Sometimes the market tells you a story before you even realize what's happening. Intuitive Machines, Inc. (LUNR) just experienced one of those momentum shifts that makes traders sit up and pay attention.
The space exploration company's momentum score rocketed from 27.20 on December 15 to 87.00 this week. That's not a typo. That's the kind of move that suggests something fundamental changed in how investors view this stock.
What's Behind the Liftoff?
The catalyst came early this week when President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled "Ensuring American Space Superiority." This isn't just political theater. The order fundamentally reshapes U.S. space policy around commercial partnerships rather than traditional cost-plus government contracts.
The objectives are ambitious: return humans to the Moon by 2028, establish a permanent lunar base by 2030, and mobilize $50 billion in private investment. For publicly traded space companies like Intuitive Machines, this shift from government-led to commercial-first approaches is potentially transformative.
The stock currently trades at $16.28, sitting comfortably above its 50-day moving average of $11.09 and roughly mid-range in its 52-week span of $6.13 to $24.95. Over the past three months alone, shares have climbed more than 60%.
The Technical Picture
Here's where things get interesting from a trading perspective. Intuitive Machines is showing a strong bullish setup with solid upward momentum, but there are some warning signs worth noting.
The RSI currently sits at 73.37, which puts the stock firmly in overbought territory. This typically means a pullback or consolidation period could be on the horizon. It's not a sell signal exactly, but it's a reminder that what goes up quickly can also pause or correct.
On the positive side, the MACD is above its signal line, confirming bullish momentum. The stock also experienced a golden cross in November, when the 50-day simple moving average crossed above the 200-day SMA. Traders often view this as a signal of a longer-term uptrend taking hold.
Key support sits at $16.00, and this level becomes absolutely critical if the stock tests it. Without a clear resistance level above current prices, the stock could face increased volatility as it navigates these technical waters.
The Reality Check
Despite the recent excitement, the 12-month performance tells a more sobering story. The stock is down 2.64% over that timeframe, indicating that longer-term challenges exist beneath the surface of recent gains.
So what should traders watch? The $16.00 support level is crucial. If the stock dips to test that level, how it responds will tell you a lot about whether this momentum surge has staying power or if it's just a short-term pop on policy news.
The combination of strong bullish indicators and an overbought RSI creates an interesting dynamic. Momentum is clearly positive, but the technical setup suggests potential volatility ahead. For traders looking at this space stock, timing and risk management become especially important as Intuitive Machines navigates between political tailwinds and technical headwinds.
At the time of writing, Intuitive Machines stock was trading 1.39% lower at $16.28.