Space ETF Chief on Potential SpaceX IPO: 'I Think You Have to Take It Seriously'
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The Buzz Around a SpaceX Public Offering
A SpaceX IPO could be one of the biggest investment stories of 2026. For the Procure Space ETF (UFO), which focuses exclusively on space stocks, it would be a game-changer. The fund's CEO, Andrew Chanin, shared his thoughts with MarketDash about what Elon Musk's space venture going public could mean for investors.
The space industry has heard plenty of IPO chatter over the years. Everything from Starlink spin-offs to a public offering timed with reaching Mars has been floated. But this latest timeline feels different.
"We've heard tons of ideas floated out over the last several years about Starlink spin-offs and SpaceX IPOs upon reaching Mars. This is definitely a new angle to a potential IPO event for the company," Chanin said. "I think you have to take it seriously."
That said, Chanin isn't buying his champagne just yet. The target window is 2026, possibly sliding into early 2027, and a lot can change between now and then. Companies scrap IPO plans all the time when market conditions sour or when they decide to wait for better opportunities.
"The real question is what is the motivation behind going public and what's the motivation for now?" Chanin pointed out.
Still, if it does happen, he's enthusiastic about what it could mean for the broader space sector. "I'm excited for the broader space industry as a whole. I think that would be exciting. But if it doesn't happen, I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised either."
How SpaceX Would Fit Into the Space ETF
The Procure Space ETF tracks an underlying index that invests in pure-play space companies. SpaceX would certainly qualify for that distinction.
"It's the largest pure play space company in the world," Chanin noted.
Getting into the fund might happen faster than you'd think. While most additions occur during quarterly rebalances, Chanin explained that companies sometimes enter the index relatively quickly after their IPO, allowing SpaceX potentially rapid entry into the ETF.
The weighting would depend on several factors: market capitalization, the size of the public offering, and the percentage of revenue coming from space-related activities. Given SpaceX's scale, it could easily become the fund's largest holding.
Currently, Rocket Lab Corporation (RKLB) holds the top spot at 5.35% of the portfolio. Based on Chanin's comments, SpaceX could surpass that significantly if the IPO materializes in 2026 or 2027.
For now, space investors will have to wait and watch. The potential is enormous, but as with any IPO speculation, there's no guarantee until the paperwork gets filed.
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