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Space stocks follow SpaceX

SpaceX's record IPO made space a popular trade, and smaller space stocks now swing with SpaceX's shares.

SpaceX went public in June in the largest IPO ever, valued above $2 trillion, and its shares became the benchmark for every space company. Rocket Lab tends to rise and fall with SpaceX. Companies with little revenue, like Virgin Galactic, can lose out as traders sell them to buy SpaceX instead. SpaceX is also spending heavily on AI data centers, so its stock reacts to news about AI financing too.

Where it stands SpaceX closed Oct. 2 at $158.96, close to its first-day close of $160.95 and about 21% below its June 16 peak.

Who wins, who loses

Tends to rise
Tends to fall
  • SPCESPCEnot in the 100

    A space tourism company with little revenue; fell 24% on SpaceX's first trading day as traders moved into SpaceX.

    Read the breakdown →

When it moved markets

  1. Week of Jul 6SpaceX fell 10.3% in its first week in the Nasdaq-100, even as several banks began covering it with positive ratings.
  2. Week of Jun 22SpaceX fell 17.2% as it sold its first bonds and AI stocks slid; Rocket Lab fell 21.2% and Virgin Galactic 17.1%.
  3. Week of Jun 8SpaceX rose 19.2% on its first day in the largest IPO ever, while Virgin Galactic fell as traders moved into SpaceX.

Sources

  1. 1SpaceX IPO makes history as largest ever. Stock gains 19% on first day · NPR, 2026-06-12
  2. 2Virgin Galactic Craters 24%, Rocket Lab Drops 8%, AST SpaceMobile Falls 10% as SpaceX Hype Triggers a Space-Stock Shakeout · 24/7 Wall St., 2026-06-12
  3. 3SpaceX Sinks 9% on $20 Billion Bond Sale, Virgin Galactic Drops 11%, Rocket Lab Falls 8% Despite NASDAQ 100 Debut · 24/7 Wall St., 2026-06-22
  4. 4SpaceX ignited a trading frenzy. Here's what to know · CNN, 2026-06-30
  5. 5Nasdaq drops 1% as chip stocks tumble and oil spikes; Dow slips below 53,000: Live updates · CNBC, 2026-07-07