If You'd Put $5,000 Into Rocket Lab 5 Years Ago, Here's How Much You'd Have Today

Rocket Lab stock has surged over 650% in five years, with a $5,000 investment in 2021 now worth approximately $37,810. While the company benefits from a rapidly expanding space industry and a record $2.36 billion backlog, the author cautions that the stock's valuation of 60+ times annual sales is excessive. Key concerns include significant cash burn ($270 million in negative free cash flow last year) and continued delays to the critical Neutron rocket program.