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LIVE
SPCX
Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) · Aerospace & Defense
$141.50
+25.72% this month
VERSUS
COMPARE
ASTS
AST SpaceMobile, Inc. · Technology
$58.05
+9.47% this month
Scoreboard verdict
Across AI score, momentum, valuation, upside, operating margin
SPCX
3
ASTS
0
Comparison scoreboard
SPCX LEADS 3/5AI Score
SPCX N/A
ASTS 68.6
1Y Return
SPCX N/A
ASTS +18.59%
Fwd P/E
SPCX ✓88.36
ASTS -47.89
Target Up.
SPCX ✓+54.93%
ASTS +35.20%
Op. Margin
SPCX ✓-1.80%
ASTS -544.63%
Metrics last refreshed: 8/28/2026
Quick take
SPCX vs ASTS: SpaceX vs AST SpaceMobile Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
SpaceX Starlink is the world's dominant LEO satellite broadband network serving millions of subscribers with physical terminals, while AST SpaceMobile is developing a competing network aimed at connecting standard smartphones directly to satellites through mobile operator partnerships. Starlink has massive scale advantage; ASTS has a different technology approach targeting unserved cellular users.
SPCX vs ASTS is the established dominant LEO broadband player versus a startup with a differentiated direct-to-cell technology targeting mobile operator distribution — SpaceX wins if terminal-based broadband dominates; ASTS wins if direct-to-device connectivity becomes the standard approach and MNO partnerships scale.
Live analysis · updated 8/28/2026
SPCX holds the edge across 3 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. On fundamentals, ASTS is growing revenue faster (2626.60%), while SPCX maintains the higher operating margin (-1.80%) — a classic growth-versus-profitability split. Analyst consensus implies meaningfully more upside for SPCX (+54.93%) than for ASTS (+35.20%).
Normalized 1Y performance
SPCX
ASTS
Recent returns
SPCX
ASTS
Analyst price targets & sentiment
SPCX · 18 analysts
STRONG BUYHOLDSTRONG SELL
Buy (1.7/5.0)
Price target range
analyst low$117.00
analyst high$450.00
analyst mean$219.22
current price$141.50
+54.9% upside to analyst mean
ASTS · 11 analysts
Price target range
analyst low$42.50
analyst high$108.00
analyst mean$78.48
current price$58.05
+35.2% upside to analyst mean
Who should consider this stock?
SPCX may suit investors who:
- want exposure to the world's proven, scaled LEO broadband network with millions of subscribers
- believe Starlink will grow into enterprise, aviation, maritime, and government broadband markets
- prefer a more de-risked satellite broadband technology with operational history
- want the commercial space operator with the lowest launch costs via Falcon 9 reusability
ASTS may suit investors who:
- believe direct-to-device satellite technology will connect billions of mobile users without special hardware
- want exposure to MNO partnerships with AT&T, Verizon, and Vodafone as distribution channels
- are comfortable with pre-commercial execution risk and heavy capital requirements
- prefer a smaller-cap, higher-risk bet on a technology that could serve markets Starlink cannot
Performance & AI score
| Metric | SPCX | ASTS |
|---|---|---|
| AI score | N/A | 68.6 |
| AI rank | N/A | #47 |
| Latest close | $141.50 | $58.05 |
| 1M return | +25.72% | +9.47% |
| 6M return | N/A | -32.31% |
| 1Y return | N/A | +18.59% |
$10,000 invested — hypothetical growth (dividends reinvested)
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | SPCX | ASTS |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $8.79K (-12.1%) started 2026-06-12 | $11.86K (+18.6%) started 2025-08-28 |
| 5Y ago | $8.79K (-12.1%) started 2026-06-12 | $46.97K (+369.7%) started 2021-08-30 |
| 10Y ago | $8.79K (-12.1%) started 2026-06-12 | $59.42K (+494.2%) started 2019-11-01 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
Valuation & upside potential
| Metric | SPCX | ASTS |
|---|---|---|
| Market cap | $1.87T | $22.59B |
| Trailing P/E | N/A | N/A |
| Forward P/E | 88.36 | -47.89 |
| Price/Sales | 80.94 | 195.94 |
| EV/Revenue | 158.55 | 170.24 |
| Analyst target | $219.22 | $78.48 |
| Target upside | +54.93% | +35.20% |
Growth, profitability & risk
| Metric | SPCX | ASTS |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth | 91.90% | 2626.60% |
| Earnings growth | N/A | N/A |
| EPS growth | N/A | N/A |
| FCF margin | N/A | -1560.79% |
| Operating margin | -1.80% | -544.63% |
| Profit margin | -35.66% | 0.00% |
| ROIC proxy | N/A | -45.62% |
| Return on equity | N/A | -45.62% |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Beta | 5.75 | 2.75 |
| Debt/equity | 31.21 | 124.86 |
| Current ratio | 5.12 | 13.05 |
| Quick ratio | 4.95 | 12.39 |
Drawdown & downside risk
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
1Y risk snapshot
SPCX max drawdown48.78%
ASTS max drawdown60.15%
SPCX max wkly drop26.89%
ASTS max wkly drop25.54%
5Y risk snapshot
SPCX max drawdown48.78%
ASTS max drawdown85.57%
SPCX max wkly drop26.89%
ASTS max wkly drop33.07%
10Y risk snapshot
SPCX max drawdown48.78%
ASTS max drawdown91.07%
SPCX max wkly drop26.89%
ASTS max wkly drop33.07%
Performance metrics by period
| Period | Metric | SPCX | ASTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growth | -12.08% | +18.59% |
| CAGR | -45.72% | +18.60% | |
| Sharpe ratio | -0.18 | 0.66 | |
| Max drawdown | 48.78% | 60.15% | |
| Max daily drop | 16.43% | 17.04% | |
| Max wkly drop | 26.89% | 25.54% | |
| 5Y | Growth | -12.08% | +369.66% |
| CAGR | -45.72% | +36.31% | |
| Sharpe ratio | -0.18 | 0.75 | |
| Max drawdown | 48.78% | 85.57% | |
| Max daily drop | 16.43% | 27.16% | |
| Max wkly drop | 26.89% | 33.07% | |
| 10Y | Growth | -12.08% | +494.17% |
| CAGR | -45.72% | +29.85% | |
| Sharpe ratio | -0.18 | 0.68 | |
| Max drawdown | 48.78% | 91.07% | |
| Max daily drop | 16.43% | 27.16% | |
| Max wkly drop | 26.89% | 33.07% |
Business comparison
| Category | SPCX | ASTS |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) | AST SpaceMobile, Inc. |
| Sector | Aerospace & Defense | Technology |
| Industry | N/A | N/A |
| Core business | SpaceX's Starlink is the world's largest LEO broadband network with 7,000+ satellites providing high-speed internet directly to homes, businesses, ships, and aircraft via Starlink terminals. Starlink serves millions of subscribers across 100+ countries. | AST SpaceMobile is building a LEO broadband satellite network designed to connect directly to standard smartphones — no special terminal required. Unlike Starlink, ASTS aims to provide coverage through existing cellular providers (AT&T, Verizon, Rakuten) using their spectrum. |
| Investor focus | Starlink subscriber count, ARPU, enterprise and government contracts, maritime and aviation market expansion, and Starship's ability to increase satellite deployment speed and capacity. | BlueBird satellite deployment schedule, MNO (mobile network operator) commercial agreements, direct-to-device coverage area, and path to break-even with commercial satellite fleet. |
SPCX strengths
- 7,000+ satellites and millions of active subscribers make Starlink the most proven and scaled LEO broadband network
- SpaceX controls its own launch costs through Falcon 9 reusability, giving Starlink a significant deployment cost advantage
- Starlink terminals and phased-array antennas are manufactured at scale, improving economics as volume grows
ASTS strengths
- Direct-to-device technology could serve the 5 billion mobile phone users in coverage gaps without requiring a Starlink terminal
- Partnerships with major MNOs (AT&T, Verizon, Vodafone) provide a ready distribution channel and spectrum access
- Addressable market includes billions of people in areas with no cellular or broadband access
Risks to watch — SPCX
- Spectrum and orbital slot competition from OneWeb, Amazon Kuiper, and other LEO constellations
- Starlink ARPU may face pressure as consumer broadband becomes more competitive
- Regulatory complexity of operating in every country creates ongoing geopolitical risk
Risks to watch — ASTS
- Satellite manufacturing and launch costs are extremely high relative to ASTS's current financial resources
- MNO revenue sharing arrangements may reduce ASTS's economics significantly
- SpaceX's Starlink is working on its own direct-to-cell capability, creating a well-capitalized competitor
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