Why These Defense Stocks Are Declining This Week

8. Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (NASDAQ:RKLB)

Weekly Decline: -13.01%

Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (NASDAQ:RKLB) is an end-to-end space company delivering reliable launch services, spacecraft components, spacecraft design services, and related software to support the space economy.  It is also working on several defense contracts. Recently the company was selected by Kratos to deliver hypersonic test launches for the Department of Defense (DoD).

The stock tumbled by over 13% last week after a short report by Bleecker Street Research warned that Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (NASDAQ:RKLB) had misled investors about the launch of its highly anticipated Neutron rocket in mid-2025.

However, during Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (NASDAQ:RKLB)’s Q4 2024 earnings call on February 28, the company stated it was making good progress on the Neutron project and reaffirmed that the rocket remains planned for a 2025 launch. The announcement resulted in a 3.33% appreciation in share price, but was not enough to keep RKLB off the list of defense stocks that are declining this week.