Why Rocket Lab Stock Rocketed Higher Today

SpaceX does not equal Rocket Lab. Be careful about comparing the two space stocks.Rocket Lab (RKLB +10.53%) stock soared to close up 10.4% on Thursday, despite having to abort a planned rocket launch yesterday to "assess sensor data." The most likely reason for the shares rising in the face of, at best, neutral news on the business: Rocket Lab archrival SpaceX, already the biggest space company on the planet, is planning to get even bigger. Potentially, $1.5 trillion big. Because SpaceX will IPO in 2026. Image source: Getty Images. SpaceX versus Rocket Lab What does this have to do with Rocket Lab? The connection isn't obvious, but a lot of investors (especially on "X") are trying to make it anyway. Here's one illustrative post:Advertisement SpaceX valuation: $1.5TSpaceX expected 2026 sales: $23BSpaceX Forward Value/Sales = 65XRocket lab valuation: $28.5BRocket lab expected 2026 sales: $900MRocket lab Forward Value/Sales = 32X$RKLB 👀 pic.twitter.com/aWJSCrYmcz -- Hartik (@Hartik__) December 9, 2025 So, the logic seems to be that if SpaceX IPOs at a valuation of 65 times its expected 2026 sales, but Rocket Lab stock has a price-to-sales ratio only half that -- 32x -- then, obviously, Rocket Lab stock is going to double in price. ExpandNASDAQ: RKLBRocket LabToday's Change(10.53%) $6.06Current Price$63.58Key Data PointsMarket Cap$31BDay's Range$56.85 - $64.1452wk Range$14.71 - $73.97Volume977KAvg Vol22MGross Margin28.93%Dividend YieldN/A Is Rocket Lab stock a buy? There are at least a couple problems with that logic, though. First and most obviously, if it turns out that SpaceX stock is overvalued (and I would argue a $1.5 trillion valuation does overvalue SpaceX), then it doesn't logically follow that Rocket Lab stock will double at all. In fact, it might even fall. The other issue I have with this thinking is that SpaceX and Rocket Lab are not equivalent companies. First and most obviously, because SpaceX is a profitable space business, and Rocket Lab isn't (at least not yet). This isn't to say Rocket Lab isn't worth twice its present share price of $63 and change, of course. I just don't believe the case is quite as cut-and-dried that Rocket Lab is worth twice as much, as a lot of investors on social media seem to think it is.About the AuthorRich Smith is a contributing Motley Fool defense and stock market analyst covering publicly traded and emerging companies in defense, space, aerospace, and other sectors. Prior to The Motley Fool, Rich practiced international corporate law for Clifford Chance in Russia, and for the Russian-Ukrainian Legal Group in Moscow, Kyiv, and Washington, D.C. He holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations from the College of William & Mary, a law degree from the University of Baltimore, and a language certification from the International Institute of Russian Language & Culture in Tver, Russian Federation. The Globe and Mail once featured him as “one of the best stock pickers since 2009.”TMFDittyX@RichSmithFoolRead NextDec 7, 2025 •By Rich Smith3 Reasons Why Rocket Lab Stock Is A Millionaire-MakerDec 6, 2025 •By Courtney CarlsenHere's Why 2026 Could Be a Huge Year for Rocket LabDec 5, 2025 •By Brett SchaferWhy Rocket Lab Stock Slipped Last MonthNov 23, 2025 •By Courtney CarlsenThe Best Space Stock to Invest $500 in Right NowNov 23, 2025 •By Rich SmithDumb Money Has Fled Rocket Lab Stock.

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