Rocket Lab (RKLB) Q3 2025 results
Rocket Lab reported record sales in the third quarter as the company continues to sign launch contracts and build its backlog.
The space stock slipped more than 1% on Tuesday, paring earlier gains.
The company, which makes satellites and rockets and provides launch services to customers, on Monday reported revenue of $155 million for the period. That beat analysts surveyed by LSEG forecast $152 million and was 48% higher than about $105 million a year ago. Rocket Lab also posted a narrower-than-expected loss of 3 cents per share, compared to the expected loss of 10 cents per share.
Additionally, Rocket Lab provided strong guidance for the current quarter, saying it expects revenue between $170 million and $180 million. Analysts had forecast sales of $172 million.
Rocket Lab said it had a record backlog of 49 rocket launches under contract. The company said it signed 17 of these contracts in the third quarter and plans to end the year with over 20 launches.
In an earnings release, CEO Peter Beck said the Long Beach, Calif.-based company is “just days” away from setting a new annual launch record. Rocket Lab also engages in mergers and acquisitions targeting key defense initiatives, such as President Donald Trump’s missile defense plan known as “Golden Dome,” Beck added.
Competition in the space technology sector is heating up as the U.S. government and NASA rely on more independent contractors, including Elon Musk’s SpaceX, to power missions to return to the moon. The growing excitement has also brought a wave of space companies to the public market this year, including some based in Texas Firefly Aerospace.
Last month, Rocket Lab shares rose more than 31% after announcing a series of new launch deals. Shares have more than doubled this year and are up nearly 270% in the last twelve months. The stock fell about 13% in November due to a general market sell-off.
In the third quarter, the company completed its acquisition of satellite sensor maker Geost and opened a new launch site for its neutron rocket.
Rocket Lab reported an adjusted EBITDA loss of $26.3 million, exceeding its previously forecast loss range of $21 million to $23 million. Analysts expected an adjusted EBITDA loss of $22.2 million, according to FactSet.
The company expects fourth-quarter adjusted EBITDA losses to be between $23 million and $29 million, exceeding FactSet’s $13 million loss forecast.
REGARD: Rocket Lab’s CEO talks about competing for Space Force contracts
