This Space Stock Is Up 238% in the Past Year. Here's How it Stacks Up to the Competition.

By Adam Spatacco – Mar 19, 2026 at 10:05PM ESTKey PointsAST SpaceMobile is redefining the telecommunications market through its BlueBird satellite designs. The company ended 2025 with more than $1 billion in contracted revenue and has formed dozens of partnerships with leading broadband networks.While the stock is riding high on its momentum, meaningful upside could be in store for patient investors.Reliable connectivity is the backbone of progress in today's world. Created with a lofty ambition to eliminate dead zones across the globe, AST SpaceMobile (ASTS +3.64%) is seeking to pioneer a shift in the world of telecommunications through its next-generation satellite constellations. With shares experiencing an impressive ascent over the last year, AST SpaceMobile has left its competition in the broadband market in the dust. Let's look at the tailwinds fueling AST SpaceMobile's rise and explore whether the stock remains a good buy in 2026. ASTS data by YCharts What does AST SpaceMobile do? AST SpaceMobile designs low Earth orbit satellites that beam 5G signals to mobile devices. The company has partnerships with over 50 network operators including AT&T, Verizon, Vodafone, and Google. This model allows terrestrial carriers to extend their coverage across a variety of remote, rural, urban, and oceanic regions. The company's decision to vertically integrate its manufacturing facilities domestically should help produce more cost-efficient satellite deployments as the company scales. Image source: Getty Images. Why is AST SpaceMobile stock surging? Smart investors are surely wondering what fueled the meteoric rise in AST SpaceMobile stock over the last year. I see a number of factors: Successful deployments of the BlueBird satellite model help validate the company's orbital campaigns. The company has secured $1.2 billion of revenue commitments across commercial and public sector contracts. It has growing support from institutional investors, including Alphabet, which has resulted in a number of price target upgrades from Wall Street analysts. These dynamics are what help paint AST SpaceMobile as a next-generation disruptor compared to legacy wireless equipment companies. The company's space-based model carries the potential for high growth and a first-mover advantage over an otherwise maturing terrestrial communications market that relies on cyclical device upgrades from consumers and enterprises. ExpandNASDAQ: ASTSAST SpaceMobileToday's Change(3.64%) $3.30Current Price$94.04Key Data PointsMarket Cap$27BDay's Range$86.93 - $95.4952wk Range$18.22 - $129.89Volume303KAvg Vol16MGross Margin-14399.31% Is AST SpaceMobile a good stock to buy? In my eyes, what really makes AST SpaceMobile a compelling investment opportunity is its under-the-radar position in the artificial intelligence (AI) realm. Large language models, predictive analytics, and autonomous systems require constant access to high bandwidth. AST's approach to delivering connectivity could pave the way to more democratized access to AI-enabled technologies, more seamless edge data collection, and improved latency in cloud-based environments. While the company faces execution risk, an investment in AST SpaceMobile comes with asymmetric upside: an outsize reward from its disruption of a global communications market. Despite the stock's momentum, AST SpaceMobile could still be a good buy in 2026 for those with the right investor profile. If you're willing to tolerate volatility, AST SpaceMobile could be worth a look for an AI-themed growth portfolio.Read NextMar 9, 2026 •By Johnny RiceThis $39 Billion Company Made Just $54.3 Million in the Last Year, but People Keep Buying It. Should You?Mar 7, 2026 •By Courtney CarlsenAlphabet Owns 8.9 Million Shares of This Hot Space Stock. Is It a Buy?Mar 5, 2026 •By Leo SunBetter Space Stock: AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) vs. Rocket Lab (RKLB)Mar 4, 2026 •By Rich SmithWhy AST SpaceMobile Stock Popped TodayFeb 22, 2026 •By Brett SchaferWhere Will AST SpaceMobile Stock Be in 5 Years?Feb 14, 2026 •By Rich SmithSpaceX IPO Poses Existential Threat to AST SpaceMobile, Verizon, and AT&TAbout the AuthorAdam Spatacco is a contributing Motley Fool technology analyst covering artificial intelligence, robotics, autonomous driving, e-commerce, and cybersecurity stocks. Previously, Adam was an investment banking analyst specializing in mergers and acquisitions, as well as debt and equity capital raises, for software companies. He later worked in corporate development at venture-backed technology start-ups. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in finance from the University of Richmond.TMFmoneyballX@moneyballinvestStocks MentionedAST SpaceMobileNASDAQ: ASTS$94.04(+3.64%)+$3.30AlphabetNASDAQ: GOOGL$307.22(-0.15%)-$0.47Verizon CommunicationsNYSE: VZ$49.44(-0.31%)-$0.16AT&TNYSE: T$27.74(+1.20%)+$0.33AlphabetNASDAQ: GOOG$305.93(-0.12%)-$0.37*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.