Rocket Lab Corp (RKLB) is catching a bid Tuesday after scheduling another mission for Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, keeping the company's busy launch calendar rolling into the end of the year.
Launch Details and What's Next
The company locked in its 19th Electron launch of 2025, slated to send JAXA's RApid Innovative payload demonstration SatellitE-4 (RAISE-4) spacecraft to orbit from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1. The launch window opens December 5, and the mission has been dubbed "Raise And Shine" because apparently someone in marketing was feeling creative.
This launch represents the first of two dedicated missions for JAXA, with the second expected sometime in the first quarter of 2026. Meanwhile, Rocket Lab announced earlier this month that its new medium-lift reusable Neutron rocket will arrive at Launch Complex 3 during Q1 2026, with the inaugural launch coming "thereafter." That's aerospace speak for "we're working on it."
Analyst Optimism Continues
Adding some extra lift to shares Tuesday, Needham analyst Ryan Koontz reiterated Rocket Lab with a Buy rating and maintained his $63 price target. The positive sentiment appears contagious on Wall Street.
BofA Securities analyst Ronald Epstein kept his Buy rating last week while bumping his price target from $50 to $60. Morgan Stanley has been more cautious, maintaining an Equal-Weight rating earlier this month with a $67 price target, the highest of the bunch.
Performance and Technical Picture
Rocket Lab has delivered a strong 72.1% gain year-to-date, reflecting serious investor enthusiasm for the aerospace sector. But it hasn't been a smooth ride lately. Shares have tumbled more than 33% over the past month as momentum stocks broadly pulled back.
From a technical standpoint, the stock is trading about 21.9% below its 50-day moving average of $55.00, suggesting that level could act as resistance if shares attempt to rally. On the flip side, it's trading roughly 16.3% above its 200-day moving average of $36.92, indicating the longer-term bullish trend remains alive despite recent turbulence.
Support sits at $42.39, which could provide a floor if selling pressure continues. Resistance clocks in at $46.26, a level that could prove important for bulls looking to regain momentum. The Relative Strength Index currently reads 33.81, placing the stock in neutral territory—neither overbought nor oversold. That suggests traders might be waiting for the next catalyst before committing to a direction.
A break above $46.26 could signal renewed bullish energy, while a drop below $42.39 might force traders to rethink their near-term outlook.
Price Action: Rocket Lab shares were roughly flat at $42.30 at the time of publication on Tuesday.