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Financial Times
Traders are increasingly betting against SpaceX just weeks after IPO
Just weeks after SpaceX's record-setting IPO, the company's shares have fallen below their initial listing price, leading to increased short-selling activity among traders. With shares down 40% from their peak and traders booking substantial profits by betting against the stock, market skepticism is growing. This downturn coincides with a broader correction in high-valued tech stocks, leading to a sell-off in SpaceX's equity and debt. Analysts note that investor enthusiasm for SpaceX appears to have cooled, with heightened risks being priced into its market performance.
MonitorConfidence: HighShort term horizon
Published 18 Jul 2026, 12:42 UTC2 min read
Visit original article ↗Lead image — Financial Times
Summary
TL;DR
- SpaceX shares dropped below IPO price of $135 after peaking at $225.
- Traders profiting $4bn from short-selling SpaceX's stock.
- 30% of available shares have been borrowed for short selling.
- Investor enthusiasm for SpaceX has significantly waned.
- SpaceX's bond yields are rising closer to junk-rated levels.
Interesting facts
- The IPO raised a record $86bn at a valuation nearing $2tn.
- Short-selling interest increased by 10 percentage points in just 10 days.
- A new market for SpaceX credit default swaps emerged, indicating declining confidence.