Rocket Lab Soars 6.1% on Intraday Surge: What's Fueling the Momentum?

Summary
• Rocket Lab (RKLB) surges 6.1% to $61.03, hitting an intraday high of $61.2998
• Turnover jumps to 14.98 million shares, with a 3.1% turnover rate
• Scheduled Earth observation launch and R&D funding drive optimism
• Sector leader Lockheed Martin (LMT) gains 2.1% as aerospace momentum builds

Rocket Lab’s intraday rally has captured market attention, driven by a combination of strategic project progress and sector-wide optimism. With a 6.1% surge pushing the stock to a 52-week high of $73.97, investors are weighing the implications of recent funding announcements and technical indicators. The aerospace sector’s broader strength, led by LMT’s gains, adds context to RKLB’s breakout.

Scheduled Launch and R&D Funding Drive Rocket Lab's Intraday Surge
Rocket Lab’s 6.1% intraday jump is directly tied to two key developments: a confirmed Earth observation satellite launch for KAIST scheduled for December 12, 2025, and a $2.47 million R&D contract from the Canadian Space Agency to develop a new reaction wheel. These milestones validate the company’s operational pipeline and technological differentiation. Analysts highlight that the stock’s recent 33% pullback from its 52-week high has created a perceived buying opportunity, with the current price of $61.03 representing a 14% discount to its peak. The launch timing aligns with growing demand for Earth observation data, amplifying short-term bullish sentiment.

Aerospace & Defense Sector Gains Momentum as Rocket Lab Outperforms
The aerospace sector, led by Lockheed Martin’s 2.1% intraday gain, is benefiting from broader defense spending optimism and geopolitical tailwinds. Rocket Lab’s 6.1% surge outpaces sector peers, reflecting its unique position in small satellite launch and R&D. While LMT focuses on large-scale defense contracts, RKLB’s agility in securing niche R&D funding and commercial satellite launches positions it as a high-growth outlier. The sector’s 1.1% weekly gain underscores a risk-on environment, with investors rotating into space-tech plays amid favorable policy tailwinds.

Options Playbook: High-Leverage Calls and Gamma-Driven Positioning
• 200-day MA: $38.06 (well below current price)
• RSI: 75.1 (overbought territory)
• MACD: -0.23 (bullish divergence with price)
• Bollinger Bands: Price at 55.12 (upper band), 45.36 (middle band)

Rocket Lab’s technicals suggest a continuation of the bullish trend, with key support at $45.36 and resistance at $55.12. The 75.1 RSI reading indicates overbought conditions, but the MACD’s -0.23 value and positive histogram suggest momentum remains intact. Traders should monitor the 200-day MA as a critical psychological level. The absence of leveraged ETFs means options are the primary vehicle for aggressive positioning.

Top Option 1: RKLB20251219C60
• Type: Call
• Strike: $60
• Expiry: 2025-12-19
• IV: 84.33% (high volatility)
• LVR: 16.07% (high leverage)
• Delta: 0.58 (moderate sensitivity)
• Theta: -0.321 (rapid time decay)
• Gamma: 0.048 (strong price sensitivity)
• Turnover: $1.52M (high liquidity)

This call option offers a 65.06% price change potential with a 16.07% leverage ratio, ideal for capitalizing on a continuation of the current rally. The high gamma ensures responsiveness to price swings, while the 84.33% IV reflects market anticipation of volatility. Projected 5% upside (to $64.08) yields a $4.08 payoff per contract.

Top Option 2: RKLB20251219C61
• Type: Call
• Strike: $61
• Expiry: 2025-12-19
• IV: 88.40% (elevated volatility)
• LVR: 17.71% (high leverage)
• Delta: 0.53 (moderate sensitivity)
• Theta: -0.321 (rapid time decay)
• Gamma: 0.047 (strong price sensitivity)
• Turnover: $130.8K (solid liquidity)

This contract provides a 87.50% price change potential with a 17.71% leverage ratio, making it a high-conviction play for aggressive bulls. The 88.40% IV and 0.047 gamma position it to benefit from a breakout above $61. A 5% upside (to $64.08) generates a $3.08 payoff per contract.

Trading Hook: Aggressive bulls should buy RKLB20251219C60 or C61 if the price holds above $60.50. A breakdown below $59.50 would invalidate the bullish case.

Backtest Rocket Lab Stock Performance
The backtest of RKLB's performance following a 6% intraday surge from 2022 to the present shows impressive results. The strategy achieved a 375.29% return, significantly outperforming the benchmark, which gained 48.94%. The excess return was 326.35%, indicating that the strategy's focus on intraday percentage changes > 6% delivered substantial gains. The CAGR was 49.06%, and the Sharpe ratio was 0.59, suggesting that the risk-adjusted returns were robust.

Rocket Lab's Momentum Unlikely to Subside: Position for Next Move
Rocket Lab’s 6.1% intraday surge is underpinned by concrete operational progress and sector-wide optimism. The technicals—overbought RSI, bullish MACD divergence, and a price above all key moving averages—suggest the rally has legs. Investors should focus on the $60.50 support level and the $55.12 upper Bollinger Band as critical junctures. With sector leader Lockheed Martin (LMT) gaining 2.1%, aerospace momentum remains intact. Aggressive positioning via high-leverage calls like RKLB20251219C60 is warranted if the price holds above $60.50. Watch for a breakdown below $59.50 to trigger a reversal.