AST SpaceMobile shares jump 8% as investors seek exposure to SpaceX ahead of a potential public listing.
AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) surged 8% to near $129 in midday trading, leading a broader rally in space-sector stocks tied to speculation around a SpaceX IPO. The company, valued at $41 billion, has 60 mobile network operator partners covering over 3 billion subscribers and aims to deploy 45 BlueBird satellites by the end of 2026.
Rocket Lab (RKLB) reported Q1 revenue of $200.35 million, up 64% year-over-year, with a $2.2 billion backlog and plans to debut its Neutron rocket in Q4 2026. Virgin Galactic (SPCE) targets commercial spaceflight in Q4 2026 after completing flight testing of its new SpaceShip in Q3 2026. ASTS has climbed 78% year-to-date, outpacing peers.
Investors are treating publicly traded space stocks as proxies for SpaceX, driving gains across the sector. The rally reflects growing enthusiasm for space-related equities ahead of a potential SpaceX listing.