Why SpaceX Stock Is Down and Up Today
Key Points
SpaceX stock sold off on a bond offering yesterday, and seemed primed to keep falling today.
Then SpaceX announced Starfall -- and things turned around for SpaceX stock.
- 10 stocks we like better than Space Exploration Technologies ›
Is Space Exploration Technologies (NASDAQ: SPCX) finally finding its footing post-IPO?
Investors can hope. Shares of Elon Musk's famed space venture tumbled nearly 5% in early trading Tuesday. This might have extended a decline that SpaceX itself sparked Monday when it announced it's raising $20 billion in debt to add to the the $100 billion it has after holding its IPO.
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 »
But then a miracle happened. Investors opened up the newspaper to discover SpaceX is building an entirely new market in delivering cargo from space to Earth -- and now SpaceX stock is up 2.1% through 10:15 a.m. ET.
Image source: The Motley Fool.
Announcing Starfall
SpaceX calls the new business "Starfall." This morning, the company launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying an uncrewed reentry capsule of the same name. The Falcon descended to make a successful landing nine minutes later.
We don't yet know what happened with the Starfall capsule that it (presumably) put in orbit. We do know what SpaceX intends: "to demonstrate capabilities for future transport and delivery of goods through space."
What this means for SpaceX stock
Like so many things-Elon Musk, it's not yet clear how big a deal Starfall will be for SpaceX. "Future transport and delivery of goods" could refer to moving Helium-3 and other resources from the moon to Earth. It might refer to dropping down goods, manufactured at space stations in orbit. It might refer to suborbital rocket launches that transport goods from place to place on Earth.
It might refer to all three!
For now, this is just a demo project to show that SpaceX can deliver "1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds) of payload" to Earth, as SpaceX told the FAA in its launch application. Starfall might carry more in future launches, though.
The future's uncertain -- but SpaceX is blazing the trail.
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 $393,037!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,280,627!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 913% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 208% 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 June 23, 2026.
Rich Smith 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.
Recommended Articles
