SpaceX IPO faces market skepticism as Rocket Lab secures growth contracts

SpaceX plans an initial public offering on June 12 with a projected valuation of $1.75 trillion. Investors are wary after a strong jobs report raised expectations of higher interest rates, and the company reported a Q1 loss of $4.3 billion. Analysts note the IPO price relies heavily on projected satellite‑broadband revenue from Starlink and future earnings from the Starship launch system, while the company remains unprofitable.

Rocket Lab, a private launch provider based in California and founded in New Zealand, announced robust financial results and a strategic expansion. Revenue topped $600 million in the last year, a 38 % increase, and the firm secured a $190 million Pentagon contract for hypersonic‑technology testing. It plans to launch its medium‑class Neutron rocket later this year and has more than 70 launch contracts on book, valued at roughly $2.2 billion. The company’s growth highlights rising investor interest in the commercial space sector beyond the dominant Starlink platform.