US 'Aerospace Defense Stocks' Surge 16% During Trading Hours, Adding Over 2 Trillion Won in Market Cap in One Day

U.S. space and defense company Firefly Aerospace Inc. (FLY) saw its share price surge 16.38% on the Nasdaq to $49.88 on the 22nd, with trading volume topping 6.34 million shares—well above its typical level. As a result, its market capitalization swelled by about $1.5 billion in a single day to roughly $7.9 billion (about ₩11 trillion), marking an increase rather than the usual evaporation of value.

Analysts note that Firefly remains classified as a highly volatile stock on U.S. markets, drawing heavy short-term trading demand and posting intraday gains of around 10%. Earlier this month, Deutsche Bank followed Morgan Stanley in raising its price target, praising Firefly’s technological capabilities and growth prospects in the space and defense sectors—an endorsement that further bolstered buying sentiment.

Founded in 2017, Firefly Aerospace is an American space and defense technology firm. It develops the Alpha rocket for small- and medium-satellite launches, provides launch services to defense and commercial clients, and participates in NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services program. Since its Nasdaq debut in August 2025, the company has been on investors’ radar as a leading “space defense” stock, fueled by expectations of U.S. government and defense contracts.