Latest news with #LEO-PNT
Business Insider
8 hours ago
- Business
- Business Insider
RKLB, IONQ: 2 Soaring Russell 2000 Stocks Still Rated as Strong Buys
Small-cap stocks Rocket Lab (RKLB) and IonQ (IONQ) have both posted explosive gains over the last 12 months, catching the attention of growth-focused investors. Yet despite their big rallies, Wall Street analysts remain bullish, maintaining strong buy ratings on these Russell 2000 stocks. Confident Investing Starts Here: Nonetheless, RKLB and IONQ represent classic high-risk, high-reward opportunities, appealing to investors with a strong appetite for volatility and long-term disruption. While their sharp rallies reflect massive growth potential, both companies operate in emerging, capital-intensive sectors where success is not guaranteed. Let's dive into the details. Is RKLB a Good Stock to Buy? Rocket Lab builds and launches small satellite rockets, including its flagship Electron and upcoming reusable Neutron rocket. Over the last 12 months, RKLB stock soared more than 640%. Most recently, RKLB shares gained almost 12% on Thursday after securing a deal with the European Space Agency to launch two satellites for its LEO-PNT test constellation. Looking ahead, rising global tensions continue to fuel demand for Rocket Lab's defense and surveillance satellite launches, reinforcing the company's long-term potential. Its Electron rocket caters to the growing market for small satellite deployments, while the upcoming Neutron rocket, designed for medium-lift missions, positions Rocket Lab to meet the increasing demand for affordable and dependable space access. Furthermore, analysts remain optimistic. Top-rated analysts at firms like Cantor Fitzgerald and Stifel Nicolaus are bullish on the Neutron rocket, calling its planned launch in the second half of 2025 a critical milestone. They view it as a major step toward Rocket Lab's broader ambition of becoming a fully integrated space company. What Is the Target Price for RKLB? According to TipRanks, RKLB stock has received a Strong Buy consensus rating, with nine Buys and three Holds assigned in the last three months. The average Rocket Lab stock price target is $30.20, suggesting a potential downside of 16.4% from the current level. It's worth noting that despite analysts' bullish ratings, the recent surge in share price has pushed RKLB stock above its average price target, implying a potential downside in the near term. Is IonQ a Good Stock Buy? IonQ is a leading quantum computing company focused on trapped-ion technology, delivering its systems through major cloud platforms. Its stock has surged over 470% in the past year, reflecting its standout position in the space. IonQ is ahead of the curve, having already sold quantum hardware to cloud giants like Amazon's (AMZN) AWS and Alphabet's (GOOGL) Google Cloud. The company's systems offer full qubit connectivity and an industry-best 99.9% two-qubit gate fidelity, which is an essential metric indicating the system's ability to perform calculations with minimal error. With increasing demand and additional system deployments on the horizon, IonQ is well-positioned for further growth. Turning to Wall Street, five-star-rated analyst David Williams of Benchmark Co. recently reiterated his Buy rating on IonQ and earlier this month raised his price target to $50. His bullish stance follows IonQ's announcement to acquire UK-based Oxford Ionics in a $1.075 billion deal. Benchmark analysts believe the acquisition will significantly enhance IonQ's leadership in trapped-ion quantum computing by integrating Oxford's advanced technology, expanding its technical edge and global market reach. What Is IonQ Forecast for 2025? According to TipRanks, four out of five analysts currently covering IONQ stock have issued Buy recommendations. Meanwhile, the average IonQ share price target of $43 suggests a 4.6% upside from current levels.
Business Insider
a day ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Rocket Lab USA Stock (RKLB) Soars 13% on ESA Launch Orders
Rocket Lab USA (RKLB) stock soared on Thursday after the aerospace company announced a launch deal with the European Space Agency. This will see it launch two small spacecraft to test a planned low Earth orbit positioning, navigation and timing (LEO-PNT) constellation. Confident Investing Starts Here: Easily unpack a company's performance with TipRanks' new KPI Data for smart investment decisions Receive undervalued, market resilient stocks right to your inbox with TipRanks' Smart Value Newsletter Rocket Lab USA will launch the first of these satellites no earlier than December 2025. The two satellites also have different manufacturers, with one made by GMV and the other by Thales Alenia Space. These are two of a planned 10-satellite setup. The European Space Agency needs the satellites launched before Spring 2026 to comply with International Telecommunication Union regulations. That's why it chose Rocket Lab USA for the task, as the company offered a quick launch period to meet these requirements. What This Means for Rocket Lab USA Stock Investors were pleased with the news that Rocket Lab USA will handle the launch of the two satellites for the European Space Agency. This sent shares of RKLB stock 13.38% higher as of Thursday morning, extending their 43.66% rally year-to-date. Unfortunately, this may not lead to further launches for Rocket Lab USA. The European Space Agency would prefer to use rocket companies in its home territory. It's likely to do so for the launch of an estimated 300-satellite network after the LEO-PNT test is finished. Is Rocket Lab USA Stock a Buy, Sell, or Hold? Turning to Wall Street, the analysts' consensus rating for Rocket Lab USA is Strong Buy, based on nine Buy and three Hold ratings over the past three months. With that comes an average RKLB stock price target of $30.20, representing a potential 17.89% downside for the shares.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Why Rocket Lab Shares Are Jumping Today
June 26 - Rocket Lab (NASDAQ:RKLB) shares jumped more than 7% Thursday morning after the company secured two launch contracts from the European Space Agency to deploy satellites for a test navigation constellation. The missions will carry a pair of small satellites designed to support the ESA's Low Earth Orbit Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (LEO-PNT) system. The satellites are being developed by two separate manufacturers, GMV and Thales Alenia Space, and are part of a broader 10-satellite initiative. The first satellite is scheduled for launch no earlier than December 2025. Both launches are required to take place before spring 2026, in order to meet frequency and orbital slot deadlines imposed by the International Telecommunication Union. Rocket Lab was selected largely due to its ability to meet the ESA's tight timeline. However, future launches for the full constellation, expected to include up to 300 satellites, will likely be awarded to European launch providers. Shares of Rocket Lab surged following the news, extending the stock's year-to-date rally to over 43% as of Thursday morning. While this contract may not guarantee long-term work with the ESA, it reinforces Rocket Lab's position as a responsive partner for timely satellite deployment. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Rocket Lab to Launch Electron Mission for European Space Agency's Next-Generation Navigation System
LONG BEACH, Calif., June 25, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB) ("Rocket Lab" or the "Company"), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today announced it has been selected to launch a dedicated Electron mission for the European Space Agency ("ESA") for the first time, to deploy the first pair of satellites for a future navigation constellation for Europe, LEO-PNT. Rocket Lab will launch two "Pathfinder A" spacecraft for ESA, provided by European satellite prime contractors Thales Alenia Space and GMV, from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 no earlier than December 2025. The spacecraft will be deployed to a 510km low Earth orbit as part of a mission to test a new approach of providing location, direction, and timing services from satellites in low orbit – otherwise called LEO-PNT (Low Earth Orbit Positioning, Navigation, and Timing). ESA's LEO-PNT demonstration mission will assess how a low Earth orbit fleet of satellites can work in combination with the Galileo and EGNOS constellations in higher orbits that provide Europe's own global navigation system. Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, says: "Launching a European mission on Electron that is integral to the future of Europe's satellite navigation system is both an honor and a testament to our industry-leading launch service. An important constellation like LEO-PNT needs a strong foundation to grow from, and with Electron's track record of precise orbital deployment, we're excited to help secure the future of LEO-PNT for Europe with our launch of these first two satellites in the constellation." This latest launch contract underscores Electron's international reputation as an industry-leading launcher, and reinforces Rocket Lab's commitment to supporting the growing demand for space access by European constellation operators. Earlier this year Electron completed the deployment of an entire constellation of Internet-of-Things satellites for French satellite operator Kinéis, before launching a global wildfire detection mission for Germany-based customer OroraTech. Missions for other European satellite operators on Electron date back to 2021. About Rocket Lab Founded in 2006, Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company with an established track record of mission success. We deliver reliable launch services, satellite manufacture, spacecraft components, and on-orbit management solutions that make it faster, easier, and more affordable to access space. Headquartered in Long Beach, California, Rocket Lab designs and manufactures the Electron small orbital launch vehicle, the HASTE suborbital launch vehicle for hypersonic tests, a family of flight proven spacecraft, and the larger Neutron launch vehicle for constellation deployment. Since its first orbital launch in January 2018, Rocket Lab's Electron launch vehicle has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually. Rocket Lab has deployed 200+ payloads from its launch sites in the United States and New Zealand for private and public sector organizations, enabling operations in national security, scientific research, space debris mitigation, Earth observation, climate monitoring, and communications. Rocket Lab's family of spacecraft have been selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and Mars, as well as the first private commercial mission to Venus. Rocket Lab has three launch pads at two launch sites, including two launch pads at a private orbital launch site located in New Zealand and a third launch pad in Virginia. To learn more, visit Forward Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, statements regarding our launch and space systems operations, launch schedule and window, safe and repeatable access to space, Neutron development, operational expansion and business strategy are forward-looking statements. The words "believe," "may," "will," "estimate," "potential," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "expect," "strategy," "future," "could," "would," "project," "plan," "target," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, though not all forward-looking statements use these words or expressions. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the factors, risks and uncertainties included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, as such factors may be updated from time to time in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), accessible on the SEC's website at and the Investor Relations section of our website at which could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Any such forward-looking statements represent management's estimates as of the date of this press release. While we may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we disclaim any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause our views to change. View source version on Contacts Rocket Lab Media Contact Murielle Bakermedia@
Business Wire
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Rocket Lab to Launch Electron Mission for European Space Agency's Next-Generation Navigation System
LONG BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB) ('Rocket Lab' or the 'Company'), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today announced it has been selected to launch a dedicated Electron mission for the European Space Agency ('ESA') for the first time, to deploy the first pair of satellites for a future navigation constellation for Europe, LEO-PNT. Rocket Lab will launch two 'Pathfinder A' spacecraft for ESA, provided by European satellite prime contractors Thales Alenia Space and GMV, from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 no earlier than December 2025. The spacecraft will be deployed to a 510km low Earth orbit as part of a mission to test a new approach of providing location, direction, and timing services from satellites in low orbit – otherwise called LEO-PNT (Low Earth Orbit Positioning, Navigation, and Timing). ESA's LEO-PNT demonstration mission will assess how a low Earth orbit fleet of satellites can work in combination with the Galileo and EGNOS constellations in higher orbits that provide Europe's own global navigation system. Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, says: 'Launching a European mission on Electron that is integral to the future of Europe's satellite navigation system is both an honor and a testament to our industry-leading launch service. An important constellation like LEO-PNT needs a strong foundation to grow from, and with Electron's track record of precise orbital deployment, we're excited to help secure the future of LEO-PNT for Europe with our launch of these first two satellites in the constellation.' This latest launch contract underscores Electron's international reputation as an industry-leading launcher, and reinforces Rocket Lab's commitment to supporting the growing demand for space access by European constellation operators. Earlier this year Electron completed the deployment of an entire constellation of Internet-of-Things satellites for French satellite operator Kinéis, before launching a global wildfire detection mission for Germany-based customer OroraTech. Missions for other European satellite operators on Electron date back to 2021. About Rocket Lab Founded in 2006, Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company with an established track record of mission success. We deliver reliable launch services, satellite manufacture, spacecraft components, and on-orbit management solutions that make it faster, easier, and more affordable to access space. Headquartered in Long Beach, California, Rocket Lab designs and manufactures the Electron small orbital launch vehicle, the HASTE suborbital launch vehicle for hypersonic tests, a family of flight proven spacecraft, and the larger Neutron launch vehicle for constellation deployment. Since its first orbital launch in January 2018, Rocket Lab's Electron launch vehicle has become the second most frequently launched U.S. rocket annually. Rocket Lab has deployed 200+ payloads from its launch sites in the United States and New Zealand for private and public sector organizations, enabling operations in national security, scientific research, space debris mitigation, Earth observation, climate monitoring, and communications. Rocket Lab's family of spacecraft have been selected to support NASA missions to the Moon and Mars, as well as the first private commercial mission to Venus. Rocket Lab has three launch pads at two launch sites, including two launch pads at a private orbital launch site located in New Zealand and a third launch pad in Virginia. To learn more, visit Forward Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the 'Securities Act') and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the 'Exchange Act'). All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, statements regarding our launch and space systems operations, launch schedule and window, safe and repeatable access to space, Neutron development, operational expansion and business strategy are forward-looking statements. The words 'believe,' 'may,' 'will,' 'estimate,' 'potential,' 'continue,' 'anticipate,' 'intend,' 'expect,' 'strategy,' 'future,' 'could,' 'would,' 'project,' 'plan,' 'target,' and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, though not all forward-looking statements use these words or expressions. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the factors, risks and uncertainties included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, as such factors may be updated from time to time in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the 'SEC'), accessible on the SEC's website at and the Investor Relations section of our website at which could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Any such forward-looking statements represent management's estimates as of the date of this press release. While we may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we disclaim any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause our views to change.
