Investing in Space: Why ULA needs to launch its second Vulcan rocket as soon as possible
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jun 27 2024
0mins
Should l Buy ASTS?
Source: CNBC
- Investing in Space Newsletter: CNBC's newsletter covers space exploration business, investor updates, and exclusive interviews.
- Importance of ULA's Cert-2 Mission: United Launch Alliance (ULA) plans to launch Cert-2 without a customer payload for Pentagon's National Security Space Launch program.
- Certification Process: ULA needs successful launches like Cert-2 to certify rockets for NSSL missions.
- Challenges and Rush: ULA faces pressure due to Vulcan delays and aims to launch multiple missions by year-end.
- Blue Origin Engines and Future Plans: Blue Origin delivered engines for ULA's upcoming launches, crucial for ULA's 2025 launch goals.
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Analyst Views on ASTS
Wall Street analysts forecast ASTS stock price to rise
8 Analyst Rating
3 Buy
4 Hold
1 Sell
Hold
Current: 78.750
Low
43.00
Averages
91.68
High
137.00
Current: 78.750
Low
43.00
Averages
91.68
High
137.00
About ASTS
AST SpaceMobile, Inc. is engaged in building a global cellular broadband network in space to operate directly with standard, unmodified mobile devices based on its intellectual property (IP) and patent portfolio and designed for both commercial and government applications. The Company is engaged in designing and developing the constellation of BlueBird (BB) satellites and has planned space-based Cellular Broadband network distributed through a constellation of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites. Its SpaceMobile Service is being designed to provide high-speed cellular broadband services to end-users who are out of terrestrial cellular coverage using existing mobile devices. The Company intends to continue testing capabilities of the BW3 test satellite, including further testing with cellular service providers and the government. The Company has operations in India, Scotland, Spain, and Israel.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
AST SpaceMobile Reports Significant Revenue Growth
- Significant Revenue Growth: AST SpaceMobile's total revenue reached $70 million in 2025, a substantial increase from $4 million in 2024, with service revenues soaring from $3.9 million to $26.5 million, indicating strong growth potential in the space-based broadband network sector.
- Attractive Partnership Model: The company has established a broad customer base through partnerships with telecom giants like AT&T and Verizon, and while significant investments are still needed to support satellite launches and service expansion, this business model lays a solid foundation for future revenue growth.
- Satellite Launch Plans: AST SpaceMobile expects to launch more satellites every one to two months in 2026; although it currently has limited service capabilities, achieving global service will require deploying many more satellites, which will incur substantial upfront costs.
- Stock Price Volatility Impact: Despite a remarkable 280% increase in stock price over the past year, shares have lost more than a third of their value since peaking in January, reflecting market concerns about the company's future profitability, prompting investors to carefully assess risks and rewards.
See More
FCC Rejects Expansion of Satellite Spectrum Access
- FCC Decision Impacts Market: The FCC's rejection of requests from satellite operators, including AST SpaceMobile, to expand access to the 1.5 GHz and 2 GHz bands confirms existing control, limiting AST's expansion plans and potentially diminishing its competitive edge in the market.
- Stock Price Decline: AST SpaceMobile's shares have dropped 8% this week, closing at $78.75 on Thursday, reflecting cautious investor sentiment in response to the FCC ruling, particularly as competition with SpaceX and Amazon intensifies.
- Satellite Launch Progress: Despite FCC restrictions, AST SpaceMobile continues to advance its next-generation satellites, with BlueBird-8 through BlueBird-10 expected to be ready for shipment within 30 days, demonstrating the company's ongoing commitment to technological development.
- Mixed Investor Sentiment: While retail sentiment for ASTS remains bullish, concerns about the stock price persist, with users on social media expressing disappointment over the lack of a clear launch schedule, which could impact future investment decisions.
See More
AST SpaceMobile Shares Surge 280% Yearly but Face Challenges Ahead
- Stock Performance: AST SpaceMobile's shares have surged 280% over the past year, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 37% increase, indicating strong market confidence in its future potential.
- Revenue Growth: The company is projected to achieve total revenues of $70 million in 2025, a substantial rise from $4 million in 2024, with service revenues increasing from $3.9 million to $26.5 million, highlighting the sustainability of its business model.
- Satellite Launch Plans: Currently, AST SpaceMobile is focused on building and launching satellites, with plans to launch more every one to two months in 2026 to achieve global service coverage, despite the significant cost pressures involved.
- Investor Strategy: Even after a notable stock price decline, investors may still realize substantial capital gains, suggesting that taking some profits could be prudent to mitigate risk while maintaining flexibility for long-term investment.
See More
Alphabet's Investment Strategy Yields Significant Returns
- Staggering Investment Returns: Alphabet's $900 million investment in SpaceX in 2015 is projected to be worth between $107 billion and $122 billion by 2025, yielding a return of 19,400% to 22,200%, showcasing its unique investment insight and strategic value.
- Rapid Cloud Growth: Google Cloud achieved a 48% sales growth in Q4 2023, becoming the world's third-largest cloud infrastructure service platform, indicating Alphabet's strong competitiveness in cloud computing and artificial intelligence.
- AI Startup Investments: Over the past three years, Alphabet has invested more than $3 billion in Anthropic, holding approximately a 14% stake, with an expected valuation of $112 billion, reflecting a return of over 3,000% and highlighting its forward-looking positioning in AI.
- Strong Public Investment Portfolio: Alphabet purchased over 8.9 million shares of AST SpaceMobile in Q1 2025, with the stock price soaring from $25 to $85.53, representing a gain of over 200%, demonstrating the success of its public market investment strategy.
See More
Alphabet Emerges as Top Investor Post-Buffett Retirement
- Investment Return Potential: Alphabet's $900 million investment in SpaceX in 2015 is projected to yield a stake worth $107 billion to $122 billion by 2026, reflecting an impressive potential return of up to 22,200%, solidifying its status as a strategic investor.
- AI Sector Positioning: Alphabet's investment exceeding $3 billion in Anthropic in 2023 is expected to elevate its stake value to $112 billion, representing a return rate of over 3,000%, indicating the company's foresight in the AI sector will drive future growth.
- Cloud Services Growth: Alphabet's Google Cloud became the world's third-largest cloud infrastructure service platform by 2026, with a 48% sales growth in Q4, enhancing its market share and competitive edge in cloud computing and AI.
- Stock Investment Performance: Alphabet acquired over 8.9 million shares of AST SpaceMobile in 2025, with the stock price soaring from $25 to $85.53, demonstrating a gain of over 200%, further proving its success in public investments.
See More
AT&T Expects Multiple LEO Satellites to Compete in Market
- Increased Market Competition: AT&T CEO John Stankey indicated that multiple low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations are expected to emerge in the U.S. market rather than a single dominant provider, aiming to enhance market competitiveness through diversified partnerships.
- FCC Approval for New Satellites: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has authorized 223 additional satellites for AST SpaceMobile, supporting the expansion of its coverage network, which will bolster AST's commercial standing in spectrum-sharing deals with major U.S. wireless carriers.
- BlueBird-7 Failure Impact: The failure of AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird-7 satellite to reach its intended orbit has dampened investor sentiment, although the company continues to advance production of subsequent satellites, with BlueBird-8 through 10 expected to ship within 30 days.
- Emerging Competitors: The satellite initiatives from SpaceX and Amazon are increasingly positioning them as rivals to AST, with SpaceX's Starlink generating $15 billion to $16 billion in annual revenue and Amazon planning to launch 3,200 satellites by 2029, intensifying market competition.
See More
AST SpaceMobile Reports Significant Revenue Growth
- Significant Revenue Growth: AST SpaceMobile's total revenue reached $70 million in 2025, a substantial increase from $4 million in 2024, with service revenues soaring from $3.9 million to $26.5 million, indicating strong growth potential in the space-based broadband network sector.
- Attractive Partnership Model: The company has established a broad customer base through partnerships with telecom giants like AT&T and Verizon, and while significant investments are still needed to support satellite launches and service expansion, this business model lays a solid foundation for future revenue growth.
- Satellite Launch Plans: AST SpaceMobile expects to launch more satellites every one to two months in 2026; although it currently has limited service capabilities, achieving global service will require deploying many more satellites, which will incur substantial upfront costs.
- Stock Price Volatility Impact: Despite a remarkable 280% increase in stock price over the past year, shares have lost more than a third of their value since peaking in January, reflecting market concerns about the company's future profitability, prompting investors to carefully assess risks and rewards.
See More
FCC Rejects Expansion of Satellite Spectrum Access
- FCC Decision Impacts Market: The FCC's rejection of requests from satellite operators, including AST SpaceMobile, to expand access to the 1.5 GHz and 2 GHz bands confirms existing control, limiting AST's expansion plans and potentially diminishing its competitive edge in the market.
- Stock Price Decline: AST SpaceMobile's shares have dropped 8% this week, closing at $78.75 on Thursday, reflecting cautious investor sentiment in response to the FCC ruling, particularly as competition with SpaceX and Amazon intensifies.
- Satellite Launch Progress: Despite FCC restrictions, AST SpaceMobile continues to advance its next-generation satellites, with BlueBird-8 through BlueBird-10 expected to be ready for shipment within 30 days, demonstrating the company's ongoing commitment to technological development.
- Mixed Investor Sentiment: While retail sentiment for ASTS remains bullish, concerns about the stock price persist, with users on social media expressing disappointment over the lack of a clear launch schedule, which could impact future investment decisions.
See More
AST SpaceMobile Shares Surge 280% Yearly but Face Challenges Ahead
- Stock Performance: AST SpaceMobile's shares have surged 280% over the past year, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 37% increase, indicating strong market confidence in its future potential.
- Revenue Growth: The company is projected to achieve total revenues of $70 million in 2025, a substantial rise from $4 million in 2024, with service revenues increasing from $3.9 million to $26.5 million, highlighting the sustainability of its business model.
- Satellite Launch Plans: Currently, AST SpaceMobile is focused on building and launching satellites, with plans to launch more every one to two months in 2026 to achieve global service coverage, despite the significant cost pressures involved.
- Investor Strategy: Even after a notable stock price decline, investors may still realize substantial capital gains, suggesting that taking some profits could be prudent to mitigate risk while maintaining flexibility for long-term investment.
See More
Alphabet's Investment Strategy Yields Significant Returns
- Staggering Investment Returns: Alphabet's $900 million investment in SpaceX in 2015 is projected to be worth between $107 billion and $122 billion by 2025, yielding a return of 19,400% to 22,200%, showcasing its unique investment insight and strategic value.
- Rapid Cloud Growth: Google Cloud achieved a 48% sales growth in Q4 2023, becoming the world's third-largest cloud infrastructure service platform, indicating Alphabet's strong competitiveness in cloud computing and artificial intelligence.
- AI Startup Investments: Over the past three years, Alphabet has invested more than $3 billion in Anthropic, holding approximately a 14% stake, with an expected valuation of $112 billion, reflecting a return of over 3,000% and highlighting its forward-looking positioning in AI.
- Strong Public Investment Portfolio: Alphabet purchased over 8.9 million shares of AST SpaceMobile in Q1 2025, with the stock price soaring from $25 to $85.53, representing a gain of over 200%, demonstrating the success of its public market investment strategy.
See More
Alphabet Emerges as Top Investor Post-Buffett Retirement
- Investment Return Potential: Alphabet's $900 million investment in SpaceX in 2015 is projected to yield a stake worth $107 billion to $122 billion by 2026, reflecting an impressive potential return of up to 22,200%, solidifying its status as a strategic investor.
- AI Sector Positioning: Alphabet's investment exceeding $3 billion in Anthropic in 2023 is expected to elevate its stake value to $112 billion, representing a return rate of over 3,000%, indicating the company's foresight in the AI sector will drive future growth.
- Cloud Services Growth: Alphabet's Google Cloud became the world's third-largest cloud infrastructure service platform by 2026, with a 48% sales growth in Q4, enhancing its market share and competitive edge in cloud computing and AI.
- Stock Investment Performance: Alphabet acquired over 8.9 million shares of AST SpaceMobile in 2025, with the stock price soaring from $25 to $85.53, demonstrating a gain of over 200%, further proving its success in public investments.
See More
AT&T Expects Multiple LEO Satellites to Compete in Market
- Increased Market Competition: AT&T CEO John Stankey indicated that multiple low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations are expected to emerge in the U.S. market rather than a single dominant provider, aiming to enhance market competitiveness through diversified partnerships.
- FCC Approval for New Satellites: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has authorized 223 additional satellites for AST SpaceMobile, supporting the expansion of its coverage network, which will bolster AST's commercial standing in spectrum-sharing deals with major U.S. wireless carriers.
- BlueBird-7 Failure Impact: The failure of AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird-7 satellite to reach its intended orbit has dampened investor sentiment, although the company continues to advance production of subsequent satellites, with BlueBird-8 through 10 expected to ship within 30 days.
- Emerging Competitors: The satellite initiatives from SpaceX and Amazon are increasingly positioning them as rivals to AST, with SpaceX's Starlink generating $15 billion to $16 billion in annual revenue and Amazon planning to launch 3,200 satellites by 2029, intensifying market competition.
See More
