SpaceX reported a 161% year-on-year increase in third-quarter revenue to $14.58 billion on Tuesday, up from $5.58 billion in the same period of 2025, beating analysts’ estimates as growth in its artificial intelligence (AI) business and Starlink satellite internet unit boosted performance.
The company’s revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2026, exceeded analysts’ estimate of $12.72 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG.
SpaceX also reported a net profit of $4.4 billion, compared with analysts’ expected profit of $1.57 billion.
The result marked a turnaround from the second quarter, when the company recorded a net loss of $541 million on revenue of $7.81 billion.
SpaceX’s AI business has become a major source of revenue for the company, supporting founder Elon Musk’s broader ambitions in artificial intelligence and space-based computing.
The company generates much of its AI revenue by renting out data-centre capacity to developers and technology companies, including Anthropic, Google and Reflection AI, rather than relying primarily on its own AI models.
The company is also spending heavily on network coverage, capacity and direct-to-device mobile services as it seeks to expand its reach while improving the economics of its satellite network.
Beyond its AI and connectivity businesses, SpaceX continues to invest in commercial launches, government missions and the development of Starship, its next-generation reusable rocket system.
Falcon launch activity has remained robust, although revenue can vary depending on the mix of internal Starlink deployments, commercial customer missions and government contracts.
SpaceX has increasingly prioritised launches for its own satellite network over third-party payloads while absorbing significant costs associated with Starship’s development.
SpaceX’s latest results follow major developments in its corporate structure and satellite internet business.
In February 2026, Nairametrics reported that SpaceX merged with Musk’s AI company, xAI, in a deal valued at $1.25 trillion, bringing its rocket, satellite internet and AI operations under one corporate structure.
Starlink reached 9 million global customers in December 2025, reflecting the scale of its satellite internet business as SpaceX continues to expand its connectivity services.
SpaceX also secured a reported $30 billion computing agreement with Google, underscoring the scale of its planned AI infrastructure business.
