golden Dome theme has also fueled investor interest in space stocks after the Congressional Budget Office recently estimated that U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed missile-defense shield could cost as much as $1.2 trillion, with a large portion allocated to space-based interceptor systems and satellite infrastructure. 

LUNR Q1 Preview

Intuitive Machines is set to report Q1 results before Thursday’s opening bell. According to Fiscal.ai estimates, analysts expect revenue to more than triple to $205.8 million from $64.55 million a year ago. Losses before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) are projected to narrow to $6.97 million from a loss of $7.5 million a year ago, while loss per share (EPS) is expected at $0.08 per share, compared with a loss of $0.09 per share last year.

According to Koyfin data, Intuitive Machines carries an average analyst rating of ‘Strong Buy.’ Among nine analysts covering the stock, seven rate it ‘Buy', one rates it ‘Hold,’ and one has a ‘Strong Sell’ rating. Analysts currently maintain an average 12-month price target of $25.56, implying a 28% downside from current levels. 

How Do Retail Traders Feel About LUNR?

On Stocktwits, retail sentiment for LUNR jumped to ‘extremely bullish’ from ‘bullish’ levels a day ago amid a 143% jump in 24-hour message volumes.

One bullish user discussed potential earnings strategies, saying, “Another great way to play this for ER if you have significant shares is to sell calls and buy puts and create a protective collar to limit downside and upside.”

Another user said, “$40+ or $30 tomorrow? Time will tell. Either way, I'm holding. Plenty of catalysts in the future. Space is hottt with SpaceX right around the corner.”

LUNR stock has surged 207% over the past year. 

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