All articles tagged with #space stocks
SpaceX stock has fallen since its IPO but rebounded on Tuesday, as Elon Musk warned that the survival probability of firms with sizeable short positions is very low. The comment mirrors Musk’s history with Tesla shorts and clashes with Bill Gates. SpaceX shares were up about 6.2% to around $127.31, trading in a wide range since the June debut at $135.
Space stocks slipped overnight after S&P Dow Jones Indices said it would not change eligibility rules for the S&P 500, keeping SpaceX out of the index despite hype around its megacap IPO. The SpaceX IPO is set to price on June 11 at $135 per share for about 555.6 million shares, valuing the company around $1.77–1.8 trillion, though it posted a $4.94 billion net loss in 2025. Nasdaq has revised some fast-entry rules for large IPOs, but S&P’s decision removes a key catalyst for passive-buying ahead of SpaceX’s trading debut the next day. Retail sentiment on space stocks, tracked on Stocktwits, has been mixed as investors weigh the IPO’s potential impact on the sector.
Virgin Galactic fell about 32% after preliminary court approval of a shareholder derivative settlement reignited dilution fears tied to its capital realignment plan, while AST SpaceMobile rose ~10% on reaffirmed FY2026 guidance and planned Falcon 9 launches, and Planet Labs advanced ~9% on strong revenue and growing remaining performance obligations.
Blue Origin says New Glenn will fly again by year-end 2026 after an explosion at Launch Complex 36; critical infrastructure survived (fuel/oxidizer storage and water tower), with the main support tower damaged but repairable and the booster 'Never Tell Me The Odds' plus three GS-2 upper stages appearing undamaged. NASA clarified that a prior 2028 remark referred to lunar missions, not New Glenn. Space names rebounded in after-hours trading, led by ASTS, RKLB, SIDU, and RDW as investors price in a quicker return-to-flight, while RKTO and other space stocks showed notable moves and sentiment remains bullish for launch-dependent players like AST SpaceMobile, Rocket Lab, Sidus Space and Redwire.
Virgin Galactic jumped about 18% on momentum from Blue Origin setbacks and progress toward flight testing, while AST SpaceMobile slid roughly 9% after a Q1 revenue miss. Rocket Lab dropped around 13% despite beating earnings and maintaining a large backlog, as investors rotate away from launch-exposed names into Virgin Galactic. The space-stock divergence widens, driven more by sentiment than fundamentals, with upcoming catalysts like Blue Origin findings and Rocket Lab’s Neutron/BlueBird milestones to watch.
With SpaceX’s IPO anticipated on June 12 and PwC forecasting a $2 trillion space economy by 2040, AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) and Intuitive Machines (LUNR) stand out. ASTS aims to provide direct-to-cellular broadband from large LEO satellites and has deals with AT&T, Verizon, and Vodafone, planning 45–60 satellites this year despite a setback from Blue Origin’s New Glenn. LUNR is a vertically integrated space contractor winning major government contracts (SDA and NASA CLPS), lifting Q1 revenue to $186.7 million and carrying a backlog over $1.1 billion, signaling strong near-term revenue potential.
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 mission delivering 29 Starlink satellites and booster landing spurred mixed moves in space stocks: RKLB +2.8%, ASTS +3.3%, LUNR −5.2%, SPCE −2.7%. Analysts show varied ratings across the group, with Intuitive Machines (LUNR) seen as the strongest buy and SPCE offering the largest upside. SpaceX remains private, with IPO chatter ongoing; TSLA is suggested as a potential proxy for investors until an IPO materializes.
Shares of space-technology startups have surged, driven by optimism ahead of SpaceX's 11th Starship test, which aims to demonstrate reusable rocket technology and increase cargo capacity to lower space travel costs. The test has attracted significant attention, boosting investor confidence in the sector, with many space stocks up substantially this year. SpaceX's ongoing success and ambitious goals continue to influence the broader space industry and investor sentiment.
Firefly Aerospace's stock dropped 25% after a rocket explosion during a test, delaying its planned launch, while Canadian drone company Draganfly's stock rose 15% following a U.S. Army contract for its FPV drones.
Firefly Aerospace debuted on Nasdaq with a significant gain, opening at $70 per share and valuing the company over $12 billion, following its successful lunar landing mission. Rocket Lab and Kratos Defense are preparing to release earnings, with Rocket Lab expected to show revenue growth and Kratos forecasted for slight earnings decline. The space and defense sector remains active amid these developments.
Voyager Technologies is launching its IPO on June 11, with shares priced at $31, aiming to gauge market interest in space stocks. Backed by Palantir and Lockheed Martin, the Colorado-based company has strong government contracts, notably with NASA, and is valued at $1.9 billion. Despite not yet being profitable, Voyager shows growth and potential in the space and defense sectors. The IPO follows other notable listings and reflects ongoing investor interest in space-related companies.