SpaceX's IPO bid has launched a rally in space stocks. How to capitalize on it
CNBC named the space companies whose papers reacted to SpaceX's IPO filing / Photo: Redwire
Quotes of space companies jumped after Elon Musk's SpaceX officially filed for an IPO on May 20. CNBC calls this rally an "IPO premium" that benefits both SpaceX partners and competitors.
Details
The filing of an official application for the IPO SpaceX on Ma 20 provoked a bullish trend in the stock market of aerospace companies, CNBC noted. The channel names 14 issuers whose quotes reacted more strongly than others: 12 of them rose, two of them fell.
- Redwire, a spacecraft manufacturer and developer of infrastructure solutions for Ma (up 49% from May 20 to May 26). During this period, the company also reported a number of new contracts. One of them is with the European Space Agency to develop a prototype robotic arm for the lunar module.
- Creator of AST SpaceMobile, a commercial space-based satellite communications network (34%).
- Voyager Technologies, which specializes in orbital infrastructure (16%).
- Canadian space satellite and robotics manufacturer MDA Space, listed on the New York Stock Exchange (11.6%).
- Intuitive Machines (3.5%), a developer of lunar rovers. Until May 26, its quotations were growing, but then collapsed after NASA did not include Intuitive Machines in the list of companies that will be engaged in sending robotic landers, rovers and drones to the Moon.
- The developer of launch vehicles and orbital vehicles Firefly Aerospace (33.7%). The dynamics of its quotations was also influenced by the NASA list - the company got on it, unlike Intuitive Machines.
- Iridium Communications, the only global mobile satellite operator to provide 100% coverage of the Earth (10.8%).
- Satellite data provider Planet Labs (13%).
- ViaSat Telecommunications Corporation (8%).
- Rocket Lab, which deals with cargo delivery to orbit (6.6%). On May 26, Ma announced the closing of a deal to buy Motiv Space Systems, which specializes in space robotics.
- Gilat Satellite Networks, an Israeli satellite company with a listing on the Nasdaq (14%). The day before SpaceX's filing, Ma. 19, the company said Boeing would install its antennas for onboard communications. They will become standard equipment.
- Satellite operator Globalstar, which is set to be acquired by tech giant Amazon for $90 per share (1.3%).
- NextNav with specialization in the development of geopositioning systems (minus 0.7%).
- EchoStar Corp (minus 13.2%), a satellite operator and owner of SpaceX stock.
How investors can capitalize on the SpaceX IPO
SpaceX's IPO could benefit not only SpaceX's suppliers and partners, but also its competitors, CNBC writes.
Cantor Fitzgerald analysts name two companies to watch out for - Rocket Lab and Intuitive Machines.
Investment bank Truist Securities highlighted Redwire's securities. It previously focused exclusively on the space industry, but after buying drone specialist Edge Autonomy in 2025, it has transformed into a diversified provider of next-generation defense technology, its analysts explained.
AST SpaceMobile securities are also popular among retail investors, as well as EchoStar, CNBC writes.
However, investment firm Vanda also sees risks for retail investors. "They [retail investors] seem to be increasingly focusing on space companies focused on short-term investments," its research note says. The risks include "smaller and more speculative companies" such as Sidus Space, Satellogic and Planet Labs.
