Virgin Galactic surged after a Blue Origin rocket failure, while launch-exposed peers tumbled on capital rotation and earnings misses.
Virgin Galactic (SPCE) shares jumped 18% to $7.28 Monday, extending gains as investors rotated capital away from launch-exposed space stocks following Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket explosion. The surge contrasts with declines in peers like AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) and Rocket Lab (RKLB).
AST SpaceMobile fell 9% to $103.50 after missing Q1 revenue estimates by 60%. Rocket Lab dropped 13% to $124 despite beating earnings with $200.4 million in revenue and a $2.2 billion backlog. Planet Labs (PL) also slid 8% to $46.85.
The divergence reflects shifting sentiment after Blue Origin’s setback, with Virgin Galactic seen as a beneficiary. Rocket Lab’s losses deepened from Friday’s 6% decline, signaling sustained pressure on launch-focused firms.