Elon Musk Warns Short Sellers as SpaceX Faces Market Value Decline

🔥 Trending Elon Musk Warns Short Sellers as SpaceX Faces Market Value Decline

7/22/2026 · 👁 1 · elon-muskspacexshort-sellersspacex-stockmarket-valuecnbcyahoo-financebarron-s
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What is the latest news on Elon Musk and SpaceX short sellers?
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Elon Musk recently issued a direct warning to firms holding significant short positions in SpaceX, stating that their long-term survival probability is "very low" 136. This warning, delivered via a message on X (formerly Twitter), comes amidst a notable increase in short-selling activity against the company 14.

Context of the Warning

Musk's statement on July 21, 2026, was made as short interest in SpaceX reached approximately 32% of its publicly tradable shares, or "float" 458. This represents a substantial increase, with bearish bets amounting to an estimated $25 billion across 206 million shorted shares, up from 40 million shares a month prior 8. This surge in short selling occurred despite SpaceX's stock (SPCX) experiencing a rebound from a seven-session losing streak after Musk's warning 2.

Several factors are contributing to this heightened investor interest and short-selling activity:

  • Upcoming Earnings Report: SpaceX is scheduled to report its first quarterly results as a public company on August 4, 2026 37. This is a critical event for investors to assess the company's financial performance.
  • Lock-up Expirations: The impending expiration of lock-up periods for early investors could lead to an increase in available shares, potentially putting downward pressure on the stock price 89.
  • Stock Performance: Prior to Musk's warning, SpaceX's stock had fallen by 47% from its peak 7. Short sellers had reportedly accumulated $3.88 billion as the stock dipped below its initial public offering (IPO) price 9.

Musk's Stance and SpaceX's Outlook

Musk's warning underscores his long-held skepticism towards short sellers. He has historically been vocal against those betting against his companies, famously clashing with Tesla short sellers in the past.

Despite the short-selling pressure, SpaceX's investment thesis is expanding. Recent reports suggest the company may pursue artificial intelligence (AI) work for the Pentagon and contribute data to xAI's Grok, diversifying its revenue streams beyond its core launch and satellite services 2. Supporters of SpaceX believe that its lower launch costs position it to significantly benefit from the growing space economy 6.

The market's reaction to Musk's warning was immediate, with SpaceX stock climbing 1% premarket 7. This suggests that some investors are heeding Musk's message, while others are continuing to place bets against the company, setting the stage for a dynamic period leading up to the August 4 earnings report.

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