We recently spoke about the debate surrounding SpaceX’s stock market valuation after its blockbuster stock market debut. Now, the focus turns towards the people buying shares and asking if space companies could become the next favourite investment after artificial intelligence.
We know that AI captured investors’ imagination during recent years and sent money flowing into companies connected to the technology. New research from MarketWise now shows that many retail investors are starting to view space companies through exactly the same lens.
Why Are More Investors Looking At Space Companies?
Only a few years ago, space stocks attracted relatively little interest from everyday investors. Today they feature regularly in social media feeds, investing forums and group chats as commercial launches become more common and NASA prepares for Artemis II.
MarketWise surveyed 1,011 retail investors and found that 24% own or have owned a space stock. A total of 41% have seriously considered buying one, leaving 35% saying they have no interest in the sector.
Younger investors show the greatest curiosity about the sector. MarketWise found that 28% of Gen Z respondents own or have owned a space stock, while 44% are watching SpaceX as a possible investment.
SpaceX dominates investors’ watch lists more than any other company. MarketWise found that 40% of space interested investors are tracking SpaceX. Rocket Lab followed with 21%, while Lockheed Martin and Boeing each attracted 18%.
Are Investors Chasing The Next Big Investment Trend?
Since AI became one of the biggest investing themes during recent years, MarketWise found that many retail investors now believe space companies could take a similar route.
According to the survey, 37% believe space stocks will become the market’s next big investment story. The same proportion admitted they fear missing out if they wait too long before buying into the sector.
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The survey also found that 44% of retail investors admitted they have bought a stock simply because it “felt like the future”, even though they did not understand the business behind the company.
Interest in the SpaceX stock market debut also reflects that excitement. MarketWise found that 21% of retail investors planned to buy shares during the IPO. Those prospective buyers expected to invest a median of $1,000 each.
Are People Buying The Dream Before Learning About The Business?
The survey shows that excitement sometimes comes before careful research and MarketWise said, “Interest turns out to be wide but conviction thin, and many admit they’re buying the dream before they understand the business.”
Ownership is also an important factor with 11% of retail investors currently owning a space stock, although 13% owned one previously. A total of 41% have seriously considered buying one, meaning almost two thirds of retail investors have thought about investing in the sector.
Cost also influences buying decisions after MarketWise found that 44% of retail investors believe SpaceX’s $135 IPO price already looks too expensive. Only 4% said they would buy the shares regardless of price, and willingness to buy becomes lower as the price becomes higher.
Could Excitement End Badly?
Retail investors do not share the same opinion about the risks that come with space stocks. MarketWise found that 43% believe space stocks carry more risk than AI investments. A total of 40% believe both sectors carry similar levels of risk, while 14% believe space stocks offer the safer option.
One finding also caught MarketWise’s eye: the survey found that 36% of retail investors believe space stocks are already in a bubble that will eventually burst. Even then, 22% of those same investors said they plan to buy more space stocks during the next year.
MarketWise said, “The space trade follows a familiar pattern: people get excited about a story before they think through the investment. Interest is wide but shallow, SpaceX is driving most of the excitement, and many investors say plainly that they’re buying a vision rather than a business they can explain.
“None of that means space stocks are a bad idea. It does mean it’s smart to slow down. Look at the company itself, not just the headlines. Decide what price you’d pay and how much you’d invest before the hype gets louder. And if a stock feels like the future, treat that as a reason to do more homework, not less.”
