TLDR
- RKLB stock is up over 3% in Wednesday’s pre-market trading, extending a 2.51% gain from Tuesday’s session.
- Rocket Lab unveiled its IMM Apex solar cell, offering 31.5% efficiency and 40% lower mass than previous versions.
- The new cell eliminates germanium substrates, reducing exposure to supply chain and cost pressures.
- ARK Invest bought 2,341 RKLB shares on September 8, following over $44 million in purchases the prior week.
- Wall Street has a Strong Buy consensus on RKLB, with an average price target of $108.88, implying around 65% upside.
Rocket Lab stock climbed about 3.1% in Wednesday’s pre-market trading, with the stock closing Tuesday’s regular session at $65.87, up 2.51%. The pre-market move follows two company-specific developments drawing fresh attention to the stock.
The first is a new product. Rocket Lab announced the IMM Apex, its next-generation solar cell for space applications. The cell delivers 31.5% Beginning of Life conversion efficiency and weighs 40% less than previous versions.
What sets it apart is the removal of germanium substrates, a material used in conventional multi-junction solar cells for over three decades. Rocket Lab says this cuts reliance on a critical mineral facing rising costs and supply chain pressure.
The IMM Apex is also designed as a direct replacement for existing satellite solar cells. Customers can adopt it without major hardware changes, lowering the barrier to switching.
Brad Clevenger, President of Rocket Lab USA, said the cell “delivers exceptional performance while addressing real-world challenges like rising material costs and supply chain constraints.”
ARK Invest Keeps Buying
Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest added to its Rocket Lab position on Tuesday, September 8, buying 2,341 shares through the ARK Space Exploration and Innovation ETF (ARKX) for around $155,000.
That follows a much larger move. ARK purchased over $44 million worth of RKLB across three ETFs on August 31 and September 1, making Rocket Lab its biggest disclosed stock addition by value that week.
The purchases put Rocket Lab among ARK’s more prominent recent bets, alongside moves into fintech, biotech, and crypto-related assets.
Strong Fundamentals Back the Move
Rocket Lab’s solar products have a proven track record. Its IMM technology has powered NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter and is currently used by more than 1,100 satellites, including the James Webb Space Telescope.
The company completed its 94th Electron mission last week, deploying a satellite for Synspective and marking its 15th launch of 2026.
On the financial side, Rocket Lab reported $234.1 million in Q2 revenue, up 62% year over year. Its backlog hit a record $2.36 billion.
RKLB has a market cap of $39.42 billion and has risen 38% over the past 12 months, though it remains down 13.32% year to date.
The stock has a 52-week high of $151 and a low of $37.57. Its RSI currently stands at 40.94.
According to TipRanks, RKLB holds a Strong Buy consensus from 13 Buys and four Holds over the past three months. The average analyst price target sits at $108.88, pointing to about 65% upside from current levels.
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