Vodafone Group Public Limited Company provides telecommunication services in Europe and internationally. It offers mobile connectivity services comprising end-to-end services for mobile voice and data, messaging, device management, BYOx, and telecoms management, as well as professional and consulting services; and fixed line connectivity, such as fixed voice and data, broadband, software-defined networks, managed WAN, LAN, ethernet, and satellite; and financial services, as well as business and merchant services. The company also provides consumer Internet of Things (IoT) propositions, as well as security and insurance products; mobile services; logistics, fleet management, and smart metering services; WiFi; digital services comprising mobile application development, multi-access edge computing, worker insights, AI assistant, drone detection, visual inspection, and mixed reality, as well as Vodafone Analytics platform; and traditional IT hosting services, including colocation, managed hosting, security, hosting infrastructure, and flexible computing for government. In addition, it offers integrated business communication services, as well as fixed mobile convergence services; and carrier services, as well as IoT devices comprising managed tablets and integrated terminals. Further, it offers M-Pesa, an African mobile money platform to make payments and provide financial services; Vodafone Business multi-cloud platform; and productivity solutions, as well as operates digital cloud-based television platforms. It serves private and public sector customers in the manufacturing, retail, automotive, banking finance, healthcare, smart cities and public, agriculture, transport and logistics, and energy and utilities management industries. It offers its products and services through digital and physical channels. Vodafone Group Public Limited Company has a strategic partnership with Open Fiber. The company was incorporated in 1984 and is based in Newbury, the United Kingdom.

У Vodafone баланс выглядит устойчивее, чем отчёт о результатах, но это не компенсирует слабую доходность капитала и отсутствие видимой прибыли. Ликвидность приемлемая: quick ratio 1.13 выше медианы отрасли, current ratio 1.17 находится около нормы, а cash on hand в 19.8 млрд поддерживает краткосрочную финансовую гибкость. Долговая нагрузка умеренная: debt/equity 0.78 близок к отраслевой медиане и за последние периоды не ухудшался, long-term debt также постепенно снижался с 57.4 млрд до 49.5 млрд, что является плюсом. Однако собственный капитал сократился с 67.2 млрд до 57.9 млрд, а total assets снизились с 162.0 млрд до 138.1 млрд, что указывает на сжатие баланса и ограниченный рост базы активов. Самый слабый блок — эффективность: ROE, ROA, ROI и return on tangible equity равны нулю, то есть компания не демонстрирует отдачи на капитал и активы, что для телеком-сектора является серьёзным минусом. Аналогично, net income, operating income, revenue, gross profit и EBITDA в переданных данных равны нулю, поэтому по представленному набору метрик не видно операционного улучшения, которое могло бы поддержать более высокую оценку. Маржинальность также не подтверждена как сильная сторона: по сравнению с отраслевыми медианами отсутствуют данные, позволяющие говорить о премии к сектору, а сам факт нулевых показателей работает против переоценки. Мультипликаторы P/E, P/S, P/B и P/FCF не раскрыты, поэтому по ним нельзя обосновать явную недооценку; в такой ситуации разумно сохранять осторожность и не закладывать расширение оценки. Дивидендная доходность снизилась с 5.43 до 1.88, что заметно ухудшает инвестиционный кейс для доходных инвесторов и говорит о более слабой поддержке акцией со стороны дивидендного потока. В сумме картина получается смешанной: баланс и ликвидность выглядят приемлемо, но прибыльность, рентабельность и динамика дивидендов слабые. Для целевой цены это означает скорее умеренное снижение, поскольку фундаментальная база не даёт повода для повышения справедливой оценки, а риски стагнации и низкой доходности капитала остаются высокими.

Vodafone Group Plc

У Vodafone приемлемая ликвидность и умеренный долг, но нулевая рентабельность, слабая динамика прибыли и снижение дивидендной доходности давят на оценку.

Key Points
SpaceX's expansion of Starlink, launch capacity, and space manufacturing is creating demand across the broader space economy.
Intuitive Machines and AST SpaceMobile are direct beneficiaries: Both companies rely on SpaceX launches and stand to benefit from increased investment in lunar missions and satellite connectivity.
Viasat's government and defense communications business could gain from growing demand for secure, diversified satellite networks despite competition from Starlink.
SpaceX's public debut is taking place right now and it has captured Wall Street's attention, but investors should remember that even great companies can be volatile stocks after an initial public offering (IPO). At a roughly $1.75 trillion valuation, expectations are already extraordinarily high, and history is full of highly anticipated offerings that experienced sharp swings as the market digested their valuations. For many investors, the better opportunity may not be buying SpaceX itself but investing in companies that stand to benefit from the growth of the broader space economy that SpaceX is helping to build.
Something gets overlooked in IPO frenzies like this. SpaceX is not only a company going public and teasing people to open a brokerage account. It is an infrastructure event. The build-out that follows its listing -- Starlink's constellation expansion, new ground stations, a growing commercial launch manifest, and the Terafab chip facility -- requires customers, partners, and payload operators who need to put things in orbit.
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Three publicly traded companies are already part of that ecosystem in ways the market hasn't fully priced in.
1. Intuitive Machines
Intuitive Machines (NASDAQ: LUNR) sits in the most unusual position in all of commercial space: It has already landed on the lunar surface twice, holds a growing backlog of NASA and defense contracts, and is building out the infrastructure that any serious long-term lunar economy needs to function.
In March 2026, NASA awarded the Houston-based company a $180.4 million contract to deliver seven science and technology payloads to the lunar South Pole -- a mission that fits directly into the Artemis program's infrastructure agenda. The company's first-quarter 2026 backlog hit $1.055 billion, nearly tripling year over year after the close of the $800 million Lanteris acquisition and new contract wins. Revenue reached $186.7 million in Q1, three times the prior year's figure, and management guided for $900 million to $1 billion in 2026 revenue with positive full-year earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA).
In May 2026, the company announced a definitive agreement to acquire Goonhilly Earth Station, which is a historic deep-space communications facility in Cornwall, England, and its U.S. operations. Goonhilly has the kind of infrastructure that future commercial lunar missions will depend on: deep-space antennas, frequency licenses, and decades of operational heritage that cannot be replicated quickly.
The SpaceX connection is direct: Intuitive Machines flies its lunar landers on Falcon 9 rockets. As SpaceX IPO capital funds expanded launch cadence and Starship's lunar capability matures, Intuitive Machines is the company on the other end of those missions.
2. AST SpaceMobile
AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ: ASTS) is one of the more audacious companies in commercial space: It is building a space-based cellular broadband network that connects standard mobile phones directly to satellites in orbit. The company already has multiyear commercial agreements with AT&T (NYSE: T) and Vodafone (NASDAQ: VOD).
Here's the detail that makes AST SpaceMobile a genuine SpaceX-adjacent play: After losing BlueBird 7 in a New Glenn deployment in April 2026, the company made a decision. It pivoted its next three BlueBird satellites to a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch, targeted for mid-June 2026. That is the company voting with its manifest. When execution matters most, it chose SpaceX's rocket. The company is targeting approximately 45 satellites in orbit by year-end 2026, with constellation scaling continuing through 2027.
The investment case here is longer dated than Intuitive Machines. AST SpaceMobile is still in the early stages of building out the constellation needed to provide continuous coverage across major markets, meaning meaningful commercial revenue growth will take time. That longer timeline is reflected in the stock's volatility and the market's ongoing debate about execution. Still, the opportunity is significant: creating a global cellular broadband network that eliminates coverage gaps. As SpaceX's IPO draws more attention to satellite connectivity, it could increase investor interest across the entire sector and help highlight the scale of AST SpaceMobile's long-term opportunity.
3. Viasat
Viasat (NASDAQ: VSAT) is the most unloved of these three names, and that's partly why I find it interesting.
Most investors who follow satellite stocks associate Viasat with the failed ViaSat-3 F1 antenna, which launched in 2023 and never deployed correctly -- a genuine setback that cost the company years of growth. What's less discussed is what Viasat built on the other side of that problem: a government and defense satellite communications business that is structurally separate from the consumer broadband competition with Starlink, and a ViaSat-3 constellation that is finally completing.
In April 2026, Viasat confirmed the launch of its ViaSat-3 F3 satellite -- the third and final planned satellite of the next-generation constellation -- aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy on April 29, 2026. The company launched on SpaceX's rocket. Viasat does not view SpaceX as a pure competitor in its most valuable segment: government communications. The U.S. military and intelligence community need satellite connectivity that is not tied to a single commercial provider, and Viasat's defense division supplies exactly that.
The risk is straightforward: Starlink's market share growth is real, and if Viasat's consumer segment deteriorates faster than the defense segment grows, the thesis breaks.
Should you buy stock in Space Exploration Technologies right now?
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Micah Zimmerman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends AST SpaceMobile and Intuitive Machines. The Motley Fool recommends Vodafone Group Public. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Scared to Buy SpaceX Shares? These 3 Stocks Give You a Back Door In.

(RTTNews) - Telecom major Vodafone Group Plc (VOD.L, VOD) reported Tuesday a pre-tax profit in fiscal 2026, compared to prior year's loss, while attributable loss sharply narrowed from last year.
The results mainly reflected the absence of prior year's impairment charges and higher revenues.
Looking ahead for the mid term, the company projects growth in Adjusted EBITDAaL and revenues.
The company said, "Our growth portfolio gives us the confidence in our medium-term ambition to deliver double-digit Adjusted free cash flow growth, driving continued Adjusted free cash flow growth in euro terms."
In the full year, profit before taxation was 1.86 billion euros, compared to prior year's loss of 1.48 billion euros.
On an after-tax basis, the company recorded loss attributable to Owners of the parent of 397 million euros, sharply narrower than prior year's loss of 4.17 billion euros.
Basic loss per share was 1.65 eurocents, compared to loss of 15.94 eurocents a year ago.
On a continuing operations basis, profit for the financial year was 59 million euros, compared to loss of 3.72 billion euros last year. Basic loss per share from continuing operations was 1.20 eurocents, compared to a loss per share of 15.86 eurocents in the prior year.
Adjusted basic earnings per share was 10.72 eurocents, compared to 7.87 eurocents in the prior year.
Operating profit was 2.84 billion euros, compared to loss of 0.41 billion euros a year ago. Adjusted EBITDAaL increased 3.8 percent year-over-year to 11.4 billion euros, and the growth was 4.5 percent on an organic basis, driven by service revenue growth, only partially offset by continued commercial investment.
Total revenue increased 8 percent to 40.46 billion euros from last year's 37.45 billion euros, due to 8.8 percent service revenue growth and the consolidation of Three UK, partially offset by foreign exchange movements.
Further, the company announced that the Board has declared total dividends of 4.6125 eurocents in fiscal 2026, a 2.5 percent increase year-on-year.
The final dividend is 2.3625 eurocents compared to 2.25 eurocents in the prior year. The record date is June 5 and the dividend is payable on July 30.
For more earnings news, earnings calendar, and earnings for stocks, visit rttnews.com.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Vodafone Turns To Pre-tax Profit In FY26, Attributable Loss Narrows; Sees Growth In Mid-term

Key Points
Amazon is launching a satellite broadband business that competes with Starlink.
Amazon is already a well-established businesses with multiple growth drivers.
SpaceX is targeting a high valuation that makes it risky.
The upcoming SpaceX initial public offering (IPO) has caught the market's attention, and the buzz is getting louder as SpaceX, Anthropic, and OpenAI are all planning huge public debuts.
But investing in a giant IPO may not be the right move for most individual investors. The private investors who have funded these companies until now stand to gain a windfall after they go public. But IPO stocks, especially hyped-up ones, can be extremely volatile when they first start trading, and they often drop, leaving eager retail investors with substantial early losses.
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If you're interested in what SpaceX has to offer, you might want to consider Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) instead. Although Amazon is known for e-commerce and increasingly for artificial intelligence (AI), it's in the middle of launching a broadband satellite business similar to SpaceX's Starlink that opens up a massive new revenue stream.
Introducing Amazon Leo
Amazon has been working on a satellite business called Project Kuiper, which it has recently renamed Amazon Leo. It's a satellite broadband company offering high-speed internet services across the globe, including rural areas not covered by standard services. It's in the process of acquiring Globalstar, which will provide access to direct-to-consumer services on its network.
Amazon plans to launch Leo in the coming months and already has deals with Delta and JetBlue for in-flight Wi-Fi, as well as other companies, including AT&T and Vodafone. It will also provide satellite service for iPhones and Apple Watches.
It recently completed its 10th satellite launch and now has more than 250 satellites in orbit. It's planning 20 more launches within the next year and 30 more in 2027.
CEO Andy Jassy sees a strong symbiosis between Leo and Amazon Web Services (AWS), which makes both more powerful, and he said Amazon is front-loading spending on the project because it expects it to be a huge business.
It competes directly with SpaceX's Starlink, which, according to reports, represents the bulk of SpaceX's revenue today. It's a much bigger business, with more than 7,800 satellites in orbit and 2.7 million customers worldwide. It's also the dominant global rocket launcher, which a business Amazon isn't investing in at this time.
Why Amazon might be a better buy
There are several concerns about investing in SpaceX at its IPO. There's the overhype that often leads to a post-IPO drop, valuation concerns, and general uncertainty right now -- especially because its financial statements are still private at this stage. Elon Musk and his responsibilities at Tesla add risk as well.
Amazon, on the other hand, is a known entity, with several thriving and profitable businesses. It's nearing a $3 trillion valuation, with $742 billion in sales, while SpaceX is targeting a valuation of up to $2 trillion. If I had to choose one over the other, Amazon is the no-brainer winner, and I would revisit SpaceX at some point down the line.
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Jennifer Saibil has positions in Apple. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Apple, and Tesla. The Motley Fool recommends Delta Air Lines and Vodafone Group Public. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Before You Invest in SpaceX, Consider This Top Competitor

Key Points
AST SpaceMobile has already launched seven commercial satellites.
It plans to expand that constellation to 248 satellites over the long term, and its stock still looks cheap relative to those ambitious plans.
AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ: ASTS), a developer of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites, went public through a merger with a special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC) on April 7, 2021. The combined company's stock started trading at $11.63 on its first day, but it eventually sank to an all-time low of $2.01 on April 2, 2024. Yet today, its stock trades at nearly $70.
AST initially disappointed its investors by delaying its first commercial launches and racking up steep losses. But it bounced back after securing some big telecom deals and finally launching its first satellites. So is AST's high-flying stock still worth buying today?
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Why did AST's stock skyrocket?
AST's LEO satellites transmit 2G, 4G, and 5G cellular signals back to Earth. These satellites help telecom giants like AT&T, Verizon, and Vodafone extend their wireless networks to rural areas that terrestrial towers can't reach. The U.S. Missile Defense Agency also recently selected AST as a prime contractor for its Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense (SHIELD) program.
As of this writing, AST has launched seven satellites. In September 2024, the company launched its first five BlueBird (BB) satellites with 693-square-foot arrays. In December 2025, it launched its sixth BB satellite, a larger "Block 2" satellite featuring a 2,400-square-foot array that can process roughly ten times more data. This April, it launched its second BB Block 2 satellite, BlueBird 7, but it was accidentally deployed into an unrecoverable orbit.
How much higher could AST's stock soar?
AST plans to expand that constellation to 45-60 satellites by the end of 2026, and to 248 satellites over the next few years. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) authorized AST's ambitious long-term plans in late April, clearing the way for it to challenge SpaceX's Starlink, Amazon's Leo, and other early movers in the LEO satellite race.
If AST achieves that expansion, analysts expect its revenue to surge from $71 million in 2025 to $1.86 billion in 2028. They also expect its adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) to turn positive in 2027 and more than triple to $1.26 billion in 2028.
With a market cap of $18.7 billion, AST doesn't seem expensive at 10x and 14x its 2028 sales and adjusted EBITDA, respectively. Some concerns about future launch delays, failed deployments, or competition from bigger companies are likely compressing its valuations. Still, it could be a bargain at these levels if it achieves its long-term goals. Therefore, I think this space stock is still worth buying if you can ride out the volatility and tune out the near-term noise.
Should you buy stock in AST SpaceMobile right now?
Before you buy stock in AST SpaceMobile, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and AST SpaceMobile wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $473,985!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,204,650!*
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*Stock Advisor returns as of May 6, 2026.
Leo Sun has positions in Amazon and Verizon Communications. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends AST SpaceMobile and Amazon. The Motley Fool recommends Verizon Communications and Vodafone Group Public. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

AST SpaceMobile Is Impossible to Ignore Right Now. Here's What to Do With It.

Key Points
All eyes are on SpaceX's upcoming IPO, but there are already two strong buys among space stocks out there.
AST SpaceMobile is quickly commercializing its satellite-based cellular broadband network.
While better known for its space launch division, Rocket Lab's main business and key opportunity is with its space systems segment.
Investors are champing at the bit about SpaceX's upcoming initial public offering (IPO), but trying to get in early on Elon Musk's space exploration venture isn't the only way to profit from the "final frontier" of investing.
In fact, there are several space stocks currently trading in the public markets that, irrespective of SpaceX going public, have strong long-term prospects. That said, the SpaceX IPO itself could serve as an additional catalyst for these names, as increased attention toward the private space exploration sector may lead to a broad rally.
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Among this group, the following two stand out as compelling space stock opportunities: AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ: ASTS) and RocketLab (NASDAQ: RKLB).
AST SpaceMobile is ready for liftoff, as commercialization commences
Space-based telecommunications is one of the strongest opportunities among satellite stocks and rocket stocks. While there may be numerous ways to invest, looking at companies that can deliver phone and internet service from outer space may be one of the best opportunities for immediate profitability.
AAST SpaceMobile is primarily focused on commercializing its space satellite-based cellular broadband network. The company has partnerships with several telecom companies, including AT&T, Verizon, and Vodafone.
AST SpaceMobile generated $4.4 million in revenue in 2024, growing that to $70.9 million in 2025. In the years ahead, however, revenue and profitability could increase exponentially. The consensus analyst forecast calls for the company to reach $777 million in revenue next year. Earnings per share (EPS) could reach nearly $4 by 2029. Execution risk notwithstanding, given this potential and additional upside from further commercialization efforts, AST SpaceMobile appears well worth the risk at current prices.
Rocket Lab is vying to become a space hardware leader
Rocket Lab may be best known for its launch services division, but the launching of commercial and government satellites represents just a portion of the company's overall business. Rocket Lab's ambitions may seem limited compared to those of SpaceX, but it's still looking to become a space hardware leader.
For years, sales for the company's space systems unit have dwarfed those of the launch unit. Both units continue to grow at a healthy clip. Last year, the launch segment grew by nearly 40%, while the space systems segment grew by just over 34%. However, when it comes to contract backlog, it's all about increasing orders for the company's spacecraft systems and satellite components.
At first glance, Rocket Lab's long-term plans may seem already highly factored into the stock's valuation. Despite not yet reaching profitability, the company has a $48 billion market cap and trades for over 73 times its trailing-12-month sales. Even so, analysts expect annualized sales growth to remain in the mid double digits during this year and the next. As sales scale up and Rocket Lab soars toward profitability, shares are likely to stay on their current upward trajectory.
Should you buy stock in AST SpaceMobile right now?
Before you buy stock in AST SpaceMobile, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and AST SpaceMobile wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $524,786!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,236,406!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 994% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 199% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of April 20, 2026.
Thomas Niel has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends AST SpaceMobile and Rocket Lab. The Motley Fool recommends Verizon Communications and Vodafone Group Public. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

2 Space Stocks That Are Quietly Becoming Some of the Market's Best Opportunities

Key Points
SpaceX's IPO could be the biggest in history, with the company targeting a valuation of up to $2 trillion.
Other space stocks could benefit from the attention on the industry.
AST SpaceMobile is just starting to commercialize its business and has signed on a number of major telecoms.
SpaceX is preparing to go public, and it could be the biggest IPO in history.
Elon Musk's space company filed confidentially to go public last week, and SpaceX is reportedly targeting a valuation of as much as $2 trillion and could raise $75 billion from the offering.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
The company is more than just rockets. SpaceX owns the Starlink satellite broadband business, as well as the social media site X and xAI, following the merger between SpaceX and xAI in February, which valued the combined company at $1.25 billion. Elon Musk has big plans for SpaceX's future as well, including sending data centers into space and eventually reaching Mars.
Investors can't buy shares of SpaceX on the open market yet, though there are ways to get exposure to the company.
However, SpaceX's entry into the public market is likely to shake up other stocks in the space industry and beyond, meaning there could be opportunities for investors before the stock hits the trading floor.
One stock that could be a winner is AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ: ASTS), and it could get a tailwind as soon as SpaceX's S-1 prospectus comes out, which is expected later in April or early May.
Why AST SpaceMobile could be a winner
AST SpaceMobile is one of the biggest publicly traded satellite broadband companies by market cap, and it's just getting ready to commercialize its business.
The company is planning to put 45 to 60 of its Bluebird satellites into orbit this year, and it specializes in direct-to-device cellular broadband service for standard smartphones, making it a direct competitor to Starlink.
I don't expect AST to catch up to Starlink, which is the leader in satellite broadband, but it doesn't have to. Instead, I think there's a good chance that SpaceX's debut will create a halo effect for other satellite broadband companies like AST, sparking investor interest in the sector as they get a clearer view of how big the potential market is.
It could also make it easier for AST to raise capital through the equity and debt markets as SpaceX establishes a precedent for its peers.
What we might learn from SpaceX's S-1
SpaceX hasn't publicly released any formal financial reports, but some of its numbers have been reported in the media. According to Reuters, the company brought in $15 billion-$16 billion in revenue last year, the vast majority of that coming from Starlink, and around $8 billion in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA).
In other words, Starlink is the anchor of the company's $2 trillion valuation, meaning it's trading at a huge multiple based on its results. In the filing, SpaceX is likely to hype all aspects of its business, and that includes Starlink. Investors will get a better sense of where Musk & co. see the satellite broadband industry going and what they think is possible for it in the filing. It will also shed further light on Starlink's financial performance and prospects.
While investor reaction to SpaceX's S-1 will depend on the numbers, the document is intended to sell shares of the company to investors by design, and management is likely to hype the opportunity in front of it.
Can AST take advantage?
AST appears to be in the best position to take advantage of any additional investor interest in the satellite broadband industry. It's already signed up major telecom partners, including Verizon, AT&T, Vodafone, Telus, and Japan's Rakuten, and its revenue, while still small, is expected to grow by triple digits this year and next.
AST is much smaller than Starlink, but it has some competitive advantages, including its partnership with major telecoms and the fact that consumers don't need any special hardware to use it, unlike Starlink, which requires a terminal dish.
AST now has an opportunity to take advantage of the investor interest in satellite broadband, and with its business just starting to gain momentum, the timing could be perfect.
We don't know when SpaceX will file its S-1, but if investor reaction to the report is positive, that could give a significant boost to AST SpaceMobile as well.
Should you buy stock in AST SpaceMobile right now?
Before you buy stock in AST SpaceMobile, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and AST SpaceMobile wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $532,929!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,091,848!*
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*Stock Advisor returns as of April 9, 2026.
Jeremy Bowman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends AST SpaceMobile. The Motley Fool recommends TELUS, Verizon Communications, and Vodafone Group Public. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Prediction: This Stock Could Soar When SpaceX's S-1 Drops

Key Points
AST plans to expand its LEO satellite constellation over the next few years.
But its near-term gains could be limited in this wobbly market.
AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ: ASTS), a producer of low-earth orbit (LEO) satellites, saw its stock soar by more than 3,000% over the past two years. Let's see why it skyrocketed and whether it's still worth chasing this year in this unpredictable market.
Why did AST SpaceMobile's stock blast off?
AST's LEO satellites can beam 2G, 4G, and 5G cellular signals directly to mobile devices. It helps telecom leaders -- including AT&T (NYSE: T), Verizon (NYSE: VZ), and Vodafone (NASDAQ: VOD) -- extend their wireless networks to rural areas that terrestrial cellular towers can't reach. The U.S. Missile Defense Agency also recently chose AST as a prime contractor for its Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense (SHIELD) program.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
When AST went public by merging with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) five years ago, it was considered a speculative space stock. But in 2024, it finally launched its first five Block 1 BlueBird (BB1) commercial satellites. Last December, it launched its first four Block 2 BlueBird (BB2) satellites, which are 3.5 times larger but process roughly ten times more data.
AST aims to have 45-60 satellites in orbit by the end of 2026 and expand that constellation to more than 240 satellites over the long term. However, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) hasn't approved that massive expansion yet.
Can AST SpaceMobile maintain that momentum?
From 2024 to 2025, AST's revenue surged from $4 million to $71 million as it launched its BB1 and BB2 satellites for its telecom customers. But it's still unprofitable, and its expenses are soaring as it scales its business and launches more satellites.
From 2025 to 2028, analysts expect its revenue to surge to $1.92 billion. They also expect its adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) to turn positive in 2027 and nearly quadruple to $1.30 billion in 2028 as economies of scale kick in.
That bullish outlook hinges on the FCC's approval of its expanded satellite constellation, its SHIELD contract, and new telecom and government contracts. But with a market cap of $28.1 billion, AST already trades at 15 times its projected 2028 sales.
That valuation might seem reasonable relative to its long-term growth potential, but a single delay could drive away the bulls and cut its stock in half. As a result, AST could remain out of favor this year as the Iran War and other macro headwinds drive investors toward safer stocks. So while AST is still worth nibbling on as a long-term space play, I wouldn't go all-in just yet.
Should you buy stock in AST SpaceMobile right now?
Before you buy stock in AST SpaceMobile, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and AST SpaceMobile wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $497,659!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,095,404!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 912% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 185% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of March 26, 2026.
Leo Sun has positions in Verizon Communications. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends AST SpaceMobile. The Motley Fool recommends Verizon Communications and Vodafone Group Public. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Amid High Profile Deals, Is AST SpaceMobile's Stock a Buy in 2026?

(RTTNews) - Swisscom (SCMN.SW) said Fastweb + Vodafone has given notice of termination of the Master Service Agreement with Infrastrutture Wireless Italiane, or INWIT. The decision to terminate the MSA stems from INWIT's tower costs being above market level. Fastweb + Vodafone confirmed that all actions undertaken are in full compliance with the Master Service Agreement, including the right to terminate the agreement with two years' prior notice, effective end of March?2028. Also, Fastweb + Vodafone has filed an action before the competent courts to assert its contractual right to terminate the MSA.
Fastweb + Vodafone will initiate talks with INWIT to agree on a migration plan that will span over multiple years as per the provisions of the MSA and to ensure operational continuity until and after March 2028.
Swisscom shares are trading at 698.00 Swiss francs, down 0.43%.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Fastweb + Vodafone To Terminate MSA With INWIT; To Initiate Talks On Migration Plan

Key Points
Alphabet, Google's parent company, was an early investor in AST SpaceMobile and currently holds 8.9 million shares.
AST SpaceMobile is a satellite company looking to provide global cellular coverage from low Earth orbit.
It aims to launch a constellation of 45 to 60 satellites for continuous coverage in key markets by the end of the year.
Many investors may know Alphabet (NASDAQ: GOOG)(NASDAQ: GOOGL) as the parent company of Google, YouTube, and its artificial intelligence (AI) model, Gemini. But the company also has an investment arm that invests in high-growth companies across AI, healthcare, infrastructure, and even space.
The technology giant has a portfolio of 29 stocks, according to its most recent 13F filing, and the space company AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ: ASTS) tops the list as its largest public stock investment, with 8.9 million shares worth $903 million as of this writing. Here's what investors need to know about the satellite company and Alphabet's investment in it.
Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »
Alphabet was an early investor in AST SpaceMobile
AST SpaceMobile is an early-stage satellite company that has moved past research and development and into commercial operations. The company is developing a global cellular-broadband network in low Earth orbit to provide high-speed connectivity to standard mobile devices.
Alphabet first invested in AST SpaceMobile through convertible notes in early 2024. Alphabet, along with AT&T and Vodafone, was an early investor in these convertible notes, which were convertible into common stock at $5.75 per share.
As part of the agreement, AST SpaceMobile could force conversion if the stock price traded at 130% above the conversion price for 30 days, which it did in early 2025. As a result, the company told shareholders, including Alphabet, that it would convert these notes into nearly 26 million shares. Alphabet's portion of this represented the 8.9 million shares that it continues to hold today.
In recent years, the company has secured major commercial and government contracts with 50 mobile operators that serve 3 billion subscribers worldwide. It has also secured contracts with the U.S. government, including a $43 million contract to support the Space Development Agency (SDA) and a $20 million contract with the Defense Innovation Unit through a prime contractor to support communications over land, sea, and air.
What's next for AST SpaceMobile in 2026
AST SpaceMobile has done a good job securing major deals with communications providers and the U.S. government. Next up for the satellite operator will be deploying its satellite constellation to enable continuous coverage across key markets in the U.S., Europe, and Japan. To accomplish this, the company aims to have between 45 and 60 satellites in orbit by the end of this year.
So far, the company has deployed six of its BlueBird satellites into space. Five of those are its smaller satellites with a 693 square-foot communications array. At the end of last year, the company launched its sixth satellite, a next-generation 2,400 square-foot model that is currently the largest communications satellite array deployed in low Earth orbit. A seventh satellite was encapsulated with Blue Origin's New Glenn launch vehicle, which was scheduled to launch this month.
Longer term, AST SpaceMobile aims to build a constellation of satellites providing continuous coverage across key markets, with the goal of deploying 90 to 100 satellites in low Earth orbit. Getting there will require significant capital, as each BlueBird satellite costs between $21 million and $23 million.
The good news for investors is that AST SpaceMobile has built up its war chest. At the end of last year, the company had nearly $2.8 billion in cash and equivalents. It raised another $1 billion in February through convertible senior notes and has $80 million in liquidity remaining under its existing at-the-money equity facility.
Is AST SpaceMobile stock right for you?
Looking ahead, analysts covering the stock expect AST SpaceMobile to generate $178 million in revenue this year, $805 million in 2027, and $2 billion by 2028. Those analysts also expect the company to turn a full-year profit by 2028.
AST SpaceMobile has strengthened its balance sheet, and management told investors during its most recentearnings callthat it is now fully funded to manufacture and launch a constellation of 100 satellites, which would be enough to provide continuous cell service across the globe. The fact that the company is now fully funded is a good sign for investors.
That said, the stock isn't cheap by any means, and it currently trades at 155 times this year's projected sales and around 81 times the company's projected 2028 earnings. For that reason, AST SpaceMobile stock is best left to aggressive investors betting on its growth ahead who can stomach the volatility that comes with it.
Should you buy stock in AST SpaceMobile right now?
Before you buy stock in AST SpaceMobile, consider this:
The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and AST SpaceMobile wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $534,008!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,090,073!*
Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 949% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 192% for the S&P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors.
*Stock Advisor returns as of March 7, 2026.
Courtney Carlsen has positions in Alphabet. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends AST SpaceMobile and Alphabet. The Motley Fool recommends Vodafone Group Public. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Alphabet Owns 8.9 Million Shares of This Hot Space Stock. Is It a Buy?

AT&T, Inc. T introduces a Connected AI solution to expedite smart manufacturing processes. The Connected AI solution features advanced, Gen AI-powered modeling and analytics.
The solution finds out bottlenecks in the process, identifies root causes and also provides recommendations to fix them. Its integrated edge AI monitors the effectiveness of machines, figures out faults, and provides actionable insights and optimized maintenance planning. The solution comes with predictive maintenance that helps prevent problems and reduce downtime.
The solution’s AI-powered cybersecurity swiftly flags any issues, and speeds up detection and threat minimization processes. Gen-AI-powered knowledge management feature retains and retrieves institutional knowledge and uses the technical know-how at the right places to streamline operations. The feature addresses one of the key issues of the manufacturing companies, which is the loss of vast knowledge when a long-term employee retires.
The lack of a unified data sharing system and disjointed operations led to delayed insights, and reactive maintenance led to high downtime and inefficient manufacturing practices. AT&T’s leading-edge platform, which integrates 5G, edge AI and a generative AI platform, effectively addresses these issues.
The company has collaborated with industry leaders, such as MicroAI, NVIDIA and Microsoft in this venture. NVIDIA is offering fast video analytics and conversational AI capabilities. Generative AI at the edge is powered by Microsoft’s Azure Open AI. Pilot test results have shown significant improvement across several parameters.
How Are Competitors Faring?
AT&T faces competition from Verizon Communications, Inc. VZ and Vodafone Group Plc. VOD in the industrial IoT and smart manufacturing space. Verizon is rapidly expanding into private 5G networks and industrial automation solutions. Verizon is also collaborating with AWS to develop fiber and edge network infrastructure for AI applications.
Vodafone has a strong presence in the European private 5G market. The company is a major player in global IoT connectivity, automotive telematics and logistics. However, despite a strong presence in other regions, Vodafone lacks a presence in the U.S. market.
T’s Price Performance, Valuation & Estimates
AT&T’s stock has gained 2.1% over the past year against the Wireless National industry’s decline of 7.2%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Going by the forward price to earnings ratio, the company’s shares currently trade at 12.01 forward earnings, lower than the industry’s 13.14.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Earnings estimates for 2025 and 2026 have moved upward in the past 60 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
AT&T currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

Vodafone Group Plc

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