One of the fundamental constraints in expanding commercial space activity remains the cost of placing mass into orbit with traditional rocketry. Historically, large expendable vehicles like NASA’s Space Shuttle cost tens of thousands of dollars per kilogram of payload to low Earth orbit (LEO), a function of complex systems, limited reuse, and low flight rates. Published analyses of Shuttle operations suggest this cost was historically not scalable, per NASA.

The clearest measurable progress has come from reuse and cadence. NASA’s report titled “The Recent Large Reduction in Space Launch Cost” notes that SpaceX’s Falcon 9 publicly advertises $60 million to send 22,800 kg to low Earth orbit, which implies about $2,720 per kg at list price, versus Space Shuttle-era costs of around $54,500 per kg. Reuse changes the unit economics only if it is routine, and SpaceX’s recent operating data points to routine. In 2025, SpaceX, as reported by the magazine Space.com, completed 165 orbital launches, nearly one every other day, with most missions on Falcon 9. On the hardware side, boosters have reached flight counts above 30, which is the practical definition of amortizing an expensive first stage across many revenue opportunities rather than a single one.

That said, economies of scale in rocketry are still not solved, because the next order-of-magnitude step likely requires fully reusable heavy lift, rapid turnaround, and a large, steady demand base. Starship is aimed at that regime, but the market is watching for demonstrated operational reliability and repeatability, not just design intent.

Against that backdrop, IPO chatter matters because it can reprice the entire sector’s risk assumptions. Reuters reports that SpaceX has been weighing an IPO timeline for mid-2026 and, more recently, preparations to file confidentially as early as March 2026, with valuations discussed in the $1.5 trillion to $1.75 trillion range. If those reported figures are even directionally right, the implication is that public-market investors may soon be asked to underwrite space economics at a scale that previously lived mostly in private capital.

Methodology

We used screeners to identify space- and space-industry-exposed stocks and limited our final selection to companies that have recently reported noteworthy developments likely to impact investor sentiment. These stocks are also popular among analysts and elite hedge funds, specifically ranked by the latter metric.

Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 427.7% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 264 percentage points (see more details here).

11. Redwire Corporation (NYSE:RDW)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 28

Redwire Corporation (NYSE:RDW) is one of the best space stocks to buy now.

On February 25, 2026, Redwire reported fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results (for the period ended December 31, 2025). Full-year revenue rose 10.3% year over year to $335.4 million, while fourth-quarter revenue increased 56.4% year over year to $108.8 million. Management attributed part of the fourth-quarter acceleration to the June 2025 acquisition of Edge Autonomy, while also pointing to higher contract awards and a record contracted backlog of $411.2 million.

Redwire ended 2025 with a book-to-bill ratio of 1.32 for the full year and 1.52 in Q4, alongside total liquidity of $130.2 million. The company reported a fourth-quarter net loss of $85.5 million and a full-year net loss of $226.6 million, which it said included more than $40 million and $130 million, respectively, of non-recurring activity; adjusted EBITDA was $(18.1) million in Q4 and $(50.3) million for the year.

CFO Chris Edmunds said Q4 results saw a “substantial negative impact” from EAC adjustments tied largely to development-stage programs, with a stated focus on moving programs into production to support gross margin improvement. Separately, the company said it used ATM proceeds in Q4 to repay $105.5 million of debt and refinanced its remaining credit agreement in February 2026, estimating over $17 million in annualized interest savings. Shares were up about 20% for the week through February 26, 2026, following the report.

Redwire Corporation (NYSE:RDW) is an integrated space and defense technology company focused on advanced aerospace infrastructure, autonomous systems, and multi-domain capabilities, with operations across the U.S. and Europe.

10. Intuitive Machines, Inc. (NASDAQ:LUNR)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 28

Intuitive Machines, Inc. (NASDAQ:LUNR) is one of the best space stocks to buy now.

On February 25, 2026, Intuitive Machines announced a $175 million strategic equity investment led by global institutional investors. The company said it plans to use the proceeds to support revenue expansion and fund technologies aimed at advancing satellite communications and in-space data processing networks, following its January acquisition of Lanteris Space Systems. Intuitive Machines specifically highlighted extending Lanteris’ flight-proven satellite platforms, including the 1300 series used in geostationary orbit, into adjacent growth markets.

The company also said it intends to invest in expanding its Near Space Network Services and described a goal of building a ‘solar system internet’ that is independent of Earth, while pointing to potential applications spanning GEO, cislunar operations, and eventual Mars communications. Management framed the investment as supportive of pursuing higher-margin, recurring revenue programs, naming Golden Dome initiatives, NASA’s Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System, and the Mars Telecommunications Orbiter, alongside a developing ‘orbital data center’ market. The company said the securities purchase agreement involves the issuance of Class A common stock and that the transaction is expected to close on February 27, 2026, subject to customary conditions.

Intuitive Machines, Inc. (NASDAQ:LUNR) is a Houston-based space infrastructure company that builds spacecraft, provides communications and navigation-related capabilities, and delivers infrastructure services for commercial, civil, and national security customers.

9. AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTS)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 33

AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTS) is one of the best space stocks to buy now.

On March 2, 2026, Reuters reported that French telecom operator Orange announced a partnership with AST SpaceMobile and Satellite Connect Europe, a joint venture between AST and Vodafone, to boost direct-to-cell connectivity. Orange said demonstrations covering voice, SMS, and data are planned in Romania for late 2026. Direct-to-device satellite services are designed to let standard smartphones connect to satellites without specialized hardware, which Orange framed as most useful where terrestrial coverage is patchy.

The deal adds AST to Orange’s expanding roster of satellite partners, which Reuters said already includes Eutelsat, SES, Starlink, and Telesat, as Orange pursues a deliberate multi-vendor strategy. A company spokesperson told Reuters Orange aims to expand satellite-to-smartphone operations across Europe and its African markets, choosing partners market by market based on conditions such as satellite coverage, ground gateway availability, and smartphone penetration. Orange also linked the multi-provider approach to service resilience during emergencies. Reuters added that Satellite Connect Europe, formed last November, aims to establish a Europe-based constellation with an operational center in Germany for commercial and government applications.

AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTS) is developing the SpaceMobile network, a space-based cellular broadband system intended to connect directly to standard, unmodified smartphones.

8. Voyager Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:VOYG)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 35

Voyager Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:VOYG) is one of the best space stocks to buy now.

On February 24, 2026, LambdaVision secured reservations for commercial space in low-Earth orbit aboard the upcoming Starlab commercial space station, a project led by Voyager Technologies through the Starlab Space LLC joint venture. The agreement gives LambdaVision payload slots and space to scale manufacturing of its protein-based artificial retina in microgravity, leveraging reduced gravity to improve film homogeneity and performance on its layer-by-layer production process.

LambdaVision’s plan to transition from demonstration to commercial manufacturing in low-Earth orbit aligns with the scheduled 2030 retirement of the International Space Station, positioning Starlab as a key platform for biotech and other commercial research in orbit.

Starlab Space LLC, of which Voyager is the lead partner, has been actively booking commercial customers such as LambdaVision and has achieved a key Commercial Critical Design Review milestone for its next-generation station, moving into fabrication and assembly.

This development shows Voyager’s role in building commercial infrastructure in low-Earth orbit, supporting the expansion of research and manufacturing beyond government-operated platforms.

Voyager Technologies, Inc. is a defense and space technology company operating across defense and national security, space solutions, and commercial space station segments. It is the principal force behind the Starlab commercial space station initiative, aimed at sustaining human presence and scientific activity in low-Earth orbit as traditional platforms phase out.

7. Iridium Communications (NASDAQ:IRDM) 

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 37

Iridium Communications (NASDAQ:IRDM) is one of the best space stocks to buy now.

As of March 1, 2026, Wall Street’s consensus on Iridium sits at a ‘Hold.’ Across seven analysts, the split is four buys, one hold, and two sells, with an average one-year price target of $25.40. The latest analyst action highlighted was Morgan Stanley’s February 18, 2026, note, which kept an equal weight rating and lifted its price target to $26 from $24.

On February 12, 2026, Iridium reported full-year 2025 total revenue of $871.7 million, up 5% year over year, including $634.0 million of service revenue. Operational EBITDA (OEBITDA) was $495.3 million, up 5%, and net income was $114.4 million, with diluted EPS of $1.06, which the company attributed primarily to a lower share count. Fourth-quarter revenue was $212.9 million, with service revenue of $158.9 million, while management said higher service revenue largely offset declines in subscriber equipment.

For 2026, Iridium guided to total service revenue growth of flat to 2%, and OEBITDA of $480 million to $490 million, with the company citing a roughly $17 million headwind from shifting incentive compensation entirely to cash.

Iridium Communications Inc. operates a global low Earth orbit satellite network, providing voice and data services for land, maritime, and aviation users, as well as IoT connectivity and related equipment and support services.

6. Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (NASDAQ:RKLB)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 45

Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (NASDAQ:RKLB) is one of the best space stocks to buy now.

On March 2, 2026, Cantor Fitzgerald’s analyst raised its price target on Rocket Lab USA to $85 from $72 and kept its Overweight rating. At the time of the note, the stock was trading around $69.10, down from the prior close of $72.65. The analyst pointed to Rocket Lab’s fiscal 2025 revenue of about $602 million, a company record that also exceeded both consensus expectations and management guidance. The analyst noted that this implied roughly 38% year-over-year revenue growth, with analysts projecting additional growth in fiscal 2026.

Operationally, Rocket Lab hit its goal of 21 successful launches in fiscal 2025, including seven launches in the fourth quarter, also a record. The company’s contracted backlog was about $1.85 billion as of Q4 2025, with 74% of the revenue tied to Space Systems and 26% tied to Launch. Management also expected to recognize roughly 37% of that backlog as revenue within 12 months. The update also referenced the SDA Tranche 3 award, a firm fixed-price OTA with a total potential value of $805 million, described as the company’s largest contract to date, alongside the Neutron debut delay to Q4 2026, cited by another firm.

Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (NASDAQ:RKLB) is a space company that provides launch services primarily through its Electron rocket and builds space systems, including satellites, spacecraft components, and related space hardware, while developing its larger Neutron launch vehicle.

5. Planet Labs PBC (NYSE:PL)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 50

Planet Labs PBC (NYSE:PL) is one of the best space stocks to buy now.

As of March 2, 2026, Planet Labs PBC had a consensus ‘Hold’ rating, based on 11 analysts, with 1 sell, 4 hold, and 6 buy ratings. The reported average 12-month price target was $21.88. That gives you the current consensus snapshot for the stock as of the report date.

After those consensus details, the latest individual analyst rating we found was Morgan Stanley’s January 14, 2026, update. The rating was maintained at Equal-Weight, and the price target was $26.00.

In other news, on January 26, 2026, The Fly reported that Planet Labs announced an enterprise-scale agreement with Slovenia’s surveying and mapping authority to provide satellite data and high-resolution tasking capabilities across the country’s civil public administration. The arrangement is aimed at giving Slovenian state and municipal agencies a shared spatial data resource for uses such as forest and crop monitoring, urban planning, and faster response to disasters, including wildfires, droughts, and floods.

Planet Labs PBC (NYSE:PL) is an Earth observation company that operates a large fleet of imaging satellites and sells satellite imagery and geospatial data products to government and commercial customers.

4. Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 59

Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) is one of the best space stocks to buy now.

On February 27, 2026, Lockheed Martin Space won an $18.87 million contract modification from the U.S. Navy tied to the Trident II D5 Life Extension 2 program. The award is a cost-plus-fixed-fee modification (reported as P00022) to a previously awarded contract, supporting Strategic Systems Programs Alteration advanced design and development work. Funding came from fiscal 2026 Navy weapons procurement dollars, and the Navy said the funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year.

The workshare disclosed with the award put the largest portion in Huntsville, Alabama, at 30%, with additional work in Denver, Colorado, at 17%, multiple California sites, including Gilroy and Folsom, at 12% each, McDonald, Tennessee, at 8%, and other locations, including Maryland and Florida. The Navy’s Strategic Systems Programs office in Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity, and the work is expected to run through August 30, 2030. The contract action was issued on a sole-source basis under federal procurement law after being synopsized on SAM.gov, with one proposal received.

Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) is a global aerospace and defense contractor whose portfolio spans space systems, missiles and fire control, rotary and mission systems, and aeronautics, serving U.S. government customers and international allies.

3. Northrop Grumman Corp (NYSE:NOC)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 62

Northrop Grumman Corp (NYSE:NOC) is one of the best space stocks to buy now.

On February 25, 2026, Military & Aerospace Electronics reported that Northrop Grumman is moving forward on the Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability program, a Space Force effort designed to detect, identify, and track satellites and other spacecraft in geosynchronous orbit. The U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command announced a $76.7 million order for Northrop Grumman’s Space Systems segment to provide long-lead hardware for DARC site 2, planned for Wales in the western United Kingdom, with completion targeted for 2030.

The Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability is intended to provide continuous, all-weather monitoring of objects roughly 22,000 miles above the equator. The report said the first program site was built in Western Australia under a 2021 contract, completed in December 2024, and is expected to become operational next year. A DARC demonstrator using a sparse array of dish antennas was tested at White Sands Missile Range in late 2021. The planned operational architecture calls for three mid-latitude sites in Australia, Wales, and the continental U.S., with the U.S. location still to be selected and completion expected around 2032.

Northrop Grumman Corp (NYSE:NOC) is a defense and aerospace company that designs and builds systems across space, aeronautics, mission systems, and defense, serving U.S. government and allied customers.

2. EchoStar Corporation (NYSE:SAT) 

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 90

EchoStar Corporation (NYSE:SAT) is one of the best space stocks to buy now. However, it’s been going through a rough patch as of late.

In the March 2, 2026, earnings release, EchoStar reported 2025 total revenue of $15 billion, down from $15.83 billion in 2024.

The company posted a 2025 net loss attributable to EchoStar of $14.50 billion, compared with a $119.55 million loss in 2024, which management attributed primarily to about $17.63 billion in non-cash asset impairments and other expenses. EchoStar also noted 2024 results benefited from an approximately $689 million non-cash gain tied to a debt exchange and debt extinguishment. On an adjusted basis, excluding the tax-affected impact of those non-cash items, EchoStar said the 2025 net loss would have been about $1.05 billion vs. about $664 million in 2024. Diluted loss per share was $50.41 in 2025, compared with $0.44 in 2024.

Operationally, pay TV net subscribers fell by about 168,000 in Q4 2025, ending the quarter at 7 million. Retail wireless subscribers decreased by about 9,000 to 7.51 million, while broadband subscribers fell by about 44,000 to 739,000.

EchoStar Corporation (NASDAQ:SATS) is a telecommunications and satellite communications company whose businesses include pay TV, which includes DISH TV and Sling TV, wireless services, Boost Mobile, and broadband and satellite services, including Hughes.

1. The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 114

The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) is one of the best space stocks to buy now, despite the fact that it’s in rough waters.

On February 19, NASA released findings from its investigation into the Starliner Crewed Flight Test. In that release, NASA formally declared the mission a Type A mishap and said leadership accountability would follow, while also stating it intends to work with Boeing on corrective actions before returning Starliner to flight.

Reuters reported that the review detailed communication breakdowns and “unprofessional behavior” during disputes between Boeing and NASA over how to safely bring the crew home. The report also described strained decision-making dynamics and leadership failures alongside Starliner’s technical issues. NASA’s release likewise said investigators found combined hardware failures, qualification gaps, leadership missteps, and cultural breakdowns that created risk conditions inconsistent with NASA human spaceflight safety standards.

NASA said Starliner launched its first crewed test flight on June 5, 2024, for what was originally planned as an eight-to-14-day mission, but the flight was extended to 93 days after propulsion anomalies were identified. NASA later returned Starliner uncrewed in September 2024, and astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams returned to Earth on SpaceX Crew-9 in March 2025.

The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) is a U.S. aerospace and defense manufacturer with operations spanning commercial airplanes, defense systems, and space programs, including the CST-100 Starliner spacecraft.

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