AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ:ASTS) Trading Up 5.8% – Still a Buy?

AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTS) traded up 5.8% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $63.70 and last traded at $62.71. 9,132,580 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 46% from the average daily volume of 16,806,615 shares. The stock had previously closed at $59.27.

Key Headlines Impacting AST SpaceMobile

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

• Positive Sentiment: AST SpaceMobile’s satellite-to-smartphone strategy remains supported by its large antenna technology and patent portfolio, which investors view as potential competitive advantages in the market for direct-to-cell connectivity. AST SpaceMobile patent and Starlink competition article
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts’ consensus recommendation remains “Hold,” reflecting the company’s long-term growth opportunity but also its substantial execution, valuation and profitability risks. Several analysts maintain Buy or Overweight ratings with targets above the current trading range. AST SpaceMobile analyst recommendation article
• Negative Sentiment: Several law firms are publicizing a securities class action filed against AST SpaceMobile and certain executives. The complaint alleges misleading statements concerning the company’s capital needs, potential dilution and debt, competitive position, and customer adoption in the United States and Japan. The allegations have not been proven, but the litigation adds reputational and potential financial risk; the lead-plaintiff deadline is November 13, 2026. AST SpaceMobile securities class action article
• Negative Sentiment: COO Shanti Gupta sold 12,000 shares for about $707,000, while CTO Huiwen Yao sold 40,000 shares worth approximately $2.36 million. Yao’s sale was made under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan, which limits its significance as a discretionary bearish signal, but the transactions may still weigh on investor sentiment. AST SpaceMobile insider sales article
• Negative Sentiment: AST SpaceMobile has not yet announced shipment, arrival or launch dates for BlueBirds 14–16. Any additional delay could heighten concerns about constellation deployment and the pace of commercial service expansion.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Piper Sandler dropped their price objective on shares of AST SpaceMobile from $100.00 to $98.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, August 11th. UBS Group started coverage on AST SpaceMobile in a research report on Wednesday, September 2nd. They issued a “buy” rating for the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $93.00 price objective on shares of AST SpaceMobile in a report on Wednesday, August 12th. Scotiabank raised shares of AST SpaceMobile from a “sector underperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating and set a $50.80 target price on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 29th. Finally, New Street Research set a $106.00 target price on AST SpaceMobile in a research report on Friday, May 29th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $86.58.

AST SpaceMobile Stock Down 6.7%

The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $63.03 and its 200-day simple moving average is $78.98. 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 firm has a market capitalization of $22.77 billion, a PE ratio of -27.35 and a beta of 2.74.

AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ:ASTS) last released its quarterly earnings results 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 firm had revenue of $31.52 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $34.53 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned ($0.41) earnings per share. On average, analysts forecast that AST SpaceMobile, Inc. will post -1.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at AST SpaceMobile

In other AST SpaceMobile news, Director Adriana Cisneros acquired 10,822 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 31st. The stock was bought at an average price of $57.22 per share, with a total value of $619,234.84. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director owned 797,023 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $45,605,656.06. This trade represents a 1.38% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, COO Shanti Gupta sold 12,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, September 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $58.89, for a total transaction of $706,680.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer owned 462,980 shares in the company, valued at approximately $27,264,892.20. This trade represents a 2.53% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders own 20.89% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of AST SpaceMobile

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Compass Financial Management LLC bought a new position in AST SpaceMobile in the second quarter valued at $26,000. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC lifted its stake in AST SpaceMobile by 16,350.0% during the first 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 last quarter. Grove Bank & Trust purchased a new position in shares of AST SpaceMobile in the 2nd quarter worth about $27,000. Continuum Advisory LLC purchased a new position in shares of AST SpaceMobile in the 2nd quarter worth about $28,000. Finally, Portus Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of AST SpaceMobile during the 1st quarter valued at about $30,000. 60.95% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About AST SpaceMobile

AST SpaceMobile, Inc develops a space-based cellular broadband network designed to connect standard, unmodified mobile phones directly to satellites. Its planned service is intended to extend mobile connectivity beyond the coverage of traditional terrestrial wireless networks, including in rural, remote and underserved areas.

The company’s primary technology platform consists of large, low-Earth-orbit satellites known as BlueBirds. AST SpaceMobile is developing these satellites to provide voice, messaging and broadband data services through partnerships with mobile network operators, using existing cellular devices and spectrum where permitted.

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