AST Spacemobile Just Moved Its Commercial Launch Target to 2027. Is That Bad News for Its Stock?

AST SpaceMobile (ASTS +11.83%) develops constellations of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites that help telecom companies -- like AT&T (T -0.19%) and Verizon (VZ -0.16%) -- expand their wireless networks to remote areas that their terrestrial towers can't reach. It's launched 13 of its BlueBird satellites so far, and 12 of them are currently in orbit. But after closing at a record high of $133.09 per share on May 28, 2026, AST's stock dropped back to the low $60s. A major cause of that decline was its slower-than-expected expansion. Back in late 2025, it claimed it could have 45 to 60 satellites in orbit by the end of 2026. But after losing BlueBird 7 in orbit in April, it reduced that target to just 45 satellites. During its second-quarter report in July, it pushed back the 45-satellite target to early 2027. Image source: Getty Images. Is that delay bad news for AST's stock? That delay was disappointing, but AST has plenty of irons in the fire. It's already working with more than 60 carriers to reach over 3 billion wireless subscribers, it has a $1.3 billion backlog, and it still plans to expand its constellation to at least 248 satellites over the long term. From 2025 to 2028, analysts expect AST's revenue to surge from $71 million in 2025 to $1.73 billion. They also expect its adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) to turn positive in the final two years. ExpandNASDAQ: ASTSAST SpaceMobilePremium FeatureMoneyball Superscore68/100Today's Change(11.83%) $6.60Current Price$62.40Key Data PointsMarket Cap$19BMarket cap calculated using publicly traded shares outstanding only. Does not include unlisted, private, or dual-class non-traded shares. Implied market cap may vary.Day's Range$58.00 - $63.2352wk Range$36.08 - $133.86Volume153.4KAvg Vol16.7MGross Margin-24279.14% With an enterprise value of $21 billion, AST's stock isn't cheap at 33 times next year's sales. But if you expect it to get back on track and aggressively expand its satellite network over the next few years, its recent pullback could be a great buying opportunity. Read NextSep 2, 2026 •By Johnny RiceWhy Is AST SpaceMobile Stock Up 13% Today?Aug 28, 2026 •By Johnny RiceWhy Is AST SpaceMobile Stock Down This Week?Aug 27, 2026 •By Brendan CoffeyAST SpaceMobile vs. Firefly Aerospace: Which Outer Space Upstart Is a Better Buy in 2026?Aug 24, 2026 •By Brendan CoffeyArcher Aviation vs. AST SpaceMobile: Which Industrials Stock Is a Better Buy in 2026?Aug 24, 2026 •By Keith Noonan7 Best Satellite Stocks for 2026 and How to InvestAug 21, 2026 •By Brendan CoffeyAST SpaceMobile vs. Boeing: Which High Flying Stock Is a Better Buy in 2026?About the AuthorLeo Sun is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst who has worked with the company since 2013, covering technology, consumer goods, industrial, and financial sectors. He became a self-made millionaire by age 40 through long-term investing, crediting lessons from Warren Buffett and Peter Lynch. Leo is a regular guest on CNBC Asia providing stock analysis on Chinese technology companies, including Tencent, Baidu, and Alibaba. He previously wrote for InvestorGuide and holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Texas at Austin.TMFSunLionX@TMFSunLionStocks MentionedAST SpaceMobileNASDAQ: ASTS$62.40(+11.83%)+$6.60Motley Fool Stock Advisor’s Latest PickGet Access---% Avg ReturnVerizon CommunicationsNYSE: VZ$50.22(-0.16%)-$0.08AT&TNYSE: T$25.95(-0.19%)-$0.05*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.