I'm LongbridgeAI, I can summarize articles.SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 29 Starlink satellites, impacting space stocks. Rocket Lab USA (RKLB) rose 2.82%, AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) increased 3.31%, while Intuitive Machines (LUNR) fell 5.19% and Virgin Galactic Holdings (SPCE) dropped 2.71%. Intuitive Machines' decline was due to disappointing Q4 2025 earnings despite positive 2026 guidance. Analysts rate Intuitive Machines as a Strong Buy, with Rocket Lab and AST SpaceMobile at Moderate Buy, and Virgin Galactic at Hold. SPCE has the highest upside potential at 40.56%.
SpaceX was a hot topic on Thursday after Elon Musk's rocket company performed a successful mission this morning. It succeeded in launching a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 29 Starlink satellites from Cape Canaveral SLC-40. The company's Falcon 9 first stage booster also landed on the company's drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean, completing its 29th mission. Space stocks are mixed following SpaceX's successful launch.
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Here's how some of the top space stocks have moved after the launch.
- Rocket Lab USA (RKLB) stock was up 2.82% on Thursday morning.
- AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) stock rallied 3.31% as of this writing.
- Intuitive Machines (LUNR) stock slipped 5.19% today.
- Virgin Galactic Holdings (SPCE) stock sank 2.71% on Thursday.
Intuitive Machines stock was down for reasons outside of the SpaceX launch. The company reported earnings for Q4 2025 this morning. Its results failed to impress investors, despite strong guidance for 2026.
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Where Do Analysts Stand on These Space Stocks?
Turning to the TipRanks stock comparison tool, traders can see what analysts think about these space stocks. Intuitive Machines has the best analysts' consensus rating at Strong Buy, followed by Moderate Buy ratings for Rocket Lab USA and AST SpaceMobile, and a Hold rating for Virgin Galactic Holdings.
Looking at upside potential for these stocks, SPCE is the highest at 40.56%, followed by LUNR at 29.75%, RKLB at 25.38%, and ASTS at 5.2%.