In June, Rocket Lab agreed to buy all outstanding Iridium shares for $54 each in a cash-and-stock deal that values Iridium at about $8 billion. Iridium shareholders will receive $27 in cash and Rocket Lab shares, and both companies\u2019 boards have unanimously approved the transaction.<\/p>\n
The companies expect the deal to close in mid-2027, pending shareholder and regulatory approvals. Rocket Lab secured a $3.6 billion bridge loan from Deutsche Bank and Wells Fargo to help fund the cash portion of the financing.<\/p>\n
Rocket Lab Moves Toward End-To-End Space Connectivity<\/p>\n
Counterpoint said<\/a> on Wednesday that the deal would move Rocket Lab beyond launch services and spacecraft manufacturing into recurring revenue from satellite connectivity.<\/p>\n Iridium offers globally licensed L-band spectrum, a 66-satellite low-Earth-orbit constellation with pole-to-pole coverage, 2.55 million subscribers, and more than 500 channel partners.<\/p>\n Counterpoint said these assets could help Rocket Lab build a full-stack satellite connectivity business spanning launch, spacecraft, spectrum, constellation operations, and connectivity services.<\/p>\n The firm noted that Iridium generated $872 million in revenue in 2025, with IoT accounting for 79% of its commercial subscribers.<\/p>\n Satellite Players Race To Control More Of The Value Chain<\/p>\n The firm said companies are racing to control more of the satellite value chain as terrestrial and satellite networks move closer together.<\/p>\n AST SpaceMobile, Inc (NASDAQ:<\/a>ASTS<\/a>) remains focused on broadband direct-to-device services through existing smartphones.<\/p>\n Counterpoint said Rocket Lab and Iridium could focus on narrowband communications, IoT, resilient PNT, and direct-to-device services.<\/p>\n The firm expects that more than 970 million IoT connections could use satellite services by 2030 as 3GPP NTN standards mature and satellite connectivity expands across industrial markets.<\/p>\n Rocket Lab Technical Analysis<\/p>\n Rocket Lab shares have gained 117.04% over the past 12 months. Even so, the stock is consolidating after a strong rally.<\/p>\n The shares are trading 14.7% below their 20-day simple moving average and 21.6% below the 50-day SMA. However, they remain 9.7% above the 200-day SMA, keeping the long-term uptrend intact.<\/p>\n Momentum indicators remain cautious. The MACD is below its signal line, and the histogram is negative. That suggests bullish momentum has weakened and buyers may need stronger follow-through before the next sustained advance.<\/p>\n The moving averages also paint a mixed picture. The 20-day SMA sits below the 50-day SMA, a short-term bearish signal. However, the 50-day SMA remains above the 200-day SMA, which supports the longer-term bullish trend.<\/p>\n Key resistance stands near $93, close to the 100-day SMA of $89.32 and the 100-day EMA of $92.82. On the downside, $80 is an important support level, with the 200-day SMA at $76.47 providing additional technical support.<\/p>\n Earnings And Analyst Outlook<\/p>\n The company\u2019s next major catalyst is its estimated earnings release on August 6.<\/p>\n Wall Street expects Rocket Lab to report a loss of 7 cents per share, compared with a loss of 13 cents a year earlier. Revenue is projected to rise to $231.79 million from $144.50 million in the prior-year quarter.<\/p>\n The stock carries a consensus Buy rating with an average analyst price forecast<\/a> of $104.73. Recent analyst actions include:<\/p>\n Bank of America Securities: Buy, raised price forecast to $115 (June 30)<\/p>\n Cantor Fitzgerald: Overweight, maintained $96 price forecast (June 30)<\/p>\n Citizens: Market Outperform, raised price forecast to $130 (June 30) Significance: Because RKLB carries such a heavy weight in these funds, any significant inflows or outflows for these ETFs will likely force automatic buying or selling of the stock.<\/p>\n
\nRocket Lab Top ETF Exposure<\/p>\n