Source: shutterstock.com/T. Schneider
Intuitive Machines (NASDAQ:LUNR) stock is soaring following the successful lunar landing of its Nova-C lander named Odysseus. This achievement, part of its IM-1 mission, marks a significant milestone – the first U.S. spacecraft to touch the moon since 1972 and the first privately developed spacecraft to do so as well.
On the journey to the moon after launching from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, Odysseus landed on the lunar surface Thursday evening. The initial signal loss post-landing was anticipated, and after reconnection, it was confirmed two hours later that Odysseus was upright and relaying data, eliciting Chief Technology Officer Tim Crain to cheer, “So congratulations, IM-1!”
Launched under NASA’s “commercial payload program,” Odysseus is a testament to the collaboration between private companies and governmental agencies in advancing cost-effective space exploration.
Investor Confidence and Growth Trajectory
Tracking institutional ownership of stocks provides insights into market stability and growth potential. In the fourth quarter, 28 13F filings included stakes in LUNR stock, remaining static from Q3, attributable to Intuitive’s recent public entry following a SPAC merger about a year ago. These investors collectively owned 3.30 million shares, a slight decrease from the previous 3.62 million in Q3.
Among hedge funds, data from 13F filings shows ownership of 1.58 million shares compared to 2.02 million in the prior quarter. Only five hedge funds currently possess LUNR shares, down from seven previously.
Exploring the top shareholders at Intuitive:
- Kamal Ghaffarian, co-founder and Chairman, holds 60.03 million shares (accurate as of January 2024).
- Stephen Altemus, President and CEO, owns 18.34 million shares (accurate as of December 2023).
- Tim Crain II, co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, possesses 11.61 million shares (accurate as of December 2023).
- Guy Shanon holds 3.01 million shares (accurate as of July 2023).
- Michael Blitzer, Director, has 1.66 million shares (accurate as of August 2023).
As of the publication date, Eddie Pan does not hold any positions in the securities discussed. The views expressed in the article belong to the writer, following InvestorPlace.com Publishing Guidelines.
