S&P 500 Dips 0.06% as Political Uncertainty Overshadows Chip Optimism
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 17 2026
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Source: NASDAQ.COM
- Market Performance: The S&P 500 index slipped 0.06% to 6,940.01, reflecting the dampening effect of political uncertainty on market sentiment, despite yesterday's optimism in the chip sector that had previously boosted stocks.
- Tech Stock Dynamics: The Nasdaq Composite eased 0.06% to 23,515.39, as investors opted for caution ahead of the long weekend after a choppy week, indicating concerns about future market trends.
- Stock Highlights: AST SpaceMobile secured a significant government defense contract, boosting its stock price, while Firefly Aerospace also performed well following an analyst upgrade, showcasing ongoing market interest in the aerospace sector.
- Regulatory Win: Novo Nordisk's stock surged following regulatory approval for its Wegovy weight loss treatment in the U.K., highlighting the company's potential for global market expansion and attractiveness to investors.
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Analyst Views on ASTS
Wall Street analysts forecast ASTS stock price to fall over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for ASTS is 74.26 USD with a low forecast of 43.00 USD and a high forecast of 100.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
9 Analyst Rating
4 Buy
3 Hold
2 Sell
Hold
Current: 121.230
Low
43.00
Averages
74.26
High
100.00
Current: 121.230
Low
43.00
Averages
74.26
High
100.00
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 Shares Hit All-Time High Amid SpaceX IPO Buzz
- New All-Time High: AST SpaceMobile shares surged 8.88% on Wednesday, closing at $121.23 and reaching a new high of $124.32, reflecting strong market confidence in its future growth prospects.
- BlueBird 7 Mission: The upcoming BlueBird 7 mission, set to launch in late February, will carry the largest commercial communications array, supporting peak data speeds of up to 120 Mbps, marking a significant advancement for the company in low Earth orbit.
- Patent Portfolio Advantage: With over 3,800 patents, AST SpaceMobile enhances its capabilities in space-based voice, data, and streaming services, further solidifying its market position and competitive edge.
- Future Earnings Report Outlook: Investors are looking ahead to the earnings report on March 2, with an estimated EPS loss of 19 cents and revenue forecasted at $39.03 million, indicating potential for significant revenue growth.
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Top U.S. Communication Stocks Performance in January 2026
- AST SpaceMobile Leads: AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) tops the list with a remarkable 54.75% one-month gain, indicating strong growth potential that may attract increased investor interest.
- EchoStar Follows: EchoStar Corporation (SATS) ranks second with a 19.14% increase, reflecting solid performance in the communication services sector that could underpin the company's future financial health.
- Alphabet's Steady Performance: Alphabet (GOOGL) achieves a 6.71% gain, showcasing its ability to maintain stability in a competitive market, which may bolster investor confidence.
- Overall Market Sentiment: All top stocks listed hold a
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