Can ASTS Stock Beat the Market in 2026?

By Marc Guberti – Dec 10, 2025 at 7:15AMKey PointsASTS has generated most of its gains over the past two years, beating the S&P 500 in the process.Space-based cellular broadband networks are a long-term opportunity that continues to attract large clients.A high valuation and rising losses can hamper the stock in the short run, but the long-term outlook is still bright.These 10 Stocks Could Mint the Next Wave of Millionaires ›NASDAQ: ASTSAST SpaceMobileMarket Cap$20BToday's Changeangle-down(-1.65%) $1.22Current Price$72.78Price as of December 9, 2025 at 3:58 PM ETAST SpaceMobile was one of the top-performing stocks in 2025 but faces some risks going into 2026.AST SpaceMobile (ASTS 1.65%) was a bad investment from 2020 to the start of 2024. The stock woefully underperformed the S&P 500 during that stretch and went from $20 per share to $2 per share. However, that all changed in May 2024 when the company partnered with AT&T (T 1.33%) and announced its first commercial satellite launches for the summer. Has ASTS beaten the stock market so far? Because of the gains it made in 2024 and 2025, ASTS cumulatively outperformed the S&P 500 over the past five years. The space stock is up by 621% over the past five years compared to the S&P 500's 85% gain. Image source: Getty Images. The gap becomes more apparent as you narrow the time frame. The S&P 500's 73% gain over three years doesn't compare with ASTS's 1,550% gain over the same time. AST SpaceMobile has rallied by 251% this year, while the S&P 500 has managed a one-year gain of 16.4%. The partnership with AT&T and its commercialized satellite launches were major turning points for the company. AST SpaceMobile has gone on to sign large contracts with Verizon Communications (VZ 2.81%) and STC Group, while negotiating a contract with a U.S. government customer. Those customers are part of the $1 billion in aggregate contracted revenue that the company has secured. Can ASTS outperform the S&P 500 again in 2026? AST SpaceMobile's space-based cellular broadband network is filling in the gaps that terrestrial signals can't cover. The company works directly with telecom companies and countries instead of offering a direct-to-consumer product.Advertisement The company's ability to win over high-paying customers is an advantage, especially as its commercialized satellites continue to scale. These satellites can connect billions of smartphones to the internet wherever people travel. However, the stock also trades at a 778 price-to-sales ratio. That's a steep asking price for any company, especially one that regularly burns through cash. AST SpaceMobile reported a $122.9 million net loss in Q3 and only $14.7 million in revenue. Those numbers will make it difficult for AST SpaceMobile to outperform the S&P 500 again in 2026, but long-term outperformance is likely. ExpandNASDAQ: ASTSAST SpaceMobileToday's Change(-1.65%) $-1.22Current Price$72.78Key Data PointsMarket Cap$20BDay's Range$69.88 - $74.7052wk Range$17.50 - $102.79Volume1.7KAvg Vol13MGross Margin-38675.73%Dividend YieldN/A Be patient with stocks like ASTS Some investors look at growth stocks like ASTS and believe they should wait for a deeper correction before buying shares. The company's incredible run-up suggests that a correction may be possible. The stock is down by more than 22% from its all-time high, and all of its gains came about in the past two years. However, other investors don't want to miss out on the long-term growth of space-based cellular broadband networks. Buying a great company at a good or OK price can pay off for investors who can wait five to 10 years. Even the best companies can underperform for several months. There's no need to panic about ASTS stock dips if you are bullish on the stock and its investment thesis hasn't changed.About the AuthorMarc Guberti is a Certified Personal Finance Counselor and has been a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst since 2025. He has written for several finance publications. Marc graduated from Fordham University with a finance degree. He is an avid marathon runner who aims to complete more than 100 marathons in his lifetime. His fastest marathon time is 2:40.TMFmarcgubertiRead NextDec 6, 2025 •By Brett SchaferWhy AST SpaceMobile Stock Dropped 30% Last MonthNov 11, 2025 •By Parkev Tatevosian, CFAAST SpaceMobile Stock Analysis: Buy or Sell?Oct 26, 2025 •By Reuben Gregg BrewerIs AST SpaceMobile Stock Your Ticket to Becoming a Millionaire?Oct 22, 2025 •By Jeremy BowmanWhy AST SpaceMobile Stock Was Diving TodayOct 22, 2025 •By Leo Sun1 Texas-Based Company's Stock That's Up Over 300% Year to DateOct 15, 2025 •By Josh CablePrediction: AST SpaceMobile Could Soar Over the Next 5 Years. Here's 1 Reason Why.