NEW YORK, January 4, 2026, 06:49 ET — Market closed
- AST SpaceMobile shares closed up 14.9% on Friday at $83.47 after trading as low as $69.39.
- A PRNewswire-distributed commentary on Friday highlighted AST’s BlueBird 6 launch and reiterated its target to deploy 45–60 satellites by end-2026. PR Newswire
- Investors head into Monday watching follow-through after the sharp swing, with the ISM factory survey due Jan. 5 and the U.S. jobs report due Jan. 9. Institute for Supply Management
AST SpaceMobile (ASTS.O) shares jumped 14.9% on Friday, ending at $83.47 in the last U.S. session as traders returned to the satellite-to-smartphone theme that has driven sharp swings in the stock.
The move matters now because 2026 is set to be an execution year for direct-to-cell service — technology that aims to connect ordinary smartphones to satellites without special devices — and investors are trying to price how quickly AST can scale coverage and commercial service.
AST’s latest rally also lands as competition heats up across satellite-to-phone connectivity, with telecom operators looking for coverage in dead zones and for backup links during disasters and outages.
On Friday, AST traded between $69.39 and $83.90 after opening at $74.26, with about 19.1 million shares changing hands, according to market data.
A PRNewswire-distributed commentary published Friday highlighted AST’s next-generation BlueBird 6 satellite and reiterated the company’s target to launch 45–60 satellites by the end of 2026 on an average cadence of every one to two months. “BlueBird 6 is a breakthrough moment for AST SpaceMobile,” CEO Abel Avellan was quoted as saying. PR Newswire
BlueBird 6 lifted off on Dec. 23 on India’s LVM3 rocket and is the first of AST’s next-generation satellites, with an array spanning nearly 2,400 square feet, Space.com reported. Space
AST has tied up with major telecom players as it lines up distribution for its planned network. Vodafone and AST said in November they would set up a Europe-led satellite service to deliver coverage for mobile operators, as the industry pushes direct-to-phone connectivity beyond pilots. Reuters
Rivals are moving fast. SpaceX’s Starlink has been signing direct-to-cell partnerships with mobile operators, including a deal with Airtel Africa to introduce the technology across its 14 markets starting in 2026, intensifying the race for carrier relationships. Reuters
Macro conditions are also in play for high-volatility growth stocks. Philadelphia Fed President Anna Paulson said on Saturday that further U.S. rate cuts “could take a while,” leaving data-sensitive trading conditions intact at the start of the year. Reuters
Before Monday’s session, traders will be watching whether AST can hold Friday’s gains near the $80 level after the wide intraday range. A push above Friday’s high near $84 would mark the next near-term test, while Friday’s low around $69 is a reference point for downside support.
The next major scheduled macro catalyst is Monday’s ISM manufacturing report, which ISM said was moved to Jan. 5 due to a holiday schedule. The week also brings the U.S. employment report on Friday, Jan. 9, according to the Labor Department’s release calendar — both are data points that can move rate expectations and risk appetite. Institute for Supply Management
On the company calendar, the next earnings date has not been formally announced, but Zacks’ earnings calendar lists AST’s next report as expected on March 2. Investors will be looking for updates on launch cadence, satellite commissioning timelines and cash needs as the constellation build accelerates. Zacks
