The Motley Fool explains how to buy SpaceX stock in 2026

SpaceX's IPO and early trading

The Motley Fool reports that Space Exploration Technologies Corp., or SpaceX, completed its long-awaited initial public offering on June 12, 2026. It says the company, which operates in satellites, rockets, and AI, raised $75 billion, making it the largest IPO ever and far larger than the $25.6 billion Saudi Aramco raised in 2019.

The article says SpaceX priced shares at $135, which it describes as a $1.75 trillion valuation. After going public, the stock moved sharply: it briefly climbed to about $225, then fell below $105 by early August. The Motley Fool says the shares later recovered and were back above the IPO price by early November.

What SpaceX does and why it draws attention

The Motley Fool describes SpaceX as a company led by Elon Musk with several notable space achievements. According to the article, it was the first private company to develop a liquid-propellant rocket that reached orbit, the first to send astronauts to the International Space Station, and the first to achieve a vertical propulsive landing.

The article says SpaceX now has a broader commercial business. It develops and manufactures spacecraft, provides launch services, and runs a commercial satellite internet service through Starlink. It also says the company has a fast-growing AI business called xAI. The Motley Fool reports that SpaceX has major growth plans, including deploying AI data centers in space, building Moonbase Alpha, and sending both uncrewed and crewed missions to Mars.

Reasons the article gives for considering the stock

The Motley Fool says investors may be interested in SpaceX because of rapid revenue growth, profitability, and a large AI opportunity. It reports that revenue rose 161% in the third quarter of 2026. It also says the company generated $4.4 billion in net income in that quarter.

The article says SpaceX projected its AI business could address a market worth $28.5 trillion. It also lists several possible upside drivers, including shrinking losses in space, growth in AI, space data centers, Moonbase Alpha, Mars missions, energy investments, and a possible merger involving Tesla. The article does not say any of those developments will happen, only that they are potential catalysts.

Risks, profitability, and cash use

The Motley Fool also lists risks. It says SpaceX traded at nearly 60 times sales as of Nov. 3, 2026. It notes the stock has already shown large swings since the IPO, moving from more than $225 down to below $105 in a few months. The article says Elon Musk held 48.4% of SpaceX's voting power as of November 2026, citing regulatory filings. It also says the company faces competition in space from Rocket Lab and in AI from OpenAI and Anthropic.

In its discussion of profitability, The Motley Fool says SpaceX reported third-quarter 2026 results in October. It says revenue jumped 161% to $14.6 billion, driven by the superintelligence and connectivity segments, and net income reached $4.4 billion, which it says was a $5.5 billion improvement from the same period a year earlier.

The article breaks down segment results by operating income: connectivity, or Starlink, produced $2.4 billion; space posted a $7 million operating loss; and SI produced $431 million in operating income. It adds that the company is still not generating free cash flow because of heavy spending on space and AI. The Motley Fool says SpaceX spent $19.6 billion on capital expenditures in the third quarter alone, more than its operating cash flow for the first nine months of the year, which totaled $13.1 billion.

ETF alternatives and stock split outlook

The Motley Fool says investors who want exposure to SpaceX can also consider ETFs that hold the stock. It lists four funds. ERShares Private-Public Crossover ETF had about $1.5 billion in assets, 33 holdings, and a 17.8% SpaceX weight, with a 0.75% expense ratio. Baron First Principles ETF had nearly $336 million in net assets, 21 holdings, and a 36.4% SpaceX weight, with a 1% expense ratio. Tema Space Innovators ETF had nearly $886 million in assets, 38 holdings, and a 25.6% SpaceX weighting, with a 0.75% expense ratio. First Trust Indxx Aerospace & Defense ETF had over $680 million in net assets, 44 holdings, and a 6.6% SpaceX position, making it the fifth-largest holding, with a 0.6% expense ratio.

The article says SpaceX had no upcoming stock split as of November 2026. It adds that, with the share price in the $140 range at the time, the stock would need to rise considerably before a split would make sense.

The article's overall view

The Motley Fool concludes that SpaceX's 2026 IPO captured enthusiasm around its space and AI businesses and that those businesses could support strong revenue growth in coming years. At the same time, it says investors should weigh the company's high capital spending and valuation before buying. The article says the shares could rise further if SpaceX keeps growing revenue and turns its AI investments into meaningful profits, but it also says the stock could continue to fall if the company fails to meet expectations.