Top 5 space stocks to watch in 2026
Rockets capable of reaching orbit were first developed as intercontinental ballistic missiles. The revenue models still reflect that history, split between government procurement and commercial launch and satellite services.
Space stocks cover the businesses that build, launch, and operate systems beyond Earth's atmosphere – from satellites and launch vehicles to the defence systems that rely on them. The five companies here split between two diversified aerospace-and-defence businesses, The Boeing Company ($BA) and Lockheed Martin ($LMT), and three dedicated space-economy companies focused on launch services, spacecraft, and orbital infrastructure.
How we built this list: We selected these companies based on their industry and relevance to the theme, then ordered them by market capitalisation. Prices are updated daily, and the list and supporting content are reviewed roughly every quarter. All data is sourced from Stake. This list isn't a recommendation and isn't ordered by suitability.
Company Name | Ticker | Share Price | Market Cap | In Watchlists |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Boeing | $187.55 | $151.97B | 12397 | |
Lockheed Martin | $589.91 | $127.28B | 11151 | |
Rocket Lab | $51.22 | $32.12B | 17794 | |
AST SpaceMobile | $38.77 | $15.92B | 7570 | |
Intuitive Machines | $10.45 | $2.50B | 3133 |
Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
Source: Stake market data. Figures in US$. Data updated as of 22 October 2026.
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1. Boeing ($BA)
Price: US$187.55 · Daily: -2.5% · Market cap: US$151.97B · Sector: Industrials · Industry: Aerospace & Defence
The Boeing Company ($BA) builds commercial jets and military systems. Its commercial airplanes division produces the 737 narrow-body and the 767, 777 and 787 wide-body jets for airlines worldwide. The defence arm develops and produces military aircraft, unmanned systems and weapons platforms for government customers. A separate Global Services division covers maintenance, pilot training, spare parts and supply chain support across both commercial and defence operations.
The space and security work falls within $BA's defence segment, covering research and development across military and government programmes. Chief executive Kelly Ortberg leads a workforce of around 182,000 people.
2. Lockheed Martin ($LMT)
Price: US$589.91 · Daily: 7.0% · Market cap: US$127.28B · Sector: Industrials · Industry: Aerospace & Defence
Four business segments make up Lockheed Martin ($LMT): Aeronautics, Missiles and Fire Control (MFC), Rotary and Mission Systems (RMS) and Space. The Aeronautics division develops advanced military aircraft, including combat jets, air mobility platforms and unmanned aerial vehicles. CEO Jim Taiclet leads a workforce of 123,000 people across the business.
The MFC segment produces air and missile defence systems, tactical missiles and precision strike weapons. RMS handles military and commercial helicopters alongside sea and land-based missile defence. $LMT's Space segment researches and develops satellites, space transportation systems and strategic defensive systems.
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3. Rocket Lab ($RKLB)
Price: US$51.22 · Daily: -4.6% · Market cap: US$32.12B · Sector: Industrials · Industry: Aerospace & Defence
Rocket Lab Corporation ($RKLB) sits at the end-to-end side of the space economy – it doesn't just launch rockets, it also builds the spacecraft and many of the components that go on them. The company's Launch Services segment sends payloads to orbit either on dedicated missions or through ride-share arrangements, where multiple customers share a single launch.
The Space Systems segment is where $RKLB makes the hardware that other spacecraft rely on: reaction wheels, star trackers, solar panels, radios and separation systems, plus the software to command and control a spacecraft once it's in orbit. Under CEO Peter Beck and with around 2,600 employees, the company covers enough of the supply chain that a satellite operator can source the launch, the spacecraft design and the components from the one place.
4. AST SpaceMobile ($ASTS)
Price: US$38.77 · Daily: -5.2% · Market cap: US$15.92B · Sector: Technology · Industry: Telecom
AST SpaceMobile ($ASTS) is building a cellular broadband network in space – one designed to work with standard, unmodified mobile phones rather than specialist hardware. The idea is to reach users who are outside terrestrial mobile coverage, routing a signal down from low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites instead.
The company's constellation of BlueBird satellites is at the centre of that effort, and $ASTS is continuing to test capabilities through its BW3 test satellite, including trials with cellular service providers and government partners. Abel Avellan leads the company, which employs 1,126 people across operations in India, Scotland, Spain and Israel.
The SpaceMobile service is still in development – $ASTS describes it as designed to deliver high-speed cellular broadband from orbit, covering gaps in existing mobile networks. The commercial and government applications it's targeting reflect the dual-use nature of the underlying infrastructure.
5. Intuitive Machines ($LUNR)
Price: US$10.45 · Daily: -4.2% · Market cap: US$2.50B · Sector: Industrials · Industry: Aerospace & Defence
Intuitive Machines ($LUNR) designs, builds, and operates spacecraft and communications networks as infrastructure for commercial, civil, and national security customers. Its systems are built to work across low Earth orbit, geostationary orbit, cislunar space, and deep space.
The networks are designed to maintain persistent connectivity between Earth and spacecraft, supporting navigation, timing, data relay, and command and control. $LUNR has built over 300 spacecraft in total and delivered over 260 kilograms of payload to the lunar surface. CEO Stephen Altemus leads a team of 525 people.
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Common questions
How do I invest in space stocks in Australia?
All five stocks in this list trade on U.S. exchanges. You can access them through a share trading platform that connects to U.S. markets, searching by ticker – $BA, $LMT, $RKLB, $ASTS or $LUNR – and placing an order the same way you would for any U.S.-listed share.
What are the key risks of space stocks?
Some of the key risks include government contract dependency, since several companies here rely on defence and civil space budgets that can shift with policy priorities. Early-stage businesses carry development risk – building and deploying satellites or launch vehicles involves significant technical complexity, and programmes can run over budget or face delays. Regulatory requirements, including launch licences and radio-frequency spectrum rights, can affect a company's ability to operate at the scale its business model requires. Because all five trade in U.S. dollars, movements between the AUD and the USD affect both the cost of a purchase and the value of any proceeds in Australian dollars.
How do the established aerospace companies in this list differ from the pure-play space names?
$BA and $LMT run space activities as one segment within much larger businesses: both build military aircraft and weapons systems, and $BA also builds commercial jets. Their revenue comes from many programmes, so the space work sits alongside a broad base of existing contracts. $RKLB, $ASTS and $LUNR are built around space specifically – covering launch services, spacecraft manufacturing, satellite broadband and lunar infrastructure – with narrower revenue bases and some services still in development. Companies with a narrower focus on a single business line can carry more company-specific risk than a diversified contractor.
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Disclaimer
Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. When you invest, your capital is at risk. You should consider your own investment objectives, financial situation, and particular needs before making an investment decision. The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may receive back less than your original investment. As always, do your own research and consider seeking appropriate financial advice before investing.
This is not personal financial advice nor a recommendation to invest in the securities listed. Any advice provided by Stake is of general nature only and does not take into account your specific circumstances. Trading and volume data from the Stake investing platform is for reference purposes only, the investment choices of others may not be appropriate for your needs and is not a reliable indicator of performance.
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This article combines AI and human review from our analysts to bring you accurate, informative investing content at speed. For questions or suggestions, contact stakedesk@stake.com.au.
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