Rocket Lab Stock Shoots Higher on Air Force Contract

Options traders have been heavily bullish heading into today

Emma Duncan

Managing Editor

Jul 22, 2026 at 10:03 AM

RKLB

Rocket Lab Corp (NASDAQ:RKLB) stock is up 3% at $71.17, after the aerospace name landed a $266 million contract with the U.S. Air Force, providing 12 suborbital vehicles across six launches. Today's pop has put RKLB back above its year-to-date breakeven mark and moving further from its recent three-month lows.

Despite its 2026 underperformance prior to today, bulls have been circling. This is per the stock's 10-day put/call volume ratio of 3.40 at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), which ranks in the 96th percentile of its annual range.

Analysts are no different, with the majority of covering firms carrying a "buy" or "strong buy" rating. Short interest has been climbing as well, up 34.5% during the past two reporting periods, accounting for 7.2% of the stock's available float.

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