Rocket Lab ( RKLB -7.64%) stock stumbled 8.2% through 11:30 a.m. ET Wednesday, giving back some of its mammoth 30% gain from Tuesday, a gain arising from investor enthusiasm over newly inaugurated President Trump's own excitement about using U.S. companies to send astronauts to Mars.

Rocket Lab’s CEO and founder, Peter Beck, expressed enthusiasm about the continued partnership with Kinéis, noting that the company successfully deployed 15 satellites for the IoT constellation last year and is eager to keep momentum going in 2025.

I believe that Rocket Lab remains a buy, even after the RKLB stock prices have risen over 400% since my earliest report on Rocket Lab post-IPO. See more here.

In 2023, Rocket Lab launched 10 times, but in 2024 the New Zealand-U.S. rocket company turned that dial to 16, making for some really easy math: Rocket Lab grew its launch cadence 60%, and thus exceeded SpaceX's 41% growth.

Rocket Lab’s backlog expanded 80% YoY, with ~50% expected to convert to revenue within 12 months. Read why I maintain my buy rating for RKLB stock.

Rocket Lab (Nasdaq: RKLB), a global leader in launch services and space systems, saw its stock jump 28% in Tuesday’s trading following a significant announcement regarding a new agreement with NASA. The space company revealed that it will provide Neutron launch services to NASA under the agency’s existing Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) contract.