New York\u00a0\u2014\u00a0\n <\/p>\n
\n Elon Musk, the CEO of both SpaceX and Tesla, voiced support for merging the two companies during an earnings call Tuesday, though he said it is ultimately up to special shareholder committees from each company.\n <\/p>\n
\n Asked about the long-rumored merger, Musk replied, \u201cthis is definitely kind of a question where I feel like I\u2019m tap dancing through a minefield\u2026 but I do think there\u2019s a lot of merit to combining the companies.\u201d\n <\/p>\n
\n The comments appeared to be the most forceful Musk has made publicly. When asked about the potential deal<\/a> following SpaceX\u2019s blockbuster July IPO, Musk didn\u2019t offer an opinion one way or another, saying \u201cobviously\u2026 we can\u2019t talk about combining companies and that kind of thing on an earnings call. It\u2019s got to be done with the appropriate process.\u201d\n <\/p>\n \n Musk on Tuesday was careful to manage investors\u2019 expectations about any potential merger. As a \u201cconflicted party,\u201d he said, he cannot be a part of the discussions, noting the decision would be up to shareholders. Historically, Tesla shareholders have broadly fallen in line with Musk\u2019s wishes, however.\n <\/p>\n \n SpaceX shares rose nearly 5% in late trading, following its third-quarter earnings report that blew past Wall Street\u2019s expectations. Tesla shares rose a little over 1%.\n <\/p>\n \n The rocket, satellite internet, social media and AI company brought in net income of $4.4 billion in the most recent quarter, swinging to a profit after back-to-back quarters of losses this year.\n <\/p>\n \n In its second earnings report since going public, SpaceX said it brought in $14.6 billion \u2014 up 161% year-over-year, according to the company, driven by what it called its \u201cSuper Intelligence\u201d segment and its Starlink satellite-internet business.\n <\/p>\n \n Wall Street analysts surveyed by FactSet had expected net income of $1.57 billion, with revenue of $12.9 billion. SpaceX reported earnings per share of 35 cents Tuesday, versus 14 cents forecast by analysts.\n <\/p>\n \n Moments before the earnings call Tuesday, the Wall Street Journal published a report<\/a> saying that Musk \u201cordered the slowdown of a military-grade version of Starlink\u201d that blindsided Ukrainian officials.<\/a>\n <\/p>\n \n Musk during the call did not address the Journal report, which cited unnamed people familiar with the matter. CNN couldn\u2019t immediately verify the veracity of the report.\n <\/p>\n \n SpaceX didn\u2019t immediately respond to CNN\u2019s request for comment.\n <\/p>\n