Today, I did something I never expected to do. I bought SpaceX stock.
Not a lot of it, mind you. Just two shares.
In fact, the tiny size of my investment should tell you everything you need to know about my mindset going into this purchase. I am obviously not looking to get rich from two shares of SpaceX. If the stock doubles, great. If it crashes, I’ll survive. This wasn’t a life-changing investment decision.
Truthfully, I mostly bought it because of FOMO.
For years, SpaceX has been one of those companies that regular investors could only admire from the sidelines. Every time the company hit a new milestone, expanded Starlink, launched another rocket, or generated headlines about its future ambitions, there was always the same conversation: “I wish I could buy SpaceX stock.”
Now that I can, I figured I’d finally scratch that itch.
I made the purchase using Public, an investing platform I’ve grown to really like. The app is easy to use, the interface is clean, and it made buying the shares about as painless as possible.
Shortly after purchasing my shares, I noticed I was already showing a gain. That’s nice, I suppose, but it doesn’t really change how I feel about the investment.
I’m not celebrating because first-day gains don’t mean much.
Investors have a habit of getting carried away when a highly anticipated company becomes available to the public. Sometimes that excitement is justified. Other times it ends badly. The market has a long history of rewarding hype in the short term before eventually forcing investors to confront reality.
That’s especially true when it comes to companies associated with Elon Musk. Whether you love him or hate him, there’s no denying that his companies inspire a level of enthusiasm that few business leaders can match. Some investors would buy anything connected to Musk. Others wouldn’t touch his companies under any circumstances.
I try not to fall into either camp.
The reality is that SpaceX is an incredible company. It has transformed the launch industry and built Starlink into something far more significant than many early critics expected. At the same time, being a great company doesn’t automatically make a stock a great investment at any given price.
That’s why I’m keeping my expectations in check.
I didn’t buy SpaceX because I ran the numbers and concluded it was the bargain of the century. I didn’t buy it because I think two shares are going to fund my retirement. I bought it because I wanted a small piece of a company I’ve followed for years, and because I’d probably regret not buying any at all.
Maybe that’s not the most sophisticated investing strategy.
Then again, with only two shares in my portfolio, I’m comfortable admitting that this purchase was driven more by curiosity and fear of missing out than some grand financial plan.
Ask me how I feel about the investment in a year. That’s when the real story will start to emerge.
Disclosure
I purchased my shares through Public, an investing platform that I’ve grown to genuinely like. The app is clean, easy to navigate, and made buying my tiny two-share position in SpaceX incredibly simple.
If you’re interested in trying Public for yourself, you can use my referral link below. New users can earn $20 in the stock of their choice, and I may receive a reward as well.
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