Author: Ginny Hendricksen
Updated on: May 8, 2024
Space Exploration Technologies Corp. is an American space rocket, defense, launch service, and offers satellite internet via Starlink, its subsidiary. Elon Musk founded the company in 2002 aiming to reduce the cost of space travel and with an end goal of colonizing Mars. Right now, it is the most valuable pre-IPO venture-backed US company, with a recent post-money valuation of $137 billion.
SpaceX was the first private company to successfully send astronauts to the International Space Station. SpaceX managed to cut the expense of space launch by reusing boosters. This stand-out company also created the rocket, Starship, which broke records for both its size and power.
Since 2021, the company signed national defense contracts with US government agencies. SpaceX has four launch sites across the United States: Cape Canaveral, Vandenberg Space Launch Complex, Kennedy Space Center, and the Brownsville Starbase.
Starlink, a wholly-owned subsidiary, is a provides broadband internet around the world. With a fleet of thousands of low-orbit satellites, it provides service for over 2.6 billion people in more than 75 different countries.
Musk has said in April of 2024 that Starlink is in the neighborhood of becoming profitable. Starlink is in a prime position to make more money since global demand continues to increase. Because it is a private company, SpaceX is not required to disclose financial information with the public.
Yes. SpaceX is a private venture capital-backed company that has issued 7 classes of preferred stock. Investors usually get preferred stock and employees typically get common stock options or restricted stock units.
SpaceX is not yet profitable but it’s no surprise at such a mind-boggling valuation that it remains highly sought-after by investors. In fact today, it ranks #1 as the most actively traded company in the secondary market.
Accredited investors can learn more about SpaceX pre-IPO stock price and get access to shares by working with brokers on pre-IPO platforms like Notice.co. Additionally, investors can buy into mutual funds which hold SpaceX stock. Major mutual funds including Fidelity, Franklin Templeton, T. Rowe Price, Ark Invest have invested in SpaceX.
Accredited investors can buy shares of SpaceX from employees or shareholders through the secondary market. Contact top independent brokers on Notice.co.
Retail investors looking to get exposure to SpaceX or the space markets might consider investing in publicly traded companies such as: The Boeing Company (BA), Lockhead Martin (LMT), Northrop Grumman (NOC) or Raytheon Technologies (RTX). Investment opportunities like ETFs also hold space stock, such as: Procure Space ETF (UFO) and SPDR S&P Kensho Final Frontiers ETF (ROKT).
Private market transactions can be complex and often involve company approvals, legal purchase agreements and wires to third parties.Trades can take 30 - 60 days to complete and that's why many investors hire experienced private market brokers to ensure things go smoothly. Notice members can message expert brokers for free to learn more about buying and selling private stocks.
The valuation of SpaceX has grown from $127 billion in 2022 to $137 billion in 2024. This represents an increase of the company’s stock price per share from $70.00 in 2022 to $81.00 in its most recent funding round. For comparison, The Boeing Company had a valuation of $108 billion in May of 2024. The SpaceX stock price today is $101.20. You can track SpaceX stock price live on the stock price chart above.
SpaceX’s common stock was given a 409a valuation of $180 billion in January 2024 .
Starlink is a major contributor to SpaceX’s valuation, some estimate the subsidiary accounts for at least half of the company's value. There are no guarantees that the space tech company’s valuation will continue to increase moving forward, just as there is no defined SpaceX IPO timeline.
As of today, SpaceX is not publicly traded on the NYSE or NASDAQ stock exchanges, and therefore no SpaceX stock symbol has been assigned to its stock. Due to the fact the company is still private, retail investors are unable to purchase SpaceX shares directly or through traditional brokerage accounts.
In 2021, Elon tweeted that Starlink could IPO separately from SpaceX once its cash flow becomes steady. Whereas he could decide to make Starlink a stand-alone company, it is unlikely Musk would make this move any time soon. The satellite company’s revenue offsets the expensive business of making and launching rockets.
Note: investors may be trying to discover where to buy SpaceX coin (SPXC). Please be advised that this cryptocurrency is completely unrelated to SpaceX private stock.
Institutional investors, the general public, and experts alike anxiously look forward to a SpaceX IPO. Unfortunately, the company has not yet filed a S-1 with the Securities Exchange Commission which would signal a plan to go public.
Elon Musk has said that an IPO is possible but never hinted at a precise date. At one point he said he’ll keep the company private until rockets regularly fly to Mars. On a separate recent occasion Musk told SpaceX employees an IPO isn't likely until the company is more developed.
The CEO and company's vision decide if the company will go public, even if it meets all the internal requirements. Privately held companies enjoy less pressure to hit short-term profit goals compared to public companies. As long as SpaceX is a private company, it can focus on long-term growth aligning with Musk's ambitious vision of multi-planetary life.
An IPO is alluring for private companies in need of an influx of significant capital to continue growing. In April 2023, Elon Musk said as far as he is aware, SpaceX does not need to raise incremental funding. A June 2023 report states that SpaceX is in a strong financial position with $5 billion in the bank.
Furthermore, Elon Musk reportedly told investors who wanted to invest in the company to be prepared for their funds to be illiquid for 15 years. If SpaceX is able to gain capital under such conditions, SpaceX has little reason to IPO for a cash infusion.
Being a private company comes with its advantages. SpaceX operates more agilely than NASA, can quickly implement changes, and acquires talent from competitors and universities.
Recent SpaceX filings outline minimum company-mandated criteria to qualify for a public offering: the company must receive $250 million or more net aggregate gross proceeds from the sale of its equity securities, with a pre-public market cap of at least $6 billion.
The last SpaceX tender offer valued the company at $150 billion.
If either SpaceX or Starlink go public, it would probably be one of the largest in the last couple of years. Given Elon Musk's history with Paypal and Tesla’s IPOs, either scenario is likely to be highly successful.