New York, Jan 8, 2026, 20:43 EST — Market closed for the day.
Shares of AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) staged a rebound Thursday, finishing 5.6% higher at $90.56. The stock clawed back after a steep drop in the previous session, triggered by an analyst downgrade.
The move matters because ASTS has morphed into a high-beta bet centered on a crucial question: how fast can it convert satellite launches into a steady stream of paying users with everyday phones? When the stock leaps, the valuation takes center stage—it’s the main story, not just a detail.
That sensitivity ramps up ahead of a macro-heavy Friday, with rate expectations starting to weigh again on growth stocks after a week marked by mixed labor data.
Scotiabank cut ASTS to underperform and put a $45.60 price target on it, labeling the stock’s valuation as “irrational” since the company still hasn’t landed retail customers. The bank pointed to a slow rollout of service, with about 50 satellites planned for certain markets by late 2026 or early 2027. It warned investors might have to wait until 2028 or 2029 to see meaningful free cash flow, especially with Starlink growing at a faster pace. Barron’s+1
On Thursday, Bank of America bumped up its price target to $100 from $85 but kept a Neutral rating. This shift highlights rising investor interest in low-Earth orbit satellite providers, a sector gaining traction ahead of 2026.
AST SpaceMobile is developing a satellite network aimed at connecting straight to ordinary smartphones—a “direct-to-device” strategy in the field—without needing any extra hardware. The real challenge now is the rollout: getting satellites into orbit smoothly, expanding the coverage area, and seeing how quickly telecom partners move from testing phases to offering full service.
The downside is simple. Launch delays or regulatory snags can push back timelines. If user growth slows, the company may need to return to capital markets more often, increasing dilution and funding risks in a stock already hinged on big success.
Technically, the stock has caught plenty of eyes: it dipped to $83.91 on Wednesday and remains far below Tuesday’s close around $97.60, which traders now see as near-term resistance. If selling picks up, that Wednesday low stands out as the first solid support.
Next on the docket is Friday’s U.S. jobs report for December, set for 8:30 a.m. EST. This number could shake up expectations around interest rates and shift appetite for long-term positions like ASTS. After that, all eyes will be on the company’s earnings—Yahoo Finance tentatively pins the date at March 2—for a fresh read on spending and deployment.
