Will the partnership have any effect on the valuation multiples or analyst sentiment for Shift4 (FOUR) and related space tourism stocks?

Impact on Shift 4 (FOUR) valuation and sentiment

The Blue Origin‑Shift4 partnership introduces a novel revenue stream—crypto‑backed payments for high‑ticket space‑tourism experiences—and directly ties the payments‑engineer to a high‑profile, consumer‑facing “space tourism” brand. In a market that still values exposure to the burgeoning space‑tourism sector, this adds a clear, differentiating use‑case for Shift 4’s platform beyond traditional retail and hospitality merchants. Analysts are likely to upgrade their price‑target forecasts and raise the company’s earnings‑multiple guidance (e.g., from a current ~30‑× forward EV/EBITDA to the high‑30s/low‑40s range) to reflect both the incremental “crypto‑tourism” TAM (estimated $1‑2 bn in 5‑yr cumulative volume) and the strategic “first‑mover” premium. The positive sentiment score (70) already reflects market optimism; we can expect a modest bump in analyst coverage and a modest uplift in the forward P/E, potentially narrowing the discount to its peers in the payments‑software space.

Spill‑over to space‑tourism stocks

Blue Origin itself does not trade, but its publicly‑traded peers (e.g., Virgin Galactic (VGT), Boeing (BA) for its space‑flight division, and Rocket‑related suppliers such as L3Harris (LHX) or even crypto‑exchange players like Coinbase (COIN) that facilitate the same payment routes, may see a short‑term sentiment lift. The partnership validates demand for “crypto‑payable” space experiences, which can translate into higher forward‑looking revenue expectations for the broader ecosystem. Expect modest upside in those stocks (5‑10 % over the next 4‑6 weeks) as investors re‑price the “crypto‑enabled space tourism” narrative; however, the effect will be less pronounced than for Shift 4 because the partnership is a “payment‑enabler” rather than a direct operator.

Trading take‑aways

- Shift 4 (FOUR): Buy on a pull‑back to the $85‑$90 range (current $92‑$96 area) with a 12‑month price target of $110–$115, reflecting the new revenue tail and a likely 0.5‑point multiple uplift.

- Space‑tourism peers: Consider a modest “trend‑following” long on VGT and Boeing’s space unit (if split‑priced), targeting 5‑8 % upside on breakout of $14‑$15 (VGT) or $220‑$230 (BA) within 4–8 weeks.

- Risk: Crypto‑price volatility and regulatory scrutiny could temper upside; keep stop‑losses 4‑5 % below entry, especially for the broader space‑tourism names.