In this article, we will explore the 7 Best Space Stocks with High Upside Potential.
The space industry continues to grow, helped in part by lower launch costs and rising commercial activity. Space Foundation said the global space economy reached $613 billion in 2024, up 7.8% from the prior year, with commercial activity accounting for 78% of the total. That points to steady expansion in launch, satellite services, and related private-sector activity.
A major structural change has been the decline in the cost of reaching orbit. A NASA paper using advertised Falcon 9 pricing estimated launch cost at about $2,720 per kilogram to low Earth orbit, compared with roughly $54,500 per kilogram for the Space Shuttle. SpaceX’s current rideshare page also advertises missions starting at $350,000 for 50 kilograms to sun-synchronous orbit, with additional mass priced at $7,000 per kilogram. Those figures do not capture every mission type, but they do show why smaller payloads and more frequent launches have become more commercially viable.
SpaceX is also drawing attention on the capital-markets side. Reuters reported on April 1, 2026 that the company had confidentially filed for a U.S. IPO, and reported on April 2 that it was targeting a valuation above $2 trillion. The listing is not certain, but it is now a live market event rather than a long-term possibility.
Methodology
We used screeners to identify pure-play and pure-play adjacent space stocks with an average upside potential of at least 15%, 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.
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 498.7% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 303 percentage points (see more details here).
7. Rocket Lab Corporation (NASDAQ:RKLB)
Rocket Lab Corporation (NASDAQ:RKLB) is one of the best space stocks with high upside potential.
On March 30, 2026, Rocket Lab said it had received regulatory approval to acquire Mynaric AG, a German supplier of laser optical communications terminals for air, space, and mobile applications. The clearance came from Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, and Rocket Lab said it expects the deal to close in April.
Rocket Lab framed the deal as a way to bring satellite laser communications in-house and strengthen its ability to serve government, national security, and commercial customers. The company said laser communications are becoming increasingly important for satellite constellations because they offer higher data rates, stronger security, scalability, and more efficient spectrum use than traditional radio-frequency systems. It also argued that supply has been a bottleneck, with such products not readily available in high volumes at affordable prices.
The acquisition would also give Rocket Lab its first European footprint, with Mynaric set to remain headquartered in Munich after closing. Rocket Lab added that Mynaric already supplies CONDOR Mk3 optical terminals for its $1.3 billion in Space Development Agency satellite contracts.
Rocket Lab Corporation (NASDAQ:RKLB) is a space company that provides launch services, spacecraft, payloads, and satellite components for commercial, government, and national security customers.
6. The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA)
The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) is one of the best space stocks with high upside potential.
On April 1, 2026, Wells Fargo initiated coverage of Boeing with an Overweight rating and a $250 price target. The firm said Boeing could see a sharp free cash flow recovery as production normalizes, with upside tied to higher 737 MAX and 787 output as well as a large working-capital opportunity. Wells Fargo based its target on a 20x multiple of its 2028 free cash flow forecast. The note also said the 777X program remains a near-term drag on free cash flow, but that pressure could ease as production efficiency improves and rates move higher later in the decade.
The call added a constructive Wall Street view to Boeing at the start of April, with the target implying notable upside from where the stock had been trading at the time. Public summaries of the note framed the thesis around a production-led cash flow turnaround rather than a near-term earnings story.
The Boeing Company (NYSE:BA) is a leading global aerospace company that develops, manufactures, and services commercial airplanes, defense products, and space systems for customers in more than 150 countries.
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