Rocket Lab USA highlights the path to long-term profitability alongside its Q2 earnings report

Rocket Lab USA (NASDAQ:RKLB) fell in postmarket trading on Thursday as investors sized up the second quarter earnings report and management update.

The space launch company reported revenue jumped 36% year-over-year to $144.5 million to top the consensus expectation. Total operating expenses were up to $106.1 million. The company saw an operating loss of $66.4 million for the quarter vs. an operating loss of $41.6 million a year ago.

Rocket Lab (NASDAQ:RKLB) founder and CEO Sir Peter Beck pointed out the company’s gross margin expansion during the quarter and record revenue result, which he said was driven by operational performance and program execution that has the company on track for a record year of launches and spacecraft delivery.

“It’s also been a busy quarter of M&A activity as we’ve progressed our acquisition of Geost, strongly positioning ourselves to meet the needs of defense initiatives like the Golden Dome with end-to-end mission solutions across launch, spacecraft, and now payloads. We’re confident our strategic investments will drive new growth opportunities that will drive us toward long-term profitability, particularly as we guide toward another potential record quarter for Q3.”

Shares of Rocket Lab USA (RKLB) were down 1.3% in postmarket action.