Rocket Lab (RKLB) shares are inching higher on Friday morning after Raymond James analyst Brian Gesuale issued a bullish note in favor of the space infrastructure company. Gesuale assumed coverage of RKLB today with an “Outperform” rating and an $80 price objective, which signals potential upside of more than 25% from current levels.
His bullish call suggests Rocket Lab stock is poised to reclaim some of its recent losses. As of this writing, it’s down more than 55% versus its year-to-date high.
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www.barchart.comGesuale’s Bullish View on Rocket Lab Stock
Raymond James is bullish on RKLB shares primarily because the company is uniquely positioned as a comprehensive end-to-end mission provider in the aerospace and defense sector.
Instead of relying solely on launch capabilities, it has rapidly expanded its portfolio, supplying critical components, software, and satellite platforms for civil, commercial, and national security missions.
This dual structure creates sticky, recurring revenue that sets Rocket Lab apart from its pure-play competitors, Gesuale told clients in a research note on Sept. 11.
All in all, the analyst believes RKLB is poised to capture a growing share of high-margin defense contracts and scientific research endeavors over the coming years.
Growing Backlog Warrants Buying RKLB Shares
Brian Gesuale highlighted Rocket Lab’s strong operational execution and record backlog for the constructive stance as well.
The company ended its latest reported quarter with a $2.36 billion backlog, up a remarkable 137% on a year-over-year basis. This growing backlog offers exceptional multi-year visibility as demand accelerates for medium-lift alternatives like the upcoming Neutron rocket alongside the established Electron workhorse.
With quarterly revenue coming in up 62% year-on-year to $234.1 million and a strong cash reserve exceeding $2 billion, Raymond James believes the market is underestimating RKLB’s longer-term earnings leverage.
Wall Street’s View on Rocket Lab
Note that Raymond James is not the only Wall Street firm recommending owning RKLB stock at current levels.
According to Barchart, analysts’ consensus rating on the aerospace manufacturer and launch service provider sits at “Strong Buy” currently, with the mean price target of nearly $112 indicating massive upside potential from current levels.
www.barchart.com On the date of publication, Wajeeh Khan did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
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