TLDR
- Ark Invest acquired $21.3 million worth of SpaceX shares during a steep 45% decline from all-time highs
- During a Fox Business interview on July 22, 2026, Wood identified Tesla and SpaceX as her premier AI investment opportunities
- On SpaceX’s IPO launch day in June 2026, Ark allocated approximately $530 million to the position
- Analyst consensus places SpaceX’s median price target at $243.81, representing approximately 111% upside from current levels
- Ark accumulated roughly 160,000 Tesla shares valued at $50 million following a 15% stock decline
Ark Invest’s Cathie Wood continues to demonstrate conviction in SpaceX and Tesla as cornerstone AI holdings for her investment funds. She articulated this strategy publicly during her Fox Business segment on July 22, 2026.
Following SpaceX’s public market debut in June 2026, Ark committed approximately $530 million to the stock on day one. Since that initial deployment, the firm has accumulated over $80 million in additional shares.
Space Exploration Technologies Corp., SPCX
Following the IPO, SpaceX shares climbed above the $200 mark before experiencing a significant reversal. As of July 27, 2026, the stock trades around $114.87ābelow its initial offering price of $135. This represents approximately a 45% retreat from peak levels.
Rather than retreating, Wood increased her exposure. Ark accumulated $21.3 million worth of SpaceX shares distributed across several of its investment vehicles during this downturn.
Wood’s AI Infrastructure Thesis for SpaceX
While SpaceX doesn’t fit the traditional AI investment profile, Wood’s investment rationale focuses on critical infrastructure. She highlights space-based data centers and the Starlink satellite constellation as foundational elements for advanced AI processing capabilities.
According to SpaceX, its total addressable market reaches $28.5 trillion. Remarkably, over 90% of this market opportunity connects directly to artificial intelligence applications. Morgan Stanley forecasts SpaceX revenue growth from $18.7 billion in 2025 to an estimated $319 billion by 2030.
Morgan Stanley maintains a $300 valuation target for SpaceX. However, it’s important to note the firm served as an IPO underwriter. SpaceX currently operates at a loss.
Approximately 30 Wall Street analysts provide coverage on the stock. The consensus price target stands at $243.81. Price targets range from a bullish $800 projection to a bearish $115 sell rating.
Ark Expands Tesla Position Following Decline
Tesla traditionally represents approximately 8% to 10% of Ark’s flagship exchange-traded fund. When the stock dropped roughly 15% amid questions surrounding AI development schedules, Ark responded on July 24, 2026, by purchasing around 160,000 shares valued at approximately $50 million.
Wood’s artificial intelligence investment case for Tesla centers on autonomous taxi services and the Optimus humanoid robot initiative. She characterizes Optimus as an AI system that learns through actual physical-world interactions.
Wood maintains that physical-world artificial intelligence applicationsāincluding autonomous transportation, robotic systems, and orbital infrastructureāwill ultimately create superior long-term returns compared to natural language processing companies or cloud computing providers.
SpaceX currently represents approximately 4.5% of the Ark Innovation ETF’s total invested capital. The firm has maintained its buying activity throughout the stock’s descent from a peak market capitalization approaching $1.9 trillion.
SpaceX trades within a 52-week range of $110.85 to $225.64. Current pricing positions the stock near the bottom of this historical band.


