Which Is a Better Investment, Elbit Systems Ltd or Rocket Lab USA Inc Stock?

By AAII Staff
September 09, 2026
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Sifting through countless of stocks in the Aerospace & Defense industry can be tedious, and sometimes two stocks are just too similar to judge which is the better investment. If you’re on the fence about investing in Rocket Lab Corporation or Elbit Systems Ltd. because you’re not sure how they measure up, it’s important to compare them on a few factors before making your decision.

Read on to learn how Rocket Lab Corporation and Elbit Systems Ltd. compare based on key financial metrics to determine which better meets your investment needs.

About Rocket Lab Corporation and Elbit Systems Ltd.

Rocket Lab Corporation, a space company, provides launch services and space systems solutions in the United States, Canada, Japan, and internationally. The company operates through launch services and space systems segments. The company provides launch services, spacecraft design services, spacecraft components, spacecraft manufacturing, optical systems, and other spacecraft and on-orbit management solutions and constellation management services, as well as designs and manufactures small and medium-class rockets and develops flight and ground software. It also designs, manufactures, and sells Electron, an orbital small launch vehicle for small spacecraft launch services, as well as develops Neutron launch vehicles for large constellation deployments, interplanetary missions, and potentially for human spaceflight. In addition, the company designs and manufactures a range of components and subsystems for its launch vehicles and spacecraft. It serves commercial, aerospace prime contractors, and government customers. Rocket Lab Corporation was formerly known as Rocket Lab USA, Inc. and changed its name to Rocket Lab Corporation in August 2021. The company was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Long Beach, California.

Elbit Systems Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, develops and supplies defense and homeland security arenas products and services in Israel, North America, Europe, the Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and internationally. The company operates through five segments: Aerospace; C4I and Cyber; Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare; Land; and Elbit Systems of America. It offers airborne platforms, unmanned aerial solutions, precision guided munition sensors, aerostructures, training and simulator systems, flight academy solutions, and commercial aviation systems; and command, control, communications, computer, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems, as well as data links and radio communication systems and equipment, cyber intelligence solutions, and autonomous and homeland security solutions. The company also provides various electro-optic laser solutions and countermeasure systems and products, naval combat management and sonar systems, and electronic warfare, signal Intelligence, and radar systems; indirect fire, turrets and weapons, ammunition and munition, and active protection systems; and products, system solutions, and support services to defense, homeland security, law enforcement, commercial aviation, and medical instrumentation markets. It serves various governments and companies. The company was incorporated in 1966 and is based in Haifa, Israel.

Latest Aerospace & Defense and Rocket Lab Corporation, Elbit Systems Ltd. Stock News

As of September 8, 2026, Rocket Lab Corporation had a $39.4 billion market capitalization, compared to the Aerospace & Defense median of $4.2 million. Rocket Lab Corporation’s stock is NA in 2026, NA in the previous five trading days and up 43.7% in the past year.

Currently, Rocket Lab Corporation does not have a price-earnings ratio. Rocket Lab Corporation’s trailing 12-month revenue is $769.1 million with a -21.5% net profit margin. Year-over-year quarterly sales growth most recently was 62.0%. Analysts expect adjusted earnings to reach $-0.043 per share for the current fiscal year. Rocket Lab Corporation does not currently pay a dividend.

Currently, Elbit Systems Ltd.’s price-earnings ratio is 62.2. Elbit Systems Ltd.’s trailing 12-month revenue is $7.9 billion with a 7.4% net profit margin. Year-over-year quarterly sales growth most recently was 43.8%. Analysts expect adjusted earnings to reach $16.266 per share for the current fiscal year. Elbit Systems Ltd. currently has a 0.6% dividend yield.

How We Compare Rocket Lab Corporation and Elbit Systems Ltd. Stock Grades

Stock evaluation requires access to huge amounts of data and the knowledge and time to sift through it all, make sense of financial ratios, read income statements and analyze recent stock movements. AAII created A+ Investor, a robust data suite that condenses data research in an actionable and customizable way suitable for investors of all knowledge levels, to help investors streamline and work through such data.

AAII’s proprietary stock grades come with A+ Investor. These offer intuitive A‐F grades for each of five key investing factors: value, growth, momentum, earnings estimate revisions and quality. Here, we’ll take a closer look at Rocket Lab Corporation and Elbit Systems Ltd.’s stock grades to see how they measure up against one another.

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Rocket Lab Corporation and Elbit Systems Ltd. Growth Grades

Company Ticker Growth
Rocket Lab Corporation RKLB D
Elbit Systems Ltd. ESLT A

The foundation of growth investing is seeking out stocks of companies exhibiting strong, consistent and prolonged growth that is expected to continue into the future.

In order to compute the growth score and assign it a letter grade, the percentile ranks for each of three components‐consistency of annual sales growth, five-year sales growth rankings adjusted for extreme levels, and consistency of positive annual cash from operations‐must be determined. These three rank figures are added together, and the sum is ranked against the entire stock universe to arrive at a company’s Growth Score to create an equal distribution of grades.

The companies in the bottom 20% of the stock universe receive Growth Grades of F, considered to be very weak, while those in the top 20% receive A grades, which are considered very strong.

Rocket Lab Corporation has a Growth Score of 29, which is Weak. Elbit Systems Ltd. has a Growth Score of 89, which is Very Strong.

The Growth Grade Winner: Elbit Systems Ltd.

As you can clearly see from the Growth Grade breakdown above, Elbit Systems Ltd. has a more attractive growth grade than Rocket Lab Corporation. For investors who focus solely on how a company is growing relative to other companies in the same industry, Elbit Systems Ltd. could be a good stock to add to their portfolio. However, it’s important for investors to analyze multiple factors based on a wide range of metrics before deciding whether to buy.

Rocket Lab Corporation and Elbit Systems Ltd.’s Momentum Grades

Company Ticker Momentum
Rocket Lab Corporation RKLB C
Elbit Systems Ltd. ESLT B

Momentum grades help to uncover stocks experiencing anomalously high rates of return; research finds that stocks with high relative levels of momentum tend to outperform, whereas those with low levels of momentum tend to continue underperforming. Momentum is based on the price change of a stock over a specified period relative to all other stocks.

Typically, AAII looks at the weighted relative strength over the trailing four quarters. The weighted four-quarter relative strength rank is the relative price change for each of the past four quarters. The most recent quarterly price change is given a weight of 40% and each of the three previous quarters are given a weighting of 20%.

Rocket Lab Corporation has a Momentum Score of 55, which is Average. Elbit Systems Ltd. has a Momentum Score of 72, which is Strong.

The Momentum Grade Winner: Elbit Systems Ltd.

As you can clearly see from the Momentum Grade breakdown above, Elbit Systems Ltd. is considered to have stronger momentum compared to Rocket Lab Corporation. For those specifically looking for companies that have stronger momentum compared to other companies in the same industry, Elbit Systems Ltd. could be a good stock to invest in. However, it’s important for investors to analyze multiple factors based on a wide range of metrics before deciding whether to buy.

Rocket Lab Corporation and Elbit Systems Ltd.’s Estimate Revisions Grades

Company Ticker Earnings Estimate
Rocket Lab Corporation RKLB B
Elbit Systems Ltd. ESLT C

Earnings estimate revisions scores consider the magnitude of a company’s earnings surprise in its last two reported fiscal quarters. Often, positive surprises beget further positive surprises‐or at least continued sales growth (the exact opposite is generally true, too).

Estimate revisions offer an indication of what analysts are thinking about the short-term prospects of a firm. Estimate revisions are based on the statistical significance of a firm’s last two quarterly earnings surprises and the percentage change in its consensus estimate for the current fiscal year over the past month and past three months.

Rocket Lab Corporation has a Earnings Estimate Score of 72, which is Positive. Elbit Systems Ltd. has a Earnings Estimate Score of 41, which is Neutral.

The Earnings Estimate Revisions Grade Winner: Rocket Lab Corporation

As you can clearly see from the Earnings Estimate Revisions Grade breakdown above, Rocket Lab Corporation has a better Earnings Estimate Revisions Grade than Elbit Systems Ltd.. For those who are specifically looking for companies with better short-term prospects when compared to other companies in the same industry, Rocket Lab Corporation could be a good stock to invest in. However, it’s important to analyze multiple factors based on a wide range of metrics before deciding whether to buy.

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Other Rocket Lab Corporation and Elbit Systems Ltd. Grades

In addition to Estimate Revisions, Momentum and Growth, A+ Investor also provides grades for Value and Quality.

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Successful stock investing involves buying low and selling high, so stock valuation is an important consideration for stock selection. Buying stocks that are going to go up typically means buying stocks that are undervalued in the first place, although momentum investors may argue that point.

AAII’s A+ Investor Quality Grade comes from the ranking of key metrics. Specifically, the quality grade is the percentile rank of the composite of return on assets (ROA), return on invested capital (ROIC), gross profit relative to assets, buyback yield, change in total liabilities to assets, accruals, Z double prime bankruptcy risk (Z) score and F-Score.

These 2 key factors, when combined with the above, provide a holistic view into a particular stock. Further, by joining A+ Investor you can see whether Rocket Lab Corporation and Elbit Systems Ltd. pass any of our 60+ stock screens that have outperformed the market since their creation.

So, Which Is the Better Investment, Rocket Lab Corporation or Elbit Systems Ltd. Stock?

Overall, Rocket Lab Corporation stock has a Growth Score of 29, Momentum Score of 55 and Estimate Revisions Score of 72.

Elbit Systems Ltd. stock has a Growth Score of 89, Momentum Score of 72 and Estimate Revisions Score of 41.

Comparing Rocket Lab Corporation and Elbit Systems Ltd.’s grades, scores and metrics can act as a solid basis to determine whether they may be a good investment or not. You’ll also want to look at your portfolio’s asset allocation as well as your risk tolerance and financial goals to see if either of these stocks would make a good fit for you. AAII can help you figure out which investments align with your individual needs and preferences.

Investors are encouraged to do their own due diligence and research. In this way, individuals can effectively become managers of their own assets‐without having to rely on others for financial independence. You can count on AAII for timeless articles on financial planning and stock-picking, unbiased research and actionable analysis.

A+ Investor adds to our qualitative teaching with a powerful data suite to help you whittle down investment choices to find stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or mutual funds that meet your needs.

Learn More About A+ Investor

AAII Disclaimer

We make no representations or warranties that any investor will, or is likely to, achieve profits similar to those shown, because past, hypothetical or simulated performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. Before making an investment decision, you should consider your circumstances and whether the information on our content is applicable to your situation. This information was prepared in good faith, and we accept no liability for any errors or omissions. The full disclaimer can be read here.



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