AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASTS) is poised to release its first-quarter financial results on Monday, following a sharp 14.8% surge in its stock price on Friday. The earnings call, scheduled for 5 p.m. ET on May 11, comes at a pivotal moment as investors weigh recent regulatory victories against operational setbacks.
Regulatory Breakthrough and New Launch Plans
In April, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) granted AST SpaceMobile approval to deploy a 248-satellite constellation for direct-to-device (D2D) services across the United States. This regulatory milestone enables the company to provide Supplemental Coverage from Space (SCS) using low-band 700 MHz and 800 MHz spectrum, in partnership with AT&T, Verizon, and FirstNet. CEO Abel Avellan called the decision an "important step" toward commercial-scale operations.
Adding to the momentum, AST announced plans to launch three BlueBird satellites in mid-June aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, with 32 next-generation units in advanced assembly. The company aims to have approximately 45 satellites in orbit by late 2026.
Setback with BlueBird 7
Despite the positive news, the company faced a significant challenge last month. In an April filing, AST disclosed that BlueBird 7 separated from Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket and powered up but ended up in an orbit too low for sustained use. The satellite will have to be de-orbited, though the company expects to recover its cost through insurance. Analysts largely viewed the failure as a timing issue rather than a fundamental flaw, with William Blair's Louie DiPalma noting the "silver lining" was the single payload loss.
Financial Expectations and Cash Position
According to consensus estimates from MarketBeat, analysts project a first-quarter loss of $0.23 per share on revenue of $39.01 million. For the full year 2025, AST reported $70.9 million in revenue, with $54.3 million in the fourth quarter alone. Contracted revenue commitments from partners exceed $1.2 billion. The company maintains a strong liquidity position, reporting over $3.9 billion in cash, restricted cash, and other liquid assets on a pro forma basis.
Competitive Landscape and Risks
The satellite-to-phone sector is heating up. In April, Amazon struck an $11.57 billion deal to acquire Globalstar, intensifying competition with SpaceX's Starlink. AST faces several key risks: meeting aggressive launch schedules, navigating regulatory hurdles, securing funding for expansion, and maintaining carrier partnerships. The company itself lists launch schedules, funding, regulatory issues, and adoption speed as primary risk factors in its filings.
Monday's earnings call will be closely watched to see if Friday's rally marks a genuine turnaround or a temporary bounce. While AST has cleared regulatory hurdles and outlined new launch plans, it has yet to deliver the operational network that investors expect.
