Space Stocks Get Torched: Short Seller Calls Them 'Sci-Fi Wishes'

Space stocks plummeted Friday as SpaceX began trading and short seller Fugazi Research published a critical report targeting six publicly traded space companies. Fugazi argues the sector's premium valuation relied on investors buying space proxies before SpaceX's IPO, a trade that will unwind now that SpaceX offers direct access to a company with actual revenue and profitability. The report characterizes the sector as a 'capital recycling mechanism' with business plans that read as 'sci-fi wishes' rather than viable commercial opportunities.

06/12/2026, 3:33 PM • Benzinga

Chamath Palihapitiya Compares SpaceX IPO To 529-Year-Old Event: 'Largest Opportunities Are Still Ahead'

Investor Chamath Palihapitiya compares SpaceX's impact on space access to Vasco da Gama's discovery of a sea route to Asia in 1497, arguing that SpaceX has dramatically lowered the cost of reaching orbit (from $54,500 to $2,720 per kilogram). He believes the company's largest opportunities remain ahead, including orbital connectivity, compute, and critical minerals extraction, positioning SpaceX as a transformative force in the space industry.

06/12/2026, 11:44 AM • Benzinga

SpaceX IPO Looms Ahead And These Rocket Stocks Are Popping: Here's What Is Going On With SPCE, ASTS, RKLB, LUNR And PL Overnight

Space-related stocks rallied in after-hours trading as SpaceX prepared for its Nasdaq debut on Friday at $135 per share under ticker SPCX. With no direct pure-play alternative available, traders rotated into publicly listed space companies including SPCE, ASTS, RKLB, PL, and LUNR. Beyond broad sector momentum, several stocks had company-specific catalysts: AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird satellite launch confirmed for June 17, Rocket Lab's Nasdaq-100 inclusion, Intuitive Machines' NASA partnerships, Virgin Galactic's balance sheet strengthening, and Planet Labs' earnings beat.

06/12/2026, 1:52 AM • Benzinga

Houston, We Have A Rally: Space Stocks Pop Ahead Of SpaceX Debut

Space sector stocks surged Thursday ahead of SpaceX's historic Nasdaq IPO debut Friday. SpaceX is pricing at $135 per share, targeting a $75 billion raise and $1.78 trillion valuation—the largest IPO in history. Momentum Inc. led gains at 28%, while Virgin Galactic jumped 22.6%. Other space stocks including Intuitive Machines, Rocket Lab, and AST SpaceMobile also rallied as investors rotated into space-themed names lacking direct SpaceX exposure.

06/11/2026, 2:17 PM • Benzinga

Space Stocks Bleed: Redwire, Momentus Down More Than 20% As SpaceX IPO Fatigue Hits

The space sector experienced significant losses this week as multiple space stocks declined sharply. Virgin Galactic's short squeeze collapsed, dropping 30.58%, while Redwire fell 24.22% and Momentus declined 22.14%. The selloff was driven by SpaceX IPO fatigue after the company reduced its valuation target from $2 trillion to $1.75 trillion, with pricing set for June 11 at $135 per share.

06/04/2026, 9:34 AM • Benzinga

Should You Forget the $2 Trillion SpaceX IPO and Buy This $7 Space Stock Instead?

Virgin Galactic's stock has surged over 200% from $2 to $7, likely due to confusion with SpaceX's upcoming IPO ticker symbol (SPCX vs SPCE) and meme trading momentum. However, the article warns this price action is disconnected from fundamentals, as Virgin Galactic continues to hemorrhage cash while SpaceX has government contracts and proven technology. The author cautions that momentum-driven rallies often reverse sharply and recommends Virgin Galactic for day traders only, not long-term investors.

06/03/2026, 4:15 PM • The Motley Fool

Virgin Galactic Stock Rallies 180% In A Month — Short Sellers Feel The Heat

Virgin Galactic (SPCE) surged 180% in one month, driven by a successful glide test, court settlement clearing litigation, and analyst reaffirmation of Q4 2026 commercial launch plans. The rally triggered a short squeeze with retail traders flooding in, though fundamentals remain challenging with $93M quarterly cash burn against $220-251M liquidity. The company faces a tight runway of 2-3 quarters before needing additional capital, and success depends on executing operational milestones without delays.

06/01/2026, 9:51 AM • Benzinga

Consumer Tech News (May 25-29): Dell, IBM, CrowdStrike, Meta Lead Big Tech AI Push

Major tech companies drove AI innovation this week with strong earnings and strategic initiatives. Dell reported record Q1 revenue of $43.84B, significantly beating estimates, while IBM and Red Hat launched a $5B open-source security initiative. Meta expanded into paid subscriptions across its platforms, and CrowdStrike expanded its cybersecurity initiatives. Anthropic surpassed OpenAI as the world's most valuable startup at $965B valuation. Japanese banks gained access to OpenAI's GPT-5.5 model for cybersecurity defense.

05/31/2026, 9:53 AM • Benzinga

Virgin Galactic Stock Lifts Off After-Hours — Here's Why

Virgin Galactic (SPCE) shares surged 19.53% on Thursday and an additional 14.57% after-hours following a federal court's preliminary approval of a settlement resolving two shareholder derivative lawsuits filed in 2022. Under the settlement terms, Virgin Galactic's insurers will pay $2.75 million, with the company retaining half. The legal clarity lifted a litigation overhang that had weighed on the stock.

05/28/2026, 5:51 PM • Benzinga

S&P 500 Rally Defies Weak Sentiment and Hawkish Fed Signals

The S&P 500 rallied to new highs despite record-low consumer sentiment, hawkish Fed signals, and geopolitical tensions. The market is experiencing a broad rotation from mega-cap AI stocks to semiconductor suppliers, quantum computing names, and space-launch companies. Quantum computing stocks surged following a $2 billion Commerce Department investment, while chip suppliers and AI infrastructure plays outperformed. Yields retreated from recent highs, providing relief to equity multiples and enabling the rally to extend.

05/22/2026, 12:04 PM • Investing

SpaceX IPO Could Put Weak Space Stocks 'Into Obscurity,' Rocket Lab CFO Says

Rocket Lab's CFO Adam Spice warns that a potential SpaceX IPO in mid-2026 could create a market divide in space stocks, where high-quality companies with real infrastructure and recurring contracts benefit while weaker players face obscurity. SpaceX's entry into public markets would establish a clear benchmark for the sector, forcing investors to discriminate between legitimate space operators and companies relying on promotional narratives.

05/12/2026, 2:10 PM • Benzinga

Wall Street Waits On Potential Ceasefire, Micron Leads Memory Stocks Higher: What's Moving Markets Monday?

U.S. stocks rose Monday with energy and growth sectors leading gains as investors monitored Iran tensions. President Trump set a Tuesday deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face military strikes. Oil prices held near $112/barrel, while memory chip stocks and space stocks climbed on positive sentiment.

04/06/2026, 12:55 PM • Benzinga

Why Virgin Galactic Stock Rocketed Today

Virgin Galactic stock surged 17.3% despite reporting minimal revenue ($0.3M quarterly, $1.5M annual) and massive losses ($5.44 per share for 2025) with negative free cash flow of $438.2M. Investors responded positively to management's promise to resume commercial space tourism flights in Q4 2026 at $750,000 per seat, with ground tests beginning in April and flight tests in Q3.

03/31/2026, 11:27 AM • The Motley Fool

Stock Market Today: S&P 500, Nasdaq Futures Up As Trump Hints At Iran War End Even If Hormuz Remains Closed— Allbirds, Rocket Labs, In Focus (UPDATED)

U.S. stock futures rose on Tuesday following Trump's hints at ending the Iran military campaign, boosting market sentiment. Major indices showed gains with the Dow up 0.92% and S&P 500 up 0.89%. Key movers included Allbirds surging 19.4% after announcing an asset sale, Rocket Lab up 2.33% on German regulatory approval, and Virgin Galactic jumping 6.45% despite mixed earnings. Analysts maintain a constructive outlook for 2026 driven by AI investment and fiscal stimulus.

03/31/2026, 9:24 AM • Benzinga

Stock Market Today: S&P 500, Dow Futures Jump As Trump Hints At Ending Iran War Even If Hormuz Remains Closed—Allbirds, Rocket Labs, Nebius In Focus

U.S. stock futures rose on Tuesday following Trump's hints at ending the Iran military campaign, boosting market sentiment. Major indices showed gains with the Dow up 0.92%, S&P 500 up 0.89%, and Nasdaq 100 up 0.70%. Key movers included Allbirds surging 19.4% after announcing an asset sale, Virgin Galactic jumping 6.45% on mixed earnings, and Rocket Lab rising 2.33% after German regulatory approval. Analysts maintain a constructive outlook for 2026 despite near-term geopolitical risks.

03/31/2026, 5:46 AM • Benzinga