News & Updates
The latest news and updates from companies in the WLTH portfolio.
Investors Who Get In on SpaceX Now Could See Their Money Multiply for 1 Reason
When SpaceX (NASDAQ: SPCX) was preparing for its IPO, Morningstar analysts warned investors that the best buying opportunity may not occur immediately. "We value SpaceX at $63 per share, a 53% discount to the upcoming IPO price," the firm stressed. "Our valuation is the result of mathematics more than skepticism, reflecting a wide range of possible outcomes for the company's financial future." Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now, when you join Stock Advisor. See the stocks " Ultimately, Morningstar suggested that investors pass on buying into the IPO. "We think the company has been significantly overvalued and investors will have opportunities to buy the stock at more attractive levels after the IPO," the firm concluded. While SpaceX stock hasn't quite fallen to its initial IPO price of $135 per share, a steep correction has given investors an opportunity to buy in at a hefty discount to the company's post-IPO highs. Investing now could be a wise decision long term for one key reason. Here's why SpaceX stock is attractive after the correction If you're looking to bet on AI, few stocks are as uniquely positioned as SpaceX. Many believe the company to be a rocket maker. And it is. The company's Falcon Heavy rocket has successfully launched more than 600 times, bringing an unprecedented number of payloads to space quickly and relatively cheaply. But rockets are simply a means to an end for SpaceX. The company, after all, used its rockets to launch its Starlink internet service -- a segment that';s posting positive gross margins and impressive revenue growth rates. The most lucrative use of SpaceX's rockets long term, however, will be for launching data centers into space -- so-called orbital data centers. Image source: Getty Images Experts are split on whether orbital data centers are even possible from an economics and physics standpoint. But SpaceX is perhaps the only company on Earth today positioned to make them a reality. The idea here is simple: AI could become one of the largest markets in human history. That will only be possible if there are enough data centers to run the computing capacity required for a globally scaled AI economy. Thus, more data centers need to be built. The problem is that data centers are resource intensive, using massive amounts of land, water, and energy. Putting them into space, at least on paper, has the potential to alleviate most of those terrestrial challenges. With a Starlink connectivity network already in place, SpaceX can easily connect these orbital data centers to ground-based relay centers. Ark Invest, a major SpaceX shareholder, believes SpaceX could generate $300 billion in annual revenue by the end of this decade by renting computing power from orbital data centers. If that comes to pass, suddenly SpaceX's $2 trillion market cap becomes much more palatable. It remains to be seen whether SpaceX can actually pull off this major growth opportunity. But the potential is clearly there. And investors looking to go all in on AI stocks should put SpaceX at the top of their watch list. Should you buy stock in Space Exploration Technologies right now? Before you buy stock in Space Exploration Technologies, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Space Exploration Technologies wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $409,970!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,200,223!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 916% -- a market-crushing outperformance compared to 210% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors. See the 10 stocks " *Stock Advisor returns as of July 8, 2026. Ryan Vanzo has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
Elon Musk's Grok 4.5 AI Model Goes Public Today as SpaceX (SPCX) Stock Struggles
* Elon Musk confirmed Grok 4.5 becomes publicly available Wednesday, July 9 * The AI model is positioned as "Opus-class," with Musk touting superior speed, token efficiency, and cost advantages over Anthropic's Claude * The release leverages xAI's groundbreaking V9 foundation model featuring 1.5 trillion parameters * SpaceX shares dropped almost 7% during their inaugural trading day as a Nasdaq 100 component, showing marginal pre-market gains Wednesday * OpenAI plans to unveil GPT-5.6 Thursday after postponing the launch due to national security considerations Elon Musk revealed Tuesday night that the public rollout of Grok 4.5 would occur Wednesday, July 9. This represents the newest iteration of SpaceXAI's primary artificial intelligence offering, the company previously operating under the xAI brand. Musk took to social platforms to characterize the model as "Opus-class," drawing a direct comparison with Anthropic's Claude by asserting that Grok 4.5 delivers "faster, more token-efficient, and lower cost" performance. The development of Grok 4.5 utilized xAI's cutting-edge V9 foundation architecture, boasting 1.5 trillion parameters. Musk disclosed earlier this July that the system had begun closed beta evaluation at SpaceX and Tesla facilities. Grok 4.3, the prior release, debuted in April. Musk had been signaling an enhanced version was in development since that time. SpaceX's Artificial Intelligence Strategy xAI merged with SpaceX in February 2026, subsequently rebranding as SpaceXAI. The Grok product family now represents a central element of SpaceX's artificial intelligence market expansion, complementing its aerospace and satellite operations. The Grok 4.5 debut arrives amid intensifying competition within the generative AI landscape. OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google have each introduced progressively sophisticated models throughout the previous twelve months. OpenAI has scheduled GPT-5.6's public introduction for Thursday. The company postponed that launch last month following government concerns regarding potential exploitation by malicious entities. Market observers are tracking how rapidly Grok 4.5 can capture consumer and enterprise adoption. Robust market acceptance would bolster SpaceX's artificial intelligence revenue objectives. SPCX Shares Face Selling Pressure Tuesday represented SpaceX stock's debut trading session following its addition to the Nasdaq 100 index. Shares declined nearly 7% during the session, caught in a wider technology sector downturn. Space Exploration Technologies Corp., SPCX Multiple Wall Street research firms launched coverage with Buy recommendations, yet this failed to provide support for the stock. Market participants maintained a cautious outlook. SpaceX equity showed strength immediately following its initial public offering, though those early advances dissipated rapidly. As of Tuesday's trading close, shares have declined approximately 7% from their June 12 market debut. Wednesday's pre-market activity showed the stock advancing 0.12%, representing a slight rebound before the Grok 4.5 availability. SpaceX maintains a Strong Buy consensus among analysts tracked by TipRanks. The consensus price target sits at $212.08, suggesting potential upside of roughly 46% from present valuation levels.
Investors Who Get In on SpaceX Now Could See Their Money Multiply for 1 Reason
When SpaceX (SPCX 6.72%) was preparing for its IPO, Morningstar analysts warned investors that the best buying opportunity may not occur immediately. "We value SpaceX at $63 per share, a 53% discount to the upcoming IPO price," the firm stressed. "Our valuation is the result of mathematics more than skepticism, reflecting a wide range of possible outcomes for the company's financial future." Ultimately, Morningstar suggested that investors pass on buying into the IPO. "We think the company has been significantly overvalued and investors will have opportunities to buy the stock at more attractive levels after the IPO," the firm concluded. While SpaceX stock hasn't quite fallen to its initial IPO price of $135 per share, a steep correction has given investors an opportunity to buy in at a hefty discount to the company's post-IPO highs. Investing now could be a wise decision long term for one key reason. Here's why SpaceX stock is attractive after the correction If you're looking to bet on AI, few stocks are as uniquely positioned as SpaceX. Many believe the company to be a rocket maker. And it is. The company's Falcon Heavy rocket has successfully launched more than 600 times, bringing an unprecedented number of payloads to space quickly and relatively cheaply. But rockets are simply a means to an end for SpaceX. The company, after all, used its rockets to launch its Starlink internet service -- a segment that';s posting positive gross margins and impressive revenue growth rates. The most lucrative use of SpaceX's rockets long term, however, will be for launching data centers into space -- so-called orbital data centers. Experts are split on whether orbital data centers are even possible from an economics and physics standpoint. But SpaceX is perhaps the only company on Earth today positioned to make them a reality. The idea here is simple: AI could become one of the largest markets in human history. That will only be possible if there are enough data centers to run the computing capacity required for a globally scaled AI economy. Thus, more data centers need to be built. The problem is that data centers are resource intensive, using massive amounts of land, water, and energy. Putting them into space, at least on paper, has the potential to alleviate most of those terrestrial challenges. With a Starlink connectivity network already in place, SpaceX can easily connect these orbital data centers to ground-based relay centers. Ark Invest, a major SpaceX shareholder, believes SpaceX could generate $300 billion in annual revenue by the end of this decade by renting computing power from orbital data centers. If that comes to pass, suddenly SpaceX's $2 trillion market cap becomes much more palatable. It remains to be seen whether SpaceX can actually pull off this major growth opportunity. But the potential is clearly there. And investors looking to go all in on AI stocks should put SpaceX at the top of their watch list.
Investors Who Get In on SpaceX Now Could See Their Money Multiply for 1 Reason
When SpaceX (NASDAQ: SPCX) was preparing for its IPO, Morningstar analysts warned investors that the best buying opportunity may not occur immediately. "We value SpaceX at $63 per share, a 53% discount to the upcoming IPO price," the firm stressed. "Our valuation is the result of mathematics more than skepticism, reflecting a wide range of possible outcomes for the company's financial future." Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue " Ultimately, Morningstar suggested that investors pass on buying into the IPO. "We think the company has been significantly overvalued and investors will have opportunities to buy the stock at more attractive levels after the IPO," the firm concluded. While SpaceX stock hasn't quite fallen to its initial IPO price of $135 per share, a steep correction has given investors an opportunity to buy in at a hefty discount to the company's post-IPO highs. Investing now could be a wise decision long term for one key reason. Here's why SpaceX stock is attractive after the correction If you're looking to bet on AI, few stocks are as uniquely positioned as SpaceX. Many believe the company to be a rocket maker. And it is. The company's Falcon Heavy rocket has successfully launched more than 600 times, bringing an unprecedented number of payloads to space quickly and relatively cheaply. But rockets are simply a means to an end for SpaceX. The company, after all, used its rockets to launch its Starlink internet service -- a segment that';s posting positive gross margins and impressive revenue growth rates. The most lucrative use of SpaceX's rockets long term, however, will be for launching data centers into space -- so-called orbital data centers. Experts are split on whether orbital data centers are even possible from an economics and physics standpoint. But SpaceX is perhaps the only company on Earth today positioned to make them a reality. The idea here is simple: AI could become one of the largest markets in human history. That will only be possible if there are enough data centers to run the computing capacity required for a globally scaled AI economy. Thus, more data centers need to be built. The problem is that data centers are resource intensive, using massive amounts of land, water, and energy. Putting them into space, at least on paper, has the potential to alleviate most of those terrestrial challenges. With a Starlink connectivity network already in place, SpaceX can easily connect these orbital data centers to ground-based relay centers.
SpaceX Bitcoin Transfer Sparks Speculation Over Possible BTC Wallet Reshuffle - TokenPost
SpaceX has reignited speculation across the cryptocurrency market after moving Bitcoin (BTC) on-chain for the first time in six months. Blockchain analytics platform Arkham Intelligence reported that the aerospace company sent a small test transaction worth approximately $88 between two of its tagged Bitcoin wallets, prompting traders to question whether a larger transfer could follow. According to Arkham, the transaction moved BTC from a legacy wallet labeled "15atF" to a newer "bc1q9" address. While the amount involved was insignificant, such test transactions are commonly used to verify new wallet addresses before transferring larger sums of cryptocurrency. Arkham highlighted the move on social media, asking whether SpaceX was preparing for a more substantial Bitcoin transfer. The company has used a similar approach before. In October 2025, SpaceX transferred 2,495 BTC, valued at roughly $257 million, into two newly created wallets after months of inactivity. That movement followed an earlier transfer of around $300 million in Bitcoin to Coinbase Prime custody in July 2025, making investors especially attentive to any new wallet activity. Despite the renewed speculation, there is currently no indication that SpaceX is preparing to sell its Bitcoin holdings. Data from BitcoinTreasuries continues to show the company holding 18,712 BTC, the same amount disclosed in its May 21 S-1 filing before its June 12 IPO. That filing also revealed that SpaceX owned significantly more Bitcoin than blockchain analysts had previously identified. While on-chain trackers had estimated holdings of roughly 8,285 BTC, the IPO filing disclosed an additional 10,427 BTC that had not been linked to publicly tracked wallets. As a result, Arkham's labeled addresses represent only part of the company's overall Bitcoin treasury. Elon Musk is expected to retain more than 85% of SpaceX's ownership, meaning any future decisions regarding Bitcoin accumulation or liquidation remain largely under his control. The timing of the wallet activity has also drawn attention as SpaceX recently joined the Nasdaq-100, while Bitcoin trades near $62,060, significantly below its October peak of $126,080. At current prices, the company's Bitcoin reserve is worth approximately $1.2 billion. For now, the small transfer appears more consistent with routine wallet management than an impending sale. However, market participants will closely monitor the new wallet for additional transactions that could signal a broader restructuring of SpaceX's Bitcoin holdings.
With SpaceX Starship, Japan's Ispace provides ride-share to the moon
Japanese moon transport company Ispace said Wednesday it would start a new, lower-cost lunar cargo business using the Starship heavy rocket and moon lander developed by Elon Musk's SpaceX. Tokyo-based Ispace has bought 500 kilograms (1,102 pounds) of capacity for $50 million on a Starship that would land on the moon as soon as 2030, and will build a lunar surface vehicle that can host payloads from clients worldwide sharing their ride on Starship to the moon, it said. The new "lunar access integrator" service provides moon-bound "buses" and can complement Ispace's ongoing development of dedicated lunar landers, or "taxis," to the moon's surface, said Ispace Executive Vice President Hideari Kamiya. On previous trips to the moon, Ispace used SpaceX's Falcon 9 rockets for unsuccessful lunar touchdown attempts in 2023 and 2025. The Tokyo-based company now aims to soft-land three landers, called Ultra, onto the moon by 2030, including a mission that is part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services program. While Ispace carries on its Ultra missions, the tie-up with SpaceX will "exponentially" accelerate its growth in the lunar infrastructure market, Chief Executive Takeshi Hakamada said. SpaceX welcomed the expansion of its relationship with Ispace to fly missions on Starship, a reusable transportation system which, unlike Falcon 9, includes a spacecraft that Musk's company plans to take to the moon and eventually to Mars. "Their integration services provide a valuable pathway for smaller payloads to secure a ride to the Moon today, and we look forward to supporting ispace and their customers as they help expand access to the lunar surface," Stephanie Bednarek, SpaceX's vice president of commercial sales, said in a statement. The relationship is not exclusive. NASA plans to use Starship's first lunar landing in 2028 as part of its Artemis program to send astronauts back to the moon. U.S. lunar rover startup Astrolab has also booked space on a future Starship flight. "SpaceX approached us first" with the integrator business idea, Hakamada said. "While we can't rule out other companies entering the market, few might be able to integrate cargo and keep providing services after touching down on the moon."
$100 invested in SpaceX stock at IPO is now worth
For all the hype surrounding the SpaceX (NASDAQ: SPCX) initial public offering (IPO) and the company's launch valuation, even investing $100 as soon as possible would have proven a middling investment. Specifically, SPCX shares were originally offered at $135 and are, at press time on July 8, trading at $149.52 following a 0.033% extended session rise. Under the circumstances, a $100 investment made already at the IPO would have risen to $110.76 for a $10.76 profit. Investors who got their hands on SpaceX stock at the beginning of the equity's first trading day - June 12 - would have seen their position remain effectively flat, while those who purchased on that evening would have lost $7 as the company ended the day at $160.95. Still, both groups would have been far more fortunate than those who took Jim Cramer's amazement at the rally as a sign to buy - thus also joining Representative Dan Meuser - and purchased close to the all-time high (ATH) of $225.64. Indeed, such investors could only be pleased that they hadn't invested $5,000 or $10,000 in the stock as SPCX shares retraced 33.74%, meaning that $100 would have turned into $66.26 for a $33.74 unrealized loss. What is next for SpaceX stock price in 2026 Elsewhere, the future of SpaceX appears increasingly uncertain at press time on July 8. Since the IPO, the company's extreme launch valuation of $1.77 trillion, paired with revenue below $5 billion and the fact that the firm is operating at a loss, presented a substantial long-term risk factor. More recently, investors might have found themselves alarmed by the fact that SPCX shares failed to see a significant rally even after their official inclusion into the Nasdaq-100 - though it will likely take some time for buying pressure from index funds to be fully reflected in the market. Nonetheless, even if a renewed rally begins in July as many have been expecting since before the SpaceX launch, the company's generous unlocking schedule for wealthy insiders could reverse Elon Musk's corporate rocket once more in August or September.
Elon Musk's SpaceX Moves Bitcoin, Selloff Coming amid SPCX Stock Fell 25%?
Speculation over potential selloffs triggered amid recent Bitcoin sales by Strategy. Elon Musk's SpaceX-linked wallet address moved Bitcoin after 6 months, sparking speculation in crypto and stock markets. The transfer coincided with massive profit booking in SPCX stock that sent the stock below its IPO debut price. Elon Musk's SpaceX Wallet Transfers Bitcoin According to Arkham Intelligence data on July 8, a wallet address linked to Elon Musk's SpaceX moved Bitcoin for the first time in six months. The transfer triggered selling speculations despite the firm moved just $88 worth of BTC. The firm last moved more than 1016 BTC worth nearly $100 million. SpaceX wallet still holds almost 18,712 BTC, valued at $1.16 billion at the current market price. Notably, the destination address now holds 614 BTC worth $38 million. Outflows from SpaceX to other unknown wallets increased significantly last year near the October 10 crypto market crash. The transfers gradually stopped as the firm's focus switched to its SpaceX IPO. The latest transfer comes amid Bitcoin selling by digital asset treasuries such as Michael Saylor's Strategy, MARA Holdings, Nakamoto Holdings, and Sequans Communications. Last week, Michael Saylor's Strategy announced Bitcoin sale worth $216 million. Meanwhile, Bitcoin price is trading above $62K, almost 2% lower amid renewed US-Iran strikes. President Trump cast doubt on the future of the cease-fire with Iran after both sides traded attacks, saying "I think it's over." SPCX Stock Extends Fall to 25% SPCX stock closed 6.83% lower at $149.47 on Tuesday, falling to an intraday low of $148.86 amid massive profit booking. The stock price has dropped below its IPO debut price. The stock dropped despite Elon Musk-led space exploration and AI company SpaceX joined the Nasdaq 100. While it sparked long-term bullish sentiment among investors due to potential influx of investments, but stock remains under selling pressure. SpaceX stock is now down more than 25% within just a month. The stock has climbed 0.49% in premarket trading hours on Wednesday. As CoinGape reported, Wall Street firms, including Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, and Citigroup, initiated coverage of SPCX stock, setting higher price targets. Morgan Stanley analysts are extremely bullish on Elon Musk's SpaceX stock, setting a price target of $300.
SpaceX Officially Joined the Nasdaq-100 and Received a $300 Price Target From Wall Street. Here's Why the Stock Is Falling Anyway.
On July 7, Space Exploration Technologies (NASDAQ: SPCX) joined the Nasdaq-100 -- which is the 100 largest non-financial companies by market cap listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange. It also received a $300 price target from Morgan Stanley, one of the Wall Street banks that underwrote SpaceX's initial public offering (IPO). Being a part of a major index is more than just name recognition. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) benchmarked to the Nasdaq-100, such as the Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ: QQQ), will begin buying shares of SpaceX. The more indexes a company can be a part of, the more demand is unlocked from ETF inflows -- the crown jewel being the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC), because the largest ETFs in the world are linked to it. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now, when you join Stock Advisor. See the stocks " Here's why SpaceX was added to the Nasdaq-100 so quickly, and why the growth stock is falling anyway. Image source: Getty Images. SpaceX will soon be a top holding in the Nasdaq-100 The Nasdaq's new fast-track rules are meant to expedite the inclusion of megacap companies that recently had IPOs. If a company is at least as valuable as the 40th-largest Nasdaq listing, which is a market cap of around $121 billion, it can now be added to the Nasdaq-100 after its 15th trading day. SpaceX has a market cap of around $2 trillion and is the world's seventh-most valuable company -- so it clears the size hurdle with ease. SpaceX went public on June 12, but markets were closed on Juneteenth (June 19) and July 3. So, it wasn't added to the Nasdaq-100 until over three weeks after its IPO. However, SpaceX's weight in the Nasdaq-100 isn't its market cap. Rather, it is based on a multiple of the float, which is the number of shares available for trading by the public. SpaceX's float is around just 5% of its market cap. But the float could increase rapidly in the coming months. The vast majority of SpaceX stock is held by insiders who bought in when the company was private -- including institutional investors from previous funding rounds, employees, and founders. SpaceX plans to gradually unlock early-release-eligible shares through a tiered system over the next 180 days, with 20% of shares available for trading two days after the release of its earnings for the quarter ended June 30, and up to 30% if SpaceX's stock price is at least $175.50 per share. More key unlocking events will occur throughout the summer and fall. And eventually, 100% of the early-release shares will be available for trading by Dec. 9 -- which is 180 days after the IPO date. Granted, not all insiders will sell their shares and make them available for trading on public markets. Elon Musk and other significant investors have agreed to hold shares for at least 366 days after May 20, the date of SpaceX's Form S-1 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. And many early founders still hold large positions in major tech companies, such as Musk in Tesla or Jeff Bezos in Amazon. Before the recently implemented fast-track process for larger IPOs, the Nasdaq-100 required a free float of at least 10%, meaning at least 10% of the company's shares are publicly tradable. SpaceX should cross that level even if a fraction of early-release-eligible shares are sold and made available on the Nasdaq in the coming months. If I had to guess, I'd expect SpaceX's weighting in the Nasdaq-100 to mirror its market cap by mid-August at the latest. The market is always evolving Once SpaceX is weighted by market cap, it will be a top-10 holding in the Nasdaq-100 and account for around 4% of the index. And as more blockbuster IPOs like Anthropic and OpenAI are fast-tracked into the index and reach the float requirements, they, too, could become key holdings. The rapid restructuring of the Nasdaq-100 has undoubtedly piqued the interest of index and ETF investors, especially those who regularly put their hard-earned savings to work in products benchmarked to the indexes. A common mistake investors will make is assuming that an index is diversified just because it contains hundreds or thousands of stocks. When in reality, the Nasdaq-100 and S&P 500 have become concentrated in a handful of names. And that concentration could increase as megacap IPOs are added. To stay even-keeled no matter what the market is doing, it's important to heed Peter Lynch's advice about knowing what you own and why you own it. That exercise is straightforward with individual stocks, where an investment thesis can anchor a key holding. But even for ETFs, it's worth recognizing some of the major themes and companies that will drive gains (or losses). By design, the major indexes can undergo drastic transformations as the economy evolves. A couple of decades ago, major oil companies, industrial conglomerates, and consumer goods companies dominated the largest S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI) companies. But the tech sector now makes up a staggering 38% of the S&P 500. And Alphabet just replaced Verizon Communications in the Dow -- meaning that seven of the 30 Dow components have changed seats in the last six years. SpaceX will continue making waves on public markets SpaceX's growing share of the indexes and lofty price targets from Wall Street banks have more to do with market dynamics than SpaceX's investment thesis. The recent sell-off in the stock is likely due to fading enthusiasm as investors focus more on SpaceX's fundamentals -- which are shaky given its valuation is in the stratosphere. For the stock to be a good long-term buy for new investors, SpaceX needs to make progress on its bold plans to launch constellations of orbital artificial intelligence compute satellites and build the world's largest chip manufacturing plant in Texas in partnership with Tesla. Until that happens, SpaceX is best kept on a watch list. And investors who want to avoid the stock entirely may want to double-check that the ETFs they hold don't begin buying SpaceX, especially as its float increases in the coming months. Should you buy stock in Space Exploration Technologies right now? Before you buy stock in Space Exploration Technologies, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Space Exploration Technologies wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $409,970!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,200,223!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 916% -- a market-crushing outperformance compared to 210% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors. See the 10 stocks " *Stock Advisor returns as of July 8, 2026. Daniel Foelber has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, and Tesla. The Motley Fool recommends Verizon Communications. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
SpaceX Officially Joined the Nasdaq-100 and Received a $300 Price Target From Wall Street. Here's Why the Stock Is Falling Anyway.
On July 7, Space Exploration Technologies (NASDAQ: SPCX) joined the Nasdaq-100 -- which is the 100 largest non-financial companies by market cap listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange. It also received a $300 price target from Morgan Stanley, one of the Wall Street banks that underwrote SpaceX's initial public offering (IPO). Being a part of a major index is more than just name recognition. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) benchmarked to the Nasdaq-100, such as the Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ: QQQ), will begin buying shares of SpaceX. The more indexes a company can be a part of, the more demand is unlocked from ETF inflows -- the crown jewel being the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC), because the largest ETFs in the world are linked to it. Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue " Here's why SpaceX was added to the Nasdaq-100 so quickly, and why the growth stock is falling anyway. SpaceX will soon be a top holding in the Nasdaq-100 The Nasdaq's new fast-track rules are meant to expedite the inclusion of megacap companies that recently had IPOs. If a company is at least as valuable as the 40th-largest Nasdaq listing, which is a market cap of around $121 billion, it can now be added to the Nasdaq-100 after its 15th trading day. SpaceX has a market cap of around $2 trillion and is the world's seventh-most valuable company -- so it clears the size hurdle with ease. SpaceX went public on June 12, but markets were closed on Juneteenth (June 19) and July 3. So, it wasn't added to the Nasdaq-100 until over three weeks after its IPO. However, SpaceX's weight in the Nasdaq-100 isn't its market cap. Rather, it is based on a multiple of the float, which is the number of shares available for trading by the public. SpaceX's float is around just 5% of its market cap. But the float could increase rapidly in the coming months. The vast majority of SpaceX stock is held by insiders who bought in when the company was private -- including institutional investors from previous funding rounds, employees, and founders. SpaceX plans to gradually unlock early-release-eligible shares through a tiered system over the next 180 days, with 20% of shares available for trading two days after the release of its earnings for the quarter ended June 30, and up to 30% if SpaceX's stock price is at least $175.50 per share.
SpaceX buoyed by launch dominance, but Starlink Mobile's future unclear, analysts say
WASHINGTON, July 7, 2026 - SpaceX may have included fanciful projections in its IPO filing, but the company's rocket launch capability is truly second to none, analysts say. "SpaceX is primarily a rocket manufacturing and launch company," MoffettNathanson analysts wrote in an investor report released Tuesday. "And the company has created a near-monopoly in the rocket segment." The 165 orbital launches carried out by the company last year represented 53 percent of all such launches worldwide, the report notes, and almost 70 percent of the mass put into orbit. SpaceX is still controlled by Elon Muskwhich controls a large part of its voting rights after its record IPO. "Facing SpaceX, there are no competing companies, but entire sovereign nations," write the analysts, "and always SpaceX surpasses them all. Combined." That's largely thanks to SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket's reusable booster, they wrote, which makes repeat launches much cheaper. The company plans to make its Starship rocket fully reusable, which would further reduce costs. MoffettNathanson estimated that this would come to fruition "no sooner than mid-2027," contrary to the company's projections for the end of this year. The report was written by Craig Moffettco-founder of the research firm, and analysts Julie Zhu And Nick Del Deo. The company operates a massive constellation of 10,000 satellites to support its Starlink broadband service. This both aided the development of the Falcon 9 and benefited from internal launch capability, the analysts wrote. They compared SpaceX to satellite broadband provider Amazon Leo and rocket launcher Blue Origin. The former needed a waiver from the Federal Communications Commission because it was unable to ensure launch capability for its nascent constellation, and the latter is "by most estimates a decade or more behind" reusable rockets. SpaceX "is, in short, a bet on everything made possible by a virtual lockdown on rocket manufacturing and launch," the analysts wrote. Directly on the device SpaceX has big plans for its direct-to-device mobile service. It is buying $19.6 billion worth of spectrum from EchoStar to support the service and has asked the FCC for permission to launch an additional 15,000 satellites directly to devices. It also treated mobile as a source of future growth during its IPO. "For this to happen, Starlink cannot remain a complement to terrestrial wireless targeting remote rural areas; this opportunity is not large enough. Instead, it will need to replace terrestrial wireless," the analysts wrote. "We are skeptical." Satellite service alone is extremely unlikely to be competitive with land mobile service, they write, due to the considerable distances involved. The only way for SpaceX to gain market share would be to partner with a carrier through a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) agreement, they argued. However, each of the mobile carrier CEOs has rejected this idea; The companies also announced earlier this year that they were forming a joint venture focused directly on devices, which analysts saw as a united front against a SpaceX MVNO. Verizon provided MVNOs to Comcast and Charter, and the cable giants became legitimate competitors for mobile customers. Carriers are unlikely to be convinced to let another competitor into the fold, analysts write. There have been reports recently that SpaceX is developing a mobile phone and talking with Charter about a mobile partnership, both interpreted as further signs of the satellite operator's mobile ambitions. According to MoffettNathanson, the most realistic way to convince an operator to grant an MVNO might be to gather valuable spectrum assets that SpaceX could offer as part of the deal. The company's purchase of national spectrum from EchoStar is the most logical bargaining chip for this purpose, they argued, since the airwaves can only really be used in rural areas without superior terrestrial coverage. SpaceX "will continue to negotiate, cajole and, if necessary, coerce, with the goal of reaching an MVNO agreement with one of the Big Three," they wrote. "It is clear, however, that the Big Three fully understand the clear and present danger that would be posed by Starlink's entry into the market as another cable-style hybrid MNO/MVNO." Analysts at LightShed Partners speculated last week that SpaceX could buy EchoStar's now-defunct mobile network as part of its wireless subsidiary's bankruptcy proceedings. This would avoid the hundreds of billions in costs and decades of permitting and construction that would be required to build a mobile network. "It might be difficult for SpaceX to pass up cheap radio assets with which it could negotiate favorable leases," LightShed analysts Walter Piecyk And Joe Gallone wrote.
SpaceX, ClearOne, FuelCell Energy, Cloudflare and Penguin Solutions: Why These 5 Stocks Are on Investors'
Major U.S. indices closed lower on Tuesday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average slipping 0.25% to 52,925.15, the S&P 500 falling 0.45% to 7,503.85 and the Nasdaq dropping 1.16% to 25,818.69. These are the top stocks that gained the attention of retail traders and investors through the day. Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ:SPCX) SpaceX shares fell 6.83% to $149.47, after trading as high as $159.30 and as low as $148.86; the stock's 52-week range runs from $147.11 to $225.64. In the after-hours trading, the stock gained 1.14% to $151.17. Clearone Inc. (NASDAQ:CLRO) ClearOne surged 97.71% to $13.84, reaching an intraday high of $16.50 and a low of $8.13; its 52-week span is $2.72 to $16.50. The stock gained 5.13% to $14.55 in extended trading. Traders piled in after the company disclosed a definitive merger agreement with Cortigent, a Vivani Medical subsidiary, along with financing plans intended to support the combined business and its shift toward medtech. The merger update and the strategic pivot to medical devices fueled the sharp advance. FuelCell Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:FCEL) FuelCell Energy dropped 12.68% to $25.96, with an intraday high of $29.18 and a low of $25.72; the stock's 52-week range is $3.78 to $37.88. In the after-hours session, the stock plummeted by 16.76% to $21.61. Cloudflare, Inc. (NYSE:NET) Cloudflare gained 8.60% to $268.83, trading as high as $274 and as low as $254 during the session; the stock's 52-week range stands at $158.83 to $276.82. Penguin Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:PENG) Penguin Solutions fell 7.38% to $62.71, after hitting an intraday high of $65.34 and a low of $60.20; the stock's 52-week range is $16.04 to $77.40. The stock popped 3.65% higher at $65 in extended trading. Penguin Solutions raised its full-year fiscal 2026 outlook, forecasting revenue growth of 22%, plus or minus 2%, up from its previous expectation of about 12%, and projected adjusted earnings of $2.60 per share, plus or minus 5 cents, citing strong customer demand driven by agentic AI. Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings indicate SpaceX stock doesn't rank high on Short, Medium and Long-term Price Trends. Photo Courtesy: thanmano on Shutterstock.com Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs To add Benzinga News as your preferred source on Google, click here.
The most bullish SpaceX call projects the stock to rise 430% from current levels - CNBC TV18
SpaceX, the Elon Musk-owned enterprise, which made its debut on the Nasdaq on Tuesday, July 7, received a flurry of bullish initiations as the silent period of managers who ran the IPO came to an end. The one that stood out was from Raymond James. The brokerage initiated coverage on SpaceX with a "strong buy" recommendation and a price target of $800. This is not only the highest among all analysts who have coverage on the recently listed stock, but also projects an upside potential of 430% from current levels. Despite the multiple bullish initiations, shares of SpaceX fell 6.5% on Tuesday to close at $149, tumbling back towards their IPO price of $135, having cooled off from their post-listing high of $225. In case the stock hits that level, it would take its market capitalization to $10.5 trillion, that is more than double of Nvidia's current market capitalization of $4.7 trillion, which makes it the most valuable stock globally. As a result of the fall from its post-listing high, SpaceX's market capitalization is now below the mark of $2 trillion. In its bullish note, Raymond James said that it is seeing SpaceX as one of the defining industrial infrastructure companies of the 21st century, adding that SpaceX is now building the foundational platform for the next generation of industrial capacity, just as railroads, electric grids and internet reshaped the prior economic eras. The brokerage now projects SpaceX's revenue to soar to $5.2 trillion by 2035, from $19 billion that it reported last year. It will be led by the AI segment, currently a smaller part of the business, compared to the rocket or connectivity segments. AI will also become the biggest revenue contributor to SpaceX by 2027 and by 2035, will represent 94% of the company's overall topline, the note added further. However, the bullish forecasts also come with their fair share of risks. Raymond James believes that in case SpaceX experiences launch failures, the stock could even fall to as low as $125, which is below its issue price of $135. Launch failures would "raise concerns about the pace of orbital AI, Starlink Mobile, and Starship-enabled infrastructure optionality," the note said. SpaceX is now tracked by 35 analysts on Wall Street, of which 29 continue to maintain a "buy" rating on the stock. The average analyst price target is just above its post-listing high, at $236.45, which implies an upside of 56% from current levels.
SpaceX Trading Frenzy Sends Tokenized Equity Volume to Record $3.86B
Tokenized equity trading climbed to a record $3.86 billion in June as demand for blockchain-based SpaceX (NASDAQ: $SPCX ) shares turned the aerospace company's public-market debut into the sector's biggest trading event by volume to date. Onchain volume rose 145% from May, according to CoinDesk Data, with tokenized SpaceX products generating $1.19 billion during the month. That represented roughly 31% of all tokenized equity trading and put a newly listed stock ahead of established names including Nvidia (NASDAQ: $NVDA ), Tesla (NASDAQ: $TSLA ) and major index products. The activity followed SpaceX's $75 billion initial public offering, the largest on record, which valued the company at about $1.8 trillion on a fully diluted basis. Crypto platforms had already been building products around the listing, giving onchain traders several ways to gain price exposure as the shares entered public markets. Backpack Securities' SPCX token led the group with $1.08 billion in June volume. xStocks' SPCXx followed with $852 million, while Backpack's full tokenized instrument lineup produced $1.42 billion for the month. SpaceX alone accounted for most of that activity. Nvidia, Tesla, SPY and QQQ remained among the more actively traded tokenized products, but none came close to the demand around SpaceX. The concentration shows how quickly tokenized equity venues can rotate toward the same stories driving traditional markets rather than relying only on a fixed group of megacap stocks. Sector market capitalization also reached a record $1.53 billion in June, up 6.64% from May and marking a fifteenth consecutive month of growth. Tokenized stocks are still small compared with traditional equity markets, and the structure of individual products can differ from direct share ownership. Still, June gave the market its clearest example yet of how onchain equity trading can react to a major listing in real time. Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ: SPCX) is currently trading at $149.55 U.S. per share.
SpaceX Trading Frenzy Sends Tokenized Equity Volume to Record $3.86B
Tokenized equity trading climbed to a record $3.86 billion in June as demand for blockchain-based SpaceX (NASDAQ: $SPCX) shares turned the aerospace company's public-market debut into the sector's biggest trading event by volume to date. Onchain volume rose 145% from May, according to CoinDesk Data, with tokenized SpaceX products generating $1.19 billion during the month. That represented roughly 31% of all tokenized equity trading and put a newly listed stock ahead of established names including Nvidia (NASDAQ: $NVDA), Tesla (NASDAQ: $TSLA) and major index products. The activity followed SpaceX's $75 billion initial public offering, the largest on record, which valued the company at about $1.8 trillion on a fully diluted basis. Crypto platforms had already been building products around the listing, giving onchain traders several ways to gain price exposure as the shares entered public markets. More From Cryptoprowl: Backpack Securities' SPCX token led the group with $1.08 billion in June volume. xStocks' SPCXx followed with $852 million, while Backpack's full tokenized instrument lineup produced $1.42 billion for the month. SpaceX alone accounted for most of that activity. Nvidia, Tesla, SPY and QQQ remained among the more actively traded tokenized products, but none came close to the demand around SpaceX. The concentration shows how quickly tokenized equity venues can rotate toward the same stories driving traditional markets rather than relying only on a fixed group of megacap stocks. Sector market capitalization also reached a record $1.53 billion in June, up 6.64% from May and marking a fifteenth consecutive month of growth. Tokenized stocks are still small compared with traditional equity markets, and the structure of individual products can differ from direct share ownership. Still, June gave the market its clearest example yet of how onchain equity trading can react to a major listing in real time. Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ: SPCX) is currently trading at $149.55 U.S. per share.
SpaceX's biggest bull sees valuation soaring above $10 trillion
Raymond James analyst Brian Gesuale initiated coverage on SpaceX with a strong buy. He set an $800 price target, projecting significant future stock appreciation. Gesuale sees SpaceX revenue soaring to $5.2 trillion by 2035. This growth is primarily based on its nascent artificial intelligence business. The analyst believes AI will become SpaceX's largest revenue source by 2027. New York: SpaceX has no shortage of fans on Wall Street, but one analyst stands out among the rest as by far the most bullish: Raymond James' Brian Gesuale. Gesuale initiated coverage on the rocket, satellite, and artificial intelligence company Tuesday with a strong buy rating and an $800 price target, the highest among Wall Street analysts and roughly 430% above where the stock is trading in Tuesday's selloff. Should the shares hit that level, the company's market valuation would balloon to roughly $10.5 trillion. US MarketsPowered By As on 08 Jul 2026, 01:30 AM IST S&P 500 Top Gainers Cognizant Tech Solns43.94(6.21%) Occidental Petroleum51.68(5.88%) Cboe Global Markets258.64(5.53%) Gilead Sciences136.36(5.21%) Gainers" S&P 500 Top Losers Intel110.39(-9.66%) Teradyne343.11(-9.59%) Solstice Advanced Mat62.10(-8.74%) Coterra Energy32.56(-8.62%) Losers" At the moment, SpaceX's market valuation is less than $2 trillion. "We see the company as one of the defining industrial infrastructure companies of the 21st century," Gesuale wrote in a note to clients on Tuesday. "Just as railroads, electric grids, and the Internet reshaped prior economic eras, we believe SpaceX is building the foundational platform for the next generation of industrial capacity." The projection is based on some eye-popping assumptions. For example, SpaceX posted revenues of $19 billion last year. Gesuale sees that soaring to $5.2 trillion by 2035. What's more, that growth isn't tied to the company's high profile rocket or connectivity segments. Rather it's based on its nascent artificial intelligence business. Right now, AI accounts for $16 billion of SpaceX's revenue, up from $3 billion in 2024 when "substantially all AI revenue came from X, primarily through advertising, subscriptions, and data licensing," Gesuale wrote. Raymond James estimates that the figure will rise to about $650 billion by 2031, "making AI the company's largest business by revenue beginning in 2027, and by 2035 it will represent nearly 94% of SpaceX's revenue, or $4.9 trillion, Gesuale wrote. Shifting toward a business model that focuses on monetising compute rather than space travel is how Gesuale believes SpaceX will achieve his revenue targets. "That growth is underpinned by a rapid expansion in installed compute capacity, initially through terrestrial AI infrastructure before progressively extending into orbital compute later in the decade," he wrote. Gesuale notes that the bullish forecasts aren't without their risks. In a scenario where SpaceX experiences unexpected launch failures, the stock could fall to $125, below its $135 initial public offering price. Launch failures would "raise concerns about the pace of orbital AI, Starlink Mobile, and Starship-enabled infrastructure optionality," Gesuale said.
SpaceX joins Nasdaq-100 15 days after IPO
NEW YORK - SpaceX is expected to attract billions of dollars in passive investment inflows after officially joining the Nasdaq-100 Index on Tuesday (7 July). At the same time, several Wall Street brokerages have begun issuing positive recommendations on shares of Elon Musk's space company. According to Reuters, SpaceX shares fell as much as 1.2% in pre-market trading. Nevertheless, the company, which has a market capitalisation of more than US$2 trillion, took just 15 days after its stock market debut on 12 June to be included in the Nasdaq-100, making it one of the fastest index inclusions in history. SpaceX's inclusion in the Nasdaq-100 is expected to generate fresh demand for its shares, as index funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) tracking the Nasdaq-100 are required to purchase the stock to align their portfolios with the benchmark index. Active fund managers that track the index are also expected to rebalance their portfolios. More than US$587 billion in assets is currently managed by investment funds tracking the Nasdaq-100, including the Invesco QQQ and QQQM ETFs, which must now add SpaceX shares to their portfolios. JP Morgan previously estimated that SpaceX's inclusion in the Nasdaq-100 could attract around US$4.3 billion in passive investment inflows. The end of the post-IPO quiet period has also allowed the investment banks that underwrote SpaceX's initial public offering (IPO) to begin publishing research and investment recommendations on the stock. Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs both initiated coverage with their highest ratings. Morgan Stanley described SpaceX as the "final frontier of artificial intelligence (AI)", while Goldman Sachs said the company was well positioned to extend its leadership in the space, connectivity and AI sectors. Goldman Sachs analysts estimate that each of these sectors could grow into trillion-dollar markets over the next five years. RBC, Bernstein and Stifel also initiated coverage with positive recommendations, driven by optimism over the development of Starship, SpaceX's next-generation fully reusable rocket. "Starship is the flywheel that underpins all of SpaceX's ambitions," RBC analysts wrote. In June, Oppenheimer became the first brokerage to assign an outperform rating to SpaceX shares. However, not all analysts are optimistic. CFRA is the only brokerage to issue a sell recommendation. According to CFRA, SpaceX's current valuation relies too heavily on unproven projects, including Starship and AI company xAI, making the valuation overly aggressive given the significant execution risks and capital requirements. Last month, Morningstar estimated SpaceX's fair value at around US$780 billion, well below its current market capitalisation, citing continued uncertainty surrounding the company's AI business, including xAI and the X social media platform. Investors currently see SpaceX as having the potential to become a major AI infrastructure provider. The company's cash flow is expected to help fund the development of Grok to compete with OpenAI's GPT models and Anthropic's Claude. Meanwhile, Starlink is also seen as having substantial room for growth to strengthen its dominance in the satellite communications industry. At the same time, SpaceX's long-term outlook remains heavily dependent on the successful development of its next-generation Starship rocket. With a market capitalisation of approximately US$2.1 trillion, SpaceX is now the sixth-largest company in the United States, while Chief Executive Elon Musk has become the world's first trillionaire. Last month, FTSE Russell added SpaceX shares to its US equity indices. However, S&P Global has not adopted a similar fast-track inclusion mechanism for the S&P 500, meaning SpaceX is not expected to join that index for at least another year. Since its stock market debut, SpaceX shares have gained more than 6%, although trading has remained volatile in the wake of its IPO. (ARF/LM)
Massive SpaceX IPO minted thousands of millionaires -- and left financial advisors with a blueprint for the next mega offer | Mint
Summary With OpenAI and Anthropic waiting in the wings to go public, pre-IPO wealth planning is suddenly urgent. It's estimated that the SpaceX IPO created more than 4,000 millionaires That is roughly 20% of the employee base. And SpaceX, which joined the Nasdaq 100 index on Tuesday, is not likely to be the only mega IPO this year. OpenAI and Anthropic have confidentially filed S-1s for their own offerings. These massive transactions will certainly boost property values in areas like Silicon Valley and south Texas. But they will also boost demand for financial and tax planning advice. Let's see how advisors can help: Planning ahead. It's best when advisors can provide advice before a company goes public. Planning can be helpful in evaluating tax strategies, estate planning, charitable giving, liquidity analysis, and the timing for option exercises. "The biggest mistake is assuming the planning starts after the stock begins trading," says Mark Stancato, a certified financial planner for VIP Wealth Advisors. "In reality, the most important decisions are often made beforehand." Option education. An advisor can help educate the client about various types of equity compensation. This is a specialized area of financial planning and advisors who like the intricacies, might want to consider developing a niche. But it requires keeping up with evolving rules, regulations and tax treatments. Here's a quick rundown of the basics: Options: These allow the client to purchase a certain number of a company's shares at a fixed price, which usually involves a vesting schedule. For example, suppose Mary joins a private company and is granted an option to buy 10,000 shares at a price of $100 per share. The shares vest equally (2,500 shares) each year, which is when she can exercise the option or make a purchase.Restricted Stock Units (RSUs): This is where a company promises to transfer shares to the client, based on conditions or vesting. To continue with the example with Mary, she would receive 2,500 shares each year, assuming there is a four-year vesting schedule.Restricted stock: These shares are similar to RSUs. The main difference is that the company will transfer the stock to the client today, but they will not get actual ownership until conditions or vesting terms are met. If the client leaves before certain dates, the company will usually repurchase the unvested shares. Tax strategy. With RSUs, there is no tax on the grant. But there are ordinary taxes on the fair market value of the shares at the time of vesting. This treatment is the same for restricted stock. There is a strategy that may reduce the taxes owed. It's called an 83(b) election. This means that the client can recognize the income when they receive the shares, when the valuation is likely to be low. If they then sell the shares more than a year later, they will be eligible for long-term capital gains tax treatment. But the client must make the 83(b) election within 30 days of receiving the restricted stock, illustrating the benefit of planning in advance. It's important to understand that this strategy can be risky. If the startup fails, then the client will have paid taxes on stock that ultimately became worthless. Avoiding AMT. With stock options, the taxes depend on the type of the option. One type is nonqualified stock options. The gains are taxed as ordinary income when they are exercised. Another type is incentive stock options (ISOs), which are available only to employees. There is favorable tax treatment if the shares are held for at least two years from the option grant date and at least one year from the exercise date. If these requirements are satisfied, the gain may qualify for long-term capital gains treatment when the shares are eventually sold. Again, clients still need to be cautious. "ISOs can trigger the alternative minimum tax on exercise, and that's where clients often get blindsided," said Jeff Judge, who is a managing partner at Chesapeake Financial Planners. AMT exposure is not necessarily bad. But it does require tax expertise and careful planning. An advisor needs to evaluate the timing of the exercise, the client's income, the size of the spread (the fair market value minus the shares purchased at the exercise price), and the potential liquidity risk. This is especially important with pre-IPO shares because the client may face a tax bill before having an easy way to sell the stock to pay the taxes. Concentration risk. This is often the case with most clients who receive equity compensation. But high-flying stocks can suddenly go cold. A cautionary example is Figma, a graphic design software company. In the summer of 2025, the company launched its IPO, with the shares surging 250% to $111.50 on the first day of trading. Unfortunately, the company suffered challenges in dealing with the potential disruption from AI rivals. The result: the stock now trades at $20. Of course, diversification can protect clients from concentration risk, allowing them to lock in gains, reduce volatility, and avoid having their financial future depend too heavily on a single company's stock. But advisors may find it difficult to convince clients to sell company shares. "Most employees who watched a company grow have enormous attachment to the stock," says Judge. "The conversation I have with clients is this: Concentration got you here, diversification keeps you here." He recommends advisors construct a systematic sale plan over multiple years. That, combined with charitable giving strategies, he explains, "reduces both the tax bite and the resistance to selling." Tom Taulli is the CEO and founder of CorvEquity, which helps startups manage cap tables and option plans. He is also the author of The Personal Finance Guide for Tech Professionals: Building, Protecting, and Transferring Your Wealth and a former broker.
Tesla Stock (TSLA) Falls as JPMorgan Calls SpaceX Merger Idea 'Coherent on Paper'
Shares in EV giant Tesla (TSLA) dropped about 4% on Tuesday afternoon. This came after JPMorgan (JPM) noted that a merger with satellite and rocket firm SpaceX (SPCX) overlooks the practical challenges of securing regulatory approvals across multiple jurisdictions. Still, the firm noted that the idea is "strategically coherent on paper." 4th of July Sale - 70% Off * Unlock powerful investing tools and data-driven insights with TipRanks Premium for more confident investment decisions. * Discover top stock picks and new investment opportunities through TipRanks' Smart Investor Newsletter. SpaceX-Tesla Merger Speculation Grows Elon Musk, the world's richest person, is the CEO of both Tesla and SpaceX. The aerospace firm brought artificial intelligence startup xAI under its wings earlier in February and has now renamed it SpaceXAI. This means that social media platform X -- which is owned by xAI -- is also now under SpaceX Earlier this month, SpaceX debuted on Nasdaq in the world's largest-ever initial public offering (IPO). It raised $75 billion from the offering at a valuation of $1.77 trillion. The historic IPO fueled speculation that Musk might also decide to bring Tesla under SpaceX, creating a global tech powerhouse. Why JPMorgan Sees a Possible Merger as Problematic Chipping in, JPMorgan analyst Rajat Gupta noted a merger would make strategic sense. This is because Tesla and SpaceX could complement each other in several high-tech areas. This includes AI, robotics, energy, transportation, and space infrastructure. However, approval in multiple countries would prove very difficult, especially in markets such as China. Gupta reaffirmed his Hold rating on Tesla stock. The analyst's previous price target of $475 on TSLA implies about 16% upside. Who Is Rajat Gupta? Gupta is a four-star analyst who ranks in the top 16% of the more than 12,000 Wall Street analysts tracked on TipRanks. He covers the automotive industry, including carmakers such as Rivian (RIVN) and used-car retailers such as Carvana (CVNA). The analyst currently has a 50% success rate and has generated an average return of 8.80% for investors based on his ratings, as shown in the image below. Is Tesla a Buy or Sell Today? On Wall Street, Tesla's shares currently have a Hold consensus rating from analysts. This is based on 10 Buys, 15 Holds, and three Sells issued by 28 analysts over the past three months. Moreover, the average TSLA price target of $399.71 implies about 1% downside risk (see TSLA stock forecast here).
SpaceX Borrowed $25 Billion and Is Buying Up AI Companies. Here's What That Means for Every Tech Stock in Your Portfolio.
The June 12 initial public offering of Space Exploration Technologies (NASDAQ: SPCX), better known as SpaceX, shattered the record for the largest Wall Street IPO in history. That was only the beginning of a whirlwind of events for Elon Musk's business. Just days later, on June 16, SpaceX announced its acquisition of artificial intelligence start-up Cursor for a whopping $60 billion. Then on June 22, the company issued its first bonds, selling $25 billion worth of debt. Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue " These activities illustrate the broader trends occurring across the technology sector. Get ready for a wild ride ahead as tech companies maneuver for dominance in the rapidly evolving artificial intelligence landscape. Image source: Getty Images. SpaceX demonstrates the mounting price for AI The race is on for leadership positions in the artificial intelligence era. Achieving one will be no small task, as SpaceX's recent moves indicate. Its acquisition of Cursor demonstrates that it recognizes the importance of creating a robust AI platform -- but it also shows the high costs involved. Cursor is a software development solution built on artificial intelligence that allows users to significantly accelerate programming tasks. It's proven popular, producing over $1 billion in annualized sales last year. SpaceX is far from alone here. Others in the tech space are rushing to snatch up AI businesses. On June 15, customer relationship management titan Salesforce announced it was spending $3.6 billion to acquire Fin, which provides an AI agent to answer customer inquiries. Along with acquisitions, AI brings other expenses, particularly related to infrastructure. SpaceX's inaugural bond offering is part of the company's financial maneuverings to position it for the capital commitments to come. Building and powering the vast server farms required to create and support increasingly sophisticated AI systems requires enormous levels of capital expenditures. The tech industry's costly AI pursuit Several businesses in the tech sector are facing the stark reality that AI infrastructure is expensive. Oracle, which provides cloud infrastructure for AI, warned, "We must incur significant capital and operating expenditures to increase our existing data center capacity." To fund its AI infrastructure build-out, Google parent Alphabet recently announced a massive $84.75 billion equity capital raise. Tech giant Meta Platforms increased its 2026 capital expenditure projection to a range between $125 billion and $145 billion. Last year, its capex to boost its AI capabilities was $72 billion. Wall Street was taken aback by this year's prodigious spending plan, and sold off Meta shares in response. The stock was down by nearly 20% over the past 12 months through July 2. Accelerating AI costs are hitting many tech companies, even those that aren't directly investing in infrastructure. This year, Uber blew through its annual AI budget in four months, and management is questioning whether the outcomes are worth the expense. Uber's sentiment extended to Wall Street, where concerns over rapidly rising AI costs led to a tech sector sell-off in June. SpaceX shares, which soared to $225.64 post-IPO, crashed to $147.11 on June 23. Until clarity emerges on whether all the AI spending is worth it, volatility is likely to persist across the technology sector. While it does, remember that the smart strategy is to keep a cool head and focus on the long-term performance of the tech companies in your portfolio, not their short-term stock oscillations. 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See the 10 stocks " *Stock Advisor returns as of July 7, 2026. Robert Izquierdo has positions in Alphabet, Meta Platforms, Oracle, Salesforce, and Uber Technologies. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Meta Platforms, Oracle, Salesforce, and Uber Technologies. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.