Dr J Rould
Full-Time Tech Investor, Quantum/Cybersecurity, Philosophy Background
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.comÂ
Investors rotating into cheaper stocks with more upside should ultimately benefit Rocket Lab and AST SpaceMobile. Both have already suffered major drawdowns. x.comÂ
Rocket Lab's fundamentals do not yet justify buying, even after a 55% drop took it to around its 200-day moving average. It still lacks positive earnings, net income and growing free cash flow. The upside could be significant if the business executes over the next few years, but more proof of profitability is needed first; it stays on the watch list. x.com x.comÂ
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.comÂ
Good SpaceX earnings could help Rocket Lab lead the new-space sector higher with a rally as violent as its capitulation. Rocket Lab is the sector leader outside SpaceX; its RSI is extremely oversold, the lower Bollinger band is overstretched and MACD's negative divergence is subsiding. Three upside gaps lie at $55.25-59.18, $64.22-65.71 and $73.11-74.76. The highest should fill before year-end, though the exact date is hard to predict. x.com x.comÂ
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.comÂ
Planet Labs should offer immense value as the number one player with the best network, but management keeps failing to unlock it. As a public benefit corporation, it is not permitted some forms of monetization. It needs to get its act together and focus on revenue, and with no visibility on when or if that happens, caution is warranted. x.comÂ
Rocket Lab, AST SpaceMobile and Intuitive Machines are priced as if they had already colonized the solar system, so they look headed one way once the hype rally ends. Together they carry an $82 billion market cap on $883 million of revenue and no profits, while burning cash heavily. Reusable rockets are a cost-reduction story rather than a giant leap. Their long-term potential may be real, but that future is 20-30 years out and does not justify today's valuations. x.com x.com x.com x.com x.com … Show more
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.comÂ
Planet Labs holding its gains in a psychotic market is remarkable, and it should go much higher once conditions normalize. It has delivered four monster earnings reports in a row and never broke its 10-week moving average. x.comÂ
Rocket Lab will be a good investment because it does much more than launch rockets, though AST SpaceMobile looks like the better one. x.comÂ
