How to Invest in SpaceX

SpaceX’s historic IPO in 2026 came on the heels of some major milestones for the space company. SpaceX brought two NASA astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, successfully back to Earth from the International Space Station in March 2025.¹ Then in April the company completed Fram2, the first-ever polar orbit to conduct research experiments, which included studying the aurora borealis. Additionally, the company’s increasingly popular Starlink subsidiary continues to expand, landing a deal to supply United Airlines flights with Wifi which recently expanded to El Al airlines.² If you would like to invest in this company, here’s what you should know.

 A financial advisor can help you analyze which companies are the best fit for your investment portfolio and long-term goals.

What Does SpaceX Do?

SpaceX is an aerospace firm founded by Elon Musk. It’s fair to say that the company has both a big picture aspect and a practical one. 

From a big-picture perspective, Musk wants SpaceX to contribute to the future of human space travel. He hopes that this company will, eventually, take people to Mars and begin colonizing the planet. From an investor’s standpoint this larger vision resembles the footprint of a nonprofit corporation. The organization spends money to achieve the mission, rather than the for-profit model of building the mission around revenue.

But make no mistake, SpaceX has an imminently practical side as well. This company has grown into a major aerospace contractor, reducing costs and developing efficient, reusable spacecraft. It’s one of the few companies in the United States that can manage space flight.

Revenue and Business Operations

Among other operations, SpaceX’s business includes:

• Government manufacturing contracts to build rockets
• Government services contracts to transport astronauts
• Private services contracts to transport individuals
• Government and private services contracts to launch satellites
• Government and private high-speed internet through Starlink 

Founded in 2002, SpaceX reportedly began to show a profit in the early 2020s. It posted nearly $19 billion in revenue in 2025. Musk predicts it will reach $1 trillion in revenue by 2030. ³  NASA’s decision to abandon its own shuttle program, outsourcing launches to private contractors, has opened up opportunities in space flight. Boeing’s growing troubles have only made those opportunities greater. 

SpaceX may be the right company at the right time. However, there are still questions. SpaceX currently makes little, if any, money off its space program. Instead, all profits appear to come from the company’s Starlink service. This service, in turn, may not actually be as profitable as it appears. Reporting by Bloomberg suggests that Starlink may have higher costs and debts than the company has disclosed.

In its Form S-1 filing ahead of its IPO, SpaceX laid out the case for it’s $1.7 trillion valuation. It includes, among other things, a contract with Anthropic to lease the AI company $1.29 billion worth of computing power until 2029. ⁴

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SpaceX Goes Public: What the IPO Means for Investors

SpaceX began trading on Nasdaq on June 12, 2026, under the ticker SPCX, giving retail investors direct access to the company for the first time. The company priced its IPO at $135 per share and raised $75 billion, making it the largest IPO in stock market history. Shares rose roughly 19% on their first day of trading, closing at $161 and valuing the company at approximately $2.2 trillion. ⁵

For years, investors who wanted exposure to SpaceX had limited options. They could invest through private funds, buy shares on secondary marketplaces, or gain indirect exposure through other companies. The IPO changes that. Anyone with a brokerage account can now buy shares directly.

That new access comes with meaningful risks. Despite strong revenue growth, SpaceX remains unprofitable on a consolidated basis. Starlink is currently the company’s primary profit center. Meanwhile its launch operations, deep-space initiatives and AI business continue to require substantial investment. At a valuation above $2 trillion, the market is pricing in years of future growth and execution.

Investors should also consider risks that extend beyond the company’s financial statements. SpaceX remains closely associated with Elon Musk, whose involvement across multiple companies can create governance concerns and market volatility. In addition, the relatively small public float compared with the company’s total share count could contribute to sharp price swings as trading volume fluctuates.

For investors who followed SpaceX while it was private, the IPO opens a long-awaited opportunity. But access alone is not an investment thesis. The more important question is whether a high-growth company with an ambitious vision, a premium valuation and significant execution risk fits your investment portfolio and long-term goals.

Other Ways to Get Indirect Investment Exposure to SpaceX

Now that SPCX trades publicly, indirect exposure is no longer the only option for retail investors. But for those who prefer not to hold a single high-growth stock directly, or who want broader exposure to the industries SpaceX operates in, indirect approaches still make sense.

You can invest in telecommunications. Although Starlink competes with many internet services, it also expands the total addressable market for companies that depend on global connectivity. Teleconferencing, satellite communications and any business that benefits from broader internet access could see indirect tailwinds from Starlink’s growth.

Companies that rely on spaceflight and rocket design are another avenue. Firms in the defense and aerospace sectors may benefit from SpaceX’s push toward cheaper, more efficient launches. Others focused on commercializing space travel depend on the same underlying rocket technology that SpaceX continues to develop.

Fund investing offers a more diversified approach. Some mutual funds and ETFs focused on innovation, aerospace, or private equity hold positions in companies closely tied to SpaceX’s operations. For investors who want sector exposure without concentration in a single name, these funds can provide a middle path between owning SPCX directly and having no exposure at all.

One reference worth updating: the mention of Elon Musk’s suggestion that Tesla investors might receive priority in a potential Starlink IPO is no longer relevant given that SpaceX itself has now gone public. Starlink operates as a division of SpaceX rather than a separate publicly traded entity.

How to Determine If You Should Add SpaceX Exposure to Your Portfolio

Since SpaceX is a private company, most investors cannot buy stock directly. That makes the question less about whether to purchase SpaceX shares and more about how to gain exposure to the company’s growth, and whether that exposure fits your portfolio.

The first step is to look at access. Accredited investors may occasionally be able to purchase private shares through secondary markets or funds that specialize in private equity. These opportunities are rare and often illiquid, meaning you could be locked into the investment for years. For most retail investors, indirect exposure through public markets is the only realistic option.

Indirect exposure can come in several forms. Public companies like Tesla, telecommunications firms, satellite operators, and defense contractors may all benefit from SpaceX’s progress. Certain mutual funds or ETFs, such as those focused on innovation or private equity, may also hold shares of SpaceX or companies closely tied to its operations. While this approach does not replicate direct ownership, it allows you to participate in some of the upside linked to SpaceX’s growth.

How Much Should You Buy

The next step is deciding how much exposure makes sense. Space-related investments are concentrated in technology and aerospace, which can be volatile. A small asset allocation, enough to benefit if the industry expands, but not enough to destabilize your investment portfolio, may be a reasonable approach for growth-oriented investors. If you already have significant holdings in tech or high-growth companies, adding more exposure to the same area could leave you overconcentrated.

Finally, think about your objectives. If your portfolio is built around long-term growth and you can have a high risk tolerance, adding exposure through related companies or funds may be worth considering. If your focus is income, capital preservation, or liquidity, the case for SpaceX exposure is less compelling.

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Bottom Line

SpaceX is Elon Musk’s aerospace company that operates rocket launches, satellite launches, AI infrastructure, and Starlink internet service. Its record-setting IPO could be the start of one of Wall Street’s biggest success stories, or the precipice of a spectacular fall. As with all investments careful research, including consulting with a financial advisor, is the best course of action before making a decision.

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