Rocket Lab Delays Neutron Debut to 2027 as Stock Drops More Than 10%

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Finance · Oct 15

Rocket Lab said Neutron’s first launch will slip from late 2026 to 2027, sending shares down more than 10% Thursday after a 7.9% drop in the prior session.
CEO Peter Beck blamed manufacturing issues in the first stage’s forward propellant dome, saying the company will not fly until the rocket meets required safety margins.
Rocket Lab says it has identified fixes and still expects to finish assembling the first stage this quarter, after which it plans to give a firmer launch date.
Neutron is key to Rocket Lab’s push into larger missions against SpaceX’s Falcon 9, but the program has repeatedly slipped from an initial 2024 target and suffered a tank rupture in January testing.
The selloff deepened a rough year for the stock—down about 25% in 2026 and roughly 65% below its $151 May high—even as Cantor Fitzgerald maintained an Overweight rating and $122 target.