AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ:ASTS) Shares Down 4.1% - Here's What Happened

Key Points

• AST SpaceMobile shares fell 4.1% to $35.62 on Wednesday, with trading volume about 6% below its average.
• Recent developments include a successful satellite-to-terrestrial call handoff test with AT&T and a 30-year Chilean service concession, supporting the company’s expansion plans.
• Investors also face execution and financial risks, including launch delays, missing the 45-satellite target, significant cash burn, competition from SpaceX, and a securities lawsuit. Analysts’ consensus rating is Hold, with an average price target of $80.67.

AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTS - Get Free Report)'s stock price fell 4.1% on Wednesday. The company traded as low as $34.87 and last traded at $35.62. 15,641,118 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 6% from the average daily volume of 16,609,662 shares. The stock had previously closed at $37.15.

AST SpaceMobile News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: AST SpaceMobile and AT&T successfully tested a live-call handoff between a terrestrial cellular network and an AST satellite, then back again. The demonstration is an important step toward continuous direct-to-smartphone coverage. Can ASTS' Handoff Test With AT&T Strengthen Its Growth Prospects?
• Positive Sentiment: Chile granted AST’s local subsidiary a 30-year concession to provide mobile satellite services using the SpaceMobile constellation, adding a long-term regulatory foothold for its international service plans. Chile Clears AST SpaceMobile for Nationwide Satellite Service
• Neutral Sentiment: ASTS is approaching its Q3 earnings report, with launches, partnerships and government contracts supporting its growth outlook. Investors will be watching for updates on deployment timing, spending and execution; the same report notes that high costs remain a concern. Should You Buy, Sell or Hold ASTS Stock Ahead of Q3 Earnings?
• Negative Sentiment: Several law firms publicized a securities class action covering March 4, 2025–July 15, 2026. The complaint alleges misleading statements or omissions about the company’s capital and liquidity position; one notice also alleges executives sold more than $18 million in shares during the class period. These are allegations, not established findings, but the litigation could add reputational and financial uncertainty. ASTS Shareholder Alert: Securities Class Action
• Negative Sentiment: Reports that AST SpaceMobile will not reach its goal of 45 satellites this year, alongside launch delays and substantial cash burn, reinforce concerns about the pace, cost and financing of building its network. AST SpaceMobile Just Admitted It Won't Hit 45 Satellites This Year
• Negative Sentiment: SpaceX’s reported interest in Boost Mobile raises competitive concerns: direct access to a wireless carrier could challenge ASTS’s partner-led approach and put pressure on pricing or customer adoption. Why AST SpaceMobile Stock Is Down and What's Next After Boost Mobile Talks

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Scotiabank upgraded AST SpaceMobile from a "sector perform" rating to a "sector outperform" rating and upped their price target for the stock from $50.80 to $55.70 in a report on Friday, October 23rd. Weiss Ratings reissued a "sell (d-)" rating on shares of AST SpaceMobile in a report on Monday, September 21st. B. Riley Financial lowered AST SpaceMobile from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and dropped their target price for the company from $85.00 to $65.00 in a report on Friday, October 2nd. Cantor Fitzgerald upped their price objective on AST SpaceMobile from $80.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, August 11th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada cut AST SpaceMobile to a "sector perform" rating in a research report on Friday, October 2nd. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $80.67.

AST SpaceMobile Price Performance

The company has a 50 day moving average of $53.87 and a 200 day moving average of $77.17. The company has a quick ratio of 12.90, a current ratio of 13.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24. The stock has a market capitalization of $13.86 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -16.64 and a beta of 2.88.

AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ:ASTS - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, August 10th. The company reported ($0.77) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.32) by ($0.45). The company had revenue of $31.52 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $34.53 million. AST SpaceMobile had a negative return on equity of 22.88% and a negative net margin of 536.66%. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned ($0.41) EPS. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that AST SpaceMobile, Inc. will post -1.91 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at AST SpaceMobile

In related news, Director Adriana Cisneros bought 10,822 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 31st. The stock was acquired at an average price of $57.22 per share, for a total transaction of $619,234.84. Following the completion of the purchase, the director owned 797,023 shares in the company, valued at $45,605,656.06. This represents a 1.38% increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, COO Shanti Gupta sold 12,000 shares of AST SpaceMobile stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $58.89, for a total transaction of $706,680.00. Following the sale, the chief operating officer owned 462,980 shares in the company, valued at $27,264,892.20. This represents a 2.53% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. 20.89% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of AST SpaceMobile

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of ASTS. Tidal Investments LLC grew its stake in shares of AST SpaceMobile by 9,876.8% in the 2nd quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 1,049,061 shares of the company's stock valued at $93,220,000 after buying an additional 1,038,546 shares in the last quarter. Tema ETFs LLC lifted its position in AST SpaceMobile by 109,486.8% during the 2nd quarter. Tema ETFs LLC now owns 1,003,815 shares of the company's stock worth $89,199,000 after acquiring an additional 1,002,899 shares during the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE boosted its stake in AST SpaceMobile by 140.3% during the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 1,644,246 shares of the company's stock valued at $136,259,000 after purchasing an additional 960,045 shares during the period. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of AST SpaceMobile in the third quarter worth $45,926,000. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp acquired a new position in AST SpaceMobile during the 2nd quarter valued at $67,907,000. 60.95% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About AST SpaceMobile

AST SpaceMobile, Inc is a space-based communications company developing a global cellular broadband network designed to connect directly with standard, unmodified mobile phones. Its technology is intended to extend wireless coverage beyond traditional terrestrial networks, including in rural, remote and underserved areas.

The company is building and deploying a constellation of large low Earth orbit satellites, known as the BlueBird satellite system. AST SpaceMobile plans to provide voice, messaging, data and broadband services through partnerships with mobile network operators, allowing subscribers to remain connected outside the reach of conventional cellular towers.

Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Midland, Texas, AST SpaceMobile was established by Abel Avellan, who serves as its chairman and chief executive officer.

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