Rocket Lab's shares tumbled in after-hours trading after the company reported second-quarter 2026 financials that missed key profitability expectations. The company announced an adjusted loss of $0.08 per share, wider than the roughly $0.06 to $0.07 consensus. More damaging to sentiment was guidance for GAAP gross margins of 29% to 31% for the third quarter, well under the Street's average forecast of about 37.6%.
The company attributed the softer margin outlook to a growing proportion of lower-margin satellite platform sales, a trend amplified by the integration of recent acquisitions. That shift in the revenue mix reduced near-term profitability expectations despite strong top-line performance.
Revenue and backlog
On the top line, Rocket Lab delivered a record quarter. Revenue rose 62% year-over-year to $234 million, slightly ahead of analyst estimates. The company's backlog also expanded substantially, increasing 137% to $2.36 billion. For the third quarter, management provided revenue guidance of $250 million to $265 million, which was above consensus.
Strategic moves announced alongside results
- The company unveiled a containerized mobile launch system called GHOST.
- Rocket Lab announced a Neutron launch contract with Kepler Communications for 2028.
- It established a German subsidiary to support expanded European manufacturing.
Despite this flurry of strategic news, investors focused on the near-term profitability outlook and the ongoing costs associated with Neutron development and merging acquired businesses.
Market context and investor reaction
The broader market offered little support for the move, with the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq finishing the regular session essentially flat. The after-hours sell-off was intensified by the stock's recent run-up: shares had climbed roughly 29% in the two weeks before the earnings release, driven by Space Force contract wins and an upgrade from KGI Securities. That rally left valuation stretched heading into the print and magnified a sell-the-news response when margins disappointed.
Taken together, the results show a company growing quickly at the top line and building a large backlog, but also facing margin pressure from a changing product mix and continued cash deployment toward Neutron and M&A integration. Those factors combined to push shares lower in after-hours trading following the release.