Why Intuitive Machines Popped, but Rocket Lab and AST SpaceMobile Stocks Dropped Today

Core Insights - Space stocks are experiencing significant volatility, with Intuitive Machines seeing a notable increase while Rocket Lab and AST SpaceMobile face declines [1] - The competitive landscape is shifting, particularly for AST SpaceMobile, due to Globalstar's new satellite operations approved by the FCC [2] - Despite recent stock price increases, profitability for these companies is not expected for several years, with projections indicating Intuitive Machines may not be profitable until 2026, and Rocket Lab and AST SpaceMobile until 2027 [8] Group 1: Company Performance - Intuitive Machines' stock surged by 35.6%, while Rocket Lab and AST SpaceMobile saw declines of 6.2% and 12.3%, respectively [1] - Rocket Lab's stock has increased by 40% since August 1, following the delivery of twin spacecraft for a Mars mission [3] - AST SpaceMobile's stock rose by 30% since August 1, after delivering five satellites for a September launch [4] Group 2: Competitive Landscape - Globalstar has been authorized by the FCC to operate 17 new cellphone-to-cellphone satellites, which poses a competitive threat to AST SpaceMobile [2] - AST SpaceMobile's growth prospects may be limited due to this new competition from Globalstar [4] Group 3: Future Prospects - Intuitive Machines plans to launch its IM-2 mission to the moon in late 2024 or early 2025 and may bid for a NASA contract related to the VIPER mission [5] - There is $84 million remaining in the VIPER budget, which is significant compared to Intuitive Machines' Q2 bookings [6] Group 4: Investment Considerations - The companies are characterized as growth stocks with strong sales growth but are primarily valued based on market momentum rather than profitability [7] - Recent trading activity indicates heightened interest in these stocks, with "unusually active" options trading reported [7]