AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ:ASTS) Shares Gap Up on Analyst Upgrade

Key Points

• Deutsche Bank upgraded AST SpaceMobile to Buy from Hold and set a $93 price target, sending shares up from a $50.97 close to a $53.26 open.
• Analyst sentiment remains mixed: ASTS has a consensus “Hold” rating and an average price target of $84.58, despite several Buy or Overweight ratings.
• The company faces significant execution and competitive risks, including ongoing losses, unproven commercialization, growing competition from SpaceX’s direct-to-phone service, and recent insider share sales.

Shares of AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTS - Get Free Report) gapped up before the market opened on Monday after Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded the stock from a hold rating to a buy rating. The stock had previously closed at $50.97, but opened at $53.26. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft now has a $93.00 price target on the stock. AST SpaceMobile shares last traded at $53.1950, with a volume of 6,535,171 shares traded.

Several other research analysts have also recently issued reports on ASTS. UBS Group began coverage on AST SpaceMobile in a research report on Wednesday, September 2nd. They set a "buy" rating for the company. Cantor Fitzgerald raised their target price on AST SpaceMobile from $80.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, August 11th. Piper Sandler decreased their target price on AST SpaceMobile from $100.00 to $98.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, August 11th. B. Riley Financial cut AST SpaceMobile from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $85.00 to $65.00 in a research note on Friday, October 2nd. Finally, Berenberg Bank started coverage on AST SpaceMobile in a report on Wednesday, September 2nd. They issued a "buy" rating and a $92.00 price target for the company. Six analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and two have given a Sell rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, AST SpaceMobile currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $84.58.

Insider Buying and Selling at AST SpaceMobile

In other AST SpaceMobile news, COO Shanti Gupta sold 12,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $58.89, for a total transaction of $706,680.00. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer owned 462,980 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $27,264,892.20. This trade represents a 2.53% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CTO Huiwen Yao sold 40,000 shares of AST SpaceMobile stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $58.93, for a total value of $2,357,200.00. Following the sale, the chief technology officer owned 34,750 shares in the company, valued at $2,047,817.50. This trade represents a 53.51% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. 20.89% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Trending Headlines about AST SpaceMobile

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

• Positive Sentiment: BlueBird deployment advances: AST SpaceMobile said three additional BlueBird satellites have arrived at Cape Canaveral ahead of launch. The shipment supports management’s effort to expand the constellation and move toward commercial service. AST SpaceMobile Rallies as Next BlueBird Satellites Reach Cape Canaveral
• Positive Sentiment: Deutsche Bank upgraded ASTS to Buy from Hold and assigned a $93 price target, implying substantial upside from recent trading levels. The upgrade provides an important positive counterpoint to recent bearish commentary. AST SpaceMobile Stock Rating Upgraded by Deutsche Bank
• Positive Sentiment: FCC testing authorization: The company received a 30-day authorization to test radiolocation capabilities in the 902–928 MHz band across the contiguous United States and Hawaii. The testing could support AST SpaceMobile’s technology and government-related opportunities. ASTS Stock Rises as BlueBirds Reach Florida and FCC Clears 900-MHz Test
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst views remain mixed: Deutsche Bank’s upgrade contrasts with the broader consensus “Hold” rating from 14 analysts—five Buys, seven Holds and two Sells. The reported consensus target is $84.58. AST SpaceMobile Receives Average Hold Rating
• Negative Sentiment: Competitive pressure is increasing: The FCC cleared SpaceX to provide direct-to-phone satellite connectivity, raising questions about AST SpaceMobile’s carrier-partnered model and its ability to compete with SpaceX’s larger constellation. AST SpaceMobile Faces New Questions After FCC Satellite Ruling
• Negative Sentiment: Legal risk is an overhang: Multiple law firms are soliciting investors for a securities class action covering March 4, 2025 through July 15, 2026, with a November 13 lead-plaintiff deadline. These notices may weigh on sentiment even though they do not establish liability. Investor Alert Regarding AST SpaceMobile Securities Class Action
• Negative Sentiment: Commercialization remains unproven: AST SpaceMobile is not yet generating recurring commercial revenue and continues to rely on defense contracts and commercial prepayments. Its recent quarterly loss also exceeded analyst expectations, underscoring execution and funding risks while the constellation is built. AST SpaceMobile Shipped Three More BlueBird Satellites

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Compass Financial Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of AST SpaceMobile in the second quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Grove Bank & Trust acquired a new stake in AST SpaceMobile during the 2nd quarter worth $27,000. Continuum Advisory LLC acquired a new stake in AST SpaceMobile during the 2nd quarter worth $28,000. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC boosted its stake in AST SpaceMobile by 16,350.0% during the 1st quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 329 shares of the company's stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 327 shares during the period. Finally, Portus Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in AST SpaceMobile during the 1st quarter worth $30,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 60.95% of the company's stock.

AST SpaceMobile Price Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24, a quick ratio of 12.90 and a current ratio of 13.05. The company has a market capitalization of $20.92 billion, a PE ratio of -25.17 and a beta of 2.72. The company's 50-day simple moving average is $62.91 and its 200-day simple moving average is $75.58.

AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ:ASTS - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, August 10th. The company reported ($0.77) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of ($0.32) by ($0.45). AST SpaceMobile had a negative net margin of 536.66% and a negative return on equity of 22.88%. The business had revenue of $31.52 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $34.53 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted ($0.41) earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that AST SpaceMobile, Inc. will post -1.95 earnings per share for the current year.

AST SpaceMobile Company Profile

AST SpaceMobile, Inc develops a space-based cellular broadband network designed to connect standard mobile phones directly to satellites without requiring specialized satellite phones or equipment. The company's objective is to extend mobile connectivity to areas that lack reliable terrestrial cellular coverage, including remote and underserved regions.

Its system is built around the planned SpaceMobile satellite constellation, including BlueBird satellites equipped with large communications arrays.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.