On December 30, 2025, Rocket Lab showed signs of recovery following a challenging week marked by a decline in stock value. The company’s shares rose by 0.47%, closing at a price of $70.45, as investors appear to be reassessing the company’s significance in the realm of national security and space exploration. The trading volume for the day reached 30 million shares, surpassing the average of 23 million shares over the previous three months by approximately 23%.
Despite the slight increase today, Rocket Lab had faced a downturn over the past five days, during which its stock price had dropped by over 9%. This recent uptick indicates a potential stabilization following a notable rally this year. Since its IPO in 2020, Rocket Lab’s stock has experienced a staggering growth rate of 623%.
In broader market trends, the S&P 500 slipped by 0.14% to settle at 6,896, while the Nasdaq Composite decreased by 0.24%, landing at 23,419. The performance among peers in the space industry showed mixed results: Planet Labs PBC saw a decrease of 0.65%, while Intuitive Machines made gains of 1.53%. This division underscores varied investor sentiment as the market recalibrates its expectations for contracts and projects within the space sector.
For investors, Rocket Lab’s performance this year has been noteworthy. The company’s Electron rocket has completed an impressive tally of 21 successful flights in 2025, with the latest launch occurring on December 21. Additionally, just a few weeks prior, Rocket Lab secured its largest single contract to date—a substantial $816 million deal with the Space Development Agency to design and manufacture 18 satellites.
The stock has surged almost 70% over the past month and is up over 175% year-to-date, a robust performance that has positioned Rocket Lab favorably as it moves toward 2026. However, the company faced a slowdown in momentum leading up to today, prompting investors to focus on its execution capabilities and potential for future contract acquisitions in the upcoming year.
