Rocket Lab Corp (RKLB) reported third-quarter financial results after the closing bell on Monday, and the numbers told a story of a company growing fast while still spending heavily to get its next rocket off the ground.

Rocket Lab Q3 Highlights

Rocket Lab reported third-quarter revenue of $267.83 million, beating the consensus estimate of $255.71 million. The end-to-end space company reported a loss of 12 cents per share for the quarter, missing estimates for a loss of six cents per share, according to market data.

Total revenue was up 73% on a year-over-year basis. Rocket Lab said it signed approximately $1 billion in new Electron, HASTE and Neutron launch contracts in the third quarter. The company said it now has a total launch backlog of 117 launches.

Rocket Lab ended the period with a record backlog of $3.57 billion after landing more than $515 million in new Neutron launch deals in the quarter.

“Nearly $1 billion of that backlog comes from new launch contracts, signed in Q3 2026 alone, as well as $470 million signed for Space Systems,” said Peter Beck, founder and CEO of Rocket Lab.

“Our end-to-end space strategy is delivering exactly as designed: the world’s most critical and ambitious missions increasingly rely on Rocket Lab for launch, spacecraft, and components, sometimes all on a single mission, and every part of our business is growing as a result.”

The company ended the period with approximately $4.45 billion in cash and cash equivalents.

What’s Next For RKLB?

Rocket Lab guided for fourth-quarter revenue of $270 million to $290 million. The company also anticipates an adjusted EBITDA loss of $14 million to $20 million in the fourth quarter.

Rocket Lab said it continued to complete critical milestones for Neutron across assembly, integration, testing and delivery of first flight hardware to Launch Complex 3. First launch is currently targeted for “no earlier than 2027.”

Rocket Lab management will discuss the quarter on an earnings call at 5 p.m. ET.

RKLB Stock Moves Lower

RKLB Price Action: Rocket Lab shares were down 6.61% in after-hours, trading at $54.97 at the time of publication on Monday, according to market data.