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Space Stock Boom: Why Retail and Wall Street Are Aligning
Author: Jeffrey Neal Johnson. Article Posted: 1/27/2026.
Key Takeaways
- Retail enthusiasm and Wall Street research are converging around space technology stocks in 2026.
- Rocket Lab and AST SpaceMobile sit at the center of the momentum, but each carries very different risk.
- For broader exposure with less single-event volatility, a space-focused ETF can offer a more balanced approach.
Over the last five years, the narrative between retail and institutional investors was one of conflict. Retail traders chased hype while institutions stuck to the numbers, and those different approaches usually put the two groups on opposite sides of trades.
But 2026 has brought a shift that could change how both groups play the market. According to a new report from J.P. Morgan (NYSE: JPM), retail trading has migrated away from the meme stocks and artificial intelligence (AI) plays of the past. Retail traders' latest obsession is the space technology sector.
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Unlike previous cycles—when Wall Street's top investors warned against following the crowd—this time the smart money appears to be following retail. On Jan. 16, 2026, Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) issued a report that effectively validated the entire sector, signaling the Orbital Economy is no longer a science project but an industrial asset class ready for harvest.
When Main Street enthusiasm meets Wall Street validation, it creates a powerful setup for stock-price appreciation. Below are the specific stocks at the center of this rare alignment.
Rocket Lab: The Apple of Space Gets an Upgrade
Rocket Lab USA (NASDAQ: RKLB) exemplifies this new market unity. For years it has been a retail favorite because of a transparent CEO and frequent launches. Now institutions are catching up.
Rocket Lab received two significant analyst upgrades in a week. First, on Jan. 16, 2026, Morgan Stanley upgraded the company to an Overweight rating, raising its price target to $105. That was followed on Jan. 20 by Bank of America, which doubled its price target from $60 to $120.
Combined, those banks established a new consensus target of $112.50, implying healthy upside from the stock's recent trading level around $86. Analysts pointed to Rocket Lab's transition from a small-rocket launcher to a large-scale infrastructure provider as the key driver.
Navigating the Turbulence
The stock recently faced a test of faith. On Jan. 21, 2026, the company experienced a structural failure during a pressure test of its new Neutron rocket tank. In prior cycles, news like this might have triggered a panic sell-off.
Instead, Rocket Lab has shown resilience, dipping only about 10%. Part of the reason: it has a substantial financial cushion, including an $816 million contract with the Space Development Agency (SDA). Progress is also visible at the launch site with the arrival of the new Hungry Hippo payload fairings. That combination of government backing and tangible progress helps investors look past temporary testing setbacks.
AST SpaceMobile: Squeezing the Skeptics
If Rocket Lab is the steady industrial play, AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ: ASTS) is the high-octane bet. The company is attempting a technological feat many thought impossible: connecting standard cell phones directly to satellites for broadband data.
Understanding the Short Squeeze
AST SpaceMobile is trading around $108, but remains one of the market's most controversial stocks. Roughly 15% of its available shares are sold short.
Short sellers bet a stock will fall. When a heavily shorted stock receives positive news, the price can jump, forcing short sellers to buy shares to close losing positions—pushing the price higher still. That cascade is known as a short squeeze.
The February Catalyst
The fuse for a potential squeeze could be lit soon. Investors are focused on late February 2026, when the BlueBird 7 satellite is scheduled to launch on a Blue Origin rocket.
After the launch, the company plans to activate beta commercial service with AT&T (NYSE: T) in the first half of the year. If the satellites deliver high-speed data to unmodified phones, the bear case could unravel. While some insiders—including investors in companies like American Tower (NYSE: AMT)—have sold shares to lock in gains after big run-ups, the retail base has largely held, waiting for this moment of truth.
The Runners: Real Revenue, Real Rockets
For investors who prefer balance sheets over buzz, the sector offers quieter, financially robust options.
Planet Labs: The Data Machine
Planet Labs (NYSE: PL) is often described as the Bloomberg Terminal of Earth: it launches satellites and sells the data they collect.
- The Sovereign Shift: Governments are increasingly focused on geopolitical stability, driving demand for sovereign cloud data—dedicated intelligence for individual nations.
- The Scoreboard: That demand helped Planet Labs deliver $81.3 million in revenue last quarter. With successful launches of their Pelican-5 and Pelican-6 satellites, they are upgrading their products as demand peaks.
Intuitive Machines: The Lunar Leader
Intuitive Machines (NASDAQ: LUNR) stands out as a growth company with a strong balance sheet.
- Cash is King: The company holds more than $600 million in cash and carries very little debt. In a high-interest-rate environment, avoiding heavy interest payments is a major advantage.
- The Next Mission: Trading near $20, the stock is positioned for the IM-2 and IM-3 lunar missions in the first half of 2026. Unlike some peers, Intuitive Machines has the cash reserves to weather delays, making it a lower-risk way to gain exposure to the lunar economy.
Don't Pick the Winner: Buy the Whole Race
Space investing is exciting but volatile—rockets explode, tests fail, and schedules slip. For investors who want exposure without watching every launch window, the Procure Space ETF (NASDAQ: UFO) is a logical option.
The ETF works like a diversified basket, holding shares in Rocket Lab, AST SpaceMobile, Planet Labs and other global players, including MDA Space.
- The Trade-off: You probably won't see a 50% one-day gain like you might with AST SpaceMobile.
- The Benefit: If one company has a bad week, others can support the portfolio.
- The Numbers: The fund trades around $47 and delivered a roughly +92% return over the past year. It also pays a small dividend, offering modest income while the sector matures.
The Era of Concept Stocks Is Over
The alignment of J.P. Morgan and Morgan Stanley reports with retail investor enthusiasm is noteworthy. Rarely do the advanced models used by the world's largest banks line up so neatly with Main Street sentiment.
The Orbital Economy has graduated. In 2026, revenue is real, rockets are flying, and contracts are being signed. Volatility will continue, but the trend is clear: space is open for business, and Wall Street is finally buying tickets.
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