Rocket Lab (RKLB) stock vs the S&P 500 and defense stocks
As of 2 October 2026, Rocket Lab (RKLB) is among the weakest stocks we track. It is well behind the S&P 500 and behind defense stocks as a group (ITA) over the past three months.
Where Rocket Lab stands now
As of 2 October 2026, Rocket Lab had a good month against the S&P 500 after a weaker quarter. One month alone does not make a trend.
Inside its group, RKLB is catching up: ahead of defense stocks (ITA) over the past month, still behind over three months. As a group, defense stocks are trailing the S&P 500 right now. Stock and group are both under pressure.
Rocket Lab is 3.0% of ITA, so the fund's direction owes little to it. It sits in 2 of the sector and theme funds Zensei tracks. The thing to watch is the past month: stocks this far behind only become interesting once the recent window turns.
RKLB vs the S&P 500: returns
Rocket Lab and the S&P 500 (SPY) side by side, over each window Zensei tracks.
Prices as of · computed from daily adjusted closes · how we measure
RKLB against defense stocks, in depth
See the size of the gap between Rocket Lab and defense stocks (ITA) over every window, its momentum and its relative strength, and where it sits among defense stocks.
See the full analysisWhich ETFs hold Rocket Lab?
2 funds that Zensei tracks hold RKLB, by weight. The fund with the largest weight is its sector on this page.
Rocket Lab competitors
The largest other holdings of iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA), with their return over the past month.
Rocket Lab stock: common questions
Is Rocket Lab stock beating the S&P 500?
As of 2 October 2026, Rocket Lab (RKLB) is up 18.2% over the past month. The S&P 500 is up 1.3% over the same month. Over three months, the stock is down 26.4% and the S&P 500 is up 3.6%.
Which ETFs hold Rocket Lab?
As of 2 October 2026, 2 funds that Zensei tracks hold RKLB. Its largest weight is in iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA), at 3.0%. It is also in VanEck Social Sentiment ETF (BUZZ, 2.0%).
Who are Rocket Lab's competitors?
As of 2 October 2026, the largest other holdings of iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA) are GE Aerospace (GE), RTX (RTX), Boeing (BA), Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT), Transdigm Group Inc (TDG). These are the stocks Rocket Lab sits next to among defense stocks.
Is Rocket Lab doing better than other defense stocks?
As of 2 October 2026, Rocket Lab (RKLB) is behind defense stocks as a group (ITA) over the past three months. Zensei Edge shows the size of the gap, its momentum and its relative strength.
Track Rocket Lab against defense stocks and the market
Zensei Edge maps 100+ sectors and themes against the S&P 500, with each stock inside them measured against its group.