RKLB Stock Jumps After Hours On Record $2.2B Backlog And Biggest Launch Deal Ever

• Rocket Lab secured a $30 million HASTE hypersonic test contract with Anduril Industries.
• It further acquired California-based robotics firm Motiv Space Systems to boost vertical integration for Neutron and satellite programs.
• The announcements capped a strong Q1 2026, with record revenue of $200.3 million, beating estimates.

Shares of Rocket Lab USA (RKLB) rose sharply in after-hours trading on Thursday, climbing about 4% after the rocket launch service provider announced a sweeping set of contract wins, an acquisition, and first-quarter revenue that beat Wall Street estimates.

Contract Wins

The biggest announcement was Rocket Lab’s largest launch contract win in its history. A confidential customer booked five dedicated missions on its Neutron rocket and three dedicated missions on its small -sat Electron rocket, spanning 2026–2029, the company said. The deal pushed the company’s total launch manifest above 70 missions and lifted its backlog to over $2.2 billion.

The company also disclosed a $30 million multi-launch HASTE hypersonic test contract with defense tech firm Anduril Industries for three missions from Virginia, with the first flight scheduled within 12 months. HASTE is a suborbital testbed launch vehicle derived from Rocket Lab's Electron rocket.

Motiv Space Systems Acquisition

Separately, Rocket Lab signed a definitive agreement to acquire Motiv Space Systems, a California-based company working in space robotics and precision mechanisms whose solar array drives flew on NASA’s Mars Perseverance rover. The deal, expected to close in Q2, will deepen vertical integration for both Neutron and satellite programs, the company said.

RKLB Q1 Snapshot

The announcements capped a strong first-quarter 2026 performance. Revenue reached a record $200.3 million, up 63.5% year-over-year, and beating an analyst estimate of $189.41 million. Diluted loss per share came in at $0.07, compared to a Wall Street estimate of a loss of $0.04.

Rocket Lab reaffirmed strong momentum toward Neutron’s debut launch later this year and guided Q2 revenue to $225–$240 million, above an estimated $205.18 million. However, adjusted core loss is expected to be between $20 million and $26 million was higher than the $15.14 million expected by Wall Street.

How Did RKLB Retail Traders React?

On Stocktwits, retail sentiment around RKLB stock rose from ‘bullish’ to ‘extremely bullish’ territory over the past 24 hours, while message volume increased from ‘normal’ to ‘high’ levels.

A Stocktwits user termed RKLB one of the greatest investments in their lifetime.

Another user, however, opined that the stock is overvalued.  

RKLB stock has more than tripled over the past 12 months. 

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