Shares of Intuitive Machines (NASDAQ: LUNR) surged over 15% on Wednesday following a vote of confidence from Cantor Fitzgerald, which reiterated its Overweight rating and maintained a price target of $13.00.
The renewed support from analysts comes on the heels of a challenging development for the space technology company. During its second lunar mission in the first quarter of 2025, Intuitive Machines’ Athena lander touched down roughly 250 meters off its intended site at the moon’s south pole — landing on its side. The mishap triggered a sharp selloff, with the stock now down 60.05% year-to-date.
However, Cantor Fitzgerald remains optimistic about the company’s long-term prospects. The firm emphasized that Intuitive Machines’ primary revenue comes from its space contracts, including the OMES, NSN, and LTV projects, rather than its launch missions. The analysts expect the company to earn over 90% of its revenue from the IM-2 Mission.
Looking forward, Intuitive Machines (NASDAQ: LUNR) is eyeing its third lunar mission in 2026. The company’s business model relies heavily on vertical integration, with management noting that more than 80% of its components are produced in-house or sourced domestically. The analysts believe this could help shield the company from potential tariff impacts.
Given the recent drop in stock value, Cantor Fitzgerald suggests Intuitive Machines could pursue merger and acquisition opportunities—a possibility management mentioned during the last earnings call.
At the Space Symposium, Intuitive Machines confirmed its position as the sole awardee of the NSN contract, valued at approximately $4.82 billion. This contract involves the development of a satellite constellation to provide communication and navigation services for NASA, with an initial revenue recognition of $150 million expected through 2027.
As of the third quarter of 2024, the company reported a contracted backlog of $316.2 million, with the OMES contract still on track for its $719 million award. Intuitive Machines is also focused on securing the Lunar Terrain Vehicle contract. Despite an impressive revenue growth of 186.61% over the past year, analysts note that the company is not expected to turn a profit in 2025.
Salman Akhtar is a finance, stocks, and technology journalist with years of experience across various news organizations. He has contributed his expertise to outlets such as 24NewsHD, TrimFeed, The Voice Pakistan, and TheTechBasic. Salman is passionate about making complex topics accessible to a broad audience. His dedication to delivering accurate and timely information has established him as a trusted voice in the industry. Read Full Bio
