Yahoo Finance Rocket Lab USA (NASDAQ:RKLB) shareholders are up 14% this past week, but still in the red over the last year
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (NASDAQ:RKLB) shareholders should be happy to see the share price up 26% in the last month. But that doesn't change the fact that the returns over the last year have been less than pleasing. In fact, the price has declined 47% in a year, falling short of the returns you could get by investing in an index fund.
While the stock has risen 14% in the past week but long term shareholders are still in the red, let's see what the fundamentals can tell us.
View our latest analysis for Rocket Lab USA
Because Rocket Lab USA made a loss in the last twelve months, we think the market is probably more focussed on revenue and revenue growth, at least for now. Generally speaking, companies without profits are expected to grow revenue every year, and at a good clip. That's because fast revenue growth can be easily extrapolated to forecast profits, often of considerable size.
In the last year Rocket Lab USA saw its revenue grow by 63%. That's well above most other pre-profit companies. Given the revenue growth, the share price drop of 47% seems quite harsh. Our sympathies to shareholders who are now underwater. On the bright side, if this company is moving profits in the right direction, top-line growth like that could be an opportunity. Our monkey brains haven't evolved to think exponentially, so humans do tend to underestimate companies that have exponential growth.
You can see below how earnings and revenue have changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image).
We're pleased to report that the CEO is remunerated more modestly than most CEOs at similarly capitalized companies. It's always worth keeping an eye on CEO pay, but a more important question is whether the company will grow earnings throughout the years. If you are thinking of buying or selling Rocket Lab USA stock, you should check out this free report showing analyst profit forecasts.
A Different Perspective
We doubt Rocket Lab USA shareholders are happy with the loss of 47% over twelve months. That falls short of the market, which lost 12%. That's disappointing, but it's worth keeping in mind that the market-wide selling wouldn't have helped. The share price decline has continued throughout the most recent three months, down 5.8%, suggesting an absence of enthusiasm from investors. Basically, most investors should be wary of buying into a poor-performing stock, unless the business itself has clearly improved. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Rocket Lab USA better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for Rocket Lab USA you should know about.
If you are like me, then you will not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying.
Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on US exchanges.
Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.
This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
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