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SPCE
Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. · Industrials - Space Tourism
$3.56
+42.40% this month
VERSUS
⟷
COMPARE
RKLB
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. · Industrials - Space Launch & Systems
$107.24
-15.76% this month
Scoreboard verdict
Across AI score, momentum, valuation, upside, operating margin
SPCE
1
RKLB
3
Comparison scoreboard
RKLB LEADS 3/5AI Score
SPCE 21.6
RKLB ✓59.6
1Y Return
SPCE +19.06%
RKLB ✓+285.06%
Fwd P/E
SPCE -7.38
RKLB ✓-6103.59
Target Up.
SPCE ✓-0.28%
RKLB -0.30%
Op. Margin
SPCE N/A
RKLB N/A
Metrics last refreshed: 6/20/2026
Quick take
SPCE vs RKLB Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
RKLB is a more operationally mature space company with an established and launching small rocket business and growing space systems components revenue, while SPCE is working through a pause in commercial service while developing its next-generation spacecraft. Both are speculative commercial space investments but at very different stages of commercial execution.
SPCE vs RKLB compares two commercial space company investment theses at different risk and maturity levels: Virgin Galactic's space tourism development versus Rocket Lab's diversified small launch and space systems business.
Live analysis · updated 6/20/2026
RKLB holds the edge across 3 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. RKLB leads on both 1-year return (+285.06%) and forward P/E (-6103.59x vs -7.38x for SPCE), a relatively favorable combination of momentum and valuation. Analyst consensus implies similar upside for both: -0.28% for SPCE and -0.30% for RKLB.
Normalized 1Y performance
SPCE
RKLB
Recent returns
SPCE
RKLB
Analyst price targets & sentiment
SPCE · 5 analysts
STRONG BUYHOLDSTRONG SELL
Hold (2.7/5.0)
Price target range
analyst low$2.05
analyst high$5.00
analyst mean$3.55
current price$3.56
-0.3% upside to analyst mean
RKLB · 18 analysts
STRONG BUYHOLDSTRONG SELL
Buy (1.6/5.0)
Price target range
analyst low$60.00
analyst high$150.00
analyst mean$106.92
current price$107.24
-0.3% upside to analyst mean
Who should consider this stock?
SPCE may suit investors who:
- →Want exposure to the commercial space tourism market at a very early stage
- →Believe the Delta-class spacecraft will enable economically viable high-frequency space tourism
- →Are comfortable with significant development risk and limited near-term commercial revenue
RKLB may suit investors who:
- →Want commercial space exposure through an established small satellite launch provider and space systems supplier
- →Believe Rocket Lab's Neutron rocket will capture medium-lift commercial satellite launch market share
- →Value the diversification of Rocket Lab's revenue across launch services and satellite component sales
Performance & AI score
| Metric | SPCE | RKLB |
|---|---|---|
| AI score | 21.6 | 59.6 |
| AI rank | #4756 | #170 |
| Latest close | $3.56 | $107.24 |
| 1M return | +42.40% | -15.76% |
| 6M return | +10.90% | +98.74% |
| 1Y return | +19.06% | +285.06% |
$10,000 invested — hypothetical growth (dividends reinvested)
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | SPCE | RKLB |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $11.91K (+19.1%) started 2025-06-18 | $38.51K (+285.1%) started 2025-06-18 |
| 5Y ago | $48.37 (-99.5%) started 2021-06-18 | $103.12K (+931.2%) started 2021-06-18 |
| 10Y ago | $176.24 (-98.2%) started 2017-09-29 | $110.06K (+1000.6%) started 2020-11-24 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
Valuation & upside potential
| Metric | SPCE | RKLB |
|---|---|---|
| Market cap | $395.83M | $67.01B |
| Trailing P/E | N/A | N/A |
| Forward P/E | -7.38 | -6103.59 |
| Price/Sales | 302.16 | 98.60 |
| EV/Revenue | 333.69 | 87.28 |
| Analyst target | $3.55 | $106.92 |
| Target upside | -0.28% | -0.30% |
Growth, profitability & risk
| Metric | SPCE | RKLB |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth | -50.80% | 63.50% |
| Earnings growth | N/A | N/A |
| EPS growth | N/A | N/A |
| FCF margin | -23179.06% | -31.64% |
| Operating margin | N/A | N/A |
| Profit margin | 0.00% | -26.87% |
| ROIC proxy | -104.51% | -13.55% |
| Return on equity | -104.51% | -13.55% |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Beta | 2.81 | 2.50 |
| Debt/equity | 142.91 | 6.12 |
| Current ratio | 1.00 | 4.47 |
| Quick ratio | 0.78 | 3.87 |
Drawdown & downside risk
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
1Y risk snapshot
SPCE max drawdown55.45%
RKLB max drawdown43.01%
SPCE max wkly drop45.21%
RKLB max wkly drop23.65%
5Y risk snapshot
SPCE max drawdown99.81%
RKLB max drawdown82.96%
SPCE max wkly drop48.00%
RKLB max wkly drop26.89%
10Y risk snapshot
SPCE max drawdown99.82%
RKLB max drawdown82.96%
SPCE max wkly drop48.00%
RKLB max wkly drop26.89%
Performance metrics by period
| Period | Metric | SPCE | RKLB |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growth | +19.06% | +285.06% |
| CAGR | +19.08% | +285.42% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.67 | 1.87 | |
| Max drawdown | 55.45% | 43.01% | |
| Max daily drop | 38.96% | 14.70% | |
| Max wkly drop | 45.21% | 23.65% | |
| 5Y | Growth | -99.52% | +931.15% |
| CAGR | -65.58% | +59.47% | |
| Sharpe ratio | -0.66 | 0.92 | |
| Max drawdown | 99.81% | 82.96% | |
| Max daily drop | 38.96% | 17.60% | |
| Max wkly drop | 48.00% | 26.89% | |
| 10Y | Growth | -98.24% | +1000.57% |
| CAGR | -37.08% | +53.90% | |
| Sharpe ratio | -0.15 | 0.87 | |
| Max drawdown | 99.82% | 82.96% | |
| Max daily drop | 38.96% | 17.60% | |
| Max wkly drop | 48.00% | 26.89% |
Business comparison
| Category | SPCE | RKLB |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. | Rocket Lab USA, Inc. |
| Sector | Industrials - Space Tourism | Industrials - Space Launch & Systems |
| Industry | N/A | N/A |
| Core business | Virgin Galactic is a commercial space company providing suborbital spaceflights for private passengers using its VSS Unity SpaceShipTwo vehicle and developing its next-generation Delta-class spacecraft for higher-frequency commercial operations. | Rocket Lab is a space launch and systems company operating the Electron small satellite launch vehicle and developing the larger Neutron rocket, while also providing space systems components and spacecraft platforms through its Space Systems business. |
| Investor focus | Investors track Virgin Galactic's progress on Delta-class spacecraft development, the expected start of commercial Delta operations, and the company's financial runway as it invests in its next-generation vehicle while having limited near-term revenue. | Investors track Rocket Lab's Electron launch cadence, Space Systems revenue from satellite components, the Neutron rocket development timeline, and overall revenue growth toward the company's profitability targets. |
SPCE strengths
- →First commercial company to offer private suborbital spaceflight tourism with actual customer experience flights
- →Delta-class spacecraft designed for higher frequency and lower cost operations than the original SpaceShipTwo
- →Strong brand association with Virgin and early commercial space tourism pioneers
RKLB strengths
- →Established, reliable small satellite launch track record with Electron as one of the most-flown small launch vehicles globally
- →Space Systems component business provides recurring revenue from satellite manufacturers independent of launch activity
- →Neutron medium-lift rocket development targets a much larger commercial launch market than Electron alone
Risks to watch — SPCE
- →Virgin Galactic retired its SpaceShipTwo vehicles and paused commercial service pending Delta-class aircraft completion
- →Very limited commercial revenue during the Delta-class development period, requiring substantial cash burn
- →Commercial space tourism market is nascent with uncertain near-term demand at high price points
Risks to watch — RKLB
- →Neutron development is a multi-year, capital-intensive program competing against SpaceX's Falcon 9 in the medium-lift market
- →Small satellite launch market is competitive with SpaceX, Firefly, ABL Space, and others offering launch services
- →Path to GAAP profitability requires continued launch cadence improvement and Space Systems revenue growth
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