ASTC vs RKLB

For growth investors, Rocket Lab USA, Inc.

(RKLB) is the stronger pick with 38. 0% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -37. 0% for Astrotech Corporation (ASTC). Analysts rate Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (RKLB) a "Buy" — based on 18 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

Over the past 5 years, Rocket Lab USA, Inc.

(RKLB) delivered a total return of +686. 6%, compared to -91. 9% for Astrotech Corporation (ASTC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: RKLB returned +706. 4% versus ASTC's -98. 9%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Astrotech Corporation (ASTC) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

54β versus Rocket Lab USA, Inc. 's 2. 91β — meaning RKLB is approximately 441% more volatile than ASTC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Astrotech Corporation (ASTC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 12% versus 15% for Rocket Lab USA, Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), Rocket Lab USA, Inc.

(RKLB) is pulling ahead at 38. 0% versus -37. 0% for Astrotech Corporation (ASTC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: Rocket Lab USA, Inc. grew EPS 2. 6% year-over-year, compared to -16. 9% for Astrotech Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, RKLB leads at 41. 8% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

Rocket Lab USA, Inc.

(RKLB) is the more profitable company, earning -32. 9% net margin versus -1320. 3% for Astrotech Corporation — meaning it keeps -32. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: RKLB leads at -38. 0% versus -1404. 6% for ASTC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ASTC leads at 45. 3%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Astrotech Corporation (ASTC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

54)). Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (RKLB) carries a higher beta of 2. 91 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ASTC: -98. 9%, RKLB: +706. 4%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

Both stocks operate in the Industrials sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both.

In terms of investment character: ASTC is a small-cap quality compounder stock; RKLB is a mid-cap high-growth stock. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.