AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ:ASTS) Trading Up 2.7% - Here's What Happened

Key Points

• AST SpaceMobile shares rose 2.7% on Thursday, trading as high as $133.86 as volume jumped to 21.1 million shares, about 23% above the average session volume.
• The stock’s move appears tied to renewed optimism around the space sector, including SpaceX IPO buzz, ASTS’s June launch plans, and investor attention on its satellite-to-smartphone technology and telecom partnerships.
• Despite the rally, the company still faces execution and valuation risks: analysts’ average rating remains “Reduce,” recent quarterly results missed estimates, and insider selling plus dilution/debt concerns may weigh on sentiment.

AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTS - Get Free Report)'s share price traded up 2.7% on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $133.86 and last traded at $133.09. 21,072,529 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 23% from the average session volume of 17,186,109 shares. The stock had previously closed at $129.60.

Key AST SpaceMobile News

Here are the key news stories impacting AST SpaceMobile this week:

• Positive Sentiment: ASTS is benefiting from a sector-wide rerating as SpaceX IPO buzz lifts interest in space infrastructure names, which has helped push the stock sharply higher. ASTS adds $10B in market cap on bold industry developments
• Positive Sentiment: Coverage of ASTS’s June launch schedule keeps its 2026 satellite rollout plan in focus, reinforcing the bull case that the company is moving closer to commercial execution. AST SpaceMobile’s June Launch Plan Puts Its 2026 Satellite Goal Back in Focus
• Positive Sentiment: Investors remain focused on ASTS’s satellite-to-smartphone technology, FCC progress, and telecom deals as long-term growth drivers. Zacks Investment Ideas feature highlights: AST SpaceMobile
• Positive Sentiment: Europe’s push for satellite independence is drawing attention to ASTS’s Vodafone joint venture, which could support future demand and expansion. ASTS Stock Jumps Overnight: Europe’s Push Against Starlink Shines Spotlight On AST SpaceMobile’s Vodafone JV
• Neutral Sentiment: Social-media chatter is adding momentum, but this is mostly sentiment-driven rather than a new business development. Social Buzz: Wallstreetbets Stocks Mostly Advancing Pre-Bell Wednesday; Intuitive Machines, Rocket Lab to Open Higher
• Negative Sentiment: Some commentary flags valuation risk, debt, and dilution concerns, which could weigh on the stock if execution slows or the space-stock rally cools. The SpaceX IPO Frenzy Is Creating 2 Very Different Bets (ASTS)
• Negative Sentiment: Recent insider selling by President Scott Wisniewski may be viewed cautiously by investors, even though it was a relatively small portion of his holdings. Insider Selling: AST SpaceMobile NASDAQ: ASTS President Sells 25,904 Shares of Stock

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts recently weighed in on the company. New Street Research assumed coverage on AST SpaceMobile in a research report on Wednesday, May 13th. They issued a "neutral" rating and a $80.00 price objective for the company. Barclays increased their price objective on AST SpaceMobile from $60.00 to $65.00 and gave the stock an "underweight" rating in a research report on Thursday, April 9th. B. Riley Financial increased their price objective on AST SpaceMobile from $75.00 to $85.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 12th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $117.00 price objective on AST SpaceMobile in a research report on Wednesday, April 15th. Finally, UBS Group lowered their price objective on AST SpaceMobile from $85.00 to $80.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, May 12th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and three have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Reduce" and an average target price of $79.45.

AST SpaceMobile Stock Up 2.7%

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 18.47 and a quick ratio of 18.37. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $86.86 and a 200 day simple moving average of $84.60. The company has a market capitalization of $51.65 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -74.77 and a beta of 2.60.

AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ:ASTS - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, May 11th. The company reported ($0.66) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.23) by ($0.43). AST SpaceMobile had a negative return on equity of 24.87% and a negative net margin of 573.67%.The firm had revenue of $14.74 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $39.01 million. During the same quarter last year, the company earned ($0.20) earnings per share. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 1952.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts predict that AST SpaceMobile, Inc. will post -1.47 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Transactions at AST SpaceMobile

In other AST SpaceMobile news, Director Julio A. Torres sold 15,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, May 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $76.34, for a total transaction of $1,145,100.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 43,239 shares in the company, valued at $3,300,865.26. This represents a 25.76% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CTO Huiwen Yao sold 40,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Monday, March 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $88.88, for a total value of $3,555,200.00. Following the transaction, the chief technology officer owned 4,750 shares in the company, valued at $422,180. This trade represents a 89.39% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold 3,100,000 shares of company stock valued at $276,048,350 over the last three months. 20.89% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of AST SpaceMobile

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. raised its stake in AST SpaceMobile by 48.0% in the third quarter. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. now owns 532,960 shares of the company's stock valued at $26,158,000 after buying an additional 172,759 shares in the last quarter. Mutual Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in AST SpaceMobile in the third quarter valued at $1,882,000. KPP Advisory Services LLC acquired a new stake in AST SpaceMobile in the fourth quarter valued at $1,649,000. M&T Bank Corp raised its stake in AST SpaceMobile by 1,062.9% in the fourth quarter. M&T Bank Corp now owns 77,994 shares of the company's stock valued at $5,665,000 after buying an additional 71,287 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Jones Financial Companies Lllp raised its stake in AST SpaceMobile by 28.0% in the third quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 31,580 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,550,000 after buying an additional 6,901 shares in the last quarter. 60.95% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About AST SpaceMobile

AST SpaceMobile is a U.S.-based aerospace company developing a space-based cellular broadband network designed to connect standard mobile phones and other devices directly to satellites. The company's core proposition is “space-to-cell” service: operating a constellation of low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellites equipped with large, high-power phased-array antennas to provide wide-area mobile broadband without requiring users to buy specialized terminals or handset modifications.

AST SpaceMobile designs, builds and operates satellite payloads and supporting ground infrastructure.

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