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SpaceX at $100 implies zero AI value, Morgan Stanley says—but stock target is $300

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SpaceX at $100 implies zero AI value, Morgan Stanley says—but stock target is $300

Key takeaway

SpaceX shares have fallen to near $110 after their $86 billion(約14兆円) debut in mid-June, with investors expecting them to hit $100 when insider lockup restrictions expire next month. Morgan Stanley's Adam Jonas argues that at $100, the market would be assigning zero or negative value to SpaceX's AI business, despite fundamentals remaining largely unchanged. Jonas maintains a $300 price target with more than 50% attributed to AI, suggesting the current decline reflects excessive bearishness as investors broadly rotate away from technology firms with large AI infrastructure commitments.

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3 Key Points

  • What happened

    SpaceX shares have tumbled to near $110 after a record $86 billion(約14兆円) offering in mid-June, with some investors expecting them to fall to $100 when insider lockup restrictions lift next month. Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas argues that at a $100 price point, the market is pricing in zero or negative value for SpaceX's artificial intelligence business (Grok and Cursor).

  • Why it matters

    Jonas's $300 price target assigns more than 50% of value to the AI segment, suggesting the current selloff reflects excessive pessimism. Most investors speaking with the bank discount or assign zero value to AI because of high capital spending requirements, uncertain economics, and the management time devoted to it—even though the broader market rotation away from AI-heavy tech spending has driven the decline.

  • What to watch

    A lockup expiration next month could trigger further selling pressure. Nearly 80% of analysts covering SpaceX recommend buying, with an average price target of about $232; Jonas's call ranks third highest among 33 analysts tracked by Bloomberg, placing him among Wall Street's most bullish voices on the stock.

In Depth

SpaceX completed a record $86 billion(約14兆円) public offering in mid-June, initially generating strong investor demand that sent shares up nearly 50% in the first three trading sessions. However, momentum has reversed significantly; by Monday, shares were trading near $110, approaching levels where the company's artificial intelligence operations would be valued at zero or negative by the market. Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas, writing to clients on Friday, highlighted this disconnect as an opportunity. He noted that many investors expect the stock to fall further to $100 per share when a lockup on the first batch of shares expires next month, allowing insiders to begin selling. At that $100 threshold, Jonas calculated that investors would be assigning zero or even negative value to SpaceX's AI segment, which includes products like Grok and Cursor. Jonas maintains a $300 price target on the stock, with more than 50% of that valuation attributed to the AI business, suggesting he believes the current pessimism is excessive. According to Jonas, many investors he speaks with "significantly discount Grok & Cursor" and ascribe zero or negative value to AI given the high capital expenditure requirements relative to the company's Space and Connectivity divisions, the uncertain path to profitability, and the substantial management attention diverted to the AI efforts. The broader market backdrop has amplified the selloff: investors have rotated away from technology firms committed to hundreds of billions in AI infrastructure spending, while elevated U.S.–Iran tensions and rising oil prices have fueled inflation concerns and darkened sentiment for riskier assets. Despite the share decline, Wall Street remains overwhelmingly positive on SpaceX, with nearly 80% of analysts recommending buys. The average price target among all analysts stands at about $232, implying the stock will more than double from current trading levels. The four other banks leading the offering—Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, Citigroup, and JPMorgan Chase—have all issued buy-equivalent ratings. Jonas, best known for his long bullish stance on Tesla and automotive coverage before shifting to AI and humanoid robots last year, remains among the most optimistic voices on SpaceX, ranking third highest in price targets among 33 analysts tracked by Bloomberg. In his Friday note, he reiterated his buy-equivalent rating, stating: "SpaceX remains uniquely positioned across launch, connectivity, and AI. We see the current valuation as an attractive entry point."

Context & Analysis

SpaceX's sharp selloff since its June debut reflects a broader investor rotation away from technology companies with massive AI infrastructure spending commitments. The $86 billion(約14兆円) offering generated initial enthusiasm—shares surged nearly 50% in the first three trading sessions—but sentiment has reversed sharply amid concerns about macroeconomic headwinds, elevated U.S.–Iran tensions pushing oil prices higher, and inflation worries that have soured appetite for risk assets. Morgan Stanley's Adam Jonas sees this as overcorrection: the fundamentals of the business remain largely unchanged, yet the stock has fallen to a level where his calculation implies investors are pricing in zero or negative value for the AI segment entirely. Jonas's track record carries weight on Wall Street—his past calls on Tesla were known for driving outsized stock moves—and his current bullish stance is shared by nearly 80% of analysts covering SpaceX, with an average price target of about $232 implying substantial upside from current levels.

FAQ

What is the lockup expiration and when does it happen?
A lockup on the first batch of shares is expected to unlock next month, allowing some insiders to sell and potentially triggering further pressure on the stock price.
What percentage of Morgan Stanley's $300 price target comes from SpaceX's AI business?
More than 50% of the $300 target is ascribed to the company's AI segment (Grok and Cursor).
Why do most investors discount SpaceX's AI business?
Investors cite high capex requirements relative to Space & Connectivity, largely uncertain economics, and the high degree of management time devoted to the business.

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