Jim Cramer says it's not too late to buy SpaceX — under one condition

CNBC's Jim Cramer said Friday that it's not too late for investors to buy SpaceX after its blockbuster debut— but only if they're willing to view the stock as a long-term bet on the future rather than a traditional investment. "Is it too late to get into SpaceX?" the "Mad Money" host said. "If you're willing to look at this as a different kind of stock, not a short or even medium term investment ... then you've got my blessing." SpaceX debuted on the Nasdaq on Friday, opening at $150 per share but surging as high as $176. Elon Musk's rocket company closed the session with a market cap of $2.1 trillion. The powerful rally quickly reignited concerns that the stock's valuation may have outrun its current financial performance. Cramer, however, said that investors are not buying SpaceX solely for what it earns today. "This is a long-term call on space exploration," Cramer said. Rather than focusing on current losses and cash outflows, Cramer argued that many investors are buying into Elon Musk's long-term vision and a pipeline of projects that may take years to fully materialize. "I think they've considered the risk and recognized that there could be losses as far as the eye can see," he said. That willingness to look beyond near-term financial results helps explain the stock's strong debut, according to Cramer. While skeptics have questioned the company's valuation, he said shareholders are focused on the possibility that SpaceX's future opportunities could be far larger than what is currently reflected in its business. For investors who share that outlook, Cramer said pullbacks should be viewed as opportunities rather than reasons to abandon the stock. "If it comes down, then you should buy more because the upside is conceivably unfathomable," he said. Cramer also praised the handling of the IPO by Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, saying the two leading banks on the deal struck a balance between institutional and retail demand, while avoiding the kind of chaotic first-day surge that can create problems later. Cramer's Charitable Trust, the portfolio used by the CNBC Investing Club, owns shares of Goldman. "The stock opened at a reasonable price versus the IPO price, not so high that it would encourage flipping but not that low as to foment panic," he said. "That's amazing." Sign up now for the CNBC Investing Club to follow Jim Cramer's every move in the market. Questions for Cramer? Call Cramer: 1-800-743-CNBC Want to take a deep dive into Cramer's world? Hit him up! Mad Money Twitter - Jim Cramer Twitter - Facebook - Instagram Questions, comments, suggestions for the "Mad Money" website? [email protected]