AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ:ASTS) Shares Up 3% – Here’s What Happened

Posted by Stanley Muller on Oct 19th, 2026

AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTS – Get Free Report)’s share price shot up 3% during trading on Monday. The stock traded as high as $43.77 and last traded at $41.87. Approximately 13,464,645 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 20% from the average session volume of 16,795,977 shares. The stock had previously closed at $40.66.

Key Headlines Impacting AST SpaceMobile

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

Positive Sentiment: European spectrum initiative supports the growth case. Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica and Vodafone signed a letter of intent to explore a joint bid for Mobile Satellite Services spectrum in Europe, with AST SpaceMobile participating. The proposed collaboration could improve ASTS’s access to spectrum and strengthen distribution through major wireless partners, although it is not yet a definitive spectrum award or commercial contract. AST SpaceMobile Advances Space-Based Cellular Broadband in Europe
Neutral Sentiment: The announcement is strategically important but remains exploratory. The European carriers’ coordinated approach signals industry support for direct-to-smartphone satellite connectivity and positions AST SpaceMobile as a potential infrastructure partner. However, the letter of intent does not guarantee a joint bid, regulatory approval, spectrum access or near-term revenue.
Negative Sentiment: Investor-law-firm notices highlight an ongoing securities-fraud class action. Several firms reminded investors about a lawsuit covering purchases from March 4, 2025, through July 15, 2026, with a November 13, 2026 deadline to seek lead-plaintiff status. The allegations include material misstatements or omissions about AST SpaceMobile’s capital and liquidity position; one notice also alleges that the CEO and CFO certified filings while selling more than $18 million of stock. These are allegations, not established findings, but the litigation could increase costs and pressure investor sentiment. ASTS Investors Have Opportunity to Lead Securities Fraud Lawsuit

Analyst Ratings Changes

ASTS has been the subject of several recent research reports. Weiss Ratings reissued a “sell (d-)” rating on shares of AST SpaceMobile in a research report on Monday, September 21st. Cantor Fitzgerald boosted their price target on AST SpaceMobile from $80.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 11th. B. Riley Financial downgraded shares of AST SpaceMobile from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and cut their price objective for the company from $85.00 to $65.00 in a report on Friday, October 2nd. Piper Sandler downgraded shares of AST SpaceMobile from an “overweight” rating to a “neutral” rating and cut their price objective for the company from $98.00 to $54.00 in a report on Tuesday, October 13th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada lowered shares of AST SpaceMobile to a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Friday, October 2nd. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, AST SpaceMobile currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $80.18.

Read Our Latest Analysis on ASTS

AST SpaceMobile Price Performance

The company has a current ratio of 13.05, a quick ratio of 12.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24. The firm has a market capitalization of $16.29 billion, a PE ratio of -19.57 and a beta of 2.72. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $60.60 and its 200 day moving average price is $74.19.

AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ:ASTS – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, August 10th. The company reported ($0.77) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.32) by ($0.45). The company had revenue of $31.52 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $34.53 million. AST SpaceMobile had a negative return on equity of 22.88% and a negative net margin of 536.66%. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted ($0.41) earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts forecast that AST SpaceMobile, Inc. will post -1.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity at AST SpaceMobile

In other AST SpaceMobile news, CTO Huiwen Yao sold 40,000 shares of AST SpaceMobile stock in a transaction on Wednesday, September 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $58.93, for a total value of $2,357,200.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief technology officer owned 34,750 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,047,817.50. The trade was a 53.51% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, Director Adriana Cisneros purchased 10,822 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 31st. The stock was acquired at an average price of $57.22 per share, with a total value of $619,234.84. Following the purchase, the director owned 797,023 shares in the company, valued at $45,605,656.06. This represents a 1.38% increase in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this purchase provides additional information. 20.89% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On AST SpaceMobile

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Compass Financial Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of AST SpaceMobile during the second quarter worth $26,000. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of 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 buying an additional 327 shares during the last quarter. Grove Bank & Trust purchased a new stake in AST SpaceMobile in the second quarter valued at $27,000. Continuum Advisory LLC purchased a new stake in AST SpaceMobile in the second quarter valued at $28,000. Finally, Portus Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of AST SpaceMobile in the 1st quarter valued at $30,000. 60.95% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

AST SpaceMobile Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

AST SpaceMobile, Inc is a space-based communications company developing a global cellular broadband network designed to connect directly with standard, unmodified mobile phones. Its technology is intended to extend wireless coverage beyond traditional terrestrial networks, including in rural, remote and underserved areas.

The company is building and deploying a constellation of large low Earth orbit satellites, known as the BlueBird satellite system. AST SpaceMobile plans to provide voice, messaging, data and broadband services through partnerships with mobile network operators, allowing subscribers to remain connected outside the reach of conventional cellular towers.

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