Remember when everyone was obsessed with going to the moon? Well, turns out that wasn’t just a crypto meme – it’s actually happening, and Intuitive Machines (LUNR) just proved it by rocketing 37.7% on Friday to close at $14.94.
The catalyst? KeyBanc analysts basically said “we like this stock” with an Overweight rating and a $20 price target. That’s about 34% upside from Friday’s close, or roughly 84% from where it was trading before this latest moonshot. Not bad for a company that literally shoots things at the moon for a living.
Why Wall Street Suddenly Cares About Moon Stuff
Here’s the thing about Intuitive Machines – they’re not just another space startup burning cash on PowerPoint presentations. They’ve got a nearly $1 billion backlog after acquiring Lanteris Space Systems, and they’re one of three finalists for NASA’s Lunar Terrain Vehicle program. Think of it as building moon Ubers for astronauts.
The timing couldn’t be better. Trump just signed an executive order called “Ensuring American Space Superiority” (because of course that’s what it’s called), committing to landing astronauts on the moon by 2028 and establishing a permanent lunar outpost by 2030. Complete with nuclear power sources, because apparently we’re going full sci-fi now.
This isn’t just political theater – it’s a direct response to China’s space ambitions. And guess who’s already proven they can actually deliver payloads to the moon? That’s right, our friends at Intuitive Machines.
The Reality Check
Now, before you start planning your retirement around moon stocks, let’s talk about the elephant in the room – or should I say, the lander tipping over on the moon.
Intuitive Machines has had some… let’s call them “learning experiences.” Their first commercial lunar landing in 2024 ended with the lander doing an unplanned sideways maneuver. Their second attempt (IM-2) also resulted in a tipped-over lander that couldn’t recharge or deploy its payloads properly. The stock got absolutely crushed after that mishap.
Space is hard, folks. Really hard. And when things go wrong 240,000 miles away, you can’t exactly send a repair crew.
The Bottom Line
Despite the occasional faceplant on the lunar surface, Intuitive Machines remains the only private company to actually reach the moon. That’s not nothing in a world where most “space companies” are still figuring out how to get to orbit reliably.
With NASA’s Artemis program getting renewed political backing and a nearly $1 billion backlog, LUNR is positioned to benefit from the new space race. The stock trades with the volatility you’d expect from a company whose business model involves rocket science, but for risk-tolerant investors who believe in the long-term lunar economy, this could be an interesting ride.
Just remember – in space, no one can hear you scream about your portfolio losses. But they also can’t hear you celebrating your gains, so there’s that.