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yahoo.comSEP 172 min read$RKLB

The Space Race Is Heating Up — and One Analyst Says Buy These 2 Stocks

Rocket Lab (RKLB) reported record revenue of $234M in Q2 2026, up 62% YoY, with a $2.36B backlog. Analyst Filatov rates it Buy with a $83 target, citing its strong business model and growth potential. AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) reported $31.5M revenue, up from 2025, with a $1.3B backlog. Filatov rates it Buy with a $92 target, highlighting its unique space-based cellular network.

Original reporting
yahoo.com
Published Sep 17, 2026, 6:30 AM UTC
Analysis
AlphAI AI DeskAI-generated
Added to AlphAI Sep 17, 2026, 7:14 AM UTC. Informational, not investment advice.
How this was made
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The Space Race Is Heating Up — and One Analyst Says Buy These 2 Stocks — source image
Source · yahoo.com
Decision brief

The 30-second read

$RKLBBullishMed
01

Why it matters

Both companies delivered better‑than‑expected revenue growth and sizable backlogs, prompting bullish analyst ratings and sizable upside targets.

02

Market read

Earnings beats and strong backlogs could drive sector rotation into space‑related equities.

03

What to watch

Potential regulatory hurdles for satellite broadband and competition from larger players like SpaceX.

Relevance 8/10Novelty 8/10Timing: Q2 2026 earnings release

Background

The article summarizes Q2 2026 earnings and backlog updates for two publicly traded space companies, adding analyst commentary and price targets.

Company-level read

Ticker impact

$RKLBBullishHigh confidence
Context

Rocket Lab reported Q2 2026 revenue of $234M, a 62% YoY increase, record backlog of $2.36B and a delayed Neutron launch to 4Q26.

Expected impact

Potential price appreciation toward the $110 target.

Evidence & confidence

Record revenue and backlog indicate growing demand; analyst upgraded to Buy with a 33% upside target.

$ASTSBullishHigh confidence
Context

AST SpaceMobile posted Q2 2026 revenue of $31.5M, a sharp increase, and a $1.3B backlog with new satellite builds and government contracts.

Expected impact

Likely move toward the $92 target price.

Evidence & confidence

Analyst gave a Buy rating and 53% upside target based on partnership pipeline and upcoming service launch.

Market effects

Sector

Both firms reinforce growth expectations for the commercial space launch and satellite broadband sectors.

Regional

U.S. space and telecom equities may see increased investor interest.

Global

Highlights continued capital allocation to low‑Earth‑orbit infrastructure worldwide.

Counterpoint

What could challenge this read

High valuations and cash burn could pressure shares if launch schedules slip further.

Key entities

  • company
    Rocket Lab USA

    US‑listed space launch provider (ticker RKLB).

  • company
    AST SpaceMobile

    US‑listed satellite broadband provider (ticker ASTS).

  • analyst_firm
    Berenberg

    Research house issuing the Buy recommendations.

Read at source← All news

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