SpaceX Stock’s $44.8 Billion Unlock on August 20 Surpasses Friday Volume by 3.3 Times
15 August 2026

SpaceX Stock’s $44.8 Billion Unlock on August 20 Surpasses Friday Volume by 3.3 Times

STARBASE, Texas, August 14, 2026, 19:46 CDT — U.S. cash markets closed following the Friday session.

  • SpaceX finished Friday at $140.00, slipping 0.9% on the day, yet rising 5.2% over the week.
  • Roughly 320 million shares will be available for sale beginning August 20.
  • The value of the unlocked stock stands at $44.8 billion, representing 3.3 times Friday’s trading volume.

Space Exploration Technologies Corp. will encounter another test of its liquidity on Thursday, as roughly 320 million shares will be available for sale starting August 20. With Friday’s closing price at $140, that stake is valued at $44.8 billion.

The block is 3.3 times larger than Friday’s trading volume of 96.73 million shares. While eligibility does not guarantee all holders will sell, the ratio underscores why supply could outweigh another minor earnings update next week.

SpaceX stock declined 0.9% on Friday to $140.00. Shares rose 5.2% over the past week but are still trading 38% below the peak of $225.64. The price stands 3.7% higher than the $135 offering set in June.

Market and supply measureValueInvestor read-through
Friday close$140.003.7% over the $135 IPO price
52-week high$225.64Friday’s close is down 38.0%
August 20 eligible shares320 millionFriday’s close values that at $44.8 billion
Friday trading volume96.73 millionRepresents $13.54 billion at close
Unlock-to-volume ratio3.3 timesIndicates potential supply, not what may be sold

SpaceX shares increased 6% on August 6 and a further 16% on August 7 following their first significant post-IPO offering, according to Business Insider, defying concerns about a major selloff. Despite this, research analyst Ed Elson continues to predict “a lot of selling pressure” with the next scheduled release. Business Insider

The operating results outperformed what the share price movement indicates. Revenue for the second quarter climbed 92% to $7.81 billion, exceeding the $6.82 billion forecast by 14.6%. Adjusted earnings per share showed a nine-cent loss, compared with the forecast loss of 21 cents.

Second-quarter measureQ2 2026Q2 2025 or estimateChange or variance
Revenue$7.81 billion$4.07 billionup 92%
Revenue estimate$7.81 billion actual$6.82 billion estimateincrease of 14.6%
EPS-$0.09-$0.21 estimate$0.12 improvement
Net loss$541 million$1.01 billionLoss reduced by 46%
R&D$3.55 billion$1.96 billionup 81%
EBITDA$2.78 billion$837 millionup 232%

The composition is important. Around 55% of quarterly revenue came from Starlink. Projects involving artificial intelligence accounted for about one-third, with the remainder generated by launch operations and other space-related activity. As a result, subscriber growth stands out as the most visible short-term justification for substantial investment.

Q2 revenue streamRevenueShare of total
Starlink$4.30 billion55%
AI projects$2.56 billion33%
Launch and other space activity$962 million12%
Shares are calculated from reported segment revenue and may not sum precisely because of rounding. The Times

Spending continues to be the more challenging aspect of the situation. Capital expenditure stood at $18.4 billion, with approximately $16 billion allocated to AI infrastructure. This figure makes up about 87% of overall capital spending. In June, the company issued $25 billion in bonds, with coupon rates between 5.35% and 6.65%.

The current valuation allows limited scope for a sluggish rebound. On Friday, the market capitalization stood at $1.85 trillion, which equates to nearly 59 times the annualized sales from the second quarter. This figure is reached by multiplying the most recent quarterly sales by four, and does not represent a prediction.

Analysts continue to have a positive outlook, though their price targets are unusually divided. According to Google Finance, there are 24 buy ratings, six holds, and two sells. The consensus average target is $228.59, suggesting a 63% potential upside, but the range from $75 to $800 is unusually wide, covering a more than tenfold difference.

Firm or consensusRecommendationPrice targetDate
Morgan StanleyBuy$300August 13
Clear StreetBuy$217August 11
Arete ResearchBuy$450August 11
Deutsche BankBuy$235August 10
Argus ResearchBuy$160August 6
32-analyst consensus24 rate buy / 6 recommend hold / 2 advise sell$228.59 averageCurrent
Recommendation data and targets as displayed on August 14. Google Finance

Major shareholders are exposed to significant mark-to-market fluctuations. As of the end of the quarter, Alphabet Inc. held 551.2 million shares of SpaceX, valued near $77.2 billion at Friday’s market close. Alphabet invested $900 million in 2015.

NVIDIA Corporation owned close to 123 million shares, valued at approximately $17.2 billion on Friday, down from about $21 billion in June. Elon Musk controlled 6.42 billion shares, giving him over 80% of the voting rights.

HolderReported sharesValue at $140Context
Elon Musk6.42 billion$898.8 billionOver 80% of voting rights
Alphabet551.2 million$77.2 billionInvested $900 million in 2015
NVIDIANearly 123 millionAbout $17.2 billionValued at roughly $21 billion in June

The coming week presents a straightforward test. If trading volume increases and prices hold steady, it indicates demand is taking in the added supply. However, low volume combined with a steep decline would suggest weaker buying interest. Investors are set to monitor developments on a possible Starship test and the latest filings on institutional ownership.

Risks: The unlock may increase volatility and elevated capital demands persist. Revenue growth could be held back by failed launches, regulatory setbacks and heightened competition from satellite providers. Dual-class stock restricts external shareholder influence, and recent debt adds to fixed liabilities.

TS2 TECH • EXTENDED COVERAGE

Further analysis

What is the key upcoming event impacting SpaceX stock in the near term?
Approximately 320 million shares will be available for sale starting August 20. Based on Friday’s closing price of $140, the total value is $44.8 billion. This amount is about 3.3 times Friday’s trading volume, though not all eligible holders are expected to sell.
Did SpaceX exceed forecasts in its most recent quarter?
Yes. Revenue for the second quarter was $7.81 billion, surpassing the $6.82 billion forecast by 14.6%. The adjusted per-share loss stood at $0.09, less than the anticipated $0.21 loss. Net loss shrank to $541 million, though expenditure continues to be substantial.
To what extent does SpaceX rely on Starlink?
Starlink accounted for around $4.3 billion—representing 55% of revenue in the second quarter. Continued growth in its subscriber base underpins funding for both launches and investments in AI infrastructure. If growth were to stall, it could undermine the primary cash generator driving SpaceX’s expansion.
Is SpaceX considered pricey with shares at $140?
The market capitalization of $1.85 trillion is roughly 59 times the annualized sales from the second quarter. This straightforward run-rate estimate is not a projection. It presumes the most recent quarter reflects ongoing performance and does not factor in any potential changes in profit margins.
How do analysts view prospects for SpaceX shares?
Among 32 analysts, 24 recommend buying, six suggest holding, and two advise selling. The average price target stands at $228.59, representing a 63% potential rise. Price targets vary widely, from $75 up to $800, reflecting significant uncertainty regarding growth, profitability, and valuation.
What would indicate that the August 20 unlock is being smoothly absorbed?
An increase in turnover without significant downward pressure on prices indicates that buyers are taking on additional shares. A steep drop accompanied by low trading volume would raise more alarms. Ultimately, the real impact will depend on the actual volume of shares sold, which is more important than the headline total eligible for sale.
Marcin Frąckiewicz

Marcin Frąckiewicz is the founder and CEO of TS2 Space, a satellite communications company serving customers around the world. A graduate of the Warsaw School of Economics (SGH), he has more than two decades of experience in telecommunications, satellite services and technology ventures. He writes about satellite communications, space technology, artificial intelligence and the stock market, with a particular focus on technology companies, semiconductors, emerging industries and the trends shaping global innovation. Follow Marcin Frąckiewicz on Google News, Facebook. or Linkedin.

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