Why EchoStar Stock Is Skyrocketing Today

Core Viewpoint - EchoStar's stock surged due to the company making overdue debt-interest payments, which alleviated immediate bankruptcy risks [1][3]. Financial Performance - EchoStar's share price increased by 12.8% as of 2 p.m. ET, while the S&P 500 rose by 0.3% [1]. - The company made over $500 million in debt-interest payments that had been overdue, specifically $509 million due on May 30 and June 2 [3][5]. - Following the recent gains, EchoStar's stock is up approximately 26% in 2025 and has risen about 64% over the past year [3]. Bankruptcy Risk - The payments made will help EchoStar avoid filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, which would have been necessary if payments were not made by June 30 [3]. - EchoStar's debt stands at roughly $26 billion against a market capitalization of about $8.2 billion, indicating that shareholders could face significant losses in the event of bankruptcy [5]. - The company's financial position does not suggest an imminent risk of bankruptcy, but there remains a risk of filing to protect spectrum rights from regulatory seizure [5]. Regulatory Issues - EchoStar faced missed interest payments due to challenges with its 5G buildout obligations and spectrum licensing issues raised by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) [4]. - Advocacy from the Trump administration for a resolution with the FCC has positively impacted the company's situation regarding spectrum licensing rights [4].