Key Takeaways
- Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest acquired approximately 123,000 SpaceX shares valued at nearly $17M on July 15 across four exchange-traded funds
- The purchase came after SpaceX stock declined in seven of nine consecutive trading sessions, hovering near its $135 IPO level
- Investors anticipate a significant share unlock following Q2 earnings—approximately 20% of total outstanding shares could hit the market
- The Starship Test 13 mission is scheduled for Thursday evening, with plans to deploy 20 next-generation Starlink satellites
- Simultaneously, ARK divested its position in Deere & Co and reduced holdings in Twist Bioscience and 10X Genomics
Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest made a substantial acquisition of SpaceX shares on July 15, 2026, purchasing approximately 123,000 shares valued at around $17 million. The transaction was distributed among four of the firm’s exchange-traded funds: ARKK, ARKQ, ARKW, and ARKX.
Space Exploration Technologies Corp., SPCX
This strategic purchase occurred during a challenging period for SpaceX stock performance. The shares experienced declines in seven out of nine recent trading sessions before Thursday, leaving the price a mere 27 cents above the $135 initial public offering level. During premarket activity, the stock momentarily fell beneath that threshold to $134.94.
Within ARK’s flagship Innovation ETF, SpaceX represents the sixth-largest position, accounting for approximately 4.4% of total assets under management. Tesla continues to hold the top position in that particular fund.
Factors Behind SpaceX’s Recent Stock Pressure
Two primary concerns have contributed to the recent downward pressure on SpaceX shares. The valuation presents the first challenge: SpaceX currently trades at roughly 45 times projected 2026 revenue, a multiple that certain market participants consider elevated.
The second concern involves an impending share unlock event. Approximately 20% of existing shares currently held by early-stage investors will become eligible for trading following the release of the company’s second-quarter financial results, expected within the next several weeks. This anticipated supply increase has prompted caution among some market participants.
Neverthstanding these headwinds, ARK chose to expand its position rather than reduce exposure. The investment firm has demonstrated consistent buying activity in SpaceX shares throughout recent trading periods.
Upcoming Starship Test Flight 13
The chronology of ARK’s share purchase coincides with a significant milestone for SpaceX. The aerospace company has scheduled its 13th Starship test mission for Thursday evening, with liftoff targeted for approximately 6:45 p.m. Eastern time.
This experimental flight will attempt the deployment of 20 Starlink V3 satellites utilizing the Starship upper stage. Additionally, the upper stage will endeavor to reignite a single Raptor engine while in orbital space before executing atmospheric reentry and conducting a controlled splashdown in the Indian Ocean.
Starship features a design capacity to transport up to 150,000 kilograms into orbit while dramatically reducing launch costs. By comparison, the proven reusable Falcon 9 rocket delivers approximately 25,000 kilograms at a cost of roughly $1,500 per kilogram. A fully reusable Starship system is engineered to slash that expense by approximately 90%.
While Starship has not yet achieved operational status, a successful test demonstration could potentially boost investor confidence in the stock.
Regarding portfolio adjustments, ARK liquidated 6,833 shares of Deere & Co valued at approximately $4 million, extending a trend of diminishing exposure to the agricultural equipment manufacturer. The firm also reduced positions in Twist Bioscience and 10X Genomics, while simultaneously adding to holdings in Beam Therapeutics and Kratos Defense.
SpaceX shares traded down approximately 0.2% during Thursday’s premarket session.
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