AST SpaceMobile Insiders Unload Stock as New ETFs and Institutional Investors Rush In

The narrative around AST SpaceMobile has become a study in contrasts. Over the past week, the satellite-to-cellphone company has drawn fresh bullish catalysts — two new leveraged exchange-traded funds and notable institutional accumulation — while insiders have been dumping shares at a pace that has raised eyebrows. The stock, which has roughly quadrupled over the past twelve months, now sits about 20% below its January high of €102, caught between competing signals.

The most jarring counterpoint comes from corporate insiders. Over the last three months, executives and directors have sold a combined 3.1 million shares worth roughly $275 million. Major shareholder Hiroshi Mikitani alone unloaded 1.35 million shares at an average price of $86.22, while Chief Technology Officer Huiwen Yao sold 40,000 shares at $88.88. These volumes go well beyond routine portfolio adjustments and suggest a clear divergence in sentiment between those inside the company and external investors.

On the other side of the ledger, institutional buying has accelerated. Pinkerton Wealth Management, Griffin Asset Management, and Leonteq Securities AG all built new positions in the fourth quarter, with the latter two investing around $1.35 million and $2.21 million respectively at a share price near $90.81. Combined, institutions now hold nearly 61% of AST SpaceMobile’s outstanding stock. The launch of the Defiance Daily Target 2X Long ASTS ETF (ASTY) and the T-REX 2X Long ASTS Daily Target ETF (ASUP) on Thursday added further momentum, giving short-term traders leveraged daily exposure to a stock whose 30-day annualized volatility exceeds 100%.

The company’s fundamentals, however, remain a work in progress. For the first quarter of 2026, AST SpaceMobile posted a loss per share of $0.66 — more than twice the $0.23 analysts had penciled in. Revenue came in at just under $15 million, a sharp miss against the $40 million consensus. The eye-popping year-over-year growth of over 1,900% is real but masks the small absolute base. Management’s full-year 2026 revenue guidance of $150 million to $200 million hinges on commercial gateway deliveries and milestone payments from US government contracts.

Should investors sell immediately? Or is it worth buying AST SpaceMobile?

Operationally, the company is racing to build out its BlueBird satellite network. Seven satellites are currently in orbit, but a continuous US coverage requires 45 to 60. Three more BlueBird satellites — numbers 8, 9 and 10 — are scheduled to launch from Cape Canaveral in mid-June, and the hardware has already arrived at the launch site. Management has set an ambitious goal of placing 38 satellites in orbit in less than seven months. By the end of 2026, the target is roughly 45. President Scott Wisniewski emphasized at a mid-May technology conference that resources are being directed toward executing the 2026-27 revenue plan rather than further feasibility studies.

Technical milestones offer a glimpse of the underlying potential. The Block-1 satellites recently achieved a record download speed of 98.9 Mbps directly to unmodified smartphones. The next-generation Block-2 BlueBird satellites are designed to double that to up to 200 Mbps. The company also enters this phase with a cash position of roughly $3.5 billion — enough, according to management, to finance over 100 satellites without tapping capital markets.

Despite these developments, analysts remain cautious. The consensus rating on the stock is “Reduce,” with a price target of $79.45. The shares currently trade at around €81.70 (about $89), roughly 13% above their 50-day moving average — a level many strategists consider stretched. The looming SpaceX IPO adds another layer of uncertainty; in its own filing, SpaceX explicitly named AST SpaceMobile as a direct competitor in the direct-to-cellphone satellite market.

AST SpaceMobile at a turning point? This analysis reveals what investors need to know now.

Whether the mid-June launch can shift the mood depends on whether the company can translate its technical roadmap into tangible progress. With a $3.5 billion war chest and three new satellites poised to lift off, the pieces are in place. But the insider selling suggests that not everyone is willing to wait for the payoff.

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AST SpaceMobile Stock: New Analysis - 22 May

Fresh AST SpaceMobile information released. What's the impact for investors? Our latest independent report examines recent figures and market trends.

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