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Intuitive Machines Soars 54% on New NASA Contract: Is the Sky the Limit?

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Written by Timothy Sykes
Reviewed by Jack Kellogg Fact-checked by Ellis Hobbs

Intuitive Machines Inc. is making headlines as its shares surged by 10.34 percent on Friday. The stock’s impressive climb is largely attributed to recent announcements, including a notable partnership with NASA and a successful lunar mission milestone. Investors are buoyed by the company’s groundbreaking advancements in space technology, solidifying its position as a leading player in the aerospace industry.

Candlestick Chart

Live Update at 10:30:56 EST: On Friday, September 27, 2024 Intuitive Machines Inc. stock [NASDAQ: LUNR] is trending up by 10.34%! Discover the key drivers behind this movement as well as our expert analysis in the detailed breakdown below.

Breaking News on Intuitive Machines

  • Shares of Intuitive Machines rocketed by 54% after securing a massive NASA Near Space Network contract valued up to $4.82B.
  • The $4.82B NASA deal focuses on providing essential lunar communication and navigation services, reinforcing Intuitive Machines as a critical player in the Artemis campaign.
  • Intuitive Machines’ price target has been raised to $12 from $8 by B. Riley, maintaining their ‘Buy’ rating.
  • Roth MKM has given a positive outlook with a price target of $10 following the new contract, highlighting its multi-billion-dollar potential.

Quick Overview of Intuitive Machines Inc.’s Recent Earnings Report

Intuitive Machines Inc. (LUNR) has been making headlines with its remarkable surge in stock prices, thanks to a recent monumental contract from NASA. The company’s latest earnings report indicates several financial movements worth diving into.

Recent Earnings Report and Key Financial Metrics

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The second quarter of 2024 brought mixed fortunes for Intuitive Machines. The company reported an operating revenue of $41.41M, but total expenses of $69.58M left an operating income of -$28.17M. Despite these operational challenges, net income from continuing operations stood at $15.98M, and the company swung to a net income of $18.28M by including other income sources.

One standout figure is their EBITDA of $15.81M, showing some underlying operational efficiency. However, the gross margin is a problematic -9.6%. With a debt to equity ratio that isn’t specified, it’s hard to firmly grasp their leverage, but the quick ratio of 0.8 suggests liquidity challenges.

One critical measure, the price to sales ratio, stands at 6.5, indicating investor optimism despite poor profitability metrics like the return on assets (-8.65%) and profit margin (-40.1%). Intuitive Machines’ earnings per share (EPS) was $0.33 on a basic level and $0.29 when diluted, showing room for growth but caution in valuation.

In the cash flow statement, operating activities drained $31.26M, while investing activities consumed another $22.05M. Yet they managed to generate $9.85M from financing activities. Free cash flow (FCF) was deeply negative at -$33.47M, a sign of ongoing capital needs.

Chart Insights: The Rollercoaster Ride

Looking at the stock’s performance over the past few days reveals a story of volatile trading. From an open of $7.99 on September 27, 2024, LUNR soared to $8.805 by close, indicating strong buying pressure. Intraday movements show a nuanced dance of short spikes and dips, with a significant intraday jump reaching up to $8.97.

The underlying trend is clear – the stock has benefitted from the contract announcement, providing ample fodder for traders to bet on further upside.

More Breaking News

Speculated Performance: What the Ratios Suggest

Intuitive Machines’ key ratios paint a mixed picture. The price to book ratio of -4.37 and price to cash flow ratio of -8.2 point to significant investor discomfort with the company’s current state, despite optimism reflected in forward-looking ratios like the increased price targets. The company’s quick ratio of 0.8 further hints at its ongoing liquidity issues.

The NASNA contract could be a game-changer, potentially shifting these ratios favorably if successfully executed. With a receivables turnover of 7.8, the efficiency in collecting payments is clear, yet the company needs to combat its high debt levels and manage its cash flows more prudently.

The Implications of Intuitive Machines’ NASA Contract

NASA’s Project: A Game-Changer for LUNR

Intuitive Machines has bagged a deal that many companies would covet. To better understand the implications, let’s break down the deal. NASA’s Near Space Network contract aims to establish a robust communication and navigation system, extending from Earth to beyond the Moon. This $4.82B contract is divided into a five-year base period with an optional five-year extension.

For Intuitive Machines, this contract isn’t just another project. It’s about establishing a pivotal infrastructure for NASA’s Artemis campaign, which aims to return humans to the Moon by 2024 and establish sustainable exploration by the end of the decade.

The market responded with enthusiasm, sending shares soaring by over 54%. What makes this deal groundbreaking isn’t just the revenue potential but the validation it brings.

B. Riley and Roth MKM’s Optimism Explained

B. Riley’s updated price target of $12, an increase from $8, reflects the strategic importance of the NASA contract. Analysts typically revise price targets based on fundamental changes to a company’s outlook. The upgrade signals higher expected revenues and a more promising future.

Similarly, Roth MKM’s maintained ‘Buy’ rating and $10 price target further instills confidence. Both firms see the contract as a transformative opportunity for Intuitive Machines to solidify its standing in space exploration and commercialization.

Previous Performance and Future Projections

Analyzing past performance sheds light on expected trends. Intuitive Machines’ shares were struggling, evident in the price drops recorded, like the slip to $7.64 on September 24, 2024, from intraday highs. Yet, the recent rally indicates renewed investor interest and a departure from the doldrums.

This contract could act as a catalyst, propelling the stock further if the company capitalizes on this opportunity. Additionally, creating a reliable communication network for NASA could open doors for other government and commercial space endeavors.

Market Reactions: Traders’ Delight

The stock’s swings in reaction to the recent developments have kept traders on their toes. On September 18, 2024, LUNR’s pre-bell surge by 46.1% epitomized the market’s positive outlook. It underscores how pivotal contracts can redefine market perceptions swiftly.

Trading volumes surged alongside price movements, showcasing the stock’s renewed vigor. Investors and traders alike appear to be betting on future successes tied to the NASA deal.

Closing Thoughts: Riding High on Potential

Intuitive Machines is at a critical juncture – on the brink of potential high growth or struggling operational challenges. The new NASA contract has undoubtedly injected optimism and a revised outlook, yet the company’s financials reflect underlying issues needing resolution.

Balancing Risk and Reward

For investors, the contract highlights significant reward potential but with risks attached. It’s vital for them to weigh these aspects before diving in. Despite the favorable price to sales ratio and positive projections, the negative profitability ratios and high debt levels underscore caution.

The Road Ahead

The market’s enthusiastic response indicates confidence in Intuitive Machines’ capabilities. The company’s destiny now hinges on effectively leveraging the NASA contract, meeting project milestones, and converting this opportunity into long-term growth.

While the journey ahead is fraught with challenges, Intuitive Machines has the backing of key analysts and a substantial contract to bolster its credentials. Eyes will be on their execution, quarterly reports, and any updates from NASA.

Investors looking to capitalize should stay tuned for further developments. As with any high-reward stocks, it’s crucial to tread with an eye on both underlying fundamentals and market sentiments.

In sum, Intuitive Machines has opened the door to immense possibilities. The challenge lies in transforming this newfound spotlight into sustained growth and shareholder value.

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Timothy Sykes

Tim Sykes is a penny stock trader and teacher who became a self-made millionaire by the age of 22 by trading $12,415 of bar mitzvah money. After becoming disenchanted with the hedge fund world, he established the Tim Sykes Trading Challenge to teach aspiring traders how to follow his trading strategies. He’s been featured in a variety of media outlets including CNN, Larry King, Steve Harvey, Forbes, Men’s Journal, and more. He’s also an active philanthropist and environmental activist, a co-founder of Karmagawa, and has donated millions of dollars to charity. Read More

* Results are not typical and will vary from person to person. Making money trading stocks takes time, dedication, and hard work. There are inherent risks involved with investing in the stock market, including the loss of your investment. Past performance in the market is not indicative of future results. Any investment is at your own risk. See Terms of Service here

The available research on day trading suggests that most active traders lose money. Fees and overtrading are major contributors to these losses.

A 2000 study called “Trading is Hazardous to Your Wealth: The Common Stock Investment Performance of Individual Investors” evaluated 66,465 U.S. households that held stocks from 1991 to 1996. The households that traded most averaged an 11.4% annual return during a period where the overall market gained 17.9%. These lower returns were attributed to overconfidence.

A 2014 paper (revised 2019) titled “Learning Fast or Slow?” analyzed the complete transaction history of the Taiwan Stock Exchange between 1992 and 2006. It looked at the ongoing performance of day traders in this sample, and found that 97% of day traders can expect to lose money from trading, and more than 90% of all day trading volume can be traced to investors who predictably lose money. Additionally, it tied the behavior of gamblers and drivers who get more speeding tickets to overtrading, and cited studies showing that legalized gambling has an inverse effect on trading volume.

A 2019 research study (revised 2020) called “Day Trading for a Living?” observed 19,646 Brazilian futures contract traders who started day trading from 2013 to 2015, and recorded two years of their trading activity. The study authors found that 97% of traders with more than 300 days actively trading lost money, and only 1.1% earned more than the Brazilian minimum wage ($16 USD per day). They hypothesized that the greater returns shown in previous studies did not differentiate between frequent day traders and those who traded rarely, and that more frequent trading activity decreases the chance of profitability.

These studies show the wide variance of the available data on day trading profitability. One thing that seems clear from the research is that most day traders lose money .

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Citations for Disclaimer

Barber, Brad M. and Odean, Terrance, Trading is Hazardous to Your Wealth: The Common Stock Investment Performance of Individual Investors. Available at SSRN: “Day Trading for a Living?”

Barber, Brad M. and Lee, Yi-Tsung and Liu, Yu-Jane and Odean, Terrance and Zhang, Ke, Learning Fast or Slow? (May 28, 2019). Forthcoming: Review of Asset Pricing Studies, Available at SSRN: “https://ssrn.com/abstract=2535636”

Chague, Fernando and De-Losso, Rodrigo and Giovannetti, Bruno, Day Trading for a Living? (June 11, 2020). Available at SSRN: “https://ssrn.com/abstract=3423101”