E228: SpaceX to enter the cell service business; Anduril wins $1.26b of new deals; OpenAI + Microsoft work out non-profit to for-profit switch; Will AI/robotics yield a decade long bull market?
E228: SpaceX to enter the cell service business; Anduril wins $1.26b of new deals; OpenAI + Microsoft work out non-profit to for-profit switch; Will AI/robotics yield a decade long bull market?
Podcast21 min 31 sec
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Note: AI-generated summary based on third-party content. Not financial advice. Read more.
Quick Insights

Private defense technology firm Anduril is a high-conviction investment, with analysts projecting a potential 3x return in approximately three years to a $150 billion valuation. The company is well-positioned to benefit from the major trend of deglobalization, which is expected to drive sustained increases in military spending. For investors in private markets, OpenAI presents a unique opportunity as its planned conversion to a standard for-profit corporation is expected to unlock significant new institutional investment. Consider SpaceX's expansion into satellite-to-cell phone service as a massive new growth driver, positioning it as a diversified technology platform beyond just launch services. These opportunities are part of a predicted decade-long bull market driven by technological leaps in AI and robotics, which are reshaping major industries.

Detailed Analysis

SpaceX (Private)

  • SpaceX is entering the satellite-to-cell phone service business through a $17 billion deal with EcoStar to acquire bandwidth. This is seen as a new, massive business line separate from its Starlink internet service.
  • The company's current private valuation is cited at approximately $413 billion.
  • The new service is described as a "carrier overlay," meaning it could both compete with traditional carriers like Verizon (VZ) and T-Mobile (TMUS) and also sell capacity to them to fill in coverage gaps.
  • The core investment thesis is that SpaceX is a "platform" company, similar to the Apple App Store, that leverages its low-cost launch capabilities to create multiple, diverse, and high-growth revenue streams (logistics, internet, cellular, etc.).
  • Risk Factor: The $17 billion deal with EcoStar requires approval from the FCC to proceed.

Takeaways

  • The sentiment towards SpaceX is extremely bullish. The hosts believe the market does not fully appreciate the number of new businesses the company can create with its launch platform.
  • The move into direct-to-cellular service is a significant expansion of its addressable market, positioning it to capture a share of the massive global mobile data industry, which saw a 35% year-over-year jump.
  • Investors should view SpaceX not as a single-product company but as a diversified technology and logistics platform with multiple avenues for future growth.

Anduril Industries (Private)

  • Anduril, a private defense technology company, recently secured $1.26 billion in new contracts, including:
    • A $1.1 billion deal with the Australian Navy for an autonomous underwater submarine.
    • A contract with the U.S. Army for AI-driven night vision and augmented reality systems.
  • The company is described as a "disruptive software company" that is poised to take significant market share from legacy defense contractors.
  • The hosts are extremely bullish, with one calling it a top-three favorite pre-IPO company.
  • Valuation & Price Target:
    • The company is currently trading in private markets at a valuation of $51-$52 billion.
    • One host projects a "rock solid" base case of the company becoming a $150 billion business, representing a 3x return in approximately three years.
    • This projection is presented with a "solid risk-adjusted return profile" and "comfortable downside risk," with potential for even greater upside.
  • The company is seen as perfectly aligned with major global trends like deglobalization, the rise of AI, and increased defense spending by the U.S. and its allies.

Takeaways

  • Anduril is positioned as a high-growth, technology-first leader in the defense sector. Its focus on AI and autonomous systems differentiates it from traditional defense primes.
  • The investment thesis is heavily tied to the macroeconomic trend of deglobalization, which is expected to drive sustained increases in military spending.
  • The specific mention of a 3x return in three years provides a tangible, though speculative, target for potential investors in the private markets. The hosts believe the company has the potential to "destroy the competition."

OpenAI (Private)

  • The main discussion is about OpenAI's planned transition from its complex non-profit/for-profit hybrid structure to a standard for-profit corporation, a move being worked out with partner Microsoft (MSFT).
  • This structural change is viewed as a major positive catalyst for the company's stock.
  • It is expected to "clean up" the company's capital structure, making it a much more attractive and straightforward investment for large institutional investors like pension funds who may have been hesitant before.
  • One host predicts that this change could bring "25% more people come off the sidelines," significantly increasing demand for OpenAI shares in the private market.
  • There is speculation that OpenAI may pursue an IPO, similar to CoreWeave, to more easily access public debt markets to finance the massive capital expenditures required for building data centers.

Takeaways

  • The sentiment is bullish, focusing on the financial engineering aspect. The move to a standard for-profit structure is expected to unlock significant investment demand.
  • For potential investors, this change removes a key point of confusion and structural risk, making the company a more conventional venture investment.
  • The need to raise immense capital ("a trillion dollars" was mentioned hyperbolically) for growth suggests that the company will likely need to tap public markets in the future, providing a potential liquidity event for private shareholders.

Broader Investment Themes

AI, Robotics, and a Decade-Long Bull Market

  • The hosts are extremely optimistic, predicting we are on the verge of a "decade-long bull market" driven by profound technological leaps in AI and robotics.
  • This tech-driven productivity boom is expected to enable the reshoring of "high-end manufacturing" back to the U.S.
  • A key insight is that this wave of technology may disrupt white-collar jobs (accountants, lawyers) more than skilled trade jobs. This could lead to a resurgence of the American middle class, built on high-tech manufacturing and trade roles needed to operate and maintain robotic systems.

Takeaways

  • Investors should consider a long-term, optimistic outlook focused on technology. The hosts believe "everything is tech now."
  • Sectors poised to benefit include AI software, robotics, high-end manufacturing, and companies that support the skilled trades.
  • This theme suggests a broad-based economic expansion driven by private sector innovation, which could lift many parts of the market over the next 10+ years.

Deglobalization and Defense Spending

  • A major theme is that the world is moving away from globalization and toward regional trade and defense blocs.
  • This shift is seen as a primary driver for increased and sustained military spending, particularly from the U.S., to maintain its "superpower" status and protect the U.S. dollar as the world's reserve currency.
  • The U.S. is expected to increase its exports of military and defense goods.

Takeaways

  • This trend provides a strong tailwind for the defense industry.
  • Investors should look for companies that are at the forefront of defense technology, as they are positioned to capture the lion's share of new spending. Anduril is cited as a prime example of a company aligned with this theme.
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Episode Description
Send us a text 00:00 - Intro 00:02 - SpaceX to enter the cell service business 04:26 - Anduril wins $1.26b of new deals 12:43 - OpenAI + Microsoft work out non-profit to for-profit switch 17:33 - Will AI/robotics yield a decade long bull market? Nick Fusco = CEO at PM Insights, a pre-IPO secondary market pricing company …X - @TheFuscoKid …LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/nickfusco Evan Cohen = Founder/COO of withVincent.com, a media company focused on alternative investments …X - @evvcohen …LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/evcohen Clint Sorenson = Chief Investment Officer at WealthShield, an outsourced CIO and investment research company …X - @clint_sorenson …LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/csorensoncfacmt Aaron Dillon = Managing Director of AG Dillon Funds, pre-IPO stock investing for RIAs …X - @AaronGDillon …LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/aarondillonnyc
About This Week in Pre-IPO Stocks
This Week in Pre-IPO Stocks

This Week in Pre-IPO Stocks

By AG Dillon & Co

This Week in Pre-IPO Stocks reports on pre-IPO stock research, trends, trading, and venture capital funds. Visit www.agdillon.com for more.