Why SpaceX ($SPCX) Is One of the Most Anticipated Listings Ever
After more than two decades as a private company, SpaceX is finally going public on the 12th of June. The Elon Musk-founded rocket and satellite company is preparing to list its shares on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol $SPCX, in what is widely expected to be the largest initial public offering in stock market history.
If you've been following the financial news, you've probably seen the headlines: a target raise of up to $80 billion, a valuation hovering between $1.75 trillion and $2 trillion, and an investor frenzy already reshaping how brokerages prepare for retail demand. But beyond the numbers, the SpaceX IPO represents a potentially interesting opportunity for anyone wanting exposure to the space economy, satellite connectivity, and the next wave of AI infrastructure.
Here's a clear-eyed look at what's actually happening, why this listing matters, the potential risks, and how you can position yourself to buy SPCX from day one through Raenest.
What is the SpaceX IPO?
An IPO, short for initial public offering, is the process by which a private company sells its shares to the public for the first time. Companies typically go public to raise capital for growth, give early investors and employees the opportunity to sell some of their holdings, and gain visibility as publicly traded brands.
SpaceX was founded in 2002 by Elon Musk and has operated as a private company for more than two decades. The Texas-based business is best known for its reusable rockets, but its operations now span four major areas:
- Launch services, including delivering payloads to orbit for NASA, private companies, and various governments.
- Starlink, a global satellite internet network designed for low-density and underserved regions.
- xAI, the artificial intelligence platform Musk acquired and folded into SpaceX in 2025
- Defence and government contracts, including work with the US Department of Defence.
Twenty-three financial institutions are underwriting the deal, including Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup, JP Morgan, and BofA Securities.
Why SpaceX ($SPCX) is generating major anticipation
To understand why investors are this excited, you have to look past the rocket photos and the Mars rhetoric. SpaceX is no longer just an aerospace manufacturer. It's a diversified, multi-industry technology business with several distinct revenue engines. Here are the four reasons analysts are calling this the most anticipated listing in years.
1. A near-monopoly on rocket launches
SpaceX holds an estimated 80% or more of the global mass delivered to orbit. That's not a competitive lead; that's a dominance most industries never see.
The reason: reusable rockets. The Falcon 9 and the next-generation Starship have reduced per-launch costs by more than 95% compared to traditional expendable rockets. When you can launch a satellite for a fraction of what your competitors charge, you don't just win contracts. You set the prices for the entire industry.
That cost advantage forms what investors call an economic moat (a durable, structural advantage that's hard to replicate, even with billions of dollars of competing capital). Rival space companies have been trying to catch up for a decade. None has come close.
2. Starlink as a recurring-revenue cash machine
Launching rockets is exciting. But what gets investors really excited is what those rockets are putting into orbit: Starlink satellites.
Starlink is a low-Earth-orbit satellite internet network that now beams broadband to millions of subscribers worldwide, particularly in rural and remote areas where traditional internet infrastructure doesn't reach. It's a subscription business, which means recurring monthly revenue. And recurring revenue is what stock markets love.
Starlink is also expanding into direct-to-mobile services, enabling standard smartphones to connect directly to satellites without a dedicated dish. If that rollout succeeds at scale, it transforms Starlink from a niche rural internet provider into a global wireless carrier alternative.
3. An AI and defence pivot most people missed
In 2025, SpaceX acquired xAI, Musk's artificial intelligence company. The acquisition gave SpaceX access to enormous compute infrastructure originally built for training AI models like Grok.
Here's the interesting part. SpaceX has been monetising unused capacity through large-scale compute data centre deals with other AI companies, including a reported partnership with Anthropic. So while you might think of SpaceX as a rocket company, it's now also one of the larger players in AI infrastructure, alongside its growing defence and government contract pipeline.
4. No public-market equivalent
Here's the underrated reason investors are paying premium valuations: there is no other publicly traded company that offers the same combined exposure to rockets, satellite internet, AI compute, and defence contracts.
If you want SpaceX-style exposure today, you'd have to assemble a basket of separate stocks across multiple industries, and you'd still be missing the rocket leg entirely. That scarcity premium is real, and it's part of why analysts believe the IPO will price aggressively.
How the SpaceX IPO Compares to Past Landmark Listings
To put the scale into perspective, here's how a successful SpaceX ($SPCX) listing would stack up against previous record-breakers.
If SpaceX hits the upper end of its target, it would raise more than three times what Saudi Aramco raised in its 2019 IPO, which held the record for the largest IPO ever.
For context on what else is coming this year: AI giants Anthropic and OpenAI are both expected to go public later in 2026, and could each raise tens of billions themselves. But neither is expected to match SpaceX's scale.
What the sceptics are saying
The size and hype around this listing have drawn legitimate scrutiny, and any potential investor should understand the risks before buying in.
Premium valuation. At a $1.75 to $2 trillion valuation, $SPCX would be priced at a level that requires decades of continued execution to justify. There's little room for error built into that price.
The company is still losing money. SpaceX achieved revenue of $18.6 billion in 2025, up from $14 billion the year before. But the company also reported a net loss of $4.9 billion that year. In the first quarter of 2026, revenue came in at $4.7 billion against a net loss of $4.3 billion. Some of those losses are linked to the xAI acquisition, but they're real numbers investors will need to weigh against the growth story.
Concentration of control. Musk will retain approximately 85% of the company's voting rights post-IPO through a dual-class share structure that gives some shares 10 votes instead of the standard 1 vote. For comparison, Mark Zuckerberg holds about 61% of Meta's voting power, and Warren Buffett holds about 35% of Berkshire Hathaway's voting power. SpaceX shareholders will have unusually little voice in major company decisions.
IPO pop volatility. Large hyped IPOs often experience significant first-day price swings, followed by extended periods of choppy trading as the market figures out fair value. Buying at the IPO price doesn't guarantee a smooth ride.
These are reasons to size your position carefully and avoid putting in money you can't afford to see fall in the short term.
How to buy $SPCX on Raenest
If you hold a Raenest account, you'll be able to buy $SPCX as soon as it begins trading on Nasdaq. Here's what that looks like in practice.
Raenest gives verified users access to 4000+ U.S stocks and ETFs, from household names like Apple, Coca-Cola, and Tesla to popular index funds like VOO, all directly in the app. You can buy US stocks starting from as little as $2 per share and enjoy monthly commission-free trades, which means you don't need to wait until you've saved up for a full share before you start.
Here's how to set yourself up before $SPCX lists:
- Create a Raenest account and complete your identity verification: It’s easy to create one if you haven't already.
- Navigate to the Stocks section via the bottom navigation bar or the "Buy stocks" quick action.
- Fund your trading wallet from any of your existing Raenest balances. You can deposit funds in NGN, USD, GBP, or EUR. The minimum funding amount is $2. Funding from USD is free; converting from other currencies attracts a standard conversion fee.
- Watch for the listing. Once $SPCX begins trading on Nasdaq on the 12th of June, set your order size and place your order.
Orders are executed during US market hours: 9:30 am to 4:00 pm Eastern Time, which is 2:30 pm to 9:00 pm West African Time (3:30 pm to 10:00 pm during daylight saving time). Orders placed outside these hours will be queued and executed when the market reopens.
Want to invest in $SPCX every month automatically? We've got you.
If you're nervous about timing the IPO perfectly, you don't have to be. One of the most proven strategies for buying volatile new listings is dollar-cost averaging: putting in a fixed amount on a regular schedule rather than betting everything on a single entry price.
With Auto-Invest on Raenest, you can set up a recurring weekly or monthly purchase of $SPCX once it's available, starting from just $2 per execution. Set it once, and Raenest handles every buy automatically on your chosen schedule. If your trading wallet runs low, we'll pull funds from any of your other balances (USD, NGN, GBP, or EUR) so your investments don't get skipped.
A few things to love about it:
- You avoid the stress of trying to time the perfect entry
- You keep buying through the dips, which lowers your average cost over time
- You stay in full control. Pause, edit, or cancel anytime with no penalties
Want the full details? Check out our blog on Auto-Invest for everything you need to know.
The bottom line
The SpaceX IPO is shaping up to be the largest stock market debut in history, and for good reason. Few companies offer the combination of industry dominance, recurring revenue, technology breadth, and vision that SpaceX brings to the table. Whether it lives up to its $2 trillion valuation is a question only time will answer.
What you can do today is get ready. Verify your Raenest account, fund your trading wallet, and decide in advance how much you want to allocate when $SPCX hits the market. Whether you choose to buy at the open, dollar-cost average through Auto-Invest, or wait for the price to settle, the most important thing is that you're ready to act when the moment comes.
Sign up for Raenest and get verified now to buy $SPCX from day one.
Frequently asked questions
- When does SpaceX go public?
SpaceX will go live on 12 June 2026. The company has filed its prospectus with the US Securities and Exchange Commission and is targeting a Nasdaq listing under the ticker $SPCX.
- How much will SpaceX shares cost at IPO?
The final IPO share price hasn't been set publicly. SpaceX is targeting a total raise of $75 to $80 billion at an estimated company valuation of $1.75 to $2 trillion. SpaceX will determine the exact per-share price in the days leading up to the listing based on investor demand during the book-building process.
- Can I buy SpaceX stock from Nigeria, Ghana, or Kenya?
Yes, through Raenest. Verified Raenest users in supported markets can buy US stocks, including IPOs once they list, directly in the app. You can fund your trading wallet from your local currency balance and start investing from as little as $2.
- Is SpaceX a good investment?
That depends on your investment goals, risk tolerance, and time horizon. SpaceX offers exposure to multiple growing industries, including space launches, satellite internet, AI computing, and defence. But it's also being priced at a premium valuation, is currently posting net losses, and has unusually concentrated founder voting control. Do your own research and consider speaking with a qualified financial adviser before investing. Raenest is not a financial adviser.
- Will there be a lock-up period for SpaceX shares?
Most IPOs include a lock-up period of 90 to 180 days during which insiders and pre-IPO investors cannot sell their shares. SpaceX will disclose specifics for $SPCX in the final prospectus. Lock-up expirations sometimes trigger price volatility as insiders gain the ability to sell.
- What's the minimum amount I can invest in SpaceX through Raenest?
$2. Raenest supports fractional shares, which means you don't need to buy a full share to participate. This makes blockbuster IPOs like SpaceX accessible regardless of how much you have to invest.
Disclaimer: Raenest is not a broker-dealer, investment adviser or member of FINRA—securities offered by Alpaca Securities LLC, a member of FINRA and the Securities Investor Protection Corporation. Raenest does not recommend any specific securities or investment strategies. Investing involves risk, and investments may lose value, including the loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investors should consider their investment objectives and risks carefully before investing. US stock investments are held with Alpaca Securities LLC, a US-licensed broker-dealer regulated by the SEC and FINRA. Investment feature is offered in partnership with City Investment Capital Limited, a firm licensed by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Nigeria. This article is for general information only and does not constitute financial advice.
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