AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ:ASTS) Issues Earnings Results
by Amy Steele · The Cerbat GemAST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ:ASTS – Get Free Report) released its quarterly earnings results on Monday. The company reported ($0.44) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.41) by ($0.03), FiscalAI reports. AST SpaceMobile had a negative return on equity of 22.88% and a negative net margin of 536.66%. The business had revenue of $42.32 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $45.73 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted ($0.45) earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up 187.9% on a year-over-year basis.
Here are the key takeaways from AST SpaceMobile’s conference call:
- AST SpaceMobile said it remains on track to begin intermittent nationwide service in the U.S. and other key markets before year-end 2026, starting with partners in the U.S., Canada, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and the U.K. It also reported validating a satellite-to-ground beam handover with AT&T; broader user beta trials are expected in early 2027.
- The company is targeting production of six ASIC-enabled satellites per month by December and about 45 satellites in orbit by mid-2027. Management said the new ASIC offers 10 times the processing bandwidth of its first-generation satellites, though deployment and production targets remain subject to execution and launch schedules.
- AST reported $42.3 million in Q3 revenue and reiterated its $150 million–$200 million full-year 2026 revenue guidance, citing potential upside from contract milestones and the Japan program. It ended September with more than $3.2 billion in cash, equivalents, and restricted cash, and said Japan’s J-LEO initiative provides about $1 billion in non-dilutive funding.
- Spending is set to rise: Q4 adjusted operating expenses, excluding adjusted cost of revenue, are forecast at $130 million–$140 million, with capital expenditures of $400 million–$500 million. Management also expects several hundred million dollars of incremental Blacklift-related CapEx in 2027.
- The company said external launch agreements cover more than 100 satellites for deployment in 2027–2028, while its own Blacklift rocket is targeted to begin launches in late 2028. Management sees Blacklift as a way to improve launch access and long-term economics, but its development adds execution risk and does not replace near-term reliance on external launch providers.
AST SpaceMobile Price Performance
NASDAQ ASTS traded up $4.56 during trading on Monday, hitting $36.89. 27,352,843 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 16,815,805. The company has a market capitalization of $14.36 billion, a P/E ratio of -17.24 and a beta of 2.88. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $52.17 and a 200-day simple moving average of $76.01. The company has a quick ratio of 12.90, a current ratio of 13.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24. AST SpaceMobile has a 12-month low of $27.58 and a 12-month high of $133.86.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth
A number of research firms recently weighed in on ASTS. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an “overweight” rating on shares of AST SpaceMobile in a research note on Monday. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “sell (d-)” rating on shares of AST SpaceMobile in a research note on Monday, September 21st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded AST SpaceMobile from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $93.00 price target for the company in a research note on Monday, October 12th. B. Riley Financial cut AST SpaceMobile from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and decreased their price target for the company from $85.00 to $65.00 in a report on Friday, October 2nd. Finally, Berenberg Bank assumed coverage on AST SpaceMobile in a research report on Wednesday, September 2nd. They issued a “buy” rating and a $92.00 price objective on the stock. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have issued a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $80.67.
Check Out Our Latest Research Report on AST SpaceMobile
Key Headlines Impacting AST SpaceMobile
Here are the key news stories impacting AST SpaceMobile this week:
- Positive Sentiment: AST SpaceMobile and Rakuten formed Rakuten AST, a joint venture to build a satellite-to-smartphone network in Japan. The network is intended to extend coverage in underserved areas and provide connectivity during disasters; reports cite about $1 billion in expected Japanese government support. The deal offers a potential new market and government-backed customer. Rakuten and AST SpaceMobile Establish Joint Venture
- Neutral Sentiment: A broader rebound in space stocks and possible short covering may also have supported ASTS ahead of earnings, so some of the rally may reflect market and trading factors rather than company-specific news alone. AST SpaceMobile Stock Is Soaring Before Earnings
- Negative Sentiment: Third-quarter revenue nearly tripled year over year to $42.32 million, but came in below the $45.73 million analyst estimate. Adjusted earnings were also weaker than expected, with a loss of $0.44 per share versus the $0.42 loss consensus. AST SpaceMobile Quarterly Earnings Results
- Negative Sentiment: Investor headlines also flagged securities litigation alleging misstatements about AST SpaceMobile’s capital position and competitive lead. Separately, UBS lowered its price target and Scotiabank moved to Sell, adding potential pressure and uncertainty. These are allegations and analyst opinions, not findings of wrongdoing. Class Action Notice and Analyst Reassessment
Insiders Place Their Bets
In other news, COO Shanti B. Gupta sold 12,000 shares of the 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 directly owned 462,980 shares in the company, valued at approximately $27,264,892.20. This represents a 2.53% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CTO Huiwen Yao sold 40,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $58.93, for a total transaction of $2,357,200.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief technology officer directly owned 34,750 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,047,817.50. This trade represents a 53.51% decrease in their ownership of the stock. 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. Corporate insiders own 20.89% of the company’s stock.
AST SpaceMobile Company Profile
AST SpaceMobile, Inc develops a space-based cellular broadband network designed to connect directly with standard mobile phones, without requiring users to purchase specialized satellite devices. Its planned services include voice calls, text messaging and mobile broadband, delivered through partnerships with mobile network operators and integrated with their existing networks.
The company is developing and deploying its BlueBird satellite system to provide coverage in areas where terrestrial cellular networks are unavailable or limited.
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