ASTS

We rate AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (ASTS) as Avoid with a composite score of 38.0/100 at a current price of $85.62. The stock falls in the bottom quintile of our universe across key quantitative factors, and the multi-factor weakness suggests a high probability of continued underperformance.

The rating is primarily driven by strength in momentum (91th percentile) and value (17th percentile), which together account for the majority of the composite score. Offsetting weakness in stability (12th percentile) and quality (14th percentile) tempers our overall conviction. We assign a No Moat rating (37/100), Very High uncertainty, and Poor capital allocation.

Key items to watch: sustainability of the current growth rate; the path to profitability; valuation compression risk if growth disappoints. Any material change in these dynamics could warrant a reassessment of our rating. The moat trend is stable, which suggests the competitive landscape is stable for now.

AST SpaceMobile, Inc. holds a top-quartile position (#0 of 50) within the Transportation, Communications, Electric, Gas, And Sanitary Services sector, based on our composite quantitative scoring across quality, value, momentum, and stability factors. The composite score of 38.0/100 places it at rank #3787 in our full 7,333-stock universe. With a $17.6B market capitalization, AST SpaceMobile, Inc. operates at meaningful scale within the Transportation, Communications, Electric, Gas, And Sanitary Services sector, providing competitive advantages in distribution, procurement, and customer reach.

The near-term outlook is constructive, with revenue growing at 1538% and momentum in the 91th percentile confirming positive market sentiment and institutional accumulation. The combination of strong top-line growth and favorable price dynamics suggests the company is executing well on its growth strategy. Investment factor at the 17th percentile indicates reinvestment patterns that investors should monitor for sustainability.

The margin cascade tells an important story: gross margins of 100% (+44.9pp vs sector) narrow to operating margins of -5391% (-5409.0pp vs sector) and net margins of -12320.6%, yielding a gross-to-net conversion rate of -12321%. The significant margin erosion from gross to net suggests elevated operating expenses, high interest costs, or other structural drags that warrant monitoring.

At a current price of $85.62, AST SpaceMobile, Inc. is trading at a premium to fundamental value. Our value factor score of 17/100 reflects a composite assessment across multiple valuation metrics including price-to-earnings, price-to-book, EV/EBITDA, and price-to-sales ratios relative to both sector peers and the broader market. The premium valuation implies the market is pricing in significant future growth or quality improvements that are not yet fully reflected in current fundamentals.

The stock currently trades at P/B of 14.0x, P/S of 1287.5x. We evaluate these multiples in the context of both absolute levels and sector-relative positioning to form our valuation view.

We assign a Very High uncertainty rating to AST SpaceMobile, Inc.. The stock exhibits multiple compounding risk factors: elevated market sensitivity (beta of 2.17), current negative profitability (net margin -12320.6%), below-average price stability (12th percentile). The extreme uncertainty around future cash flows makes precise valuation difficult, and the range of outcomes is exceptionally wide. Only investors with high risk tolerance and extended time horizons should consider this name.

Specific risk factors that inform our assessment include: elevated market sensitivity (beta of 2.17); current negative profitability (net margin -12320.6%); below-average price stability (12th percentile); weak quality scores (14th percentile). Each of these factors independently widens the distribution of potential outcomes, and in combination they create a risk profile that demands careful position sizing. The stability factor at the 12th percentile and quality factor at the 14th percentile provide a quantitative summary of the overall risk landscape.

Key risk mitigants include: healthy gross margins of 100% provide a buffer against cost pressures. These factors partially offset the identified risks and provide downside protection in adverse scenarios. On balance, the risk-reward profile warrants caution and disciplined position management.

We rate AST SpaceMobile, Inc.'s capital allocation as Poor. Key concerns include low returns on equity (-41.0%), negative profitability, weak asset returns (ROA -26.1%). Exemplary capital allocators generate ROE above 20% and maintain conservative leverage — AST SpaceMobile, Inc. significantly underperforms these benchmarks, raising questions about management's ability to create shareholder value.

Investors should scrutinize management's reinvestment decisions and balance sheet trajectory before committing capital. Poor capital allocation often compounds over time: overlevered balance sheets limit strategic flexibility, while low returns on capital destroy shareholder value. We would need to see sustained improvement in profitability metrics and balance sheet discipline before considering an upgrade.

In summary, AST SpaceMobile, Inc. receives a Avoid rating with a composite score of 38.0/100 (rank #3787 of 7,333). Our quantitative framework assigns a No Moat (37/100, trend: stable), Very High uncertainty, and Poor capital allocation. The average factor score across quality, value, momentum, stability, and investment is 30/100.

Our analysis does not support a constructive view on AST SpaceMobile, Inc. at this time. The combination of limited competitive advantages, very high uncertainty, and poor capital allocation suggests unfavorable risk-reward at current levels. We recommend investors avoid new positions and existing holders consider reducing exposure.