Intuitive Machines (NASDAQ:LUNR) Shares Gap Down After Earnings Miss

Shares of Intuitive Machines, Inc. (NASDAQ:LUNR) gapped down before the market opened on Thursday following a weaker than expected earnings announcement. The stock had previously closed at $35.68, but opened at $32.16. Intuitive Machines shares last traded at $35.0150, with a volume of 6,721,160 shares changing hands.

The company reported ($0.25) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.07) by ($0.18). The company had revenue of $186.73 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $202.95 million.

Intuitive Machines News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting Intuitive Machines this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Canaccord raised its price target to $41, reinforcing a bullish outlook tied to Intuitive Machines’ role in NASA lunar infrastructure and potential defense-related opportunities. Canaccord Just Hiked Intuitive Machines Price Target to $41: NASA Moon Base, Golden Dome Power Bull Case
• Positive Sentiment: The company secured a U.S. Space Force surveillance contract, adding another government-backed revenue stream and strengthening the investment case for its space-infrastructure business. Intuitive Machines stock gains on securing US Space Force surveillance contract
• Positive Sentiment: Management reported record quarterly revenue, gross margin improvement, positive adjusted EBITDA, and a record backlog, signaling meaningful business momentum despite the headline earnings miss. Intuitive Machines Reports First Quarter 2026 Financial Results; Posts Record Quarterly Revenue, Gross Margin, and Positive Adjusted EBITDA along with Record Quarter-end Backlog of $1.1 Billion
• Positive Sentiment: The planned Goonhilly Earth Station and COMSAT acquisition could expand the company’s space-to-Earth communications network and deepen its lunar communications capabilities. Intuitive Machines to Acquire Goonhilly Earth Station and COMSAT
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst commentary and comparisons with peers have kept attention on LUNR’s long-term space-infrastructure potential, but these pieces are mainly sentiment-driven rather than new fundamentals. Better Space Stock: Firefly Aerospace vs. Intuitive Machines
• Negative Sentiment: Q1 earnings were still below expectations, with EPS and revenue both missing estimates, reminding investors that the company is not yet consistently meeting Wall Street targets. Intuitive Machines Inc (LUNR) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Highlights: Record Revenue and Strategic …

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts recently commented on LUNR shares. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Intuitive Machines from a “sell” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a research report on Saturday. Roth Mkm increased their target price on shares of Intuitive Machines from $25.00 to $35.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, April 17th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their target price on shares of Intuitive Machines from $18.00 to $22.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, March 20th. KeyCorp raised their price objective on shares of Intuitive Machines from $26.00 to $27.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 29th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus set a $32.00 price objective on shares of Intuitive Machines in a research report on Friday. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $26.75.

Insider Buying and Selling at Intuitive Machines

In other Intuitive Machines news, CEO Stephen J. Altemus sold 13,751 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, April 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $23.61, for a total transaction of $324,661.11. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 1,162,495 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $27,446,506.95. This trade represents a 1.17% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Also, Director Kamal Seyed Ghaffarian sold 283,818 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $18.78, for a total transaction of $5,330,102.04. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 3,494,768 shares in the company, valued at $65,631,743.04. The trade was a 7.51% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 906,297 shares of company stock valued at $19,922,455. Company insiders own 54.10% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Intuitive Machines

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Intuitive Machines by 34.2% in the first quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 2,793 shares of the company’s stock valued at $52,000 after acquiring an additional 712 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Intuitive Machines by 41.5% in the fourth quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,661 shares of the company’s stock valued at $43,000 after acquiring an additional 781 shares in the last quarter. Sigma Planning Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Intuitive Machines by 8.8% in the fourth quarter. Sigma Planning Corp now owns 10,947 shares of the company’s stock valued at $178,000 after acquiring an additional 886 shares in the last quarter. Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV boosted its holdings in shares of Intuitive Machines by 9.9% in the first quarter. Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV now owns 11,080 shares of the company’s stock valued at $206,000 after acquiring an additional 1,000 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Larson Financial Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Intuitive Machines by 63.2% in the fourth quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 2,623 shares of the company’s stock valued at $43,000 after acquiring an additional 1,016 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 72.21% of the company’s stock.

Intuitive Machines Stock Down 7.2%

The firm has a market cap of $7.35 billion, a PE ratio of -38.51 and a beta of 1.47. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $23.41 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $17.83.

About Intuitive Machines

Intuitive Machines is a Houston, Texas–based aerospace company specializing in commercial lunar exploration and services. The firm develops end-to-end solutions for robotic missions to the Moon, providing spacecraft design, mission management, navigation, communications, and data services under NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program.

Founded in 2013 by aerospace engineers Steve Altemus, Tim Crain and Kris Kimel, Intuitive Machines has grown from a small startup into one of the leading private entities pursuing lunar surface deliveries.