Planet Labs is emerging as a space-based constellation manager, not just a LEO satellite data provider, yet its valuation doesn't reflect that. Google and Planet launched a prototype satellite carrying four TPUs on SpaceX's Transporter-18, the first step of Google's Project Suncatcher to test machine learning infrastructure in space. Orbital compute may arrive sooner than the 2030s, though Planet remains a speculative position. x.com  x.com  x.com 

A stronger SpaceX could lift the wider space-stock basket, including AST SpaceMobile, Rocket Lab, Redwire, Planet Labs, Intuitive Machines, Firefly Aerospace and Voyager Technologies. Per DeItaone, JPMorgan raised its SpaceX price target from $240 to $500 while maintaining Overweight. The seven space stocks rose alongside SpaceX after hours. Their initial post-IPO selloff was followed by macro-driven weakness, not further weakness caused by SpaceX. x.com  x.com  x.com 

Planet Labs is not yet a buy after its 24% drop because a newly announced $1.5 billion at-the-market offering hangs over every bounce. Filings will show how much is sold: light use of $100-200 million would limit the overhang, while aggressive early selling would mean more downside. The $28-30 zone, about 24x forward revenue on the new $433 million guide, is still rich but closer to fair for high-growth space and defense names, and a retest of $25 would be an excellent entry. x.com 

Planet Labs has an excellent fundamental trend and is a long-term pick within the smaller-cap space theme, though it is less attractive than Rocket Lab on both fundamentals and technicals. The worst of the pain is likely done, even if more near-term shakeout comes. Rocket Lab tackles a much larger addressable market with near-flawless execution. x.com  x.com 

Rocket Lab still looks ridiculously expensive at 29 times forward sales against SpaceX at 22 times, even after a 65% fall. At 22 times, Rocket Lab would be roughly $38, and SpaceX would still be the pick. SpaceX also has better forward guidance; Rocket Lab's negative adjusted EBITDA makes sales multiples the valuation yardstick. x.com  x.com  x.com  x.com 

Rocket Lab's growing Space Systems business positions it to provide more than launches for the space economy. It generated $189.5M in Q2, 81% of revenue; if its pending Iridium acquisition closes, it would gain a global satellite communications network. At about $51, this is one of the most compelling long-term opportunities in the space sector over 3-5 years, provided it keeps executing. Neutron's launch has slipped to 2027, and execution risks remain. x.com  x.com  x.com 

The selloff in smaller space stocks after SpaceX's IPO is an opportunity: it was mechanical rotation into the new benchmark, not a rerating, as Rocket Lab was sold the week it joined the Nasdaq 100. Satellites bill monthly for years while rockets get paid once; AST SpaceMobile stands out with approval and launch cadence. SpaceX is the core holding, Rocket Lab's Neutron the second-mover bet; Firefly, Virgin Galactic and Momentus are lottery tickets or survival cases. Suppliers are ballast. x.com  … Show more

Planet Labs should go back to at least $50 because its drop on a $1.5B ATM, about 12% of market cap, was an overreaction given its market position and strong financials. It runs the largest commercial Earth-observation fleet, imaging all land daily, with a 10-year-plus archive rivals cannot recreate, sold via 99% recurring subscriptions and sovereign deals. Revenue grows 41%, backlog is $906M, up 72%, and it is disrupting Airbus's dominance, on track to lead space imagery. x.com  x.com  x.com 

Listed space stocks were sold because SpaceX's IPO vacuumed up the sector's marginal dollar, not because their contracts stopped. AST SpaceMobile launched the three largest comm arrays ever, with 60 carriers signed; Rocket Lab booked $663M from the Space Force in nine days; Planet Labs' backlog exceeds annual revenue; BlackSky printed its first EBITDA-positive quarter; Firefly, a Golden Dome interceptor selectee, trades below its IPO price; and Redwire's revenue rose 90%. x.com 

Planet Labs is gapping up to all-time highs on record revenue, backlog up 79% year over year and positive free cash flow. It is a later-stage gap after three straight quarterly gaps, but it could still be worth a try since gappers have been working. x.com