In this article, we will take a look at the 10 best space exploration stocks to buy according to analysts.
The global space industry has been drawing increasing attention as both national security and commercial technology development show a strong interest in satellite infrastructure and space-based data systems. Global investment in space technology grew significantly in 2025, with private funding rising 48% to $12.4 billion, according to a Reuters report. The report cited data from Seraphim Space showing that the last quarter of 2025 accounted for $3.8 billion in investments. This total funding surpassed the previous recorded high in 2021, marking a recovery from the sector downturn in 2022.
The sector also witnesses increased support from the government with U.S. President Donald Trump signing an executive order designating space as a core national security and economic priority in December 2025. According to the Reuters article, investors see the policy as a step to increase long-term funding for space systems and related technologies.
With these developments, the investment opportunities in the space exploration sector are expanding. With that, analysts continue to monitor leading companies, focusing on stocks based on their performance relative to changes in the market environment.
In this regard, we have brought to you the 10 best space exploration stocks based on analyst recommendations that could optimize your portfolios.
Our Methodology
To identify the 10 best space exploration stocks to buy according to analysts, we screened for space exploration companies with analyst price targets at least 10% above current market prices to ensure they have strong upside potential. We then ranked stocks by the number of hedge funds holding a stake in each, according to Insider Monkey’s hedge fund database as of Q4 2025. We limited our final selection to companies that have recently reported noteworthy developments likely to impact investor sentiment. All the pricing data are as of market close on March 17, 2026.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 498.7% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 303 percentage points (see more details here).
10. York Space Systems, Inc. (NYSE:YSS)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: N/A
York Space Systems, Inc. (NYSE:YSS) is one of the 10 best space exploration stocks to buy according to analysts.
York Space Systems, Inc. (NYSE:YSS), on March 12, 2026, announced the acquisition of Orbion Space Technology, a Michigan-based specialist in flight-proven electric propulsion systems. With this move, the company secures a critical subsystem within its domestic supply chain, which increases schedule certainty as well as enhances the system-level reliability for constellation-scale missions. Orbion’s Aurora Hall-effect thrusters are already operational on the York spacecraft. The acquisition is expected to optimize the alignment between Orbion’s propulsion systems and satellite design. This transaction, in addition to the earlier made ATLAS Space Operations acquisition, reinforces York Space Systems, Inc. (NYSE:YSS)’s critical mission capabilities across propulsion, ground operations, and mission execution.
Separately, on February 23, 2026, Citi analyst John Godyn initiated coverage of York Space Systems, Inc. (NYSE:YSS) with a Buy rating. The price target was set at $37. The analyst commented in the research noted that the stock offers a high-risk, high-reward investment opportunity within the growing global space megatrend.
Note: The company became publicly listed in January 2026; hence, our Insider Monkey hedge fund database for the fourth quarter of 2025 did not cover it.
Founded in 2012, York Space Systems, Inc. (NYSE:YSS) is a defense and space prime that provides end-to-end satellite solutions. Its headquarters is in Colorado.
Hedge Fund Resource Center