The SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon sit on launch Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center as it is prepared for the first completely private mission to fly into orbit on September 15, 2021 in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Joe Raedle | Getty Images
Retail investors are getting a shot at one of the hottest IPOs in years.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX said a portion of shares in its blockbuster public offering will be sold directly through trading platforms including Robinhood, Fidelity and Charles Schwab, giving everyday traders access that has traditionally been reserved for Wall Street’s biggest clients, according to a prospectus with the Securities and Exchange Commission released Wednesday.
The move marks a departure from the traditional IPO process, where retail investors often receive limited allocations and typically end up buying shares only after trading begins, sometimes at sharply higher prices. SpaceX said retail buyers on those platforms would receive shares at the same IPO price and at the same time as institutional investors and other large purchasers.
Musk’s rocket and satellite company officially unveiled plans this week to go public under the ticker SPCX on Nasdaq. The company confidentially filed with regulators in April, and CNBC previously reported that SpaceX is expected to begin a tour presenting its plans to investors — known as a roadshow — on June 8.
Founded in 2002, SpaceX has evolved from an ambitious rocket startup into one of the world’s most valuable private companies. The company became NASA’s primary launch partner after the retirement of the space shuttle program and has built businesses spanning reusable rockets, national-security and defense contracts and its Starlink satellite internet network.
The company’s constellation of roughly 10,000 satellites has become a major growth engine, while Musk has also expanded into artificial intelligence through xAI, adding another high-growth business line under the broader corporate umbrella.
For retail investors, access may still come with constraints.
SpaceX said purchases through the brokerage platforms will remain subject to each firm’s own requirements and terms. IPO share allocations are often limited, and demand for SpaceX could substantially outstrip available supply.
— CNBC’s Lora Kolodny and Jordan Novet contributed reporting.