Rocket Lab Stock Dips as Sector Turbulence and Neutron Timeline Create Headwinds

Rocket Lab USA US7731221062

Rocket Lab USA faced notable pressure on Thursday as the space sector endured broad volatility. While the company reported operational progress tied to a new hypersonic test mission, the overall market backdrop weighed on the shares. On February 12, 2026, Rocket Lab?s stock declined meaningfully, slipping around 6% and finishing in the low-to-mid $60s.

• Benzinga captured a drop of 6.08% to $65.39.
• MarketBeat pegged the decline at 5.2% with a print of $66.01.

The move lower was largely driven by a capital-raising action from a competing player, AST SpaceMobile, which triggered a liquidity-related selloff across the space names. The selloff extended to other peers such as Redwire and Firefly. In addition, Zacks Research downgraded Rocket Lab on February 12, from a previous ?Strong Buy? to a ?Hold,? citing ongoing uncertainties following a structural test anomaly observed in January at the Neutron rocket?s first-stage tank.

Even after the setback, the stock remains well above its 200-day moving average.

HASTE mission confirms operational progress

On the operational front, Rocket Lab reported advancement tied to its HASTE program. The company announced an imminent launch window for its fourth HASTE mission (Hypersonic Accelerator Suborbital Test Electron). The mission, named ?Cassowary Vex,? is planned to lift off no earlier than the end of February 2026 from Launch Complex 2 in Virginia.

This suborbital test is conducted for the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and carries Hypersonix?s DART AE-Payload, a scramjet-powered payload from the Australian developer Hypersonix. The HASTE platform, a modified version of Rocket Lab?s Electron rocket, can support flight profiles up to Mach 20 and has become a pivotal element of the company?s defense portfolio.

Q4 results in focus

Attention now centers on February 26, 2026, when Rocket Lab is scheduled to report its fourth-quarter 2025 results. A key topic at the earnings call is expected to be an updated timeline for the Neutron rocket, given that its first flight has already been postponed into 2026.

Market sentiment among analysts, per MarketBeat, remains ?Moderate Buy,? with an average target of $72.92. This implies potential upside from current levels despite the recent headwinds.