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Rocket Lab Announces Third Quarter 2025 Financial Results, Posts Record Quarterly Revenue of $155m, Representing 48% Year-on-Year Growth at Record Gross Margin

LONG BEACH, Calif., Nov. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rocket Lab Corporation (Nasdaq: RKLB) (“Rocket Lab”, “the Company”, “we,” “us,” or “our”), a global leader in launch services and space systems, today shared the financial results for fiscal third quarter ended September 30, 2025.

Rocket Lab founder and CEO, Sir Peter Beck, said: “This past quarter we’ve once again delivered record revenue of $155m at record GAAP gross margin of 37%, and a new annual launch record is just days away. With progress across our major space systems programs, record backlog of contracts for our launch services business, and well-timed, strategic M&A in growth areas that are well-aligned with next-generation defense programs like Golden Dome and the Space Development Agency’s future constellations, our momentum is strong and we’re poised to deliver long-term exciting growth.”

Business Highlights for the Third Quarter 2025, plus updates since September 30, 2025.

  • Secured 17x Electron launch contracts in Q3, 2025 – a record-breaking quarter of dedicated launch contracts for our industry-leading small launch vehicle. Rocket Lab is also set to surpass its previous annual launch record in the fourth quarter, and remains on track to close out the year with 20+ launches.
  • Successfully launched two back-to-back HASTE missions across the quarter at an unprecedented pace of delivery for the nation that supports critical advancements in hypersonic technology.
  • Closed our acquisition of electro-optical and infrared sensor maker Geost for up to $325 million in a cash-plus-equity transaction, expanding our end-to-end capabilities for U.S. national security with launch, spacecraft, and now payloads. Other significant M&A activity for the quarter included the completed financial restructure of German laser communications company Mynaric as part of our intended acquisition process. Rocket Lab also exited the quarter with $1+ billion in liquidity following the Company’s recent at-the-market offering program, further strengthening our capital position to act decisively on our robust M&A pipeline.
  • Officially opened Launch Complex 3, the test and launch site for the Company’s new medium-lift reusable rocket Neutron.
  • Updating our Neutron schedule that has the rocket arriving at Rocket Lab Launch Complex 3 in Q1, 2026, with the first launch thereafter, pending the successful completion of the vehicle’s qualification testing and acceptance program.

Fourth Quarter 2025 Guidance
For the fourth quarter of 2025, Rocket Lab expects:

  • Revenue between $170 million and $180 million.
  • GAAP Gross Margins between 37% and 39%.
  • Non-GAAP Gross Margins between 43% and 45%.
  • GAAP Operating Expenses between $122 million and $128 million.
  • Non-GAAP Operating Expenses between $107 million and $113 million.
  • Expected Interest Income, net $3.5 million.
  • Adjusted EBITDA loss of $23 million and $29 million.
  • Basic Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding of 571 million, including approximately 46 million of Series A Convertible Participating Preferred Shares.

See “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below for an explanation of our use of Non-GAAP financial measures, and the reconciliation of historical Non-GAAP measures to the comparable GAAP measures in the tables attached to this press release. We have not provided a reconciliation for the forward-looking Non-GAAP Gross Margin, Non-GAAP Operating Expenses or Adjusted EBITDA expectations for Q4 2025 described above because, without unreasonable efforts, we are unable to predict with reasonable certainty the amount and timing of adjustments that are used to calculate these non-GAAP financial measures, particularly related to stock-based compensation and its related tax effects. Stock-based compensation is currently expected to range from $15 million to $17 million in Q4 2025.

Conference Call Information
Rocket Lab will host a conference call for investors at 2 p.m. PT (5 p.m. ET) today to discuss these business highlights and financial results for our third quarter, to provide our outlook for the fourth quarter, and other updates.

The live webcast and a replay of the webcast will be available on Rocket Lab’s Investor Relations website: https://investors.rocketlabcorp.com/

Rocket Lab Investor Relations Contact
Patrick Vorenkamp
investors@rocketlabusa.com

Rocket Lab Media Contact
Murielle Baker
media@rocketlabusa.com

About Rocket Lab
Rocket Lab is a leading space company that provides launch services, spacecraft, payloads and satellite components serving commercial, government, and national security markets. Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket is the world’s most frequently launched orbital small rocket; its HASTE rocket provides hypersonic test launch capability for the U.S. government and allied nations; and its Neutron launch vehicle in development will unlock medium launch for constellation deployment, national security and exploration missions. Rocket Lab’s spacecraft and satellite components have enabled more than 1,700 missions spanning commercial, defense and national security missions including GPS, constellations, and exploration missions to the Moon, Mars, and Venus. Rocket Lab is a publicly listed company on the Nasdaq stock exchange (RKLB). Learn more at www.rocketlabcorp.com.

Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward looking statements contained in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). All statements contained in this press release other than statements of historical fact, including, without limitation, statements regarding our expectations of financial results for the first quarter of 2025, launch and space systems operations, launch schedule and window, safe and repeatable access to space, Neutron development and anticipated timeline to launch, operational expansion and business strategy are forward-looking statements. The words “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “potential,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “strategy,” “future,” “could,” “would,” “project,” “plan,” “target,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, though not all forward-looking statements use these words or expressions. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the factors, risks and uncertainties included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024, as such factors may be updated from time to time in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and the Investor Relations section of our website at www.investors.rocketlabcorp.com, which could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release. Any such forward-looking statements represent management’s estimates as of the date of this press release. While we may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we disclaim any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause our views to change.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
We supplement the reporting of our financial information determined under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”) with certain non-GAAP financial information. The non-GAAP financial information presented excludes certain significant items that may not be indicative of, or are unrelated to, results from our ongoing business operations. We believe that these non-GAAP measures provide investors with additional insight into the company's ongoing business performance. These non-GAAP measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the related GAAP measures, and other companies may define such measures differently. We encourage investors to review our financial statements and publicly filed reports in their entirety and not to rely on any single financial measure. Reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial information to the corresponding GAAP measures for the historical periods disclosed are included at the end of the tables in this press release. We have not provided a reconciliation for forward-looking non-GAAP financial measures because, without unreasonable efforts, we are unable to predict with reasonable certainty the amount and timing of adjustments that are used to calculate these non-GAAP financial measures, particularly related to stock-based compensation and its related tax effects. The following definitions are provided:

Adjusted EBITDA
EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA further excludes items of income or loss that we characterize as unrepresentative of our ongoing operations. Such items are excluded from net income or loss to determine Adjusted EBITDA. Management believes this measure provides investors meaningful insight into results from ongoing operations.

Other Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Non-GAAP gross profit, gross margin, research and development, net, selling, general and administrative, operating expenses, operating loss and total other income (expense), net, further excludes items of income or loss that we characterize as unrepresentative of our ongoing operations. Such items are excluded from the applicable GAAP financial measure. Management believes these non-GAAP measures provide investors meaningful insight into results from ongoing operations.

       
ROCKET LAB CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2025 AND 2024
(unaudited; in thousands, except share and per share data)
       
  Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30,
  2025   2024   2025   2024
Revenues:              
Product revenues $ 104,042     $ 79,419     $ 277,571     $ 205,848  
Service revenues   51,038       25,389       144,576       97,978  
Total revenues   155,080       104,808       422,147       303,826  
Cost of revenues:              
Cost of product revenues   72,841       58,448       188,402       153,215  
Cost of service revenues   24,925       18,364       94,796       71,279  
Total cost of revenues   97,766       76,812       283,198       224,494  
Gross profit   57,314       27,996       138,949       79,332  
Operating expenses:              
Research and development, net   70,694       47,723       191,937       126,139  
Selling, general and administrative   45,589       32,172       124,808       91,445  
Total operating expenses   116,283       79,895       316,745       217,584  
Operating loss   (58,969 )     (51,899 )     (177,796 )     (138,252 )
Other income (expense):              
Interest expense, net   (590 )     (454 )     (5,547 )     (2,176 )
Gain (loss) on foreign exchange   388       (490 )     (235 )     (465 )
Other (expense) income, net   (177 )     1,848       (675 )     3,152  
Total other (expense) income, net   (379 )     904       (6,457 )     511  
Loss before income taxes   (59,348 )     (50,995 )     (184,253 )     (137,741 )
Benefit (provision) for income taxes   41,091       (944 )     38,966       (89 )
Net loss $ (18,257 )   $ (51,939 )   $ (145,287 )   $ (137,830 )
Net loss per share attributable to Rocket Lab Corporation:              
Basic and diluted $ (0.03 )   $ (0.10 )   $ (0.28 )   $ (0.28 )
Weighted-average common shares outstanding:              
Basic and diluted   528,725,980       497,701,715       516,560,266       493,976,025  
                               


ROCKET LAB CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2025 AND DECEMBER 31, 2024
(unaudited; in thousands, except share and per share values)
       
  September 30, 2025
(unaudited)
  December 31, 2024
Assets      
Current assets:      
Cash and cash equivalents $ 807,875     $ 271,042  
Marketable securities, current   168,865       147,948  
Accounts receivable, net   59,086       36,440  
Contract assets   52,785       63,108  
Inventories   144,999       119,074  
Prepaids and other current assets   82,813       55,009  
Total current assets   1,316,423       692,621  
Non-current assets:      
Property, plant and equipment, net   278,003       194,838  
Intangible assets, net   231,984       58,637  
Goodwill   217,709       71,020  
Right-of-use assets - operating leases   90,844       53,664  
Right-of-use assets - finance leases   14,022       14,396  
Marketable securities, non-current   46,202       60,686  
Restricted cash   4,835       4,260  
Deferred income tax assets, net         3,010  
Other non-current assets   21,373       31,210  
Total assets $ 2,221,395     $ 1,184,342  
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity      
Current liabilities:      
Trade payables $ 61,229     $ 53,059  
Accrued expenses   17,961       19,460  
Employee benefits payable   82,174       20,847  
Contract liabilities   208,243       216,160  
Current installments of long-term borrowings   17,090       12,045  
Other current liabilities   27,760       17,954  
Total current liabilities   414,457       339,525  
Non-current liabilities:      
Convertible senior notes, net   347,014       345,392  
Long-term borrowings, net, excluding current installments   51,267       44,049  
Non-current operating lease liabilities   86,505       51,965  
Non-current finance lease liabilities   14,742       14,970  
Deferred tax liabilities   3,007       891  
Other non-current liabilities   23,417       5,097  
Total liabilities   940,409       801,889  
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES      
Stockholders’ equity:      
Preferred stock, $0.0001 par value; authorized shares: 100,000,000; issued and outstanding shares: 45,951,250 and 0 at September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively   5        
Common stock, $0.0001 par value; authorized shares: 2,500,000,000; issued shares: 542,175,866 and 504,453,785 at September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively; outstanding shares: 496,224,616 and 504,453,785 at September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively   50       50  
Treasury stock, at cost; shares: 45,951,250 and 0 at September 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively          
Additional paid-in capital   2,241,982       1,198,909  
Accumulated deficit   (958,988 )     (813,701 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (2,063 )     (2,805 )
Total stockholders’ equity   1,280,986       382,453  
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 2,221,395     $ 1,184,342  
               


ROCKET LAB CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2025 AND 2024
(unaudited; in thousands)
   
  For the Nine Months Ended September 30,
  2025   2024
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:      
Net loss $ (145,287 )   $ (137,830 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:      
Depreciation and amortization   29,191       24,516  
Stock-based compensation expense   52,894       39,944  
Loss (gain) on disposal of assets   2,356       (2,356 )
Loss on extinguishment of long-term debt         1,330  
Amortization of debt issuance costs and discount   2,551       2,272  
Noncash lease expense   5,975       4,437  
Change in the fair value of contingent consideration         (218 )
Accretion of marketable securities purchased at a discount   (1,599 )     (2,272 )
Deferred income taxes   (33,049 )     2,310  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:      
Accounts receivable, net   (19,442 )     12,928  
Contract assets   12,608       (36,510 )
Inventories   (25,567 )     (7,118 )
Prepaids and other current assets   (17,455 )     1,951  
Other non-current assets   10,132       544  
Trade payables   (1,634 )     13,853  
Accrued expenses   2,671       2,980  
Employee benefits payables   43,417       3,525  
Contract liabilities   (9,187 )     27,791  
Other current liabilities   (1,358 )     4,088  
Non-current lease liabilities   (8,269 )     (4,321 )
Other non-current liabilities   62       1,653  
Net cash used in operating activities   (100,990 )     (46,503 )
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:      
Purchases of property, equipment and software   (106,631 )     (45,539 )
Proceeds on disposal of assets, net   397       11,756  
Cash paid for business combination, net of acquired cash   (132,441 )      
Purchases of marketable securities   (187,780 )     (149,548 )
Maturities of marketable securities   179,822       102,930  
Sale of marketable securities   3,383        
Net cash used in investing activities   (243,250 )     (80,401 )
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:      
Proceeds from ATM Equity Offerings   865,453        
Issuance costs related to ATM Equity Offerings   (20,134 )      
Proceeds from the exercise of stock options   2,539       2,074  
Proceeds from Employee Stock Purchase Plan   7,751       4,098  
Proceeds from sale of employees restricted stock units to cover taxes   80,659       14,991  
Minimum tax withholding paid on behalf of employees for restricted stock units   (65,672 )     (15,169 )
Purchase of capped calls related to issuance of convertible senior notes         (43,168 )
Proceeds from issuance of convertible senior notes         355,000  
Proceeds from secured term loans   26,716        
Repayments on secured term loan   (15,103 )     (48,853 )
Payment of debt issuance costs   (278 )     (12,205 )
Finance lease principal payments   (197 )     (269 )
Net cash provided by financing activities   881,734       256,499  
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents   (86 )     763  
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash   537,408       130,358  
Cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash, beginning of period   275,302       166,434  
Cash and cash equivalents, and restricted cash, end of period $ 812,710     $ 296,792  
               

ROCKET LAB CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2025 AND 2024
(unaudited; in thousands)

The tables provided below reconcile the non-GAAP financial measures Adjusted EBITDA, Non-GAAP gross profit, Non-GAAP research and development, net, Non-GAAP selling, general and administrative, Non-GAAP operating expenses, Non-GAAP operating loss and Non-GAAP total other income (expense), net with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. See above for additional information on the use of these non-GAAP financial measures.

  Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30,
  2025   2024   2025   2024
NET LOSS $ (18,257 )   $ (51,939 )   $ (145,287 )   $ (137,830 )
Depreciation   6,490       4,793       18,061       14,513  
Amortization   5,236       3,302       11,130       10,003  
Stock-based compensation expense   15,727       12,896       52,894       39,944  
Transaction costs   5,118       23       11,504       407  
Interest expense, net   590       454       5,547       2,176  
Change in fair value of contingent consideration                     (218 )
(Benefit) provision for income taxes   (41,091 )     944       (38,966 )     89  
(Gain) loss on foreign exchange   (388 )     490       235       465  
Accretion of marketable securities and cash equivalents purchased at a discount   (553 )     (666 )     (1,810 )     (2,272 )
Loss (gain) on disposal of assets   853       (1,164 )     2,356       (2,356 )
Employee retention credit               515        
Loss on extinguishment of debt                     1,330  
ADJUSTED EBITDA $ (26,275 )   $ (30,867 )   $ (83,821 )   $ (73,749 )
                               


  Three Months Ended September 30,   Nine Months Ended September 30,
  2025   2024   2025   2024
GAAP Gross profit $ 57,314     $ 27,996     $ 138,949     $ 79,332  
Stock-based compensation   3,539       3,029       12,351       10,205  
Amortization of purchased intangibles and favorable lease   4,126       1,763       7,772       5,247  
Employee retention credit               278        
Non-GAAP Gross profit $ 64,979     $ 32,788     $ 159,350     $ 94,784  
Non-GAAP Gross margin   41.9 %     31.3 %     37.7 %     31.2 %
               
GAAP Research and development, net $ 70,694     $ 47,723     $ 191,937     $ 126,139  
Stock-based compensation   (5,588 )     (4,626 )     (16,055 )     (13,660 )
Amortization of purchased intangibles and favorable lease         (302 )     (329 )     (686 )
Employee retention credit               (88 )      
Non-GAAP Research and development, net $ 65,106     $ 42,795     $ 175,465     $ 111,793  
               
GAAP Selling, general and administrative $ 45,589     $ 32,172     $ 124,808     $ 91,445  
Stock-based compensation   (6,600 )     (5,241 )     (24,488 )     (16,079 )
Amortization of purchased intangibles and favorable lease   (846 )     (960 )     (2,250 )     (3,274 )
Transaction costs   (5,118 )     (23 )     (11,504 )     (407 )
Change in fair value of contingent consideration                     218  
Employee retention credit               (149 )      
Non-GAAP Selling, general and administrative $ 33,025     $ 25,948     $ 86,417     $ 71,903  
               
GAAP Operating expenses $ 116,283     $ 79,895     $ 316,745     $ 217,584  
Stock-based compensation   (12,188 )     (9,867 )     (40,543 )     (29,739 )
Amortization of purchased intangibles and favorable lease   (846 )     (1,262 )     (2,579 )     (3,960 )
Transaction costs   (5,118 )     (23 )     (11,504 )     (407 )
Change in fair value of contingent consideration                     218  
Employee retention credit               (237 )      
Non-GAAP Operating expenses $ 98,131     $ 68,743     $ 261,882     $ 183,696  
               
GAAP Operating loss $ (58,969 )   $ (51,899 )   $ (177,796 )   $ (138,252 )
Total non-GAAP adjustments   25,817       15,944       75,264       49,340  
Non-GAAP Operating loss $ (33,152 )   $ (35,955 )   $ (102,532 )   $ (88,912 )
               
GAAP Total other (expense) income, net $ (379 )   $ 904     $ (6,457 )   $ 511  
(Gain) loss on foreign exchange   (388 )     490       235       465  
Loss (gain) on disposal of assets   853       (1,164 )     2,356       (2,356 )
Loss on extinguishment of debt                     1,330  
Non-GAAP Total other income (expense), net $ 86     $ 230     $ (3,866 )   $ (50 )
                               

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