SpaceX Plans 2026 IPO, Intensifying Competition
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 2 hours ago
0mins
Should l Buy ASTS?
Source: Fool
- IPO Valuation Impact: SpaceX is set to hold an IPO in 2026 with an expected valuation of $1.5 trillion, significantly enhancing its competitive edge, particularly against rivals like ULA and Rocket Lab, who will face increased pressure.
- Starlink User Growth: The Starlink business has surpassed 9.2 million paying customers and generates over $10 billion in annual revenue, indicating strong growth potential in the satellite internet market and solidifying its market leadership.
- DTC Satellite Expansion: SpaceX has launched 650 satellites for its direct-to-cell (DTC) service, covering 22 countries and becoming the largest 4G coverage provider globally, showcasing rapid expansion in the telecommunications sector.
- Infrastructure Competition: The number of Starlink
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy ASTS?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on ASTS
Wall Street analysts forecast ASTS stock price to fall
9 Analyst Rating
4 Buy
3 Hold
2 Sell
Hold
Current: 82.220
Low
43.00
Averages
74.26
High
100.00
Current: 82.220
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.

Stock Performance: A significant drop of 10.8% in shares of a company following the announcement of a $1 billion convertible debt deal.
Market Reaction: The decline in stock price indicates investor concerns regarding the implications of the convertible debt on the company's financial health.
See More
- Retail Message Surge: AST SpaceMobile experienced a 250% spike in message volume on StockTwits over the last 24 hours, with traders remaining optimistic about a stock rebound despite a nearly 9% drop in premarket trading following the convertible senior notes offering.
- BlueBird 6 Launch: The company announced the deployment of BlueBird 6, featuring the largest commercial communications array antenna ever launched in Low Earth Orbit, which signifies a major advancement in its technological capabilities and is expected to enhance future commercial opportunities.
- Clear Use of Proceeds: AST SpaceMobile stated that the net proceeds from the offering will be utilized to accelerate the deployment of its controlled spectrum bands globally and to enhance investments in U.S. government space opportunities, positioning the company favorably in the rapidly evolving space communications market.
- SHIELD Project Opportunity: The company has secured a contract for the Missile Defense Agency's SHIELD program, aimed at developing systems to identify incoming projectiles and intercept them, which not only boosts the company's technical prowess but also opens new revenue streams through future government contracts.
See More
- IPO Valuation Impact: SpaceX is set to hold an IPO in 2026 with an expected valuation of $1.5 trillion, significantly enhancing its competitive edge, particularly against rivals like ULA and Rocket Lab, who will face increased pressure.
- Starlink User Growth: The Starlink business has surpassed 9.2 million paying customers and generates over $10 billion in annual revenue, indicating strong growth potential in the satellite internet market and solidifying its market leadership.
- DTC Satellite Expansion: SpaceX has launched 650 satellites for its direct-to-cell (DTC) service, covering 22 countries and becoming the largest 4G coverage provider globally, showcasing rapid expansion in the telecommunications sector.
- Infrastructure Competition: The number of Starlink
See More
- IPO Plans: SpaceX is set to conduct an initial public offering (IPO) in 2026, with a projected valuation of $1.5 trillion, significantly enhancing its competitive edge in the space launch market, particularly against rivals like United Launch Alliance and Rocket Lab.
- Starlink DTC Growth: SpaceX's Starlink DTC business now covers over 12 million users across 22 countries, generating more than $10 billion in annual revenue, showcasing rapid expansion potential in the telecom sector, with a total addressable market projected at 400 million users.
- Infrastructure Competition: Starlink DTC is not only competing with AT&T and Verizon in wireless communications but is also expanding into internet backhaul services by activating 20 community gateways, which could reshape regulatory frameworks in the telecom industry.
- Market Impact: The impending IPO and rapid growth of Starlink DTC may exert significant pressure on AST SpaceMobile and its partners, especially as they have yet to launch beta services, indicating that SpaceX is swiftly establishing a dominant market position.
See More
- Securities Fraud Investigation: Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of AST SpaceMobile, Inc. investors, focusing on whether the company and its executives have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices, which could severely undermine investor confidence.
- Rating Downgrade Impact: On January 7, 2026, Scotiabank downgraded AST to Sell, citing significant competition from SpaceX's Starlink, slow customer adoption, and satellite launch delays, resulting in a stock price drop of $11.76, or 12.06%, on that day.
- Market Reaction: Following the downgrade, AST's stock closed at $85.73 per share, reflecting market concerns about the company's future prospects, which may affect its ability to raise capital and maintain market share.
- Legal Context: Pomerantz LLP, recognized as a leading firm in securities class action litigation, has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages for victims, highlighting its strong influence and expertise in securities fraud cases.
See More








