Skip to navigationSkip to main contentSkip to right columnADVERTISEMENTAdam Spatacco, The Motley FoolSat, June 27, 2026 at 1:22 AM GMT+2 4 min readEarlier this month, Space Exploration Technologies (NASDAQ: SPCX), better known as SpaceX, finally completed its long-awaited initial public offering. The IPO predictably drew massive attention from retail and institutional investors alike, fueled by the company's innovations in reusable rockets and satellite internet connectivity, and its ambitious plans to deploy an orbital constellation of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers.For everyday investors who had limited access to SpaceX's shares, its public market debut opens an interesting door. The question that many are asking is whether an investment in the stock now can realistically transform a modest portfolio into millionaire status.Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »The company's early price action and broader lessons about stock market dynamics offer important clues.Image source: Getty Images.Breaking down SpaceX's roller-coaster debutSpaceX's first days of trading as a public company followed a classic pattern for IPO stocks. While its offering price was $135 per share, the stock opened on the Nasdaq at $150 on June 12 and closed its first trading session near $161 -- delivering a quick pop. Momentum carried prices even higher during subsequent sessions, with SpaceX briefly surpassing $225 per share to command a market capitalization of roughly $2.8 trillion at that time.However, questions about its lofty valuation combined with broader market sentiment triggered sharp pullbacks. As of late afternoon on June 24, SpaceX was trading at around $158.These volatile swings underscore how new public companies often deliver dramatic short-term moves driven by hype, liquidity events, and shifting investor sentiment.What does an investment in the SpaceX IPO look like today?The majority of investors who have gotten involved in SpaceX stock so far were not able to secure shares at the offering price. A modest initial investment of $5,000 at SpaceX's opening price of $150 would be worth roughly $5,270 as of this writing -- a modest gain of just over 5%.Despite the steep sell-off from its peak, a gain of 5% in less than a month is still impressive. To put this into context, the long-run average annual return of the S&P 500 is about 10%.The key takeaway here is that IPO stocks can deliver some quick upside. At the same time, these gains can be fleeting: Even after a strong debut, the position remains exposed to heavy selling. Moreover, the absolute dollar amounts remain limited.Terms and Privacy PolicyEU DSA contactPrivacy & Cookie SettingsMore Info