Key facts
- SpaceX debuted on the Nasdaq under the ticker SPCX.
- The company's IPO was priced at $135 per share.
- Trading began at $150 per share, with an early surge of up to 30%.
- SpaceX shares closed at $160.95 on its first day of trading.
- A giant inflatable Elon Musk protest effigy appeared in Times Square prior to the IPO.
SpaceX began trading on the Nasdaq exchange under the ticker SPCX, with shares opening at $150 and closing at $160.95, marking a 19% gain from its IPO price of $135.
The debut attracted a crowd of "Musk fanatics," retail investors, and tourists outside the Nasdaq headquarters in Times Square. Despite anticipation, Elon Musk was not present at the Nasdaq location, having been in Texas.
Leading up to the IPO, a giant inflatable, shirtless effigy of Elon Musk appeared in Times Square. The effigy was tattooed with allegations and served as a protest against potential risks associated with Musk's AI ventures, including his chatbot Grok.
Some attendees, like investor Hanan Buridi, expressed excitement about the historic market debut and planned to purchase shares. Others, like a construction worker interviewed, remained cautious about investing in the stock market, preferring tangible assets. Tourists Faris Agianda and Djimi Gilles stumbled upon the event while running errands, with Gilles commenting that the scene was "not that interesting."