Rocket Lab (RKLB): analysis in plain words
Is Rocket Lab cheap or expensive? How it makes money, whether it grows and its risks, explained in plain words and with its official accounts.
Rocket Lab (RKLB) is listed on the Nasdaq and we classify it in aerospace and defence. Below are its key dated figures, how it makes money, how it compares with its sector, what works for and against Rocket Lab according to those figures, and the questions people ask most about the stock. No buy or sell tips.
Rocket Lab (RKLB) key figures as of November 4, 2026
| Figure | Value | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $52.37 | Last price on November 4, 2026 |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | N/A | Price over earnings per share |
| Revenue growth | +62.0% | Latest quarter vs the same quarter a year earlier |
| Net margin (TTM) | -21.5% | Profit for every 100 of sales |
| Net debt / EBITDA | N/A | Years of operating profit to repay debt |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | Annual dividend over price |
| Market cap | $33.5 billion | What the stock market values it at |
The Rocket Lab figures come from Yahoo Finance, the same source the Fintols analysis uses, retrieved on November 4, 2026. Any RKLB figure that is not available shows as N/A: we do not estimate it.
How Rocket Lab makes money
Rocket Lab reports two segments. Space Systems, the larger one, builds satellites and components such as solar panels, reaction wheels and software for space agencies, defense customers and companies. Launch Services charges to put satellites into orbit on its Electron rocket while it develops Neutron, a larger rocket. Most customers are in the United States.
Over the last 12 months, Rocket Lab brought in revenue of $769 million. For every 100 it sells, Rocket Lab keeps 37.3 after the direct cost of what it sells (gross margin) and -24.6 after all operating costs (operating margin). With 2,600 full-time employees, that is about $296,000 of revenue per employee.
Rocket Lab against its sector
To know whether a Rocket Lab figure is high or low you have to put it next to similar companies. This table compares Rocket Lab with the median of the 12 aerospace and defence companies Fintols covers, with data as of November 4, 2026.
| Figure | Rocket Lab | aerospace and defence median |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth | +62.0% | +14.4% (14) |
| Net margin | -21.5% | 8.2% (14) |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 1.17% (14) |
In short, against the typical aerospace and defence company, Rocket Lab grows faster, earns a thinner margin and pays a lower dividend yield. By size, Rocket Lab ranks number 9 of 10 aerospace and defence companies quoted in USD on Fintols.
The bull case for Rocket Lab
These are the strengths in the Rocket Lab figures as of November 4, 2026:
- Rocket Lab is selling more than a year ago: +62.0% in its latest quarter (the typical aerospace and defence company grew +14.4%).
The main risk for Rocket Lab
Rocket Lab is losing money: its net margin over the last 12 months is -21.5%, so it spends more than it brings in. Until it turns a profit it relies on its cash or on raising money.
On top of that: rocket Lab stock sits 65% below its 52-week high ($151.00): the market has cut its expectations, and it is worth understanding why first.
And, like the rest of aerospace and defence, Rocket Lab is exposed to production delays and problems, and changes in defence budgets.
Frequently asked questions about Rocket Lab
Is it a good time to buy Rocket Lab stock?
Fintols does not tell you whether to buy or sell Rocket Lab, and nobody knows what the price will do tomorrow. What we can show you is where it stands today. As of November 4, 2026, Rocket Lab stock trades at $52.37, 65% below its 52-week high ($151.00) and 39% above its low ($37.57). With Rocket Lab, as with any stock, timing matters less than understanding the business, investing for the long run and not betting everything on a single company.
Does Rocket Lab pay a dividend?
No. As of November 4, 2026, Rocket Lab does not pay a dividend: what it earns stays in the company to grow, invest or, where it does so, buy back shares. Anyone buying Rocket Lab today is counting on the share price rising, not on income.
Is Rocket Lab stock expensive?
Rocket Lab has no meaningful P/E as of November 4, 2026 because its last 12 months of earnings are negative or close to zero, so that yardstick cannot tell you whether it is expensive. A high P/E alone does not make Rocket Lab expensive: it can be justified if earnings grow fast, and a low one can reflect a business in trouble.
Who are Rocket Lab's competitors?
On Fintols we compare Rocket Lab with AST SpaceMobile, Rheinmetall and Airbus, which are also in aerospace and defence. As of November 4, 2026, AST SpaceMobile is worth $13.9 billion; Rheinmetall is worth €46.8 billion and trades on a P/E of 39.0; Airbus is worth €157.9 billion and trades on a P/E of 25.7. Each has a side-by-side comparison with Rocket Lab below.
Rocket Lab competitors
- AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) analysis · Rocket Lab vs AST SpaceMobile comparison
- Rheinmetall (RHM.DE) analysis · Rocket Lab vs Rheinmetall comparison
- Airbus (AIR.PA) analysis · Rocket Lab vs Airbus comparison
To understand Rocket Lab better
- How to Write an Investment Thesis (Step by Step)
- 7 Common Beginner Investing Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
More companies like Rocket Lab: aerospace and defence stocks. Open the full RKLB analysis with its valuation and scenarios. Educational content about Rocket Lab, not investment advice.