Prediction: AST SpaceMobile Stock Will Soar in 2026

It's been a tough past couple of months for AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ: ASTS) shareholders. The telecom technology stock started the year on a bullish note, but it's now down more than 30% from its late-January peak.

Uncertainty stemming from the conflict in the Middle East is a contributing factor to this sell-off, although chatter about SpaceX's impending public offering has also arguably diverted some investor attention. Then there's just broad market weakness linked to worries of economic headwinds.

Once all this dust settles, though, don't be surprised to see this stock end 2026 much higher than where it started.

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What's AST SpaceMobile, and why are shares set to soar?

AST SpaceMobile is developing a space-based mobile broadband network. Using a combination of satellites and ground-based relays, its technology (to be sold through conventional wireless carriers) can connect your mobile phone to the World Wide Web without the need for the cellphone towers you see peppered across the landscape. This offering will be particularly beneficial where cellular coverage is spotty -- if not nonexistent -- domestically and abroad.

The need for such an option is clear. That's why shares have rallied more than 3,000% since mid-2024, when years of planning and work finally began to become reality.

The best, however, is yet to come.

AST SpaceMobile's tech was proven to work as far back as 2022 when it put its very first satellite into low Earth orbit, but even 2024's first commercial deployments only scratched the surface of this technology's potential. The company is planning to put between 45 and 60 satellites into space by the end of this year regardless of any economic, geopolitical, or market backdrop, pushing it well into the lead of a satellite broadband business that Precedence Research expects to grow at an average annual pace of 21% through 2035, when it will be worth more than $70 billion per year.

As for its part of this growth, analysts expect AST SpaceMobile's revenue to grow from last year's $71 million to more than $180 million this year, en route to $785 million (at least) next year. Indeed, estimates of the company's backlog of business exceed $1 billion. More proof that its tech works and is marketable should grow this backlog in a hurry.

An uncomplicated pattern

That's the curious part of the space stock's recent pullback, though -- the company seems to be on the right track, but the stock clearly isn't.

Just take a step back and look at the bigger picture, as well as this stock's history. As daunting as a 30% pullback can be, it's not unusual for this particular ticker. AST SpaceMobile shares have suffered several similarly sized setbacks since its massive rally began in 2024. Note that each one of these stumbles also preceded an eventual new high. That's just the nature of stocks of young companies pioneering brand new businesses.

Perhaps more important to interested investors right now, this pattern hasn't necessarily been broken. While the prompts for each of the sell-offs may be different, the underlying reason for the eventual new high is still fully intact. That's the ongoing expansion of AST SpaceMobile's revenue-bearing capacity, by virtue of putting more and more satellites into orbit.

Don't overthink it. Investors will respond to this year's scheduled launches sooner or later, and likely sooner.

James Brumley has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends AST SpaceMobile. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.