AST SpaceMobile Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTS) stock rose more than 6% in Wednesday’s premarket session after the company successfully launched three more BlueBird satellites, marking another milestone in the buildout of its space-based cellular broadband network.
The move outpaced the broader market, with S&P 500 futures up just 0.1%, suggesting the rally was driven by company-specific news rather than broader market sentiment.
AST SpaceMobile Launches 3 BlueBird Satellites
AST SpaceMobile said Wednesday it successfully launched its BlueBird 8, 9, and 10 satellites aboard a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, advancing deployment of its space-based cellular broadband network.
The company said the satellites, each measuring about 2,400 square feet, are the largest commercial communications arrays ever deployed in low Earth orbit. They are designed to deliver peak data speeds of nearly 200 Mbps directly to standard smartphones, nearly double the speeds achieved by its first-generation Block 1 BlueBird satellites.
Founder, Chairman, and CEO Abel Avellan said the launch marks another step toward making global space-based cellular broadband a reality. He added that BlueBirds 11, 12, and 13 are being prepared for shipment to Cape Canaveral, while satellites through BlueBird 37 are already in production and assembly.
AST SpaceMobile said it is progressing toward commercial service across the United States, Canada, Europe, Saudi Arabia, and Japan through partnerships with nearly 60 mobile network operators representing more than 3 billion subscribers, including AT&T, Verizon, Vodafone, Rakuten, Bell, Telus, stc Group, Google, and American Tower.
Technical Analysis
With futures only modestly higher, AST SpaceMobile’s premarket strength appears tied to the launch news. Technically, the stock is also trying to stabilize after pulling back from its May peak.
At $87.29, the stock is trading 13.2% below its 20-day SMA of $101.29. It is also 1.1% below its 50-day SMA of $88.88 and 3.3% below its 100-day SMA of $90.91. However, shares remain 9.7% above the 200-day SMA of $80.11. That suggests the longer-term uptrend is still intact.
The overall trend remains positive. The 20-day SMA is still above the 50-day SMA, while the 50-day SMA remains above the 200-day SMA. Even so, momentum has weakened. The MACD is below its signal line, and the histogram has turned negative. In simple terms, buying momentum has slowed, and bulls need to regain control to strengthen the trend.
For now, investors should watch whether the stock can reclaim its medium-term moving averages. A move back into the low $90s would bring ASTS closer to its 50-day and 100-day averages. On the other hand, if buyers lose momentum, the stock could revisit the lower end of its recent trading range.
- Key Resistance: $97.50, a nearby pivot that could become the next upside test if buying continues.
- Key Support: $73.50, a previous demand zone that could attract buyers if the post-launch rally loses steam.
AST SpaceMobile Earnings And Analyst Outlook
The next major catalyst is the company’s estimated Aug. 10, 2026, earnings report.
Wall Street expects a loss of 29 cents per share, compared with a loss of 41 cents a year earlier. Revenue is projected to reach $34.54 million, up from $1.16 million in the prior-year period.
The stock carries a consensus Hold rating with an average price forecast of $76.32. Recent analyst actions include:
- Deutsche Bank downgraded the stock to Hold and lowered its price forecast to $106 on May 29.
- UBS maintained a Neutral rating and lowered its price forecast to $80 on May 12.
- B. Riley Securities maintained a Neutral rating and raised its price forecast to $85 on May 12.
Top ETF Exposure
The stock has meaningful exposure in several exchange-traded funds:
- Goldman Sachs Equal Weight US Large Cap Equity ETF (BATS:GSEW): 0.21% weighting
- First Trust US Equity Opportunities ETF (NYSE:FPX): 2.83% weighting
- Procure Space ETF (NASDAQ:UFO): 5.36% weighting
Because AST SpaceMobile represents a sizable holding in these funds, ETF inflows and outflows can create additional buying or selling pressure.
AST SpaceMobile Price Action
ASTS Stock Price Activity: AST SpaceMobile shares were up 5.99% at $87.18 during premarket trading on Wednesday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
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