How to participate in the SpaceX IPO without making a direct investment

A number of related stocks and industries may profit from SpaceX's halo effect as its eagerly anticipated IPO draws near

Investors are anticipating what is anticipated to be the largest initial public offering (IPO) in history as Elon Musks SpaceX prepares to list on the Nasdaq.

In order to raise approximately £75 billion, SpaceX has set an IPO price of £135 per share, with a target valuation of approximately £1.75 trillion. On June 12th, shares will begin trading.

A halo effect can help nearby businesses that might have otherwise gone unnoticed. High-profile events like an IPO can act as a rising tide for a sector and others that are closely related. This could include stocks of defense infrastructure, satellite technology, and launch services.

Chelsea Financial Services managing director Darius McDermott stated, "A SpaceX listing could do exactly that for space."

Watch the entire video here. It's crucial to keep in mind that an IPO isn't always a one-time event. Although there is frequently (though not always) a boom the day after a company floats, the time right after a listing can be erratic, and SpaceX is anticipated to see more and longer share price movement. Therefore, investors in the larger sector may be in for an equally rough ride, even though these ideas offer opportunities that may benefit by proxy to the main headline act.

In the lead-up to SpaceX's initial public offering (IPO), investors flocked to space stocks and funds, according to data released by investing platform AJ Bell.

Investors have been eager to invest in the space economy, according to an analysis of the platform's most popular stocks and funds in the three months prior to the IPO. Funds and investment trusts like Scottish Mortgage (LON:SMT) and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) like VanEck Space Innovators ETF (LON:JEDG) have seen a sharp increase in popularity.

Dan Coatsworth, head of markets at AJ Bell, stated that "investors eager to join the race to space haven't sat on their hands waiting for the SpaceX IPO." "As anticipation grows for SpaceX's stock market debut on Friday, June 12, space-related investments have made up a significant portion of the most popular purchases on the AJ Bell DIY investor platform over the last three months."

How the space industry might benefit from SpaceX's IPO.

Prior to SpaceX's IPO, AJ Bells' analysis, based on net purchases on its DIY investor platform, ranked the most well-liked stocks and funds that relate to the space theme.

The source is AJ Bell. based on the AJ Bell DIY platform's highest net purchase volume from March 8 to June 8, 2026.

Interestingly, demand for many of these investments has been higher than that of other staple investments.

"During the last three months, more people purchased shares in Scottish Mortgage, Seraphim, or the VanEck Space ETF than blue chip stocks Shell, BP, AstraZeneca, and National Grid, all of which frequently appear in the most popular names with UK investors," Coatsworth stated.

This is noteworthy because these companies are mainstays of ISAs and pensions nationwide, and investors frequently purchase shares in them on a monthly basis due to their alluring dividends and track record of producing strong returns."

Not every investment increased in value in the months preceding SpaceX's initial public offering (IPO): aerospace contractor BAE Systems (LON:BA). decreased by 12% over the previous three months.

But some have taken off. The value of spacecraft manufacturer Redwire (NYSE:RDW) and SpaceX supplier Filtronic (LON:FTC) more than doubled in the three months preceding SpaceX's IPO.

How do you get access to other impending initial public offerings?

Since the beginning of June, two private AI developers, Anthropic and OpenAI, have announced plans to go public. If these are successful, it may lead to a new wave of tech IPOs.

According to McDermott of Chelsea Financials, "there are plenty of other exciting private companies in the pipeline for a potential public offering, but SpaceX may be the IPO of the moment."

"Investment trusts provide retail investors with a ready-made route to some of the best pre-IPO opportunities, but it can be difficult to know which ones to back without expert knowledge."

Chelsea prefers Baillie Giffords Schiehallion (LON:MNTN) for a pure-play private business focus.

Bending Spoons, ByteDance, Databricks, Revolut, Stripe, and Anthropic are just a few of the unlisted companies that make up the majority of its portfolio, which includes eight of the top ten private companies in the world.

"Most regular investors just cannot match these managers' deep private equity networks and expertise to value private businesses, and by getting in before a listing, investors can capture far more of the growth," he stated.

Chrysalis (LON: CHRY) and Seraphim Space (LON: SSIC), which provide exposure to the space industry specifically with both ordinary and C-shares available, are also included in the Chelseas Managed Funds range.

Should you purchase shares that are public or private?

A company's shares are much simpler to purchase on the secondary (or open market) market after it lists.

Many of these businesses are staying private for a longer period of time (before going public through an IPO), making enormous sums of money in the process. This means that once they list, they have already experienced rapid growth.

It may be worthwhile for investors who are interested in space investing in general but are discouraged by the perceived risk or administrative burden of an IPO to look for comparable companies that are already listed; occasionally, companies further down the supply chain may be more appealing entry points than the well-known brands.

According to McDermott, one such choice for indirect, diversified exposure is the Schroder US Mid Cap Fund.

"Hexcel (NYSE:HXL), which produces composite materials used in spacecraft for customers like SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Lockheed Martin; MACOM Technology Solutions (NASDAQ:MTSI), whose semiconductors are essential to satellite communications; and BWX Technologies (NYSE:BWXT), which supplies nuclear propulsion and power components for NASA space programs," he stated.

Putting money into a specialty fund.

You may want to make a more focused investment in the theme. ETFs are a popular way to invest in a particular theme, like the space economy. The ARK Private Innovation ELTIF (only accessible through a financial advisor), VanEck Space Innovators UCITS ETF, and a new offering from WisdomTree, whose Space Economy UCITS ETF (LON:WSPG) debuted on the London Stock Exchange on June 5, are a few examples of broad portfolios accessible to UK investors.

The SpaceX IPO may be a "defining milestone" in expanding the sector's appeal, according to Pierre Debru, head of research, Europe at WisdomTree, but the investment case's foundations appear strong and long-lasting.

He thinks launch systems will become more affordable, accessible, and efficient as the industry develops, increasing the opportunity set throughout the value chain.

The real economy is becoming more and more dependent on earth observation and geospatial intelligence, supporting everything from vital infrastructure to agriculture.

"Emerging applications, such as in-orbit manufacturing, servicing, and space-based data infrastructure, are also opening new markets and reinforcing the theme's long-term growth potential," Debru continued.

Neuberger Berman's Next Generation Space Economy Fund is a dedicated choice if you prefer actively managed funds. The group claimed that the space economy was "more than rockets and satellites" when the fund was first established four years ago, impacting everything from ride-sharing and air traffic control to precision agriculture and banking.