Rocket Lab (RKLB) shares traded near $51 in late October 2026 after a sharp pullback triggered by the mid-month announcement that the Neutron medium-lift rocket’s first flight would slip into 2027 because of manufacturing defects in carbon-fiber propellant tanks. The delay removed near-term revenue visibility from the higher-margin vehicle and pressured the stock from earlier 2026 highs above $150, though the company’s record $2.3 billion backlog—driven by Electron launch contracts including a new 20-mission Synspective deal—continued to expand at a 137% year-over-year pace. Q3 2026 results are scheduled for November 9, while Wall Street consensus price targets remain near $102 with a Moderate Buy rating, reflecting expectations that Electron growth and the pending Iridium acquisition can offset the Neutron setback until 2027.