Data as of:
LIVE
SPCX
SpaceX · Aerospace & Space Technology
$143.69
+32.59% this month
VERSUS
COMPARE
IRDM
Iridium Communications Inc. · Satellite Communications
$46.98
-0.76% this month
Scoreboard verdict
Across AI score, momentum, valuation, upside, operating margin
SPCX
1
IRDM
2
Comparison scoreboard
IRDM LEADS 2/5AI Score
SPCX N/A
IRDM 40.5
1Y Return
SPCX N/A
IRDM +93.67%
Fwd P/E
SPCX 89.72
IRDM ✓27.39
Target Up.
SPCX ✓+52.57%
IRDM -10.60%
Op. Margin
SPCX -1.80%
IRDM ✓15.10%
Metrics last refreshed: 8/31/2026
Quick take
SPCX vs IRDM Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
SpaceX is evaluated as a dominant, high-growth launch and broadband operator commanding a premium valuation, while Iridium is assessed as a mature, cash-generative satellite communications provider with a stable government revenue base. The comparison contrasts a scaled growth leader against an established niche operator with more predictable cash flows.
Use this comparison to weigh SpaceX's scale and growth premium against Iridium's steadier, government-anchored cash flow profile in satellite communications.
Live analysis · updated 8/31/2026
IRDM holds the edge across 2 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. On fundamentals, SPCX is growing revenue faster (91.90%), while IRDM maintains the higher operating margin (15.10%) — a classic growth-versus-profitability split. Analyst consensus implies meaningfully more upside for SPCX (+52.57%) than for IRDM (-10.60%).
Normalized 1Y performance
SPCX
IRDM
Recent returns
SPCX
IRDM
Analyst price targets & sentiment
SPCX · 18 analysts
STRONG BUYHOLDSTRONG SELL
Buy (1.7/5.0)
Price target range
analyst low$117.00
analyst high$450.00
analyst mean$219.22
current price$143.69
+52.6% upside to analyst mean
IRDM · 5 analysts
STRONG BUYHOLDSTRONG SELL
Buy (2.1/5.0)
Price target range
analyst low$36.00
analyst high$54.00
analyst mean$42.00
current price$46.98
-10.6% upside to analyst mean
Who should consider this stock?
SPCX may suit investors who:
- Want exposure to the dominant global launch and satellite broadband leader
- Believe Starlink and Starship represent multi-decade growth opportunities
- Are comfortable paying a premium valuation for market leadership
- Seek diversified exposure across launch, broadband, and future space infrastructure
IRDM may suit investors who:
- Prefer a mature satellite operator with predictable free cash flow
- Value a long-standing government contract as a revenue anchor
- Want lower capital intensity now that the constellation is fully built
- Are comfortable with more modest growth in exchange for stability
Performance & AI score
| Metric | SPCX | IRDM |
|---|---|---|
| AI score | N/A | 40.5 |
| AI rank | N/A | #1009 |
| Latest close | $143.69 | $46.98 |
| 1M return | +32.59% | -0.76% |
| 6M return | N/A | +97.98% |
| 1Y return | N/A | +93.67% |
$10,000 invested — hypothetical growth (dividends reinvested)
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | SPCX | IRDM |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $8.93K (-10.7%) started 2026-06-12 | $19.97K (+99.7%) started 2025-09-02 |
| 5Y ago | $8.93K (-10.7%) started 2026-06-12 | $12.06K (+20.6%) started 2021-08-31 |
| 10Y ago | $8.93K (-10.7%) started 2026-06-12 | $64.45K (+544.5%) started 2016-08-31 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
Valuation & upside potential
| Metric | SPCX | IRDM |
|---|---|---|
| Market cap | $1.89T | $4.98B |
| Trailing P/E | N/A | 54.00 |
| Forward P/E | 89.72 | 27.39 |
| Price/Sales | 82.19 | 5.63 |
| EV/Revenue | 159.27 | 7.40 |
| Analyst target | $219.22 | $42.00 |
| Target upside | +52.57% | -10.60% |
Growth, profitability & risk
| Metric | SPCX | IRDM |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth | 91.90% | 3.80% |
| Earnings growth | N/A | -55.00% |
| EPS growth | N/A | -55.00% |
| FCF margin | N/A | +27.05% |
| Operating margin | -1.80% | 15.10% |
| Profit margin | -35.66% | 10.55% |
| ROIC proxy | N/A | 19.71% |
| Return on equity | N/A | 19.71% |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 1.29% |
| Beta | 5.77 | 0.88 |
| Debt/equity | 31.21 | 378.66 |
| Current ratio | 5.12 | 2.78 |
| Quick ratio | 4.95 | 2.13 |
Drawdown & downside risk
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
1Y risk snapshot
SPCX max drawdown48.78%
IRDM max drawdown36.41%
SPCX max wkly drop26.89%
IRDM max wkly drop29.18%
5Y risk snapshot
SPCX max drawdown48.78%
IRDM max drawdown75.34%
SPCX max wkly drop26.89%
IRDM max wkly drop29.18%
10Y risk snapshot
SPCX max drawdown48.78%
IRDM max drawdown75.34%
SPCX max wkly drop26.89%
IRDM max wkly drop29.18%
Performance metrics by period
| Period | Metric | SPCX | IRDM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growth | -10.72% | +94.53% |
| CAGR | -40.42% | +95.33% | |
| Sharpe ratio | -0.11 | 1.27 | |
| Max drawdown | 48.78% | 36.41% | |
| Max daily drop | 16.43% | 14.85% | |
| Max wkly drop | 26.89% | 29.18% | |
| 5Y | Growth | -10.72% | +12.70% |
| CAGR | -40.42% | +2.42% | |
| Sharpe ratio | -0.11 | 0.19 | |
| Max drawdown | 48.78% | 75.34% | |
| Max daily drop | 16.43% | 22.08% | |
| Max wkly drop | 26.89% | 29.18% | |
| 10Y | Growth | -10.72% | +502.21% |
| CAGR | -40.42% | +19.67% | |
| Sharpe ratio | -0.11 | 0.52 | |
| Max drawdown | 48.78% | 75.34% | |
| Max daily drop | 16.43% | 22.08% | |
| Max wkly drop | 26.89% | 29.18% |
Business comparison
| Category | SPCX | IRDM |
|---|---|---|
| Company | SpaceX | Iridium Communications Inc. |
| Sector | Aerospace & Space Technology | Satellite Communications |
| Industry | N/A | N/A |
| Core business | SpaceX builds and launches reusable rockets and operates the Starlink satellite internet constellation, alongside Starship development for deep-space missions. | Iridium operates a low-earth-orbit satellite constellation providing global voice and data communications for government, maritime, aviation, and IoT customers. |
| Investor focus | Investors focus on Starlink subscriber growth, launch cadence and reusability economics, and progress toward Starship's commercial viability. | Investors track government services contract renewals, commercial IoT subscriber growth, and free cash flow generation now that the Iridium NEXT constellation is fully deployed. |
SPCX strengths
- Dominant share of global commercial launch capacity
- Starlink is the largest satellite broadband network with recurring subscription revenue
- Vertically integrated manufacturing lowering per-launch cost versus competitors
IRDM strengths
- Fully deployed, next-generation satellite constellation with low incremental capex
- Long-standing government services contract providing revenue stability
- Growing IoT and commercial data segment with high margins
Risks to watch — SPCX
- Extremely high valuation following its record 2026 IPO
- Heavy capital intensity of Starship and next-generation launch systems
- Regulatory and geopolitical scrutiny of a dominant space infrastructure provider
Risks to watch — IRDM
- Reliance on periodic renewal of its largest government contract
- Emerging competition from new low-earth-orbit broadband entrants including Starlink
- Limited consumer broadband exposure compared to newer satellite entrants
Frequently asked questions
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