AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) Soars Ahead of BlueBird 6: Latest Stock News, Analyst Forecasts and 2026 Outlook

AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASTS) is back in the spotlight. As of the close on 10 December 2025, ASTS is trading around $78.74, up roughly 8% on the day and sitting near its 52‑week highs. The move caps off a spectacular two‑year run driven by excitement over its direct‑to‑device satellite network, highlighted by the imminent BlueBird 6 launch and a rapid U.S. manufacturing expansion.

Below is a comprehensive, Google‑News‑friendly rundown of the latest news, forecasts, and analysis on ASTS as of 10.12.2025.

ASTS stock today: price, performance and valuation snapshot

Last price (Dec 10, 2025): about $78.74, up ~8% intraday.
Market cap: roughly $20–27 billion, depending on the intraday move. Public.com lists a market cap of about $20.25 billion, while recent Motley Fool analysis cites a market value closer to $27 billion after the latest surge. ^[1]
52‑week range: approximately $17.50 – $102.79. ^[2]
Revenue vs. valuation: trailing 12‑month revenue is only about $18.5 million, with EBITDA around –$230 million, underscoring just how speculative and valuation‑rich ASTS currently is. ^[3]

A new feature article from The Motley Fool, syndicated via Finviz, notes that ASTS has returned over 600% in the last five years, ~1,550% over the last three years, and about 251% in the last year, easily crushing the S&P 500 over the same periods. ^[4] That explosive move has left the stock trading at eye‑watering multiples — the same article highlights a price‑to‑sales ratio around 778x and ongoing heavy cash burn, warning that a correction in 2026 is very possible even if the long‑term story plays out. ^[5]

In other words, ASTS is now priced like a moonshot, not a mature telecom stock.

The main catalyst: BlueBird 6 launch and satellite ramp‑up

The biggest near‑term catalyst for AST SpaceMobile is clearly BlueBird 6, the company’s first next‑generation satellite:

Launch date: targeted for 15 December 2025 from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in India. ^[6]
Array size: nearly 2,400 square feet, which would be the largest commercial phased‑array communications antenna ever deployed in low Earth orbit (LEO). ^[7]
Capacity: about 3.5x the size and 10x the data capacity of the earlier BlueBird 1–5 satellites. ^[8]

A recent Zacks/Insider Monkey note highlighted that ASTS shares jumped over 30% in a single week as investors positioned ahead of the launch and reacted to the company’s manufacturing expansion. ^[9]

According to AST’s own launch update:

The BlueBird 6 mission kicks off a multi‑provider orbital launch campaign, with roughly five launches planned by the end of Q1 2026.
The company’s goal is 45–60 satellites in orbit by the end of 2026, enough to enable continuous coverage across the U.S. and select markets. ^[10]

This is an aggressive schedule, and the execution risk is one of the key things investors are watching.

Massive U.S. manufacturing build‑out and new Homestead factory

To support that satellite ramp, AST SpaceMobile has been racing to expand its manufacturing base inside the United States:

In a late‑November Business Wire release, the company said it has expanded its manufacturing footprint to about 500,000 square feet, including five facilities in Texas and new sites in Midland, TX and Homestead, Florida. ^[11]
AST now employs more than 1,800 people, the majority based at its West Texas headquarters. ^[12]
Management says the company is about 95% vertically integrated, keeping major manufacturing processes under U.S. control and leveraging an IP portfolio of roughly 3,800 patents and patent applications related to direct‑to‑device satellite connectivity. ^[13]

Local media in Florida report that the new Homestead facility — initially a 30,000‑square‑foot plant — will boost production capacity and extend AST’s presence into another “business‑friendly” state, while “bringing more high‑technology manufacturing work back to the United States,” in the words of founder and CEO Abel Avellan. ^[14]

The manufacturing expansion is not just optics: it’s tightly linked to the technical leap in the next‑gen satellites. AST says the new BlueBirds will integrate:

The 2,400‑square‑foot array,
Custom power systems, and
A proprietary AST5000 ASIC chip,
supporting peak downlink speeds up to ~120 Mbps directly to smartphones. ^[15]

If those specs are demonstrated in orbit and at scale, AST would move from proof‑of‑concept to a commercially compelling network.

Technology proof points: BlueWalker 3 and first 5G from space

While the market focus is on BlueBird 6, AST already has an important technical milestone in the books:

In September 2023, the company used its BlueWalker 3 test satellite to demonstrate what it describes as the first‑ever 5G cellular connection directly from space to an ordinary smartphone. ^[16]
The call used AT&T spectrum in Hawaii to connect to Vodafone in Spain, using Nokia’s core network gear — an early proof of interoperability with existing mobile infrastructure. ^[17]

BlueWalker 3’s 693‑square‑foot array validated that unmodified phones can connect directly to a satellite, laying the groundwork for the commercial BlueBird constellation. ^[18]

Strategic partnerships: AT&T, Verizon, STC and more

AST SpaceMobile’s strategy is B2B first: it sells capacity to mobile network operators rather than direct to consumers.

Key commercial relationships include:

AT&T: a binding commercial agreement that runs through 2030, designed to integrate space‑based coverage with AT&T’s existing network and extend connectivity into traditional dead zones. ^[19]
Verizon: a $100 million commitment to AST’s satellite‑to‑cell service to enhance rural and remote coverage in the U.S. ^[20]
Vodafone & other global partners: long‑standing testing and commercial relationships, especially in Europe and emerging markets. ^[21]
STC Group (Saudi Arabia): according to a new Investor’s Business Daily report, AST signed a 10‑year deal with STC that includes around $175 million upfront, one of its largest single commercial contracts to date. ^[22]
U.S. government: AST has secured at least $43 million from the U.S. Space Development Agency for government and commercial communications trials, with management calling the current environment “the most positive backdrop for U.S. government investment in space since the 1960s.” ^[23]

This partner‑first strategy is central to the political and competitive thesis around AST.

The “Not‑Musk” play: AST’s role in the Starlink era

An in‑depth Light Reading analysis published on 10 December 2025 frames AST SpaceMobile as a crucial counterweight to SpaceX’s Starlink in the U.S. satellite ecosystem. ^[24] Some key takeaways:

On pure operating metrics, Starlink dominates the LEO consumer broadband market, with thousands of satellites versus AST’s handful.
However, large U.S. wireless carriers — especially AT&T and Verizon — deliberately chose AST over Starlink for their strategic satellite partnerships, despite AST’s technology being behind at the time. ^[25]
The article argues that carriers see a “Musk monopoly” in space‑based connectivity as an unacceptable strategic risk. Funding AST is described as a kind of “insurance premium” to ensure they never become mere resellers of a vertically integrated SpaceX network. ^[26]

In that framing, AST’s survival is not solely about physics or immediate economics. Political and strategic considerations by big carriers — and, increasingly, government agencies — create a floor under the company’s long‑term relevance, even as SpaceX races to roll out its own direct‑to‑cell capabilities.

For investors, this means AST is not just a speculative tech story; it’s also part of a broader regulatory and competitive chess game in space communications.

Q3 2025 earnings: huge revenue jump, big losses

AST SpaceMobile’s latest reported quarter (Q3 2025) shows hyper‑growth revenue but heavy losses:

From Zacks’ post‑earnings review: ^[27]

Revenue:
- Q3 2025: $14.7 million, up from $1.1 million a year earlier (over 12x growth).
- Still missed the consensus estimate of $21 million.
Net loss:
- Q3 2025: –$122.9 million (–$0.45 per share).
- Q3 2024: –$171.9 million (–$1.10 per share).
- Losses narrowed year‑over‑year but were much worse than the expected ~–$0.18 per share.
Operating expenses: climbed to $94.4 million from $66.6 million a year earlier, reflecting higher engineering and G&A costs.
Cash and debt:
- Cash and equivalents around $1.2 billion at quarter‑end.
- Long‑term debt roughly $698 million.
- Operating cash outflow for the first nine months of 2025 was $136.5 million, up from $97.7 million in the prior‑year period.

A separate Seeking Alpha write‑up (which rates the stock “Buy” with an $87 price target) highlights that despite the “double miss” on revenue and EPS, AST delivered 12x year‑on‑year revenue growth, improving EPS, over $1 billion in contracted revenue commitments, and total liquidity of about $3.2 billion, arguing that its premium valuation — roughly 42x forecast 2027 EPS — is justified by its technology and growth profile. ^[28]

Zacks takes a more cautious stance, describing the quarter as “lackluster” and pointing out that consensus estimates have been revised down by roughly 22% since the report, assigning ASTS only a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) with an “F” grade across growth, value and momentum factors. ^[29]

Latest analyst forecasts and price targets for ASTS

Across Wall Street, sentiment on ASTS is positive but divided on valuation.

Consensus targets

TradingView analyst overview:
- Average 12‑month price target: about $73.23.
- Target range: roughly $43 – $95.
- Analyst rating: overall “Buy”, based on 12 analysts over the last three months. ^[30]
StockAnalysis.com:
- 7 analysts covering ASTS.
- Consensus rating: “Buy”.
- Average target: about $59.37, implying ~24% downside from the current price near $79.
- Target range: $30 – $95. ^[31]
Public.com’s compiled view:
- Rating distribution: ~29% Strong Buy, 14% Buy, 43% Hold, 14% Sell.
- Average target also around $59.37. ^[32]

The discrepancy between price targets and the actual share price shows how quickly ASTS has outrun many earlier forecasts — something analysts will likely have to update if BlueBird 6 launches successfully and management hits early 2026 milestones.

Key research notes from 10 December 2025

“Can ASTS Stock Beat the Market in 2026?” – Motley Fool
- Highlights ASTS’ huge outperformance versus the S&P 500 over the last 3–5 years.
- Credits the turning point to the 2024 partnership with AT&T and subsequent big‑ticket deals with Verizon and STC Group. ^[33]
- Flags extreme valuation (P/S ~778) and ongoing cash burn (Q3 revenue $14.7M vs. $122.9M net loss).
- Conclusion: ASTS might struggle to beat the market again in 2026, but long‑term outperformance is plausible for investors with a 5–10 year horizon and strong risk tolerance. ^[34]
“AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) Up 7.3% Since Last Earnings Report: Can It Continue?” – Zacks
- Notes that ASTS has gained about 7% since Q3 earnings, outperforming the S&P 500.
- Emphasizes wider‑than‑expected loss and rising operating costs, even as revenue jumps.
- Shows consensus estimates trending lower, with AST getting an overall VGM score of F and a Hold rating, suggesting “in‑line” returns in the near term. ^[35]
“QCOM vs. ASTS: Which Wireless Innovator is the Smarter Bet for 2026?” – Zacks
- Describes AST as aiming to build the first global space‑based cellular broadband network directly to phones using LEO satellites and operator‑owned spectrum. ^[36]
- Notes that the Zacks consensus sees AST’s 2025 sales rising ~1,142% year‑over‑year — reflecting the transition from pre‑revenue to early commercialization — but EPS expected to decline ~61%, underscoring heavy investment. ^[37]
- On valuation, compares Qualcomm’s ~4.1x forward P/S to AST’s ~100x+, concluding that QCOM looks like the more attractive risk‑adjusted pick for 2026, even though AST’s share price has surged over 200% in the last year. ^[38]
“ASTS Shares Zoom on Upcoming BlueBird 6 Launch: Worth Buying Now?” – Zacks
- Attributes a recent 18% single‑day move to excitement over BlueBird 6 and speculation about Sam Altman‑linked space investments. ^[39]
- Acknowledges AST’s strong partner list (AT&T, Verizon) and satellite roadmap but underscores high operating costs, macro headwinds and widening consensus loss estimates for 2025–2026.
- Reiterates a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) and urges caution at current levels. ^[40]
“Why AST SpaceMobile Stock Dropped 30% Last Month” – Motley Fool
- Explains the November 30% pullback as a classic example of a hyper‑valued story stock reacting to market volatility and execution risk.
- Suggests that even if AST grows revenue to $1 billion annually, the recent $27 billion market cap still looks rich.
- The article’s bottom line is blunt: avoid buying at current prices because the stock appears overvalued “even if its business plan is a total success.” ^[41]

Management’s 2026 goals and capital position

In a widely cited Investor’s Business Daily interview, AST SpaceMobile president Scott Wisniewski set out the company’s priorities for the coming year: ^[42]

2026 focus: deploy the satellite network and launch commercial service in initial strategic markets.
Satellite fleet: expand from the six satellites currently in orbit to 45–60 satellites by the end of 2026.
Capital raised: about $1.6–1.8 billion during 2025 via convertible notes and strategic investments (including Alphabet), leaving more than $1.2 billion in cash on the balance sheet. ^[43]
Revenue pipeline: a 10‑year STC deal, plus existing AT&T/Verizon contracts, is expected to underpin meaningful recurring revenue once the network is live.

Management is effectively telling investors: 2023 proved the technology, 2024 secured the partners, 2025 raised the capital, and 2026 is about execution and commercialization. ^[44]

Key risks for AST SpaceMobile stock

Even the most bullish analyses emphasize that ASTS is not a low‑risk investment. Some of the main issues flagged across recent research:

Execution and technical risk
- AST must manufacture, launch, and operate dozens of complex satellites on a tight schedule, with multiple providers and international launch sites.
- Any serious failure — launch mishaps, hardware issues, or underwhelming performance — could sharply hit investor confidence and delay revenue.
Capital intensity and dilution
- The business model requires billions in upfront capex long before the network reaches cash‑flow breakeven.
- AST has repeatedly tapped capital markets via equity offerings and convertible notes, diluting existing shareholders. ^[45]
Valuation risk
- With single‑digit millions in quarterly revenue and a market cap in the tens of billions, ASTS trades at extreme multiples versus current fundamentals. ^[46]
- If growth slows, launches are delayed, or risk appetite fades, the downside can be severe — as seen in the 30% drop in November alone. ^[47]
Competition from Starlink and others
- SpaceX is rolling out its own direct‑to‑cell capabilities, while players like Globalstar and traditional satellite operators are pursuing related markets. ^[48]
- AST has a differentiated spectrum model and partner base, but no monopoly on space‑based mobile connectivity.
Macro and regulatory risks
- High interest rates, tariff regimes, and geopolitical tensions can drive satellite component cost inflation and complicate launch logistics. ^[49]
- Regulatory timelines for spectrum and service approvals vary by country and could slow deployments.

What to watch next for ASTS

For investors tracking ASTS over the coming weeks and months, the main checkpoints are:

BlueBird 6 launch and early performance
- Did the Dec 15 launch go off on schedule?
- Do early on‑orbit tests validate the promised 10x capacity and ~120 Mbps performance? ^[50]
Follow‑on launches and fleet build‑out
- Does AST hit its target of five orbital launches by the end of Q1 2026, and is it still on track for 45–60 satellites by year‑end 2026? ^[51]
Commercial service announcements
- Watch for formal service launches with AT&T, Verizon, STC, and other carriers, including pricing, coverage maps, and early performance feedback.
Government and enterprise contracts
- Additional U.S. government contracts or bigger enterprise/IoT deals could validate the network’s broader use cases and help de‑risk the revenue model. ^[52]
Earnings guidance and cash runway
- Upcoming earnings (expected around March 2, 2026) will be scrutinized for updated cash burn, liquidity, and capex guidance. ^[53]

Bottom line: a high‑beta bet on space‑based mobile broadband

As of 10 December 2025, AST SpaceMobile sits at the intersection of cutting‑edge telecom tech, geopolitical strategy, and speculative growth investing:

The bull case: unique technology, marquee carrier and government partners, a massive untapped TAM in global coverage gaps, and a political/regulatory tailwind from those who want alternatives to a Starlink monopoly. ^[54]
The bear case: extreme valuation, heavy and ongoing losses, execution risk on a complex multi‑launch program, and direct competition from better‑capitalized rivals. ^[55]

For now, analysts are mostly in the “Buy but be careful” camp, while quantitative services like Zacks lean “Hold” and emphasize the need for caution at current prices.