SpaceX Just Lost a Starship Booster. Is Rocket Lab Stock the Better Bet?
Published . Updated .
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SpaceX stumbled on a booster catch while Rocket Lab's rival rocket still sits on the ground. Record backlog and billions in cash say one thing, but a sky-high multiple and a delayed debut say another. What is the market really pricing in?
Directly affected
- SPCX Space Exploration Technologies-12.9% 30d
Named in this report.
- RKLB Rocket Lab-13.3% 30d
Named in this report.
Indirectly affected
- XLI Industrial Select Sector SPDR+0.6% 30d
Industrial Select Sector SPDR holds the industrials sector that Rocket Lab belongs to, so it often moves with news about it.
- LMT Lockheed Martin+19.5% 30d
Lockheed Martin is a peer of Rocket Lab in guided missiles and space vehicles and parts; rivals often move on the same news.
- KTOS Kratos Defense & Security Solutions-21.2% 30d
Kratos Defense & Security Solutions is a peer of Rocket Lab in guided missiles and space vehicles and parts; rivals often move on the same news.
- MDA MDA Space-5.1% 6d
MDA Space is a peer of Rocket Lab in guided missiles and space vehicles and parts; rivals often move on the same news.
- FLY Firefly Aerospace+4.9% 30d
Firefly Aerospace is a peer of Rocket Lab in guided missiles and space vehicles and parts; rivals often move on the same news.
Price reaction, T-5 to T+3
| Ticker | T-5 | T-3 | T-1 | T0 | T+1 | T+2 | T+3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SPCX | +2.17% | +0.53% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| RKLB | -4.42% | +7.51% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| XLI | +0.05% | +1.29% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| LMT | -1.31% | +2.32% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| KTOS | +11.12% | +8.11% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| MDA | +6.36% | +6.98% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| FLY | -3.55% | +5.57% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
Closing-price change versus T-1, the last close before the story. T0 to T+3 fill in after each market close. Prices: Alpaca IEX.
SpaceX Just Lost a Starship Booster. Is Rocket Lab Stock the Better Bet? Yahoo Finance
Source: Yahoo Finance
This story
| Company | When | Move | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| FLY | three days earlier | +5.57% | final price |
| FLY | five days earlier | -3.55% | final price |
| KTOS | three days earlier | +8.11% | final price |
| KTOS | five days earlier | +11.12% | final price |
| LMT | three days earlier | +2.32% | final price |
| LMT | five days earlier | -1.31% | final price |
| MDA | three days earlier | +6.98% | final price |
| MDA | five days earlier | +6.36% | final price |
| RKLB | three days earlier | +7.51% | final price |
| RKLB | five days earlier | -4.42% | final price |
| SPCX | three days earlier | +0.53% | final price |
| SPCX | five days earlier | +2.17% | final price |
| XLI | three days earlier | +1.29% | final price |
| XLI | five days earlier | +0.05% | final price |
Trades by members of Congress and officials in the stocks in this story
- Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar sold Space Exploration Technologies (SPCX), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 24 Sep 2026. That is 51 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Donald J Trump, an executive branch official, sold Rocket Lab (RKLB), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 28 Aug 2026. That is 78 days before publication. Filed 8 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Kevin Hern sold Lockheed Martin (LMT) (jointly held), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 23 Sep 2026. That is 52 days before publication. Filed 13 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Kevin Hern sold Lockheed Martin (LMT) (jointly held), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 23 Sep 2026. That is 52 days before publication. Filed 13 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Kevin Hern sold Lockheed Martin (LMT) (jointly held), worth $15,001 - $50,000 on 17 Sep 2026. That is 58 days before publication. Filed 13 Oct 2026. View the filing.
Public disclosure filings, not a recommendation. The filing link is the source document. News use of these reports still sits under 5 U.S.C. § 13107(c).
This story
12 out of 100
“SpaceX Just Lost a Starship Booster. Is Rocket Lab Stock the Better Bet?” scores 12 out of 100. The score uses 1 sources.