Institutional Investors Boost Holdings in Rocket Lab Despite Neutron Delay Major institutional investors are increasing their stakes in Rocket Lab USA, despite a significant delay in the company’s Neutron rocket development program. The decision comes as Rocket Lab reports a record backlog of $1.85 billion, driven by a key $816 million contract with the U.S. Space Development Agency for missile warning and tracking satellites. This surge in demand has attracted attention from asset managers like Quadrature Capital and Vanguard, who have expanded their holdings in the company. Rocket Lab’s fiscal year 2025 results, released in late February, highlighted the company’s strong financial position. Fourth-quarter revenue reached $179.6 million, with the backlog surging 73% year-over-year to an all-time high. The U.S. Space Development Agency contract was a critical factor in this growth, underscoring the company’s role in meeting government and commercial satellite launch needs. Quadrature Capital, for instance, increased its shareholding by 121% to 391,213 shares, valued at approximately $18.75 million. Vanguard also raised its holdings, now owning nearly 41.8 million shares, a 5.4% increase. The investment activity coincides with challenges in Rocket Lab’s development timeline. The Neutron rocket, designed as a medium-lift vehicle, has been delayed to the fourth quarter of 2026. This setback follows an anomaly detected during a stage tank test in January 2026, which required additional engineering work. While the Neutron program faces delays, Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket continues to operate reliably, with recent success in Mission 83 reinforcing its operational consistency.#rocket_lab_usa #quadrature_capital #vanguard #u_s_space_development_agency #electron_rocket
