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John W. Raymond, a member of the Board of Directors at Planet Labs PBC (PL -1.08%), sold 6,494 shares of Class A Common Stock on July 13, 2026, according to an SEC Form 4 filing.

Transaction summaryMetricValueTransaction value~$169,883Shares sold6,494Post-transaction shares43,593Post-transaction shares (directly held)6,479Post-transaction shares (indirectly held)37,114Post-transaction value$1.13 millionTransaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average sale price ($26.16); post-transaction value based on July 13, 2026 market close.

Key questionsWhat precipitated this transaction?
The disposition was carried out under a Rule 10b5-1 plan established on January 22, 2026, which allows insiders to set up a pre-determined schedule for selling stock to avoid concerns about trading on non-public information.What is the current composition of the director's equity stake?
Following the transaction, the director retains 6,479 shares directly and 37,114 shares indirectly through the Raymond Family Rev Trust U/A DTD 05/30/2023, representing a total beneficial interest of 43,593 shares.What market performance preceded this transaction?
As of the July 13, 2026 transaction date, the company's stock had generated a 323% total return over the preceding 12 months, during which time it maintained a market capitalization of $8.6 billion.What are the core operations of Planet Labs PBC?
The company manages satellite constellations to provide global geospatial data, utilizing a cloud-native platform to process imagery for data integration and temporal analysis.Company OverviewMetricValueShare Price (as of market close 2026-07-13)$25.96Market Capitalization$8.6 billionRevenue (TTM)$335.6 millionNet Income (TTM)($373.1 million)Company SnapshotPlanet Labs designs, deploys, and operates extensive satellite constellations that deliver frequent, global geospatial imagery and data to institutional and commercial customers through a cloud-native platform.The company generates revenue through subscription-based access to its satellite imagery platform and value-added geospatial analytics services, leveraging proprietary processing technology to deliver actionable intelligence.The company serves government agencies, defense contractors, agricultural enterprises, and commercial entities requiring real-time or near-real-time Earth observation data for strategic decision-making and operational monitoring.Planet Labs PBC operates as a leading provider of frequent, global Earth observation data through its proprietary satellite constellation and cloud-native analytics platform. The company has achieved significant market capitalization of $8.6 billion, reflecting strong institutional demand for geospatial intelligence.

With 945 employees and a strategic focus on expanding satellite constellation capacity and platform capabilities, Planet Labs is positioned to capture growing demand across defense, intelligence, agriculture, and commercial sectors for persistent, actionable Earth observation intelligence.

What this transaction means for investorsThe July 12 sale of Planet Labs stock by Director John Raymond, a retired general who served as the first Chief of Space Operations for the United States Space Force, was executed as part of a pre-established Rule 10b5-1 plan. This makes the disposition a non-discretionary transaction.

Moreover, Raymond moved 43,608 shares into a trust from which the July 12 sale occurred, leaving over 37,000 indirectly-held shares. This action suggests he is not in a rush to dispose of his Planet Labs stock in anticipation of share price appreciation in the future. Consequently, the disposition does not appear to be a cause for investor concern.

The company’s stock soared to a jaw-dropping 52-week high of $51.76 in May as Wall Street feverishly awaited the June public debut of Space Exploration Technologies Corporation, better known as SpaceX. This was a tidal wave that raised all boats in the space sector. As Raymond’s sale at a weighted average price of $26.16 demonstrates, shares have fallen back down to earth post-SpaceX IPO.

Robert Izquierdo has positions in Planet Labs PBC. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Planet Labs PBC. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Issued on behalf of Starfighters Space, Inc.

The commercial space sector has crossed from promise into a real, revenue-generating industry with a backlog north of $500 billion. Starfighters Space, Inc. (NYSE American: FJET) is betting the next phase belongs less to bigger rockets than to cheaper, faster, more flexible ways of reaching altitude.

, /PRNewswire/ -- (Equity Insider News Commentary) — For most of the last decade, the story of commercial space was told in rocket sizes. Bigger boosters, heavier payloads, taller vehicles on bigger pads. That story produced real results and one enormous winner. But it also obscured something the numbers now make impossible to ignore: the space economy has quietly become an actual industry, with actual revenue, actual backlog, and an actual bottleneck. And the bottleneck is not ambition. It is access. Starfighters Space, Inc. (NYSE American: FJET) has built its entire thesis around that gap.

Key Takeaways

The sector has crossed into industry status. Estimates put the global space economy around $626 billion in 2025, heading toward roughly $670 billion in 2026 and projected past $1 trillion by 2040, with the most aggressive forecasts reaching $1.8 trillion by 2035. Commercial space is growing at an estimated 12% to 15% annually, outpacing the broader economy. Capital markets have validated it. The 2025 IPOs of Voyager Technologies and Firefly Aerospace, Amazon's $11.6 billion acquisition of Globalstar, CACI's $2.6 billion purchase of ARKA, and SpaceX's Nasdaq debut on June 29, 2026 collectively mark a sector that public and strategic investors now treat as investable infrastructure. Government demand is the floor. The U.S. FY2027 space budget totals $59.7 billion and funds 31 launches, a step-change from prior years, while NASA routes roughly 73.5% of its $24.44 billion FY2026 budget through contracts with outside businesses and institutions. Access is the constraint. Space launch services are projected to grow from roughly $13.85 billion in 2026 to $24.42 billion by 2030 at a 15.2% compound rate. Demand for flight testing, payload validation and small-satellite delivery is rising faster than conventional launch capacity can absorb it. A different route to altitude. Starfighters Space operates what it describes as the world's only commercial fleet of flight-ready Mach 2+ F-104 supersonic aircraft, providing commercial supersonic flight-test services that support hypersonic research and development programs while developing its STARLAUNCH air-launch program, and joined the Russell 3000 Index effective June 29, 2026. From Science Project to Industry

The most important thing that happened to commercial space is that it stopped being a story about the future and became a story about revenue. Estimates place the global space economy at roughly $626 billion in 2025, rising to about $670 billion in 2026 as operational Starship flights begin, and approaching $740 billion by 2028 as the Kuiper constellation deploys. By 2030, the market could approach $950 billion, supported by commercial space stations. The most aggressive long-range forecasts put the sector at $1.8 trillion by 2035, factoring in space tourism, in-space manufacturing and cislunar activity.

Those are large numbers, and large numbers in emerging sectors deserve skepticism. The sector has declared inflection points before. What makes this moment different is the mix of evidence underneath the projections. The World Economic Forum, examining the same trend, pointed to the 2025 IPOs of Voyager Technologies and Firefly Aerospace, Amazon's $11.6 billion acquisition of Globalstar, and CACI's $2.6 billion purchase of ARKA as signals of something more durable than a single mega-listing. Then came the biggest marker of all: SpaceX debuted on the Nasdaq on June 29, 2026, giving public investors direct access to the sector's dominant player for the first time.

The structural shift the WEF identified is worth stating plainly: value is moving from selling space assets to selling the outcomes they enable. That is the difference between a hardware business and an infrastructure business, and it is why the growth rates hold up. Commercial space is estimated to be compounding at 12% to 15% annually against roughly 9% for the space economy overall, itself outpacing global GDP.

The Floor Under the Sector

Speculative sectors get repriced violently when sentiment turns. What limits the downside in space is that a large share of the demand is not sentiment at all. It is appropriated. The U.S. FY2027 space budget totals $59.7 billion and funds 31 launches, a meaningful step up from prior years. NASA's FY2026 budget of $24.44 billion routes roughly 73.5% of annual spending through agreements and contracts with nearly 5,000 businesses, universities and nonprofits, an explicit structural preference for commercial partners over government-owned systems.

That preference shows up in program design. The Commercial Lunar Payload Services program began with a ceiling near $2.6 billion and has been raised to roughly $4.2 billion by 2026, with a Phase 2 roadmap targeting 77 lunar lander missions over the next decade at an estimated $6 billion, explicitly engineered to drive per-mission cost from about $129 million toward $91 million. Defense demand runs on a parallel track, with hypersonic flight testing, missile-defense programs and space-based interceptor work all funded through sustained procurement cycles.

The practical consequence is that the commercial-space backlog recently crossed $500 billion. Backlog is not revenue, and conversion is where companies live or die. But a half-trillion-dollar order book anchored substantially in government appropriations is a fundamentally different risk profile than a sector running purely on venture optimism.

The Bottleneck Is Access, Not Ambition

Here is the part the rocket-size narrative obscures. Before a satellite can beam data or a vehicle can reach orbit, the hardware has to be tested, the crews trained, the payloads validated, and the sensors flown in real conditions. That infrastructure layer, the unglamorous work of getting things to altitude repeatedly and affordably, is where demand is currently outrunning supply.

The market data reflects it. Space launch services are projected to grow from roughly $13.85 billion in 2026 to $24.42 billion by 2030, a 15.2% compound annual rate, driven by rising LEO and MEO satellite deployment, expanding private launch providers and growing demand for navigation and surveillance systems. Commercial satellite launch services specifically are forecast to move from about $8.65 billion in 2026 to $11.15 billion by 2030. The constraint is not whether payloads exist. It is launch cadence, test capacity, and cost per attempt.

This is the gap Starfighters Space is targeting, and it does so with an approach almost nobody else is running. The company operates a fleet of F-104 Starfighter jets, aircraft originally built for pure speed, which it says can sustain Mach 2, roughly twice the speed of sound. That fleet provides commercial supersonic flight-test and R&D services supporting hypersonic programs for government and commercial clients today, from the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA Kennedy Space Center. The company describes it as the world's only commercial fleet of flight-ready Mach 2+ supersonic aircraft.

The longer-term program is STARLAUNCH, an air-launch architecture designed to use the aircraft as a reusable first-stage lifting platform, carrying launch vehicles with payloads and satellites to high altitude before release. CEO Tim Franta has described a staged development path beginning with a planned drop test, followed by progressively more advanced flight demonstrations and, ultimately, orbital launch capability. The company added two senior leaders from Blue Origin's New Glenn program in May 2026 and secured a $17.5 million strategic investment to advance the work.

Regulation is moving in a helpful direction too. Starfighters publicly backed the FAA's proposal to modernize supersonic flight rules. "As the operator of the world's only commercial fleet of flight-ready Mach 2+ aircraft, we view this proposal as an important milestone for the future of high-speed aviation," said Franta, adding that a modern regulatory framework "can help support continued investment in commercial flight testing while reinforcing America's leadership in space." The company also joined the broad-market Russell 3000 Index effective June 29, 2026.

The Cohort: Four Doors Into the Same Trade

Starfighters is a small, development-stage company, and the names below are larger and are referenced here only as market and thematic context, not as peers, competitors, or financial comparables to FJET. Together they map the sector's segments: launch, lunar services, connectivity and data. One honest caveat up front, because it matters for reading the chart: this group sold off sharply in the weeks around SpaceX's Nasdaq debut, with several names down double digits over the past month after enormous runs. Coverage of the pullback has largely characterized it as profit-taking and rotation within the sector rather than a break in the underlying thesis. All figures are approximate and subject to change.

Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB) is the closest thing the sector has to a proven challenger, and the clearest read on launch demand. The company has built a roughly $2.2 billion backlog, was selected for the Department of War's Space Based Interceptor program under Golden Dome for America alongside Raytheon, closed its acquisition of laser-communications firm Mynaric, and is targeting the debut of its medium-lift Neutron vehicle in the fourth quarter of 2026. Rocket Lab is the proof that launch demand is real and fundable. It is also the reminder that launch is brutally capital-intensive: the company is still burning cash and ran a $450 million ATM raise in the first quarter. That combination, enormous demand meeting expensive supply, is exactly the tension an air-launch approach is designed to attack.

Intuitive Machines (NASDAQ: LUNR) demonstrates how quickly government demand can compound into a real business. The lunar-services company is up roughly 166% year to date even after a sharp monthly drawdown, delivered about 199% revenue growth, and carries a record backlog near $1.06 billion, anchored by a U.S. Space Force Andromeda IDIQ contract with an anticipated ceiling of $6.2 billion. Its FY2026 revenue guidance stands at $900 million to $1 billion. Intuitive Machines shows what the CLPS-style commercial procurement model produces when it works, and also its concentration risk: a single federal budget shift can reset the earnings power of a business built this way.

AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ: ASTS) represents the demand side that makes launch capacity valuable in the first place. The company is building a satellite constellation designed to connect directly to unmodified smartphones, with roughly 60 mobile network operator partnerships covering more than 3 billion subscribers, $3.03 billion in cash, and reaffirmed FY2026 revenue guidance of $150 million to $200 million while targeting about 45 satellites in orbit by year-end. Every constellation like this one is, from a launch provider's perspective, a multi-year stream of payloads that has to get to orbit. ASTS is also a fair warning about timelines: its first-quarter revenue badly missed consensus, and it remains effectively pre-revenue at commercial scale.

Planet Labs (NYSE: PL) is arguably the best illustration of the WEF's point that value is migrating from assets to outcomes. The Earth-observation company sells subscription access to daily global imagery rather than selling satellites, posted first-quarter revenue growth of roughly 42% year over year, raised full-year guidance to a range of $425 million to $441 million, and rose about 16% on that news in late June. It also moved up from the Russell 2000 into the Russell 1000, a step on the same index ladder

Starfighters recently joined at the Russell 3000 level. Planet shows the recurring-revenue endgame the sector is building toward, once the access problem is solved at scale.

What Has to Be True

A sector-level thesis does not exempt any individual company from having to execute, and Starfighters is early. It has not flown STARLAUNCH. Suborbital is a next-year objective and orbital sits 18 months to two years beyond that on the company's own stated timeline. It will need capital, regulatory progress, and successful hardware milestones to convert an unconventional idea into a business. The $17.5 million investment and the Blue Origin hires are inputs, not outcomes.

What is worth understanding is the shape of the bet. If the space economy really is on a path from roughly $670 billion today to something multiples of that within a decade, the constraint will not be demand for what satellites do. It will be the cost, cadence and flexibility of getting hardware to altitude and proving it works. The companies solving that layer, whether with reusable rockets, air-launch platforms, or approaches nobody has funded yet, sit upstream of everything else in the industry. Starfighters is pursuing a specific, staged development strategy built around an existing aircraft fleet and reusable airborne infrastructure, from a fleet of aircraft that already exists and already flies. Future flight-test milestones, including the planned drop test, are expected to provide important validation of the STARLAUNCH development program.

CONTINUED… Follow Starfighters Space as STARLAUNCH advances toward its first drop test and get the full story and updates here.

About Starfighters Space, Inc.

Starfighters Space, Inc. (NYSE American: FJET) is an space company and the owner and operator of what it describes as the world's only commercial fleet of flight-ready Mach 2+ F-104 supersonic aircraft, operating from the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Current programs include commercial supersonic flight-test services supporting hypersonic research and development, air-launch development through the STARLAUNCH program, planned microgravity missions, and space research activities. The company joined the Russell 3000 Index effective June 29, 2026. Tim Franta serves as Chief Executive Officer.

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SOURCE Equity Insider

Robert H. Schingler, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, sold 89,593 shares of Planet Labs PBC (PL 1.43%) on July 10, 2026, according to an SEC Form 4 filing.

Transaction summaryMetricValueShares sold (total)89,593Shares sold (directly held)64,593Shares sold (indirectly held)25,000Transaction value$2.3 millionPost-transaction shares (total)~1.1 millionPost-transaction shares (directly held)825,541Post-transaction shares (indirectly held)225,171Post-transaction value$27.37 millionTransaction value based on SEC Form 4 weighted average sale price ($25.92); post-transaction value based on July 10, 2026, market close ($26.05).

Company snapshotMarket Cap: $8.7 billionTTM Revenue: $335.6 millionTTM Net Income: -$373.1 millionPlanet Labs PBC is dedicated to the creation, deployment, and management of extensive satellite constellations. Its core mission is to provide frequent, worldwide geospatial data, which customers can access through a specialized online platform.

Key questionsWhat is the significance of the Rule 10b5-1 plan used for this transaction?
The sale was pre-arranged under a plan adopted on July 14, 2025, which established a nearly one-year cooling-off period before execution to ensure the trade was independent of any non-public information.How has the stock performed leading up to this disposal?
As of July 10, 2026, the transaction date, the firm’s shares have generated a one-year return of 295%, providing a high valuation environment for structured liquidity events.What is the insider's residual equity exposure following this sale?
Schingler maintains a significant interest in the company, holding ~1.1 million shares across direct and indirect accounts, representing a 0.3200% ownership stake.What additional equity incentives does the insider hold?
Beyond the common stock reported, the insider also holds derivative securities, including restricted stock units (RSUs) that vest in equal quarterly installments on the 15th of March, June, September, and December.Company OverviewMetricValueShare Price (as of market close 2026-07-10)$26.05Market Capitalization$8.7 billionRevenue (TTM)$335.6 millionNet Income (TTM)-$373.1 millionCompany SnapshotPlanet Labs PBC designs, deploys, and operates extensive satellite constellations that deliver frequent, worldwide geospatial imagery and data through a proprietary cloud-native platform accessible to institutional and commercial customers.The company generates revenue through subscription-based access to its geospatial data platform, data licensing agreements, and value-added analytics services that leverage its proprietary imagery processing and temporal analysis capabilities.Planet Labs serves government agencies, defense contractors, agricultural enterprises, financial institutions, and environmental monitoring organizations that require high-frequency satellite imagery for decision-making and operational intelligence.Planet Labs PBC operates as a leading provider of frequent, global geospatial intelligence through its constellation of Earth observation satellites and cloud-native data platform. The company has demonstrated significant market momentum, with a 294.7% one-year stock price appreciation, reflecting growing institutional demand for real-time satellite imagery and geospatial analytics. Despite current net losses as the company scales operations, Planet Labs' recurring revenue model and expanding customer base position it as a critical infrastructure provider in the aerospace and defense sector.

What this transaction means for investorsSince the sale was prearranged and Schingler still has a pretty major ownership stake in Planet Labs, investors shouldn’t pay too close of attention to this transaction. That said, PL stock itself has been a fairly wild ride, offering investors a high-risk, high-reward proposition.

While Planet Labs reached positive free cash flow generation in recent quarters, the company still presents numerous headwinds for prospective investors, such as its:

continuous and growing capital expendituresimmense competition from rocket-launching peersneed for ongoing shareholder dilutionlack of vertical integrationlofty valuation at 24 times salesYes, there is a world where PL stock overcomes these worries and becomes a key cog in the Earth observation and satellite niche, which could become immensely valuable. I even believe the company offers multibagging potential if things break right for it. However, it remains a growth story left for the most risk-tolerant of investors. I understand the company’s appeal -- especially as it starts processing data in space while integrating AI into its operations -- but for now I’d rather only hold a small starter position in the company as opposed to making it any major holding anytime soon. I’d rather let it grow into a full position if things work out.

Josh Kohn-Lindquist has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Planet Labs PBC. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Planet Labs stock continued its strong downward trend last week, reaching its lowest level since March 19. PL has dropped by 50% from its highest point this year, with the market capitalization falling from over $18.40 billion in May to the current $9.28 billion, and technicals suggest that it has more downside to go.

The ongoing PL stock retreat has coincided with that of other companies in the space industry. SpaceX stock has plunged to a record low, while Rocket Lab fell by 47% from its highest point this year. The Procure Space ETF (UFO) dropped from the year-to-date high of $68.3 to $46.

PL stock has plunged in the past few weeks, even after the company published strong financial results. Its recent results showed that its revenue and backlog continued rising in the last quarter.

Planet Labs revenue jumped by 42% in the first quarter to $94.2 million, with the percentage of recurring annual contract value (ACV) soaring to 99%.

The company’s gross margin softened a bit to 54%, with its net loss soaring to $138.9 million from the $12.6 million it lost a year earlier. This loss jumped because of a $106 million revaluation loss from a change in fair value of warrant liabilities related to stock appreciation.

Planet Labs expects the company’s growth will continue in the foreseeable future, helped by the rising demand from government agencies and corporations. The average estimate among analysts is that its revenue jumped by 42% in the second quarter to $104 million, followed by 40% in the second quarter. 

Planet Labs annual revenue is expected to continue rising by over 40% to $436 million, followed by $570 million next year. This growth will likely be because of the Pelican-11 satellite, which is designed to validate new technologies and capabilities in a bid to boost the quality of images.

Most notably, analysts expect the company will become profitable in the coming years. The average estimate is that the company will breakeven in terms of EPS as soon as next year.

Planet Labs stock has dropped because of the rising fears of dilution after the company entered an equity distribution plan to sell up to $1.5 billion of its Class A common stock from time to time. This likely explains why the company has a short interest of 12.4%.

Planet Labs stock chart | Source: TradingView 

The daily chart shows that the Planet Labs stock has been in a freefall in the past few weeks, moving from a high of $51.60 in May to the current $26. 

It is attempting to drop below the key support level of $26.25, a move that will invalidate the forming of the double-bottom pattern.

It is attempting to move below the 50-day and 100-day Exponential Moving Averages (EMA), which are about to cross each other, forming a mini death cross.

The stock will likely continue falling, potentially to the key support level at $20, down by 23% from the current level. It will likely bounce back later this year as investors rotate back to space companies.

READ MORE: Wedbush makes a strong case for buying the dip in Planet Labs stock

Key Takeaways Planet Labs uses its satellite fleet and imagery archive to deliver faster, actionable AI-driven insights.Government demand spans border surveillance, military planning, disaster response & infrastructure monitoring.PL has gained 29.9% year to date but trades at 19.5 times sales, above the industry average of 3.04. Planet Labs (PL - Free Report) is a leading provider of Earth-imaging data and geospatial intelligence, operating the world's largest fleet of Earth-observation satellites. The company is well-positioned to benefit from the growing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), as customers increasingly seek actionable insights instead of raw satellite imagery. Its satellite constellation delivers high-frequency global coverage, generating a vast proprietary dataset that provides a strong foundation for AI-driven analytics.

Artificial intelligence is expanding the application of geospatial intelligence across both government and commercial markets. Defense and intelligence agencies are increasingly using AI-powered satellite analytics for border surveillance, military planning, disaster response and critical infrastructure monitoring. Rising geopolitical tensions and higher defense spending are expected to support sustained demand for commercial Earth observation services.

On the other hand, commercial adoption is also gaining momentum across agriculture, energy, forestry, mining, insurance and financial services. Organizations are leveraging AI-enabled geospatial analytics to monitor crop health, assess climate risks, optimize supply chains, track construction activity and advance ESG initiatives. As enterprises increasingly adopt predictive analytics and continuous monitoring, demand for high-quality satellite data is likely to grow.

Planet Labs is further enhancing its competitive advantage by embedding AI capabilities into its software platform, enabling customers to derive faster, more actionable insights while increasing recurring subscription revenues. Strategic partnerships with leading cloud and AI providers improve data accessibility and accelerate enterprise adoption. Supported by its extensive imagery archive, global coverage and expanding AI-powered analytics capabilities, Planet Labs is well-positioned to capitalize on the rising demand for geospatial intelligence and deliver sustainable long-term growth.

What About Its Peers?Rocket Lab (RKLB - Free Report) benefits from diversified government and commercial demand. Rocket Lab has secured contracts across defense, NASA and private space markets. Rocket Lab is also expanding AI capabilities through automation, machine learning and advanced analytics, strengthening operational efficiency and positioning itself for higher-value defense and autonomous space opportunities.

BlackSky (BKSY - Free Report) is expanding its AI capabilities through real-time geospatial analytics, automated intelligence and machine learning-driven monitoring solutions. BlackSky is increasingly benefiting from rising defense and national security demand. BKSY’s AI-powered Earth-observation platform positions it for higher-margin government and intelligence contracts.

PL’s Price PerformancePL has gained 29.9% year to date, outperforming the industry.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

PL’s Expensive ValuationThe stock is overvalued compared with its industry. It is currently trading at a price-to-sales multiple of 19.5, higher than the industry average of 3.04.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Estimate Movement for PLThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for PL’s fiscal second-quarter and third-quarter 2027 EPS witnessed no movement in the last 30 days. The same holds true for fiscal 2027 and 2028.
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The consensus estimates for PL’s 2027 and 2028 revenues indicate year-over-year increases. The estimate for fiscal 2027 earnings indicates a year-over-year decline, but the same for fiscal 2028 suggests a year-over-year increase.

PL stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Planet Labs PBC advances its Agile Aerospace strategy with the Pelican-11 launch, aiming for rapid iteration and capital-efficient satellite deployment. PL's Pelican program targets high-resolution, high-frequency imaging, positioning the company to capture defense and time-sensitive commercial demand. Valuation remains elevated at 23–30x sales, reflecting aggressive growth and margin expansion expectations, but exposes PL to significant multiple compression risk if execution falters.

Wolfgang Schmidt brings deep governance expertise as Planet scales AI-enabled solutions and builds its advanced satellite manufacturing facility in Berlin

BERLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Planet Labs Germany, a leading provider of daily data and insights about change on Earth, today announced the appointment of Wolfgang Schmidt, former German Federal Minister for Special Affairs and Head of the Federal Chancellery, to its European Advisory Board. He joins the board at a pivotal moment as Planet expands its presence in Europe and advances plans for a new satellite manufacturing facility in Berlin, reinforcing Germany’s growing role in Europe’s New Space ecosystem and Planet’s long-term commitment to the region. The Berlin facility will serve as Planet’s European center for advanced satellite manufacturing.

Wolfgang Schmidt’s extensive knowledge of the German, European and international political landscape, as well as his long tenure in leadership positions, will support Planet as it expands across the continent. In addition to his role as head of the Chancellery, Wolfgang also oversaw the intelligence services of the Federal level in Germany.

"We are privileged to welcome Wolfgang Schmidt to our European Advisory Board during a period of significant operational momentum for Planet in Europe," said Will Marshall, Co-Founder and CEO of Planet. “Wolfgang’s direct help facilitating our partnership with Ukraine supported by Germany, his experience leading the Germany Chancellery, and his deep expertise in European policymaking and international affairs will be invaluable particularly as we expand our manufacturing in Germany, underscoring our deep commitment to Germany and Europe."

Martin Polak, Managing Director of Planet Labs Germany, added: “Berlin is becoming the increasingly important hub for Planet’s activities in Europe. Our investment in satellite manufacturing reflects a long-term commitment to Germany’s growing role in the New Space ecosystem and to strengthening Europe’s industrial capabilities in Earth observation.”

"Planet’s capability to deliver daily, objective insights about our changing world has made it an indispensable platform for global security as I saw first hand with their work in Ukraine whilst I was in Government," said Wolfgang Schmidt. "I look forward to working with the leadership team to support Planet's long-term engagement and collaboration with institutions and partners in Germany and across Europe towards greater security and sustainability."

The European Advisory Board is instrumental in guiding Planet’s strategic expansion in Europe, meeting the needs of its growing European customer base, and helping navigate the evolving European policy landscape. Wolfgang Schmidt joins current European Advisory Board members: Carl Bildt, Cochair, European Council on Foreign Relations & Former Prime Minister of Sweden; Dr. Neelie Kroes, Former Vice President of the European Commission; David Miliband, CEO of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) & Former Foreign Minister of the UK; Oleksii Reznikov, Former Minister of Defence, Ukraine; and Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen, Director of ETH Zurich and Former Head of Science at NASA.

Learn more about the European Advisory Board’s mission and members.

About Planet

Planet Labs Germany GmbH is part of the Planet group and is based at Planet’s European headquarters in Berlin. Planet Labs PBC (NYSE: PL) is the parent company of the Planet group with global headquarters in San Francisco, USA. Planet is a leading provider of global, daily satellite imagery and geospatial solutions. Planet is driven by a mission to image the world every day, and make change visible, accessible and actionable. Founded in 2010 by three NASA scientists, Planet designs, builds, and operates the largest Earth observation fleet of imaging satellites. Planet provides mission-critical data, advanced insights, and software solutions to customers comprising the world’s leading agriculture, forestry, intelligence, education and finance companies and government agencies, enabling users to simply and effectively derive unique value from satellite imagery. Planet Labs PBC is a public benefit corporation listed on the New York Stock Exchange as PL. To learn more visit www.planet.com and follow us on X, LinkedIn, or tune in to HBO’s ‘Wild Wild Space’.

Forward-looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release are “forward-looking statements” about Planet within the meaning of the securities laws, including statements about Planet’s strategic partnerships and Planet’s future growth in new and existing markets. Such statements, which are not of historical fact, involve estimates, assumptions, judgments and uncertainties. There are a number of factors that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those addressed in the forward-looking statements. Such factors are detailed in Planet’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Planet does not undertake an obligation to update its forward-looking statements to reflect future events, except as required by applicable law.

It has been an exciting year for space stocks. Coming into June, Planet Labs (PL 0.60%) stock had surged to over $51 per share and was up an eye-opening 162% year to date. However, the stock recently pulled back 37% from its all-time high just over one month ago.

Planet Labs has been riding high on the wave of strong top-line growth and a surge in government spending on space and defense. However, the company's recent earnings forecast and equity raise have taken the air out of the balloon. Here's what investors need to know.

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Planet Labs' stock has gone on a tear over the last year Planet Labs operates a massive constellation of small satellites that capture daily high-resolution imagery of the planet. The company provides geospatial imagery, data archives, and analytics to intelligence, agricultural, and commercial customers for applications such as national security, crop yields, and deforestation monitoring.

The stock has soared over the last year, surging 432% as investors flock to booming space stocks. The company showcased solid top-line growth while teaming up with Nvidia to incorporate its GPUs into its satellites and deliver real-time AI insights to customers like never before. It is also riding a wave of contract wins, including awards with the U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and the Swedish Armed Forces, and selection as a prime contractor under the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) SHIELD framework.

Image source: Getty Images.

Planet Labs stock surged following its previous three earnings reports, but its first-quarter results (for the period ending April 30) sent the stock tumbling. Part of its decline was driven by margin compression and a high forecast for capital expenditure for the year. During the earnings call, Planet Labs guided its margin down from 56% in the first quarter to between 52% and 54% for the full year, with heavy capital investment totaling between $80 million and $95 million this year.

The biggest driver of the stock's decline was its $1.5 billion at-the-market equity offering, which was also announced during its earnings call. Planet Labs entered into an agreement to sell up to $1.5 billion of its Class A common stock through at-the-market offerings, meaning it could sell shares in smaller portions over time. The proceeds would be used to expand manufacturing capacity and further build out its Earth-imaging infrastructure.

Should you buy the dip in Planet Labs? Planet Labs is growing nicely and expanding its reach with its growing satellite platform. However, the equity offering highlights the risks of investing in high-growth, early-stage companies, and the $1.5 billion raise is a massive amount for a company with a market capitalization of $11.7 billion.

The company is spending big in hopes of a larger payoff long-term, and analysts project its revenue could grow by 34% compounded over the next three years. That said, Planet Labs stock is far from cheap, priced at 31.2 times sales, and analysts covering the company don't foresee profitability until 2028 at the earliest.

Investors must balance growth with spending and recognize that Planet Labs is still an early-stage, rapidly growing company. If you do buy the stock, make sure it's part of a diversified portfolio and size your position accordingly.

[url="]Planet Labs Germany[/url], a leading provider of daily data and insights about change on Earth, and European space company [url="]Isar Aerospace[/url] t

© forplayday / iStock via Getty Images

SpaceX is dominating financial headlines with a record-breaking IPO, a rumored $2 trillion valuation, and a Starlink/Starship hype loop that has retirement-focused investors scrambling for pre-IPO access. The more compelling opportunity sits in plain sight on the public market.

The SpaceX trade fails the retirement portfolio test on arithmetic alone. Retail buyers cannot touch the shares directly, secondary-market vehicles charge punitive premiums, and the offering is priced at a dangerous, highly speculative revenue multiple that leaves retail buyers with zero margin of safety ahead of its August lock-up expiration. Insiders exit, retail holds the bag. That movie has run before.

The better ticker is already public, already profitable, and already selling the data a launch business cannot monetize. Planet Labs (NYSE:PL) runs the picks-and-shovels layer of the space economy: an Earth-observation satellite fleet plus an AI-enabled geospatial data subscription business.

1. A high-margin subscription model that funds itself Planet Labs is a software business wrapped inside a satellite operator. In Q1 FY2027, revenue hit a record $94.15 million, up 42% YoY, with GAAP gross margin at 54% and non-GAAP gross margin at 56%. About 99% of annual contract value is recurring. Non-GAAP EPS came in at -$0.03, with the reported GAAP loss distorted by a $106.47 million non-cash warrant revaluation that is now behind the company.

2. A backlog that reads like a defense contractor Forward visibility is the number retirement investors should care about. Planet exited the quarter with backlog above $906 million, up 72% YoY, and remaining performance obligations of $816.01 million, up 81% YoY. The customer roster includes a €240 million German government deal, Sweden’s first sovereign reconnaissance satellite, NATO expansions, NGA, NRO, and the U.S. Navy. Signed contracts backed by government budgets carry different risk than IPO speculation.

Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Planet Labs didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.

3. AI optionality built into the data layer CEO Will Marshall summarized the strategy in the most recent quarter: “By investing in AI, we are positioning Planet at the forefront of the industry and pioneering ways to make planetary-scale insights available and actionable to more users than ever before.” The company has an R&D partnership with Google on Project Suncatcher data centers in space, a natural-language query beta, SuperRes AI upscaling, and Pelican satellites moving toward 30cm-class imagery. Every rocket the launch industry puts in orbit ultimately feeds a data layer this business already owns.

The profitability inflection closes the case. FY2026 delivered $52.87 million in free cash flow and $15.49 million of adjusted EBITDA profit, the first full year of both. FY2027 guidance calls for $425 million to $441 million in revenue and up to $10 million of adjusted EBITDA profit.

The obvious pushback is BlackSky Technology (NYSE:BKSY), the smaller pure-play competitor. BlackSky’s Q1 2026 revenue was $20.77 million, down 29.7% YoY, missing expectations by 23.8%, with EPS of -$0.82 against a consensus of -$0.40. Roughly one-tenth Planet Labs’ $10.64 billion market cap, negative operating cash flow at -$2.36 million, and revenue moving the wrong direction.

For investors weighing the SpaceX pre-IPO scramble, Planet Labs belongs on the research short list.

Act now: the analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 AI stocks — and Planet Labs didn't make the cut. Grab the names FREE today.

Contact [email protected] for any questions or corrections.

Key Takeaways Planet Labs is evolving into an AI-driven geospatial intelligence platform with defense exposure.AI tools, including Claude AI, help Planet Labs turn satellite imagery into actionable insights.Defense & Intelligence revenues rose more than 65%, driven by data subscriptions and satellite services. Planet Labs (PL - Free Report) is evolving from a traditional satellite-imagery company into an AI-driven geospatial intelligence platform with growing exposure to the global defense market. Leveraging one of the world’s largest Earth-observation datasets, the company combines satellite imagery, artificial intelligence, machine learning and advanced analytics to deliver higher-value intelligence solutions for governments and enterprises.

The company operates the largest fleet of Earth-observation satellites globally, generating a continuous stream of real-time geospatial data. This extensive dataset creates a competitive advantage, as AI models improve with access to large volumes of frequently updated information. To enhance its capabilities, Planet Labs has integrated AI into its platform, including a partnership with Anthropic that incorporates Claude AI to help customers transform raw satellite imagery into actionable insights more efficiently.

Planet Labs is also expanding its role in defense and intelligence. Recent contract wins include a €240 million agreement supported by Germany, expanded work with the U.S. Department of Defense, an eight-figure contract extension with the U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, a NATO surveillance agreement and maritime monitoring contracts with the U.S. Navy. These awards underscore the growing importance of the company’s technology in national security, surveillance and situational awareness.

Demand within the Defense & Intelligence segment remains strong, with revenues increasing more than 65% in fiscal first quarter 2027, fueled by growth in data subscriptions and satellite services. As governments adopt AI-enabled monitoring and intelligence systems, PL is increasingly transitioning toward a software-and-services model characterized by recurring revenues, improving margins and greater long-term strategic value.

What About Its Peers?Rocket Lab (RKLB - Free Report) benefits from diversified government and commercial demand. Rocket Lab has secured contracts across defense, NASA, and private space markets. Rocket Lab is also expanding AI capabilities through automation, machine learning, and advanced analytics, strengthening operational efficiency and positioning itself for higher-value defense and autonomous space opportunities.

BlackSky (BKSY - Free Report) is expanding its AI capabilities through real-time geospatial analytics, automated intelligence and machine learning-driven monitoring solutions. BlackSky is increasingly benefiting from rising defense and national security demand. BKSY’s AI-powered Earth-observation platform positions it for higher-margin government and intelligence contracts.

PL’s Price PerformancePL has gained 37.6% year to date, outperforming the industry.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

PL’s Expensive ValuationThe stock is overvalued compared with its industry. It is currently trading at a price-to-sales multiple of 20.67, higher than the industry average of 3.06.  

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Estimate Movement for PLThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for PL’s fiscal second-quarter and third-quarter 2027 EPS witnessed no movement in the last seven days. The same holds true for fiscal 2027 and 2028.
 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The consensus estimates for PL’s 2027 and 2028 revenues indicate year-over-year increases. While the estimate for fiscal 2027 earnings indicates a year-over-year decline, the same for fiscal 2028 indicates a year-over-year increase.

PL stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Don't say you were not warned.

Previewing the SpaceX (SPCX 5.22%) IPO earlier this year, I explained what investors should expect -- in three simple steps.

First: SpaceX IPO fever would make space stocks skyrocket -- and Planet Labs (PL 0.04%) rose 38% in four months. Next: Investors would question whether they wanted to own a second-tier space stock like Planet, when industry leader SpaceX would soon go public. Finally: Investors would rush to sell other space stocks, and put the money in SpaceX instead. We're in this final stage now, and Planet Labs stock is down 20% since SpaceX's IPO.

Image source: Getty Images.

Planet falls to Earth Planet Labs stock dropped another 11% through 10 a.m. ET today -- while SpaceX stock gained nearly 14%. This brings to mind the old advice "follow the money," except here, the money trail is so obvious you don't really need to do much following.

Investors are pulling money out of Planet and pouring it into SpaceX stock instead.

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What's next for Planet Labs stock For Planet Labs investors, this has to feel discouraging -- but don't lose hope, because the money flows on this one could soon reverse. According to data from StreetInsider.com, call options to buy Planet Labs stock at much higher prices than today are currently outrunning put options to sell Planet stock by a 3-to-1 ratio.

This tells me that serious investors are preparing for a serious rally in Planet stock -- and they may be right. After all, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence, Planet Labs is one of the only space stocks generating positive free cash flow today -- versus SpaceX, which burned $14.1 billion in cash last year.

It's really no contest. Planet stock is the better value play here.

Rich Smith has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Planet Labs PBC. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Key Takeaways RKLB has an edge over PL, backed by price performance and stronger growth estimates.Planet Labs sees demand for Earth-observation data but remains unprofitable amid high costs.Rocket Lab's defense demand, backlog visibility and vertical integration support growth. Lower launch costs, stronger government investment in advanced space and defense technologies, and growing commercial use of satellite services are fueling the space economy. Demand continues to rise across satellite communications, Earth observation, defense, navigation, climate monitoring, and data infrastructure, creating significant growth opportunities for industry participants.

In this context, Planet Labs (PL - Free Report) and Rocket Lab Corporation (RKLB - Free Report) are worth mentioning as both deploy AI into their core functions. Planet Labs is a leading provider of Earth-imaging data and geospatial analytics, operating the largest fleet of Earth-observation satellites globally.

Rocket Lab is an end-to-end space company that provides launch services, spacecraft, spacecraft components, optical systems, flight and ground software, and on-orbit mission operations. Let's discuss in detail.

The Case for Planet LabsPlanet Labs generates the majority of its revenues through a combination of fixed-price subscriptions and usage-based contracts, delivering satellite imagery and geospatial analytics through its cloud-based platform to government agencies and enterprise customers. Growth has been driven by the expansion of recurring subscription revenues, increasing government demand and a strategic shift toward higher-value analytics and data services.

The company has increasingly focused on securing large government and defense contracts, which provide stronger revenue visibility and longer-term stability. At the same time, management sees meaningful commercial opportunities as AI-powered analytics and imaging tools—initially developed for government applications—expand into industries such as agriculture, energy, insurance, finance, supply chain monitoring and operational intelligence.

For second-quarter fiscal 2027, Planet Labs expects revenues between $102 million and $107 million, with non-GAAP gross margins of 52% to 55%. Adjusted EBITDA is projected to range from breakeven to a $5 million profit, while capital expenditures are expected to be between $21 million and $27 million.

For full-year fiscal 2027, management forecasts revenues of $425 million to $441 million, non-GAAP gross margin of 52% to 54%, and adjusted EBITDA ranging from breakeven to a $10 million profit. Capital expenditures are expected to total $80 million to $95 million.

Despite improving scale, Planet Labs remains unprofitable and is unlikely to achieve sustained profitability in the near term. Continued investments in satellite infrastructure, elevated R&D spending, and high operating costs continue to put pressure on margins, while returns on equity and invested capital remain below industry averages.

The company is still in the red, and a rebound is not expected soon.

PL shares have gained 43.1% year to date.

The Case for Rocket LabRocket Lab is transitioning from a niche launch provider into a vertically integrated space infrastructure company with growing exposure to defense, satellite systems, and advanced space technologies. The company has established operational credibility through its Electron rocket program while steadily expanding into higher-value segments of the space economy.

Management has built a diversified aerospace platform spanning launch services, spacecraft manufacturing, satellite components, mission software and space systems integration. This diversification has reduced reliance on launch revenues alone and created a more balanced, scalable business model with multiple long-term growth drivers.

A major catalyst is the development of the Neutron rocket, which targets the medium-lift market currently led by larger competitors such as SpaceX. If successful, Neutron could significantly expand Rocket Lab’s addressable market, improve economics through partial reusability, and support larger commercial and government missions.

The company is also deepening vertical integration through acquisitions and internal product development. The acquisition of Motiv Space Systems, now operating as Rocket Lab Robotics, strengthens capabilities in robotics, motion control and spacecraft mechanisms. These technologies enhance Rocket Lab’s ability to deliver end-to-end mission solutions for planetary exploration, national security programs, satellite constellations, orbital infrastructure and emerging space-based computing applications.

At the same time, increasing defense demand is creating opportunities in responsive launch, hypersonics and missile defense. Improving margins and a solid balance sheet provide financial flexibility to fund Neutron development, scale production, and pursue additional strategic acquisitions. Backlog visibility supports near-term revenues.

RKLB shares have rallied 50% year to date.

Estimates for PL and RKLBThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for PL’s fiscal 2027 revenues implies a year-over-year increase of 40.2%, while the same for earnings per share (EPS) suggests a 75% year-over-year decline. EPS estimates have moved south in the past 30 days.  

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for RKLB’s 2026 revenues implies a year-over-year rise of 52.8%, and the same for EPS implies a year-over-year increase of 55.6%.  EPS estimates witnessed no movement in the past 30 days. 

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Are PL and RKLB Shares Expensive?PL is trading at a forward sales multiple of 20.82, above its median of 3.96 over the last three years. RKLB’s forward sales multiple sits at 56.26, higher than its median of 13.83 over the last three years.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

ConclusionPlanet Labs, a data-driven company focused on Earth-observation imagery and analytics, is poised to grow, given the rising global demand for commercial satellites.

Defense demand, backlog visibility, scalable launch cadence, vertical integration, and liquidity support growth for Rocket Lab.

Despite its premium valuation, RKLB’s price performance and growth estimates give it an edge over PL. RKLB carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), while PL carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).

You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

So I guess I was both right and right about the SpaceX (SPCX +19.22%) IPO.

Right, when I predicted SpaceX IPO fever might drive space stocks higher this year. Indeed, shares of spy satellite operator Planet Labs (PL 8.81%) are up 38% over the last four months.

Unfortunately, I was also right about what would happen on IPO day. And this, in a nutshell, is why Planet Labs stock fell 9% through 12:50 p.m. ET today.

Image source: Planet Labs.

Three scenarios for SpaceX and space stocks Four months ago, I ran down three theories for how the SpaceX IPO might play out, both for SpaceX and for other space stocks. Briefly, these scenarios were:

Option 1: SpaceX IPO fever could make space stocks more popular, driving up their stock prices. Option 2: SpaceX could make space stocks not named SpaceX less popular, if they suffered by comparison to SpaceX, which seemed both much bigger and more profitable than SpaceX's competitors. Or Option 3: Investors wanting to buy SpaceX stock might sell shares of other space stocks to raise cash to buy SpaceX instead.

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What's next for Planet Labs stock The fact that Planet stock went up so much in four months means I was right about Option 1. The fact that Planet stock is selling off today -- the same day investors began paying for their new SpaceX IPO shares -- suggests I was right about Option 3 as well.

And Option 2? This remains to be seen. SpaceX's IPO prospectus made clear SpaceX isn't profitable as we once believed -- instead, it's losing money and burning cash. So bigger isn't necessarily better.

Planet stock may not be profitable, but it is generating positive free cash flow. For that reason if for no other, I prefer Planet stock over SpaceX stock today.

Rich Smith has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Planet Labs PBC. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Planet Labs PBC (PL - Free Report) came out with a quarterly loss of $0.03 per share in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate. This compares to break-even earnings per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of -12.36%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this company would post a loss of $0.04 per share when it actually produced break-even earnings, delivering a surprise of +100%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times.

Planet Labs PBC, which belongs to the Zacks Satellite and Communication industry, posted revenues of $94.15 million for the quarter ended April 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.89%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $66.26 million. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates four times over the last four quarters.

The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.

Planet Labs PBC shares have added about 118.7% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 10.4%.

What's Next for Planet Labs PBC?While Planet Labs PBC has outperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?

There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.

Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.

Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Planet Labs PBC was mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is -$0.02 on $100.5 million in revenues for the coming quarter and -$0.04 on $428.89 million in revenues for the current fiscal year.

Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Satellite and Communication is currently in the top 36% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.

Adobe Systems (ADBE - Free Report) , another stock in the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector, has yet to report results for the quarter ended May 2026. The results are expected to be released on June 11.

This software maker is expected to post quarterly earnings of $5.83 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +15.2%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.

Adobe Systems' revenues are expected to be $6.46 billion, up 9.9% from the year-ago quarter.

Planet Labs PBC (PL) Q1 2027 Earnings Call Transcript

Shares of Planet Labs (PL +6.80%) zoomed 38.3% higher in May, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. Investors were anticipating further growth in its upcoming June earnings report while benefiting from the broader tailwind in the space economy stocks in the month. Hitting an all-time high in May, the satellite imaging provider is now up an astonishing 991% in the last year alone.

Here's why shares were rising in May, and whether the stock is a buy after its early June earnings report.

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Satellite launching progress Planet Labs has built a constellation of satellites that takes high-resolution images from orbit. These consistent imaging services can be used by scientists, governments, and businesses to track progress or get immediate feedback on a changing environment in vital locations around the globe, from commercial ports to military bases.

The stock struggled coming out of the gate, falling significantly from its SPAC (special purpose acquisition corporation) merger price from 2022 through 2024. But last year, Planet Labs began turning its business around and started winning more contracts, leading to strong revenue growth and an earnings inflection. Last quarter, revenue grew 42% year-over-year to $94 million, gross margin was 54%, and the backlog was up 72% to $904 million.

More specifically, in May, Planet Labs began deploying more of its advanced Pelican satellites, which feature onboard artificial intelligence (AI) computing capabilities in conjunction with Nvidia. This will allow AI systems to monitor imaging services for customers. Planet Labs is winning many government customers. In May alone, it signed seven-figure deals with both the Czech and Greek governments.

Image source: Getty Images.

Time to buy Planet Labs stock? Another tailwind for Planet Labs is the enthusiasm for space-economy stocks ahead of the SpaceX IPO. Investors want a piece of this fast-growing market right now, and Planet Labs is one of the best ways to get exposure to space data and services.

But should you buy shares after they have risen close to 1,000% in the last twelve months? Planet Labs valuation is a bit overwhelming at the moment, with a price-to-sales ratio (P/S) of 43.5 based on its trailing twelve-month revenue. Revenue is growing quickly, but this is more than 10x the average P/S ratio in the S&P 500 Index.

Planet Labs has also never generated a profit. Revenue growth should continue for years ahead, but it looks like Planet Labs stock is already pricing in a decade's worth of gains. Avoid chasing this stock after a 10x rise in the last year.

Planet Labs (PL +6.80%) stock is getting hit with a big pullback following the company's recent quarterly report. The space-tech specialist's share price was down 18.7% as of 10 a.m. ET. The S&P 500 was down 1% at the same point in the daily session, and the Nasdaq Composite was down 2.1%.

Planet Labs published its first-quarter results after the market closed yesterday and actually posted sales and earnings that topped Wall Street's forecasts, but space tech stocks are now seeing some bearish reversal on the heels of big gains this year. Investors are also broadly adopting risk-off positioning in response to concerns that the Federal Reserve could raise interest rates this year.

Image source: Getty Images.

Planet Labs is selling off despite a solid Q1 report Planet Labs reported a non-GAAP (adjusted) loss of $0.03 per share on sales of $94 million in the first quarter of its 2027 fiscal year -- which ended April 30. The company's adjusted per-share loss came in $0.01 better than the average Wall Street analyst estimate, and sales rose roughly 42% year over year to beat the average target by roughly $3.9 million.

Along with its fiscal Q1 report, Planet Labs raised its full-year sales target to between $425 million and $441 million -- up from its previous guidance for sales between $415 million and $440 million. The company also raised its adjusted gross margin forecast from between 50% and 52% to between 52% and 54%. The space tech specialist delivered a beat-and-raise quarter, but investors are feeling jittery on the heels of last week's Blue Origin rocket explosion and SpaceX's initial public offering next week.

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Macroeconomic concerns are also weighing on Planet Labs The Bureau of Labor Statistics published a report today showing that U.S. nonfarm payrolls had risen by 172,000 in May -- far above the 80,000 payroll additions called for by economists. The news caused the 10-year Treasury bond yield to rise, and investors are concerned that relatively strong jobs growth will support the case for the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates this year.

With inflation accelerating in recent months, the Fed may move to raise rates given that job growth still looks solid. If so, it could pressure valuations for Planet Labs and other highly growth-dependent stocks.

Keith Noonan has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Planet Labs PBC. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

PL delivers record Q1 revenues and a bigger backlog, but losses persist. The company also guided a strong FY 2027.

Shares of the leading Earth observation satellite services company Planet Labs (PL +6.80%) are down 35% this week after the company reported first-quarter earnings and announced an equity offering on Friday. Starting with Planet Labs Q1 earnings -- things weren't nearly as bad as this week's decline might suggest. The company:

increased sales by 42% grew its backlog by 72% to over $900 million maintained a solid net dollar retention rate of 114% continued to generate positive cash from operations raised its full-year guidance to grow revenue by 41% However, if you type "priced for perfection" into your favorite LLM, it might generate a picture of Planet Labs' stock chart after its shares rose eightfold over the last year, before this week's decline.

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The market wanted extraordinary results from Planet Labs, but it earnings were "only" above average, which helped spur today's decline. It simply had very lofty expectations.

Image source: The Motley Fool.

Making matters worse, management announced a $1.5 billion equity offering today alongside earnings, which, if fully executed, could dilute shareholders by 9%. So some of today's decline also comes from that. While it does dilute value somewhat today, I'd argue that it is a brilliant move from management, as they can raise funds from the company's skyrocketing share price over the last year. Rocket Lab held a similar equity raise as its share price rose over the last year, and this can prove to be a shrewd move for growth stocks, provided what they spend the money on is a sound investment.

Ultimately, Planet Labs remains a fascinating stock in my eyes. It is sending Nvidia AI compute power to space to process imaging at the satellite, saving money on the vast amount of data and imaging that previously had to be beamed back to Earth. However, Planet Labs still trades at 32 times sales -- even after today's decline. As it wrestles to improve profitability over time, the stock will undoubtedly remain volatile at this lofty valuation. Interested investors should buy in small batches over time rather than going "all-in" at today's valuation.

Josh Kohn-Lindquist has positions in Nvidia and Rocket Lab. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Nvidia, Planet Labs PBC, and Rocket Lab. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Key Takeaways Planet Labs posted record Q1 FY27 revenues of $94.2 million, up 42% year over year.PL's Defense & Intelligence revenues grew 65%, backed by NGA extension, Navy renewal and international deal.Planet Labs raised FY27 revenue outlook to $425-$441M as backlog climbed 72% to about $906M. Planet Labs PBC (PL - Free Report) used its first-quarter fiscal 2027 call to show that defense demand and AI product development are now moving in tandem. Management argued that the company’s faster execution model is helping convert geopolitical urgency into larger contracts and stronger visibility.

That message landed alongside record revenues, a higher full-year sales outlook and a backlog that topped $906 million. The call focused less on quarterly volatility and more on whether Planet Labs can sustain this faster growth phase.

PL Extends Defense MomentumWill Marshall, co-founder, chief executive officer and chairman, said Defense and Intelligence remained the company’s clearest strength in the quarter. Revenues in that segment grew more than 65% year over year, supported by data subscription solutions and satellite services.

He pointed to several government wins, including a $21.9 million one-year extension from the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency for maritime surveillance and a $7.5 million U.S. Navy renewal for vessel detection and monitoring. Management said those awards reinforced Planet’s role in commercial, AI-enabled geospatial intelligence.

Marshall also highlighted an eight-figure, one-year dedicated-capacity contract with an international defense and intelligence customer. He framed that deal, along with the rapid launch of Sweden’s first sovereign reconnaissance satellite, as evidence that Planet can deliver both immediate access and sovereign capability faster than traditional providers.

Planet Labs Raises Revenue OutlookAshley Johnson, president and chief financial officer, said first-quarter fiscal revenues reached a record $94.2 million, up 42% from a year earlier. The top line surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $90 million by 4.89%. The company reported first-quarter fiscal 2027 non-GAAP loss per share of 3 cents, which was in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate.

Johnson said the quarter’s outperformance was driven mainly by new wins. She also noted that growth was geographically broad, with revenues rising about 86% in EMEA, 25% in both North America and Asia Pacific, and 7% in Latin America.

That performance led Planet Labs to raise its fiscal 2027 revenue outlook to $425 million to $441 million. Management said first-quarter execution and backlog strength gave it better visibility, even as it continues to fund new satellites, AI-enabled solutions and sales capacity.

PL's Margins Reflect Investment CycleThe quarter also showed the tradeoff between growth and current profitability. Johnson said non-GAAP gross margin was 56%, down from 59% a year ago, reflecting investments tied to satellite services contracts, new launches and AI-enabled partner solutions.

Even so, adjusted EBITDA loss was just $1.0 million, better than expected because the revenue upside largely flowed through the model. Marshall stressed that this marked the third consecutive quarter in which Planet achieved its Rule of 40 target.

Management kept its full-year adjusted EBITDA guidance at breakeven to $10 million. That choice signaled that Planet is willing to absorb some near-term margin pressure while demand remains strong, especially in defense and sovereign satellite programs.

Planet Labs Uses AI to Broaden MarketMarshall devoted meaningful time to Planet’s AI strategy, presenting it as a way to expand beyond expert users and lower the barrier to working with geospatial data. He said the company has begun private beta testing of an AI application that lets users query Planet Labs’ archive with natural language.

He also highlighted SuperRes, which uses AI to improve PlanetScope imagery into a 2-meter class visual product. Management tied those efforts to a broader push to make daily satellite data more usable in agriculture, energy, finance and other commercial markets.

Johnson said commercial revenues grew more than 20% year over year, helped by better alignment with agriculture customers and newer AI-based solutions. Management’s view was that defense may be the immediate growth engine, but AI tools could widen the long-term addressable market in commercial and civil sectors.

PL Q&A Stresses Speed and DifferentiationAnalyst questions centered on how durable Planet’s current momentum is and whether competitors can match its sovereign satellite offering. In response, Marshall and Johnson repeatedly returned to speed, saying Planet can get customers operating on existing satellites immediately and then launch sovereign assets in months rather than years.

Asked about the pipeline, Johnson declined to quantify near-term awards but said demand remains robust and geographically balanced. Marshall added that Europe is the hottest region today, though interest is broadening across Asia and North America as geopolitical uncertainty drives demand for sovereign space access.

On margins, Johnson said the upside in the fiscal first quarter came from strong sales execution, especially the early contribution from a large international deal. On capital allocation, she said growth and market capture remain the priorities, while Marshall suggested M&A is possible but not central to the current plan.

Planet Labs Leaves Q1 With Stronger VisibilityThe clearest takeaway from the call was that Planet sees itself in an execution window, not an experimentation phase. Management sounded confident that backlog, faster launches and AI product development are reinforcing one another rather than competing for attention.

That confidence was backed by an end-of-period backlog of roughly $906 million, up 72% year over year, and remaining performance obligations of about $816 million, up more than 80%. Planet ended the quarter with about $731 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, giving it room to keep investing while preserving balance-sheet flexibility.

Zacks Signals Remain MixedPL carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), which points to a more neutral earnings estimate revision trend than the higher-conviction Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) categories. Under the Zacks framework, the stock is placed in the middle ground rather than a top-ranked setup. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Its Style Scores are uneven, with an F for Value, a B for Growth, an A for Momentum and a VGM Score of D. That combination suggests stronger growth and momentum characteristics than value or overall blended appeal. The Zacks Rank can also shift as analysts revise estimates after the latest quarter.

Planet Labs PBC Today

PL

Planet Labs PBC

$32.81 +2.09 (+6.80%)

As of 12:41 PM Eastern

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52-Week Range$4.90▼

$51.76Price Target$35.28

Space stocks are having a moment. But as the Q1 earnings report for fiscal 2027 from Planet Labs PBC NYSE: PL shows, it may be a big, irrational moment.

When SpaceX's IPO became the most anticipated market event in years, investors did what investors always do—they got ahead of themselves. If you couldn't buy SpaceX directly, you'd buy the next best thing. Planet Labs, with its constellation of Earth-imaging satellites and genuine government contracts, became a proxy trade. The stock ran hard. Too hard.

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The Quarter Itself Was More Than FineLet's be fair to Planet Labs—the business delivered a strong Q1. Revenue came in at $94.2 million, up 42% year over year. The company's backlog exploded to $906 million, a 72% jump from the same period a year ago. Around 92% of contracts are annual or multi-year. The NGA renewed. The Navy renewed. Sweden bought a sovereign reconnaissance satellite. These aren't vanity metrics.

The Rule of 40 score hit 41—a number many software companies would envy. Non-GAAP gross margins held at 56%. Free cash flow came in at negative $2.5 million, which is essentially breakeven at this stage of investment. Management guided full-year revenue of $425 to $441 million.

On the fundamentals, Planet Labs is executing.

So What's the Problem?The problem isn't the earnings report. The problem is the price tag attached to a company that still loses money on a GAAP basis. The net loss for Q1 was $138.9 million—though that figure is heavily distorted by a $106 million non-cash swing in warrant liability fair value. Strip that out, and the operating picture looks much cleaner.

But the stock trades at a price-to-sales ratio that implies perfection. Price-to-book tells a similar story. These are momentum multiples—and momentum is a fickle engine once the original catalyst fades.

The SpaceX IPO excitement was that catalyst. And it's fading.

The Institutional Story Matters HerePlanet Labs carries roughly 40% institutional ownership. That's not negligible—serious money has looked at this company and said yes. But it also means the majority of the float sits with retail traders, many of whom aren't particularly interested in backlog reconciliations or satellite services unit economics.

That creates a specific kind of risk. Planet Labs isn't a meme stock. It has real revenues, real government customers, and real technology. But a meaningful slice of its shareholder base will trade it like one. They'll push the stock higher because they can—because the narrative is fun, because satellites are cool, and because "space" carries a reflexive excitement that few other sectors can match.

This makes price discovery messy. It also means the pullback that began before earnings may not follow a clean, fundamental-driven script.

A Reset, Not a CrashPlanet Labs traded down slightly in overnight sessions, but the real action happened when the market opened on June 5. PL plunged by more than 25% that day, closing around $32. Whether that represents relief or renewed selling pressure will tell you something about who's still in control of this name.

Arguing for the former, PL had already started rolling over before the report hit. The MACD turned negative heading into earnings — a subtle warning that the post-SpaceX-fever momentum was losing steam. The 50-day moving average is still trending sharply up, indicating the longer-term trend remains intact. But extended stocks have a way of returning to their averages.

So What Do You Actually Do?Here's the honest truth: there probably isn't a perfect entry point coming. PL closed at $43.44 on June 4. That was nearly 30% above its consensus price forecast of $30.61. Something had to give, and that something was profit-taking, maybe with more to come.

If Planet Labs continues executing—converting that $906 million backlog, scaling its AI-enabled analytics products, and landing more sovereign satellite services contracts—the fundamentals will eventually grow into the valuation. The company turned free cash flow positive for the full fiscal year 2026. That's a real milestone.

But "eventually grow into the valuation" is not a comfortable place to park capital when the stock has already run 300%+ from its lows. Investors who want exposure to this story need to think about sizing and staging. Pick a price range you can live with. Buy a partial position. Add on weakness. Don't chase it back to the highs, hoping the SpaceX-proxy trade reignites.

Planet Labs is building something real. It images the entire Earth, every single day. That capability has genuine value for defense agencies, civil governments, agricultural monitors, and financial analysts tracking physical-world signals. The product roadmap—SuperRes, Maritime Domain Awareness, the new agentic AI application—shows a company that isn't standing still.

But great companies can be bad stocks at the wrong price.

The space rush gave a lot of investors an expensive education in the difference between a compelling story and a compelling valuation. Planet Labs is one of the more interesting companies to come out of that frenzy. Just make sure you're paying the right price for interesting.

Should You Invest $1,000 in Planet Labs PBC Right Now?Before you consider Planet Labs PBC, you'll want to hear this.

MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and Planet Labs PBC wasn't on the list.

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Stocks charged higher in May, but it may take some time before investors know how much upside is left.

Summer can be a tricky season for the market. As many institutional investors step away from their screens for a bit, trading volumes thin out, making strong moves in either direction hard to take at face value.

However, this historically quiet time is an excellent opportunity for investors to position themselves for a strong second half. That starts with putting together a watch list.

With the July 4 holiday approaching, now is a good time to look for stocks that could have more room to run once Wall Street gets back to full speed. Here are three names worth considering before the fireworks begin.

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Broadcom: A Selloff That Puts the AI Thesis Back in FocusBroadcom Today

$378.76 +6.66 (+1.79%)

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52-Week Range$244.17▼

$495.00Dividend Yield0.69%

P/E Ratio63.26

Price Target$490.13

Broadcom NASDAQ: AVGO just posted a quarter that would make most chipmakers jealous.

The company delivered record revenue of $22.2 billion, record free cash flow and AI chip growth of 143% year over year (YOY). 

Investor response was a gut punch: shares sank roughly 14% when the market opened and finished the day down around 12%.

The reason? Investors were disappointed that the company did not raise its outlook for AI-related revenue.

That's worth putting in context. CEO Hock Tan said Broadcom expects to Broadcom to generate $16 billion in AI semiconductor revenue in fiscal Q3 2026, up more than 200% YOY. For the full fiscal year, the company expects AI semiconductor revenue to reach $56 billion and reiterated that it remains on track to exceed $100 billion in fiscal 2027.

Broadcom’s AI exposure reaches across some of the biggest names in the AI buildout: Google (Alphabet: NASDAQ: GOOGL), Anthropic, OpenAI, Meta Platforms NASDAQ: META, and two additional unnamed customers, while also pointing to an AI XPU platform with Apollo, Blackstone, and other investors designed to deploy more than 20 gigawatts of compute capacity through 2028. For Anthropic specifically, Broadcom said TPU-based compute agreements include more than one gigawatt in 2026 and another five gigawatts beginning in 2027.

That means the post-earnings sell-off looks more like the market moving the goalposts than Broadcom missing them.

Broadcom now trades at a notable discount to semiconductor peers on forward P/E despite historically commanding a premium multiple, and its long-term uptrend remains intact. That’s a dip that can reward patient investors.

Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) Price Chart for Thursday, June, 11, 2026

Palo Alto Networks: Cybersecurity's "SaaSpocalypse" Never CamePalo Alto Networks Today

PANW

Palo Alto Networks

$272.96 +9.74 (+3.70%)

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52-Week Range$139.57▼

$302.95P/E Ratio224.01

Price Target$306.59

Earlier this year, investors fretted that AI would gut the software sector, including cybersecurity companies. 

Palo Alto Networks NASDAQ: PANW recently delivered its fiscal Q3 2026 earnings report and CEO Nikesh Arora pushed back on the “SaaSpocalypse” narrative, arguing that AI is making cybersecurity more urgent, not less. The more powerful the AI tools that potential bad actors can access, the more sophisticated the defense needs to be.

Palo Alto noted that over 1,200 customers reached out in the wake of Mythos, and that the company held 800 meetings over six weeks to prepare for the shifting AI threat landscape.

The numbers back up Palo Alto’s CEO. The company delivered a record quarter, with 60% YOY growth in Next Generation Security ARR, bringing the total to $8.13 billion. That kind of ARR growth coming from a sector leader signals growth that is more than a cyclical trend. In addition, the company counted 2,280 total platformized customers with a 120% net retention rate.

Put those two numbers together, and it suggests existing customers are staying and spending more.

PANW is up over 40% year-to-date (YTD), but with raised guidance and expanding free cash flow, the run may have more room.

Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW) Price Chart for Thursday, June, 11, 2026

Planet Labs: The Quiet Space Stock With Eyes on EverythingPlanet Labs PBC Today

PL

Planet Labs PBC

$32.76 +2.04 (+6.64%)

As of 12:40 PM Eastern

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52-Week Range$4.90▼

$51.76Price Target$35.28

Planet Labs PBC NYSE: PL doesn't get the headlines that rocket companies do, but it may be doing something more commercially durable: building the world's most comprehensive real-time picture of Earth.

The company operates a constellation of satellites that can image every point on the planet daily. 

They then sell that data to agriculture, defense, government, and commercial customers who need situational awareness that no other platform can provide.

Like most space stocks, PL has had strong momentum, climbing over 25% over the past three months. The recent momentum reflects a combination of hardware milestones and contract wins. 

Planet launched three new Pelican satellites to orbit aboard a SpaceX rideshare mission on May 3, 2026. The company received high-resolution first light imagery within days of launch—a sign of a maturing deployment cadence

The company has been steadily building government relationships across Europe. For example, Planet Labs Germany landed a two-year, seven-figure enterprise contract with the Greek government, via the European Space Agency, adding to a growing backlog of sovereign clients.

The bull case is straightforward: a subscription-based data business with a government-heavy revenue mix, a growing satellite fleet, and a clear path toward profitability.

Planet Labs PBC (PL) Price Chart for Thursday, June, 11, 2026

Should You Invest $1,000 in Broadcom Right Now?Before you consider Broadcom, you'll want to hear this.

MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and Broadcom wasn't on the list.

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Space stocks are catching a strong bid at midday Thursday, June 11. Virgin Galactic (NYSE:SPCE) stock is leading the pack, up 20% intraday on a fresh liquidity catalyst, while sector peers ride a broader wave of enthusiasm into a highly anticipated SpaceX IPO window.

AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ:ASTS) stock is up 7%, Planet Labs (NYSE:PL) stock is up 6%, and Rocket Lab (NASDAQ:RKLB | RKLB Price Prediction) stock is advancing 5%. These are intraday moves that can easily shift through the rest of the session.

The rally appears to have two distinct drivers operating side by side. A company-specific debt-for-equity swap is fueling Virgin Galactic stock, while broader portfolio positioning ahead of an imminent SpaceX IPO seems to be lifting the rest of the group.

Virgin Galactic Surges on Debt-for-Equity Swap Virgin Galactic completed a partial debt-for-equity exchange disclosed in a June 10 regulatory filing. The company redeemed $30,524,000 of its 9.8% First Lien Notes due 2028 by issuing 6,734,960 shares directly to noteholders, a meaningful step toward cleaning up its capital structure.

About $172 million of First Lien Notes remain outstanding, with no principal due until March 31, 2028. Virgin Galactic’s management framed the swap as improving liquidity, mitigating debt-concentration risk, reducing cash interest obligations, and enhancing financial flexibility ahead of planned commercial operations in Q4 2026.

Virgin Galactic stock initially dipped slightly after-hours Wednesday, after closing the regular session up 3%. Thursday’s surge therefore reads as a fresh re-rating, with the market embracing the liquidity improvement and momentum traders piling on a low-priced, high-beta name where directional moves get amplified.

Reddit chatter has shifted sharply alongside the price. A top WallStreetBets post titled “The thesis is still not dead” drew 125 upvotes, echoing earlier bag-holder narratives among long-suffering Virgin Galactic shareholders. Activity has migrated from r/investing to r/wallstreetbets in recent days, a familiar pattern for low-float names where retail flow tends to drive outsized daily moves.

Sector Tailwind Lifts AST SpaceMobile, Planet Labs, and Rocket Lab AST SpaceMobile, Planet Labs, and Rocket Lab have no major company-specific news today. Their similar mid-single-digit gains point to broad space-sector enthusiasm and portfolio positioning ahead of the highly anticipated SpaceX IPO, which is expected in the coming days.

AST SpaceMobile carries plenty of operational momentum into the move, with a 20% year-to-date gain heading into Thursday’s session. The company is targeting roughly 45 BlueBird satellites in orbit by year-end, with BlueBirds 8-10 launching mid-June on Falcon 9, a milestone that keeps the satellite-broadband narrative front and center.

Planet Labs posted record Q1 FY2027 revenue of $94.15 million, up 42% year over year, when it reported on June 4. PL stock had pulled back meaningfully after that report, so Thursday’s bounce comes off a recent drawdown rather than extended highs. Planet Labs’ backlog also expanded sharply alongside the revenue print, supporting the longer-term satellite-imagery story.

Rocket Lab posted Q1 2026 revenue of $200.35 million, up 64% year over year, with backlog rising to $2.2 billion. Polymarket traders are pricing an 86% probability on RKLB stock finishing today’s session higher. Rocket Lab also holds a slot on the Department of War’s Space Based Interceptor program under Golden Dome in partnership with Raytheon, adding defense optionality to the story.

What to Watch Into the Close Investors will watch for whether the sector bid holds into the close, particularly given how quickly sentiment-driven rallies can reverse. The SpaceX IPO debut, whenever it lands, can either validate or undercut the positioning trade running through these space names.

Key catalysts to track include the ASTS BlueBird 8-10 launch on Falcon 9, Rocket Lab’s Neutron debut launch later in 2026, and Virgin Galactic’s targeted Q3 2026 flight test milestone. Each can move sentiment for its respective ticker independently from the broader sector trade.

These space companies remain mostly unprofitable, and their stocks are highly volatile. The debt-for-equity swap improves Virgin Galactic’s balance sheet, but it dilutes existing shareholders, so the longer-term setup stays nuanced even after Thursday’s pop. Aggregated Reddit data still shows neutral weekly sentiment on Virgin Galactic stock, a reminder that recent gains haven’t erased deeper skepticism on the name.

Investors considering exposure may want to size their positions modestly and review their holdings into the close. Sector rotations driven by IPO sentiment can reverse just as quickly as they form, and the underlying businesses still have substantial execution milestones to deliver before the fundamental story catches up to the share prices.