SpaceX plans a public offering and targets the Nasdaq-100

Potential Fast-Tracking to the Nasdaq 100 Inclusion

According to Reuters (Anirban Sen and Echo Wang, March 10, 2026), SpaceX aims to be included in the Nasdaq 100 shortly after a potential IPO. Two people familiar with the discussions indicate that this swift inclusion in the tech index could be a significant factor in choosing to list on Nasdaq.

Currently, newly listed companies generally have to wait up to a year before they can be included in a major index, such as the Nasdaq 100 or the S&P 500. This period allows investors to assess the stock's stability in response to the buying volumes generated by institutional and index funds.

The Nasdaq 100 index comprises one hundred of the largest non-financial companies listed on Nasdaq and serves as a benchmark for many institutional investors. It includes several large tech companies such as Nvidia, Apple, and Amazon, Reuters notes.

A new rule proposed to speed up major IPOs entering the market

In this context, Nasdaq Inc. has proposed a rule change aimed at speeding up the inclusion of certain recently listed companies into the Nasdaq 100.

According to Reuters, this « Fast Entry » rule would allow a newly listed company to become eligible for the index in less than a month if its market capitalization ranks among the top forty values in the index.

This modification, which is not yet finalized, could take several months to come into effect, the news agency reports. It aims particularly at attracting highly valued private companies to the stock exchange platform, including SpaceX, OpenAI, or Anthropic, according to cited sources.

Competition between Nasdaq and New York Stock Exchange

The potential IPO of SpaceX is also attracting the interest of major US stock exchanges. According to Reuters, both the Nasdaq and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) are looking to host this listing, and no final decision has been announced yet.

Discussions remain confidential and may evolve, as specified by sources consulted by the agency.

If the targeted valuation of about $1.75 trillion is reached at the time of the IPO, SpaceX would become the sixth largest American company by market capitalization, based on the current valuations of listed companies, Reuters reports.

The Challenge of Liquidity After Going Public

Belonging to a major index like the Nasdaq 100 can play an important role in a stock's liquidity after its initial public offering (IPO).

According to Reuters, being included in this type of index typically broadens the base of institutional investors, as many index funds and investment funds automatically purchase the shares that make up the index.

This additional liquidity can become particularly significant when lockup periods expire. These periods, usually lasting between 90 and 180 days post-IPO, prevent executives and early investors from selling their shares during the initial months following the listing.
A broader investor base can help absorb potential selling volumes once these restrictions end, although Reuters notes that there is no guarantee against the pressure on stock prices from insider sales.

A Potentially Very Active Year for IPOs

The potential IPO of SpaceX could be one of the major events in the financial markets if it materializes.

According to Reuters, 2026 could be one of the most active years for IPOs in recent times, with several leading private companies also preparing to go public, including OpenAI and Anthropic.