SpaceX shares extended their recent decline on Wednesday, closing at $148, marking the second consecutive trading session below the company's June 12 opening price of $150 per share despite its high-profile addition to the Nasdaq 100 index earlier this week.
SpaceX became one of the fastest companies ever admitted to the Nasdaq 100 after the exchange recently updated its eligibility rules for newly listed firms. The accelerated timeline allowed the company to enter the benchmark less than a month after its June 12 debut, making it immediately accessible to billions of dollars managed by index funds and exchange-traded funds that mirror the index.
Those passive funds were required to purchase SpaceX shares as part of the benchmark's rebalancing, a move that typically creates additional buying pressure. Yet the anticipated demand was not enough to offset broader selling, suggesting many investors had already positioned themselves ahead of the inclusion.
The company launched what became the largest initial public offering in U.S. history, raising $85.7 billion after underwriters exercised the full overallotment, or "greenshoe," option. Shares were initially priced at $135 before opening their first trading session at $150, quickly attracting both retail investors and institutional buyers eager to gain exposure to one of the world's most closely watched private companies.
On June 16, SpaceX shares closed at $201.80, capping a blistering rally fueled by optimism surrounding the company's leadership in commercial space launches, satellite communications, and emerging artificial intelligence initiatives. Since then, however, the stock has steadily surrendered a significant portion of those gains as traders locked in profits and reassessed the company's valuation and is now trading below the opening price.
Several major investment banks initiated research coverage this week with bullish ratings. Morgan Stanley assigned the stock an "overweight" rating and a $300 price target, while Bernstein began coverage with an "outperform" rating and a $239 target. RBC Capital Markets also rated the shares "outperform," setting a $225 target, while UBS launched coverage with a "buy" recommendation and a $210 12-month price objective.
Analysts view SpaceX as the clear leader in reusable launch technology, a competitive advantage that has helped it dominate the commercial launch market while lowering costs. At the same time, its Starlink satellite internet network continues to expand globally.
Several analysts believe the company could leverage its engineering expertise and computing infrastructure to develop AI products ranging from autonomous software development tools to large language models capable of competing with offerings from Anthropic and OpenAI. Others see long-term opportunities in orbital data centers, an emerging concept that could combine satellite infrastructure with AI computing needs.
However, research firm MoffettNathanson initiated coverage with a neutral rating, arguing that much of SpaceX's future growth already appears reflected in the share price. CFRA took an even more cautious stance, recommending investors sell the stock amid concerns that expectations have become overly optimistic following the company's blockbuster market debut.
