Rocket Lab Stock Rises Over 1% After Analyst Names It Among SpaceX's Most Capable Rivals

According to William Blair analyst Louie DiPalma via Bloomberg, Rocket Lab (RKLB) shares rose over 1% in late Thursday trading on July 9, with the analyst calling the company among SpaceX's most capable and innovative competitors in the commercial space race. DiPalma acknowledged strong market demand for alternatives to SpaceX's Falcon 9 and Starship, identifying Rocket Lab and Blue Origin as the strongest contenders. However, he stressed SpaceX's dominance: "SpaceX has a 90%-plus market share. They're a decade ahead."

Meanwhile, Starlink has crossed 12 million active customers across more than 160 countries and territories, according to company updates. The satellite internet service has delivered peak symmetric speeds of up to 10 Gbps in Utqiagvik, Alaska, and up to 20 Gbps through bonded gateways, with Elon Musk stating on X that Starlink can now provide reliable 10 Gbps symmetric connectivity globally.