Rocket Lab Revenue Rises 73% to $267.834 Million in Third Quarter
Key Facts
Rocket Lab reported record revenue of $267.834 million for the third quarter on November 9, 2026, up 73% from $155.080 million in the same period of 2025, according to its filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Sales growth came alongside an increase in net loss attributable to common stockholders to $79.677 million, from $18.257 million a year earlier. Basic and diluted loss was $0.12 per share, compared with $0.03 in the third quarter of 2025. The results put the company between rapid revenue expansion and continued development and growth costs, as it seeks to turn demand for launch services and space systems into a larger business. The company announced the results on the same day it disclosed new details about Neutron rocket contracts and its targeted launch schedule.
Total cost of revenue rose 82% year over year to $177.763 million in the third quarter, compared with $97.766 million in the year-earlier period, according to the company’s filing. Costs grew faster than revenue, which increased 73%, underscoring the expenses associated with expanding operations during the quarter. Management attributed growth in space systems revenue to increased spacecraft production and the impact of acquisitions. It also attributed higher launch revenue to a faster launch cadence. In research and development, the company said spending increased as Neutron development advanced, alongside additional spending at acquired companies and higher hiring and prototyping costs.
For the Neutron program, Rocket Lab said signed launch contracts exceeded $515 million and the rocket’s backlog reached 16 missions ahead of its first launch. The company set a base price of $70 million for some contracted launches, giving the contracts a stated value of more than half a billion dollars before the first flights begin. But the company now targets a first launch no earlier than 2027. The chief executive said voids appeared in the forward dome of the propellant tank during manufacturing, requiring a replacement part to be made. The delay makes manufacturing progress and launch timing key points to watch in the program, alongside the announced backlog.
The stock’s moves varied across the trading sessions surrounding the announcement. According to coverage published by Investing.com on November 9, shares rose 10.91% during the regular session to close at $58.86, before falling 6.52% in after-hours trading to $55.02. In premarket trading on Tuesday, November 10, the stock fell more than 5%, according to an Investing.com report attributed to Reuters, amid an adjusted earnings miss. EL7 data recorded a close of $62.71 on November 10. These figures reflect different trading sessions and periods, from the regular close to after-hours trading, then premarket trading and the following day’s close.
For the fourth quarter of 2026, the company forecast revenue of between $270 million and $290 million, and a GAAP gross margin of between 34% and 36%. It also set a range for adjusted EBITDA loss of between $14 million and $20 million. The guidance provides the revenue, margin and loss ranges management is using for the next period, following third-quarter results that combined higher sales with a wider loss. The outlook comes as spending continues on Neutron development and the expansion of the space systems business, according to the company’s explanation of research and development expenses. The fourth-quarter figures are Rocket Lab’s next financial guidance following its November 9 results.