AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) Stock Jumps 11% as Satellite Launch Cadence Picks Up

TLDR

• ASTS jumped roughly 11% on Thursday after the company confirmed plans to launch three more BlueBird satellites in August via SpaceX’s Falcon 9.
• The new launch schedule puts AST on a pace of one launch every two months, or up to 18 satellites per year.
• AST currently has 24 satellites under construction (BlueBirds 14–37), with a target to reach orbit by end of 2027.
• Institutional investors own about 61% of the stock; insiders have sold over $280 million worth of stock in the last 90 days.
• Analysts have an average “Reduce” rating on ASTS with a mean price target of $85.09; the stock opened Monday at $71.57.

AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) climbed around 11% on Thursday, reaching $71.58, with no single catalyst on the day itself — but the move came days after the company laid out an accelerating satellite launch roadmap that gave investors something to work with.

AST SpaceMobile, Inc., ASTS

Earlier in the week, AST confirmed its next three BlueBird satellites — numbers 11, 12, and 13 — will launch in August aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. That follows the successful launch of BlueBirds 8, 9, and 10 on June 17.

The back-to-back launches push AST’s cadence to roughly one launch every two months, which translates to a potential annual rate of up to 18 satellites.

AST currently has 24 satellites under construction — BlueBirds 14 through 37. At the current pace, the company expects those to reach orbit by the end of 2027, which is when it is targeting the start of beta service for its direct-to-cell (DTC) network.

There’s also a Europe angle. Comments tied to a Vodafone-backed rollout pointed to Spain as an early commercial market, with a possible 2027 launch date — adding another layer to the international revenue story.

Analyst Ratings and Price Targets

Despite the enthusiasm in the stock, Wall Street’s view is mixed to cautious. The average analyst rating on ASTS sits at “Reduce,” with a consensus price target of $85.09.

Deutsche Bank recently cut its rating from buy to hold and lowered its price target from $117 to $106. B. Riley moved to “neutral” with an $85 target. Roth MKM is one of the more bullish voices, keeping a “buy” rating and a $108 target.

Out of ten analysts tracked, only one has a buy rating. Six say hold. Three say sell.

The stock’s 50-day moving average stands at $87.18, and its 200-day average is at $89.23 — both well above current trading levels.

Insider Selling Raises Eyebrows

One thing that’s harder to dismiss: insiders have been selling heavily.

Over the last 90 days, insiders sold more than 3.1 million shares worth roughly $280.6 million. That includes CFO Andrew Martin Johnson, who sold 45,809 shares at an average of $93.81 on June 11, reducing his stake by 8.34%.

Director Julio A. Torres also sold 15,000 shares at $76.34 in May, cutting his position by about 26%.

Insiders now own 20.89% of the stock, with institutions holding 60.95%.

SG Americas Securities LLC increased its stake in ASTS by 18.6% in Q1, adding 11,813 shares and bringing its total to 75,157.

On the financials, AST’s Q1 results were rough. The company posted an EPS of -$0.66, missing estimates of -$0.23. Revenue came in at $14.73 million against an expected $39.01 million.

Analysts expect full-year EPS of -$1.47. The stock’s 52-week range runs from $36.08 to $133.86.

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