Oppenheimer backs SpaceX as $70 billion retail frenzy builds

SpaceX has gained fresh support from Wall Street as reports point to more than $70 billion in potential retail demand ahead of what could become one of the largest public offerings in U.S. market history.

According to Oppenheimer, the brokerage has initiated coverage of SpaceX with an “outperform” rating and a $190 price target, implying substantial upside from the company’s expected IPO price of $135.

The firm’s coverage comes as investor interest continues building around the aerospace company’s planned stock market debut.

Framing its investment case around technology integration, Oppenheimer said SpaceX is positioned to combine space-based infrastructure with artificial intelligence-driven systems while using terrestrial computing capabilities to improve efficiency and expand services. The firm argued that such an approach could help lower operating costs while supporting future growth initiatives.

Excitement around the offering has intensified as investors await the company’s expected Friday, June 12, debut.

While optimism remains elevated, political scrutiny has also emerged. Senator Elizabeth Warren recently called on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to delay the IPO, adding a regulatory dimension to discussions surrounding the listing.

Alongside its SpaceX coverage, Oppenheimer raised its outlook for Tesla stock, citing stronger electric vehicle demand amid elevated oil prices. The firm noted that Tesla’s long-term performance would still depend largely on execution in artificial intelligence and electric vehicle markets.

Wall Street forecasts point to gains after listing

Beyond Oppenheimer, additional firms have started publishing forecasts for the stock. New Street Research has initiated coverage with a $165 price target, representing roughly 22% upside from the proposed IPO price.

Those projections have emerged as institutional and retail investors compete for exposure to the Elon Musk-founded company. Reports citing people familiar with the matter indicate that retail demand alone could exceed $70 billion, highlighting the scale of investor interest before shares begin trading.

Allocation plans have also contributed to the enthusiasm. According to reports, at least 20% of the IPO shares could be reserved for retail investors, a relatively large portion for an offering of this size. The structure would give individual traders a larger role than is typically seen in major U.S. listings.

At the same time, reports suggest that less than 10% of the shares may be allocated to international investors, signaling a strategy primarily focused on domestic participation.

Crypto market watches for potential capital competition

Attention surrounding the IPO has extended beyond equity markets and into the digital asset sector.

As some analysts have warned, the SpaceX listing could compete for investor capital at a time when cryptocurrencies are already facing pressure from ETF outflows and weak sentiment.

The discussion gained momentum after Bitcoin (BTC) fell roughly 16% during the same period that SpaceX began marketing its public offering. Bitcoin briefly dropped below $60,000 before recovering toward the $61,000 level, according to market data cited in reports.

Despite the timing overlap, available blockchain data has not established a direct connection between the two developments. According to CryptoQuant data, exchanges did not record unusual withdrawals of USDC or Tether during the selloff.

Stablecoin flows remained within ranges observed since February, suggesting there was no clear evidence of investors moving large amounts of crypto liquidity to fund IPO purchases.

Even so, reports that retail investors could access the offering through platforms such as Robinhood, Fidelity, and Charles Schwab have kept the debate active as the market prepares for SpaceX’s highly anticipated debut.