Key Takeaways AST SpaceMobile secured a $30M Space Development Agency HALO Europa Track 2 contract for LEO connectivity.AST SpaceMobile will deploy BlueBird satellites for resilient, low-latency defense communications.AST SpaceMobile deal boosts DoD space resilience and broadens defense market reach.AST SpaceMobile, Inc. (ASTS) has secured a prime contract worth about $30 million from the United States Space Development Agency under the Hybrid Acquisition for Proliferated Low-Earth Orbit (HALO) Europa Track ...

Microsoft Surpasses Connectivity Goal, Shifts To AI AdoptionMicrosoft said it met — and surpassed — its 2022 commitment to expand internet access to 250 million people by the end of 2025, reporting that it has now extended connectivity coverage to more than 299 million people worldwide, including more than 124 million across Africa.The company said it is now moving beyond basic coverage to focus on adoption and long-term participation in the AI economy.Microsoft noted 2.2 billion people remain offline, whil ...

Viasat Is Up 396% But Reddit Still Doesn't Trust It - 24/7 Wall St.[S&P 5006,893.50 +0.67%][Dow Jones49,210.20 +0.74%][Nasdaq 10025,028.00 +1.15%][Russell 20002,648.82 +0.78%][FTSE 10010,693.60 +0.10%][Nikkei 22558,025.30 +2.15%][Live Nasdaq Composite: Big Tech Jockeys for Position in AI Revolution][Investing]# Viasat Is Up 396% But Reddit Still Doesn't Trust It### Quick ReadViasat (VSAT) swung to $25M net income in Q3 2026.Viasat's Q3 profit relied heavily on a $420M Ligado payment. Free cash flow was only ...

MIDLAND, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)---- $ASTS #AST--AST SpaceMobile, Inc. ("AST SpaceMobile†) (NASDAQ: ASTS), the company building the first and only space-based cellular broadband network accessible directly by everyday smartphones, designed for both commercial and government applications, today announced that it has entered into an agreement with the United States Space Development Agency (SDA) for the Europa Track 2 Commercial Solutions program. The agreement, executed under the Hybrid Acquisition for prol ...

Core Insights - AST SpaceMobile and Arista Networks are significant players in the communications technology sector, focusing on next-generation connectivity solutions [1][2] - AST SpaceMobile is developing a global cellular broadband network in space, while Arista specializes in high-performance cloud and data center networking infrastructure [1][2] AST SpaceMobile - AST SpaceMobile has launched BlueBird 6, the first of its next-generation satellites, which is 3.5 times larger than previous models and has 10 times the data capacity [4] - The company plans to deploy 45 to 60 satellites by the end of 2026, enhancing its position in the space-based cellular broadband market [4] - AST SpaceMobile's technology is supported by over 3,800 patents, aiming to provide global cellular coverage and eliminate dead zones [5] - Partnerships with major carriers like AT&T and Verizon are helping to expand cellular coverage in the U.S. [6] - The company faces challenges from macroeconomic conditions and competition from firms like SpaceX's Starlink, which may impact its financial performance [7] Arista Networks - Arista offers a wide range of data center and campus Ethernet switches and routers, focusing on high-performance networking for AI and hyperscale computing [2][8] - The company has a strong position in 100-gigabit Ethernet switches and is gaining traction in 200 and 400-gigabit products [9] - Arista's 2.0 strategy is well-received, with over 150 million cumulative ports shipped, and it continues to innovate in cloud networking solutions [10] - Despite steady growth, Arista faces high operating costs and supply chain bottlenecks that may affect margins [12] Financial Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AST SpaceMobile's 2026 sales indicates a year-over-year growth of 1,142%, but EPS is expected to decline by 62.1% [13] - In contrast, Arista's 2026 sales are projected to grow by 18.9%, with EPS expected to rise by 10.7% [14] Price Performance & Valuation - Over the past year, AST SpaceMobile's stock has increased by 166.3%, while Arista's has risen by 37.2% [15] - Arista appears more attractive from a valuation perspective, trading at a forward sales ratio of 16.34 compared to AST SpaceMobile's 113.64 [16] Investment Outlook - AST SpaceMobile is currently rated as a Strong Sell, while Arista holds a Hold rating, indicating a preference for Arista as a more stable investment option [18] - Both companies anticipate sales growth in 2026, but AST SpaceMobile's earnings are expected to decline significantly, whereas Arista's earnings are projected to grow modestly [19]

Company Overview - Globalstar, Inc. operates a global satellite network providing mobile communications and IoT connectivity across various industries and remote environments, leveraging spectrum assets and strategic partnerships to enhance 5G and advanced connectivity offerings [6] - The company generates revenue through subscription-based communications services, equipment sales, wholesale minutes, and engineering services, serving enterprise and government clients in sectors such as oil and gas, utilities, maritime, transportation, public safety, and recreation [8] Financial Performance - As of February 13, 2026, Globalstar's market capitalization is $7.62 billion, with a revenue of $262.20 million and a net income of -$49.92 million for the trailing twelve months [4] - The company reported record third-quarter revenue of $73.8 million, an increase from $72.3 million a year earlier, with service revenue of $69.6 million, and reaffirmed full-year revenue guidance of $260 million to $285 million [10] Recent Transactions - Ashford Capital Management sold 410,326 shares of Globalstar for an estimated transaction value of $22.66 million, reducing its position to 998,995 shares valued at $60.98 million [2] - Following the sale, Globalstar accounts for 6.79% of Ashford's reportable assets, down from 9.32%, and remains the fund's largest holding [7] Stock Performance - Globalstar's shares were priced at $60.06 as of February 13, 2026, reflecting a 171.8% increase over the past year, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 by 159.97 percentage points [7] - The net position change for Ashford Capital Management reflects an increase of $9.69 million, indicating both a reduction in shares and stock price fluctuations [2] Strategic Insights - The recent sale by Ashford Capital Management is viewed as a disciplined capital allocation strategy following a significant stock price increase, emphasizing risk management rather than a loss of conviction in the company [9] - For long-term investors, the focus should remain on execution and the company's ability to sustain revenue growth, infrastructure expansion, and cash generation despite market volatility [11]

Group 1: Palantir Technologies - Palantir Technologies has seen its stock price increase by 1,630% over the past three years, leading to a market cap of approximately $313 billion as of February 13, 2026 [3][9] - The company has consistently exceeded sales expectations, attributed to its core platforms, Gotham and Foundry, which have no large-scale competitors [5][6] - Analysts express concern over Palantir's high price-to-sales (P/S) ratio, which is in the low triple digits, suggesting a potential downside of 62% to a target price of $50 per share [10][9] Group 2: AST SpaceMobile - AST SpaceMobile's stock has increased by 1,280% over the past three years, with a current market cap of around $23 billion [3][17] - The company claims a first-mover advantage in satellite-based cellular broadband services, partnering with over 50 mobile network operators to serve nearly 6 billion subscribers [15][16] - Analysts predict a potential downside of 48% for AST SpaceMobile, with a price target of $43, influenced by competitive pressures from SpaceX's Starlink and concerns over production challenges [18][19][20]

Core Insights - Zacks Premium provides various tools for investors to enhance their stock market engagement and confidence [1][2] Zacks Style Scores - Zacks Style Scores are indicators that rate stocks based on value, growth, and momentum methodologies, helping investors identify stocks likely to outperform the market in the next 30 days [3][4] - Each stock receives an alphabetic rating from A to F, with A indicating the highest potential for outperformance [4] Value Score - The Value Score identifies attractive and discounted stocks using ratios like P/E, PEG, and Price/Sales [4] Growth Score - The Growth Score focuses on a company's future prospects, analyzing projected and historical earnings, sales, and cash flow [5] Momentum Score - The Momentum Score helps investors capitalize on price trends, utilizing factors like one-week price changes and monthly earnings estimate changes [6] VGM Score - The VGM Score combines all three Style Scores, providing a comprehensive indicator for investors who utilize multiple investing styles [7] Zacks Rank - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary model based on earnings estimate revisions, with 1 (Strong Buy) stocks achieving an average annual return of +23.86% since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [8][10] - There can be over 800 stocks rated 1 or 2, making it essential to use Style Scores to narrow down choices [9] Stock to Watch: Iridium Communications (IRDM) - Iridium Communications, a satellite communications company, is currently rated 3 (Hold) with a VGM Score of B [12] - The company has a Momentum Style Score of A, with shares increasing by 21.7% over the past four weeks, and three analysts have raised earnings estimates for fiscal 2026 [13]

Core Viewpoint - AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) experienced an 18.94% stock drop this week following the announcement of a $1 billion convertible notes offering at 2.25% interest, which is part of a complex capital raise strategy aimed at funding spectrum deployment and refinancing existing debt [1]. Group 1: Financial Performance - ASTS's stock fell from $101.79 to $82.51, marking a 19% decline, while the broader market only dipped 1.29% during the same period [1]. - Despite the recent decline, ASTS has a year-to-date gain of 13.6% and is up 175% over the past year, with a market cap of $30.6 billion based on $18.5 million in trailing twelve-month revenue [1]. Group 2: Capital Raise Strategy - The company announced a $1 billion convertible senior notes offering due in 2036, expecting net proceeds of approximately $983.7 million to fund spectrum deployment, AI technology monetization, and government space investments [1]. - Concurrently, ASTS plans to repurchase up to $300 million of existing convertible senior notes, targeting higher-cost obligations to reduce interest expenses and extend maturity dates [1]. Group 3: Market Sentiment and Insider Activity - Sentiment on Reddit's r/wallstreetbets saw a significant drop to 32 (bearish) following the announcement, indicating negative investor sentiment regarding dilution implications [1]. - American Tower Corp, a 10% owner, sold 2.29 million shares for approximately $159.7 million, contributing to a pattern of institutional profit-taking that may have influenced market sentiment [1].

Core Viewpoint - AST SpaceMobile announced plans to raise capital through a series of financial maneuvers, leading to a significant drop in its stock price as shareholders reacted negatively to the dilution and potential volatility [1][2]. Group 1: Financial Maneuvers - The company plans to repurchase approximately $300 million of its existing convertible senior notes due in 2032 while concurrently offering about $1 billion of new notes due in 2036 [2]. - This move will reduce $300 million of debt and save over $50 million in interest payments, but it will also result in the issuance of approximately 1.15 million additional shares [3]. Group 2: Impact on Shareholders - Existing shareholders are expected to face dilution and potential volume impacts on the common stock, as note holders may need to buy or sell AST stock to manage derivative transactions related to the notes [5]. - The stock is already down about 32.5% from its 2026 highs, indicating a challenging environment for current investors [5]. Group 3: Future Plans - The additional capital raised will be used to accelerate the deployment of AST SpaceMobile's controlled spectrum bands globally and to pursue other future business growth opportunities [4].