SpaceX officially begins trading on the Nasdaq on Friday, marking the largest stock market debut in history. The Elon Musk-led aerospace and technology company priced its shares at $135 each, raising $75 billion and valuing the business at approximately $1.75 trillion.
The offering surpasses the previous IPO record set by Saudi Aramco in 2019 and has generated significant interest from retail investors worldwide. According to reports, individual investors placed nearly $100 billion in orders through trading platforms ahead of the debut, highlighting strong demand for the stock.
Despite the enthusiasm surrounding the listing, analysts have identified several risks that investors should carefully consider before investing.
Valuation Raises Concerns
One of the primary concerns surrounding the IPO is SpaceX's valuation. At $1.75 trillion, the company is valued at nearly 94 times its 2025 revenue of $18.7 billion.
Several research firms have questioned whether such a valuation can be justified. Analysts note that sustaining the current valuation would require rapid revenue growth over the coming years, significantly exceeding the pace achieved by many established technology companies.
Limited Public Float and Index Inclusion Debate
Only a small percentage of SpaceX shares will initially be available for public trading, with reports indicating that approximately 3% to 4% of total shares are part of the public float.
Market observers say the limited availability could contribute to heightened volatility following the debut. At the same time, discussions around the company's potential inclusion in major stock indexes have sparked debate among institutional investors and pension funds.
Some analysts believe future index-related demand could support the stock price, while others caution that passive investors may gain exposure to the company sooner than expected.
Financial Losses Continue to Grow
Although SpaceX reported strong revenue growth in recent years, the company remains unprofitable.
Regulatory filings show that SpaceX reported a net loss of $4.27 billion during the first quarter of 2026 and carried an accumulated deficit exceeding $41 billion as of March 31.
A significant portion of those losses has been attributed to xAI, the artificial intelligence company integrated into SpaceX earlier this year. The AI division has invested heavily in infrastructure expansion, contributing to rising operating expenses.
Future Growth Depends on AI Expansion
Investors are increasingly betting on SpaceX's ability to monetize its artificial intelligence infrastructure and data-center operations.
The company recently secured major compute-capacity agreements with technology firms, including Google and Anthropic, generating substantial contracted revenue. Supporters argue that these agreements demonstrate strong demand for AI infrastructure and could become a major growth driver.
However, analysts caution that long-term profitability remains uncertain, particularly as competition intensifies across the artificial intelligence sector.
Governance and Leadership Risks
SpaceX's governance structure remains another key concern for investors.
Elon Musk maintains overwhelming voting control through a dual-class share structure, giving him approximately 85% of the company's voting power. As a result, outside shareholders have limited influence over major corporate decisions.
Governance experts have also raised concerns about shareholder rights and the company's legal structure, while some institutional investors have questioned whether concentrated control creates additional long-term risks.
Market Awaits Trading Debut
As SpaceX enters public markets, investors will be closely watching whether strong retail demand can support its record-breaking valuation.
While supporters view the company as a leader in space technology, satellite communications, and artificial intelligence infrastructure, critics argue that the stock's premium valuation leaves little room for execution mistakes.
The Nasdaq debut represents a landmark moment for both SpaceX and global capital markets, but analysts say investors should balance excitement over the company's future growth potential with the risks associated with valuation, profitability, and corporate governance.
