Key Points
- AST SpaceMobile CTO Huiwen Yao sold 40,000 shares at an average price of $58.93, totaling approximately $2.36 million. The Rule 10b5-1 plan transaction reduced Yao’s holdings by 53.51%, leaving 34,750 shares.
- ASTS shares opened at $62.71 and were reported up 5.8%, but the company recently missed quarterly earnings and revenue expectations, posting a $0.77 loss per share and negative profitability metrics.
- Analysts maintain a consensus “Hold” rating, with an average price target of $86.58; institutional investors own approximately 60.95% of the stock.
AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTS - Get Free Report) COO Shanti Gupta sold 12,000 shares of the stock in a transaction 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 sale, 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 transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website.
AST SpaceMobile Trading Up 5.8%
Shares of NASDAQ ASTS opened at $62.71 on Friday. AST SpaceMobile, Inc. has a twelve month low of $40.15 and a twelve month high of $133.86. The stock has a market cap of $24.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -29.30 and a beta of 2.74. 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 company's fifty day moving average is $63.32 and its 200-day moving average is $79.12.
AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ:ASTS - Get Free Report) last released 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). The firm had revenue of $31.52 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $34.53 million. AST SpaceMobile had a negative net margin of 536.66% and a negative return on equity of 22.88%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned ($0.41) EPS. Equities research analysts predict that AST SpaceMobile, Inc. will post -1.95 EPS for the current year.
Key Stories Impacting AST SpaceMobile
Here are the key news stories impacting AST SpaceMobile this week:
- Positive Sentiment: AST SpaceMobile’s patent portfolio and use of large satellite antenna arrays to connect with standard smartphones were highlighted as potential competitive advantages in its rivalry with Starlink. AST SpaceMobile Expands Patent Shield As Starlink Battle Moves To Smartphones
- Positive Sentiment: Retail investors reportedly continued to defend the company’s long-term growth strategy, helping support the stock despite concerns about launch timing and insider selling. ASTS Stock Rises Overnight
- Neutral Sentiment: Analysts maintain a consensus “Hold” recommendation, suggesting the company’s growth potential is balanced by execution, valuation and profitability concerns. AST SpaceMobile Receives Consensus Recommendation of Hold
- Negative Sentiment: Multiple law firms announced or promoted a securities class action against AST SpaceMobile and certain officers. The lawsuits allege that the company misrepresented its competitive position and customer adoption in the U.S. and Japan; these claims have not been proven. Investors who purchased shares during the stated class period face a November 13, 2026 lead-plaintiff deadline. Class Action Filed Alleging Investor Harm
- Negative Sentiment: COO Shanti Gupta sold 12,000 shares for approximately $707,000, while CTO Huiwen Yao sold 40,000 shares worth about $2.36 million. Yao’s transaction was conducted under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 plan, which reduces its significance as a discretionary bearish signal, but the sales may still weigh on sentiment.
- Negative Sentiment: AST SpaceMobile has not yet announced shipment, arrival or launch timing for BlueBirds 14–16. Any further delay could raise execution concerns because satellite deployment is central to the company’s growth plans.
Hedge Funds Weigh In On AST SpaceMobile
A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Focus Partners Wealth lifted its position in shares of AST SpaceMobile by 8,016.7% in the fourth quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 1,269,609 shares of the company's stock worth $92,000,000 after purchasing an additional 1,253,967 shares in the last quarter. ABN Amro Investment Solutions acquired a new position in AST SpaceMobile during the first quarter worth $996,000. Arrowpoint Investment Partners Singapore Pte. Ltd. bought a new position in AST SpaceMobile in the fourth quarter valued at $2,290,000. KBC Group NV grew its position in AST SpaceMobile by 259.5% in the first quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 23,438 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,942,000 after purchasing an additional 16,918 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of Nova Scotia acquired a new stake in AST SpaceMobile in the 1st quarter valued at $1,329,000. 60.95% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the company. Piper Sandler lowered their price target on AST SpaceMobile from $100.00 to $98.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, August 11th. Cantor Fitzgerald lifted their price objective on AST SpaceMobile from $80.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report 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. William Blair reiterated a "market perform" rating on shares of AST SpaceMobile in a research report on Friday, May 29th. Finally, B. Riley Financial raised AST SpaceMobile from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $85.00 target price for the company in a research note on Friday, July 17th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have issued a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, AST SpaceMobile currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $86.58.
View Our Latest Stock Report on AST SpaceMobile
About AST SpaceMobile
(
Get Free Report)
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.
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