Short sellers load up against SpaceX as stock drops below IPO price

[ToxMarz]

Source: CNBC

Short sellers are rapidly increasing their bets against SpaceX, driving bearish positioning to nearly one-third of the company’s public float as the struggling stock hovers below its IPO offering price.

About 185 million SpaceX shares are now sold short, representing roughly 29% of the company’s publicly tradable float and about $25 billion in bearish wagers, according to S3 Partners. The position has ballooned from an estimated 40 million shares, or roughly 5% to 7% of the float, just three weeks ago.

“We are seeing continuous demand from short sellers building speculative positions since the IPO,” Matthew Unterman, head of research at S3, told CNBC.

The surge in short interest comes as SpaceX shares have struggled after an initially strong debut. The stock has fallen about 20% in July and briefly slipped below its $135 IPO price on Wednesday for the first time. The stock last traded around $131 apiece on Thursday.

Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/16/short-sellers-load-up-against-spacex-as-stock-retreats-back-to-ipo-price.html

[WSHazel]

1. Who are the buyers?

Other than doing a short squeeze, I can't see any reason to put a bid in at SpaceX at anywhere near the current price, and I wouldn't trust a short squeeze, because a lot of funds that might participate in something like that would cash out after a $20 or $30 uptick.

[moonshinegnomie]

4. there is a price i would buy it

but nowhere near here. I bought the IPO and sold it day one at 165. id consider buying it under 100. but I do own som eother space stocks (RKLB and ASTS)

[PJMcK]

2. Wow! Nearly one-third of the investors are betting against the stock

Suck it, Elon.

[lavoosh99]

3. Does That Mean That Leon Skum is No Longer a Trillionaire? n/t

[ToxMarz]

5. No, he is not.