SpaceX IPO Frenzy Sends Virgin Galactic Stock Soaring as Traders Pile Into SPCE

Key Takeaways

• Virgin Galactic stock surged after SpaceX filed for its long-awaited IPO under the ticker SPCX
• Retail traders appeared to pile into SPCE shares as the SpaceX IPO reignited interest in space stocks
• Analysts say the rally could face pressure once investors can directly buy SpaceX stock.

Virgin Galactic stock suddenly became one of the hottest trades on social media this week. This comes after SpaceX officially filed for its long-awaited IPO under the ticker “SPCX.” Some retail traders appeared to mistake SPCE for the upcoming SpaceX stock. This further helped push shares of Virgin Galactic up more than 36% in a single session. The excitement around the SpaceX IPO quickly moved into smaller space stocks, especially Virgin Galactic.

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Why the SpaceX IPO is Sending Virgin Galactic Stock Higher

The move in SPCE stock has been especially aggressive. Shares are now up sharply from their 2026 lows as retail traders chase momentum tied to the SpaceX IPO announcement and renewed interest in speculative growth names.

SpaceX is reportedly targeting a valuation floor of around $1.8 trillion, according to reports. This would make it the largest IPO in market history. Investors looking for exposure to the sector have been piling into publicly traded names, including Virgin Galactic, Rocket Lab, and Intuitive Machines.

There seems to also be a social media element driving the move. Posts on X and Reddit joking that traders bought SPCE thinking it was the official SpaceX ticker spread quickly across trading communities. This further added fuel to the rally.

According to reports, SpaceX’s Starlink business now serves millions of users globally and generates billions in quarterly revenue. This gives institutional investors a rare chance to buy into a dominant private space company.

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What Happens to SPCE Once SpaceX Starts Trading?

Right now, SPCE benefits from being a proxy trade for investors wanting exposure to the space industry before SpaceX goes public. Once SpaceX stock begins trading on Nasdaq, some analysts expect capital to rotate out of smaller names and directly into the company leading the sector.

The gap between the businesses is notable. Virgin Galactic remains a pre-revenue space tourism company and reported a quarterly net loss of roughly $65 million earlier this year. But SpaceX operates one of the world’s largest launch businesses and a rapidly growing satellite internet network through Starlink.

Virgin Galactic is still moving toward a major catalyst of its own. The company expects flight testing for its Delta-class spaceship to begin later this year, with commercial flights planned afterward. Tickets are currently priced at $750,000 per seat.

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