Smart Money's Big Bet on AST SpaceMobile

Core Viewpoint - AST SpaceMobile has experienced significant stock price increases following a commercial partnership with Verizon, which will enable space-based cellular services starting in 2026 [2][3][4] Group 1: Stock Performance - AST SpaceMobile's stock reached an intraday all-time high of $99.26 on October 15, with gains in 10 out of the last 11 trading sessions since October 1 [1] - The stock has gained over 342% this year, including a nearly 160% increase since September 9, and has risen more than 879% since going public in November 2019 [7][8] - Despite these gains, the stock's price-to-earnings ratio is -40.8, indicating the company is not yet profitable [8] Group 2: Revenue and Partnerships - AST SpaceMobile has generated $4.9 million in revenue over the past 12 months, with a market cap of $34.3 billion [4] - The company has formed strategic partnerships with major telecommunications firms, including Verizon, AT&T, and Vodafone, which are expected to significantly boost revenue upon commercial launch [5][6] - Analysts project revenues of $830 million in 2027 and $2.54 billion in 2028, driven by these partnerships [7] Group 3: Institutional Investment - Institutional investors hold nearly 61% of AST SpaceMobile's float, with significant positions from firms like Vanguard, BlackRock, and Morgan Stanley [10][12] - Over the past year, institutional inflows totaled $1.59 billion, compared to $358.16 million in outflows, indicating strong institutional support [11] - The top institutional investors collectively hold 37.78 million shares, with Rakuten being the largest shareholder at 31.02 million shares [12] Group 4: Analyst Sentiment - Analysts have set a 12-month average price target of $45.27, suggesting a potential downside of nearly 53% from the current price [13][14] - There is a notable short interest in the stock, with over 20% of the float currently shorted, reflecting cautious sentiment among some investors [15]