Why Virgin Galactic Stock Keeps Going Down

Core Insights - Virgin Galactic is facing significant challenges, including the retirement of its only operational spaceplane, Unity, and a potential two-year wait for a new Delta class spaceplane to be built and certified [5][9] - The company's stock has experienced a dramatic decline, with a 31% drop in value since the announcement of a 1-for-20 reverse share split [4][9] - To retain employees during this uncertain period, Virgin Galactic has been awarding restricted stock units (RSUs), indicating growing nervousness among staff [3][10][12] Company Actions - Virgin Galactic awarded 1,741 RSUs to a new non-executive employee, which will not fully vest for four years [3] - The company has issued RSUs to new hires five times in the past three months, suggesting a trend to incentivize employee retention [11] - The total RSU awards this year amount to 6,460 shares, valued at less than $66,000, indicating a low financial impact but a significant concern regarding employee morale [12] Stock Performance - Following the reverse share split, the stock initially rose to $14.80 but quickly resumed its downward trend [4] - As of Tuesday morning, the stock was down 13% from the previous close, reflecting investor skepticism about the company's future [9] - The overall sentiment among investors appears to be cautious, with many unsure about the long-term viability of the company [8]