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SpaceX Stock Jumps 8% on First Profit, Tesla Merger Talk

MarketsMAJOR2h ago5 min read
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SpaceX Stock Jumps 8% on First Profit, Tesla Merger Talk

SpaceX stock rose about 8% after its first profitable quarter as a public company, with revenue up 161%, as Musk floated a Tesla merger and lock-ups ended.

  • SpaceX (SPCX) shares rose about 8% to $159.31 after third-quarter revenue climbed 161% to $14.57B and net income reached $4.4B.
  • Musk said SpaceX and Tesla (TSLA) have formed special committees to examine a merger. No agreement has been reached.
  • Up to 1.3B locked-up SpaceX shares became tradable today, adding potential supply to the stock.

Lead

SpaceX (SPCX) shares gained about 8% in the session after the company reported third-quarter revenue of $14.57B, up 161% from a year earlier. The result was its first profitable quarter since listing in June. Net income was $4.4B, against a loss of roughly $1.05B in the year-earlier period. The stock closed at $159.31, up 7.8% on the day.

The results arrived alongside two developments that could reshape the stock's trading profile. Elon Musk said a combination with Tesla (TSLA) is "a good idea," and a large block of previously restricted shares became eligible for sale today.

What Did SpaceX Report in Its First Profitable Quarter?

SpaceX reported a profit of $4.4B on revenue of $14.57B, its first positive quarter since becoming a listed company. Revenue growth of 161% marks a step change from the company's prior run rate and beat market expectations.

The company's artificial intelligence business was a major driver of the beat, joining the Starlink satellite internet and launch operations that anchored the business before the IPO. The mix matters for valuation. Investors had priced SpaceX as a growth story with heavy capital needs, and a quarter of positive earnings shifts the debate toward how durable the margins are.

Why Did SpaceX Shares React This Way?

Shares rose because the quarter removed the main objection to the stock, which was the lack of profit. Profitability, a revenue beat and merger talk arrived at the same time, and the combination drew buyers in the first session after the report.

The gain also came in the face of a technical headwind. The lock-up on pre-IPO holdings, which can cover up to 1.3B shares, ended today. Lock-up expiries often lead to selling from early investors and employees seeking liquidity. The 1.3B figure is a ceiling on potential supply, not a forecast of how many shares will change hands. Trading volume and price behavior over the coming sessions will show how much of the pool holders choose to sell.

What Did Musk Say About a Tesla Merger?

Musk said a SpaceX-Tesla merger would be a good idea, and that special committees of independent directors have been formed at both companies to discuss it. He also said the committees have not reached an agreement and that there is no guarantee they will. Any transaction would need approval from shareholders of both companies.

The idea ties together two companies that already share a founder, supply relationships and a common emphasis on AI infrastructure. It also raises governance questions. Overlapping control, valuation methodology and the treatment of minority holders in both companies would all come under scrutiny, and the committee structure is designed to address them. Tesla shareholders would be asked to weigh a combination with a company whose shares had only recently been through a lock-up expiry.

How to Buy SpaceX Stock After the IPO

What Does This Mean for Tesla and the Wider Market?

For Tesla, the merger discussion adds a new variable to a stock already tied to Musk's broader ambitions in autonomy, robotics and AI. The terms of any deal would set the relative valuation of the two companies. A premium or discount to either side's market capitalization would shape how each shareholder base responds.

For the broader stock market today, SpaceX is one of the largest recent listings. Its quarterly results are being read as a test of whether high-growth space and AI infrastructure businesses can convert revenue into earnings at scale. A profitable print supports that case. A heavy lock-up sell-off would show how much demand exists for the stock at current prices.

Outlook

SpaceX has cleared its first earnings test as a public company, with revenue up 161% to $14.57B and a net profit of $4.4B. The next few sessions will show how the market absorbs the lock-up expiry, and the special committees' work will determine whether the Tesla merger idea moves from comment to formal proposal. Any deal would take months of negotiation and a vote from both companies' shareholders.

Mentioned tickers: SPCX, TSLA

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