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AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) has a market capitalization of $41 billion with 60 mobile network operator partners covering over 3 billion subscribers and targeting 45 BlueBird satellites in orbit by the end of 2026.
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Rocket Lab (RKLB) reported Q1 revenue of $200.35 million, up 64% year-over-year, with an order backlog of $2.2 billion and Neutron debuting in Q4 2026 expected; Virgin Galactic (SPCE) aims to complete flight testing of its new spacecraft in the third quarter of 2026 and conduct commercial spaceflight in the fourth quarter of 2026.
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Public space stocks are rising on SpaceX IPO speculation, with investors treating ASTS, RKLB and SPCE as viable ways to gain exposure to SpaceX hype ahead of a potential listing.
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The analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 stocks and AST SpaceMobile wasn’t one of them. Get them here for FREE.
Actions of AST Mobile Space (NASDAQ:ASTS) rose 8% in midday trading on May 27, trading near $129. The name of the direct-to-cell satellite is leading a sympathy rally in the space sector linked to the SpaceX IPO rumor.
The move extends an already torrid streak. ASTS stock is up 78% year to date (YTD), making it the main driver in a basket where rocket laboratory (NASDAQ:RKLB) and Galactic Virgin (NYSE:SPCE) are doing the same halo business.
The analyst who called NVIDIA in 2010 just named his top 10 stocks and AST SpaceMobile wasn’t one of them. Get them here for FREE.
Investors are treating publicly traded space names as the only liquid way to cash in on SpaceX’s buzz ahead of a potential stock listing. ASTS stock is the major player today, with SPCE and RKLB stock as the supporting cast in SpaceX’s pre-IPO halo trade.
AST SpaceMobile: direct-to-cell catalyst stacking
AST SpaceMobile has a market capitalization of $41 billion and a credible roadmap. The company has around 60 mobile network operator (MNO) partners covering more than 3 billion subscribers and is targeting approximately 45 BlueBird satellites in orbit by the end of 2026, with BlueBird 8-10 launching in mid-June on a Falcon 9.
AST SpaceMobile’s Q1 2026 results were mixed. Revenue of $14.73 million missed estimates by 60% and earnings per share came in at -$0.66. Management reaffirmed fiscal 2026 revenue guidance of between $150 million and $200 million.
CEO Abel Avellan proudly stated:
AST SpaceMobile is accelerating manufacturing, regulatory progress, trade partnerships and government programs, advancing our position as the only technology positioned to fully capture the enormous direct-to-device broadband opportunity.
However, there is a bearish case to note: the analyst consensus sets the price target for ASTS shares at $83.47, well below the current price, and insiders have recorded 21 recent transactions that lean towards net selling.