Firefly Aerospace Joins the Russell 2000® and Russell 3000® Indexes
Rhea-AI Summary
Firefly Aerospace (Nasdaq: FLY) joined the Russell 2000 Index effective Dec. 22, 2025, as published by FTSE Russell.
Firefly was one of 18 companies added to the Russell 2000 in December 2025, and that membership triggered its inclusion in the broad-market Russell 3000 Index. Russell indexes are market-capitalization benchmarks widely used by investment managers and institutional investors.
Positive
- Added to Russell 2000 on Dec. 22, 2025
- One of 18 companies selected for Russell 2000 in December 2025
- Addition to Russell 2000 triggered inclusion in Russell 3000
Negative
- None.
News Market Reaction 79 Alerts
On the day this news was published, FLY gained 16.02%, reflecting a significant positive market reaction. Argus tracked a peak move of +12.0% during that session. Our momentum scanner triggered 79 alerts that day, indicating high trading interest and price volatility. This price movement added approximately $632M to the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $4.58B at that time. Trading volume was elevated at 2.4x the daily average, suggesting notable buying interest.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus 1 Up
FLY is up 22.82%, while key peers show smaller mixed moves (e.g., ACHR +2.38%, KRMN +4.35%, LOAR -1.63%). Momentum scanner flags only one peer (PL +4.22%), indicating today’s move is largely stock-specific.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 11 | Management change | Positive | -6.0% | New COO appointed to lead operations and scaling efforts. |
| Dec 10 | Mission payload update | Positive | +9.5% | Blue Ghost Mission 2 adds Volta wireless power receiver payload. |
| Nov 14 | Investor conferences | Positive | +7.1% | Participation in multiple space and defense investor events. |
| Nov 12 | Earnings results | Positive | -4.3% | Strong Q3 revenue growth and new contracts disclosed. |
| Nov 05 | Acquisition close | Positive | -1.5% | Completion of SciTec acquisition expanding defense capabilities. |
Recent news has often been positive, but price reactions are mixed, with several strategic and financial positives followed by short-term declines.
Over the past two months, Firefly reported multiple milestones. On Nov 5, it closed the SciTec acquisition, adding over 475 employees and expanding national security capabilities. Q3 2025 results on Nov 12 showed revenue growing +98% sequentially and +38% year‑over‑year, alongside new NASA contracts and a larger $260.0 million credit facility. Subsequent news highlighted investor conferences, a lunar mission payload addition, and the appointment of a new COO effective Dec 22, 2025. Against this backdrop, today’s index inclusion adds capital-markets visibility.
Market Pulse Summary
The stock surged +16.0% in the session following this news. A strong positive reaction aligns with the visibility benefits of joining the Russell 2000 and 3000 indexes, especially after FLY traded about 66.6% below its 52-week high. Historically, the stock showed mixed responses to positive catalysts, with 3 divergence events versus 2 alignments. With volume at 3.17x its 20-day average, investors may compare today’s spike to prior post-news givebacks when assessing durability.
Key Terms
initial public offering financial
russell 2000® index financial
russell 3000® index financial
market capitalization-based indexes financial
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
Firefly Aerospace employees celebrating the company’s Initial Public Offering on top of the Nasdaq MarketSite tower in New York, NY on Aug. 7, 2025.
CEDAR PARK, Texas, Dec. 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Firefly Aerospace (Nasdaq: FLY), a market leading space and defense technology company, today joined the Russell 2000® Index, as published by the FTSE Russell.
Firefly was one of 18 companies selected for addition to the Russell 2000® in December. Membership in the Russell 2000® Index also triggered the company’s addition to the broad-market Russell 3000® Index.
Russell indexes are widely used by investment managers and institutional investors as benchmarks for investment strategies. The market capitalization-based indexes are part of FTSE Russell, a global index provider that offers a broad range of market indexes to measure the performance of different segments of the global financial markets.
About Firefly Aerospace
Firefly Aerospace is a space and defense technology company that enables government and commercial customers to launch, land, and operate in space – anywhere, anytime. As the partner of choice for responsive space missions, Firefly is the only commercial company to launch a satellite to orbit with approximately 24-hour notice. Firefly is also the only company to achieve a fully successful landing on the Moon. Established in 2017, Firefly’s engineering, manufacturing, and test facilities are co-located in central Texas to enable rapid innovation. The company’s small- to medium-lift launch vehicles, lunar landers, and orbital vehicles are built with common flight-proven technologies to enable speed, reliability, and cost efficiencies for each mission from low Earth orbit to the Moon and beyond. For more information, visit www.fireflyspace.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” including, but not limited to, statements regarding the expected capabilities and success of the Firefly spacecraft and services and other statements regarding Firefly’s future expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, financial conditions, assumptions or future events or performance that are not historical facts. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as “may,” “will,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “could,” “would,” “intends,” “believes,” or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions that concern our expectations, strategy, plans, or intentions. The inclusion of forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation that such plans, estimates or expectations will be achieved. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained herein, which speak only as of the date hereof. These statements are based on management’s current expectations, assumptions, and beliefs concerning future developments, which are inherently subject to uncertainties, risks, and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. These uncertainties and risks include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties set forth in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We cannot assure you that the events reflected in the forward-looking statements will occur, and actual events could differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date as of which such statement is made, and except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether because of new information, future events, or otherwise.
Media Contact
press@fireflyspace.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e201f2a7-12d4-4dfb-8e05-30ca881b1e1a
FAQ
When did Firefly Aerospace (FLY) join the Russell 2000 index?
Was Firefly Aerospace (FLY) added to the Russell 3000 when it joined Russell 2000?
How many companies were added to the Russell 2000 with Firefly Aerospace (FLY) in December 2025?
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