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RKLB
Rocket Lab USA, Inc. · Industrials - Space Launch & Systems
$107.24
-15.76% this month
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COMPARE
ASTS
AST SpaceMobile, Inc. · Communication Services - Space-Based Cellular Broadband
$80.66
-8.44% this month
Scoreboard verdict
Across AI score, momentum, valuation, upside, operating margin
RKLB
3
ASTS
1
Comparison scoreboard
RKLB LEADS 3/5AI Score
RKLB ✓59.6
ASTS 58.5
1Y Return
RKLB ✓+285.06%
ASTS +81.87%
Fwd P/E
RKLB ✓-6103.59
ASTS -393.08
Target Up.
RKLB -0.30%
ASTS ✓+1.00%
Op. Margin
RKLB N/A
ASTS N/A
Metrics last refreshed: 6/20/2026
Quick take
RKLB vs ASTS Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
RKLB (Rocket Lab) is a more operationally mature space company with established revenue from satellite launch and components, while ASTS (AST SpaceMobile) is an earlier-stage company with potentially transformative but technically and financially unproven direct-to-smartphone satellite broadband ambitions. Both are speculative growth bets on commercial space.
RKLB vs ASTS compares two commercial space investment theses: Rocket Lab's more diversified and operationally proven space services business versus AST SpaceMobile's transformative but technically complex direct-to-phone satellite broadband opportunity.
Live analysis · updated 6/20/2026
RKLB holds the edge across 3 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. RKLB leads on both 1-year return (+285.06%) and forward P/E (-6103.59x vs -393.08x for ASTS), a relatively favorable combination of momentum and valuation. Analyst consensus implies similar upside for both: -0.30% for RKLB and +1.00% for ASTS.
Normalized 1Y performance
RKLB
ASTS
Recent returns
RKLB
ASTS
Analyst price targets & sentiment
RKLB · 18 analysts
STRONG BUYHOLDSTRONG SELL
Buy (1.6/5.0)
Price target range
analyst low$60.00
analyst high$150.00
analyst mean$106.92
current price$107.24
-0.3% upside to analyst mean
ASTS · 9 analysts
STRONG BUYHOLDSTRONG SELL
Hold (2.8/5.0)
Price target range
analyst low$41.20
analyst high$108.00
analyst mean$81.47
current price$80.66
+1.0% upside to analyst mean
Who should consider this stock?
RKLB may suit investors who:
- →Want commercial space exposure through a diversified, operationally proven launch and space systems company
- →Value Rocket Lab's track record of consistent technical execution in commercial space
- →See Neutron as a meaningful medium-term growth catalyst while Electron and Space Systems sustain revenue
ASTS may suit investors who:
- →Want high-risk, high-reward exposure to direct-to-smartphone satellite broadband
- →Believe AST's MNO partnerships validate the commercial model for space-based cellular coverage
- →Are comfortable with significant technology, execution, and capital risk in exchange for potentially transformative upside
Performance & AI score
| Metric | RKLB | ASTS |
|---|---|---|
| AI score | 59.6 | 58.5 |
| AI rank | #170 | #190 |
| Latest close | $107.24 | $80.66 |
| 1M return | -15.76% | -8.44% |
| 6M return | +98.74% | +30.39% |
| 1Y return | +285.06% | +81.87% |
$10,000 invested — hypothetical growth (dividends reinvested)
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | RKLB | ASTS |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $38.51K (+285.1%) started 2025-06-18 | $18.19K (+81.9%) started 2025-06-18 |
| 5Y ago | $103.12K (+931.2%) started 2021-06-18 | $76.67K (+666.7%) started 2021-06-18 |
| 10Y ago | $110.06K (+1000.6%) started 2020-11-24 | $82.56K (+725.6%) started 2019-11-01 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
Valuation & upside potential
| Metric | RKLB | ASTS |
|---|---|---|
| Market cap | $67.01B | $31.31B |
| Trailing P/E | N/A | N/A |
| Forward P/E | -6103.59 | -393.08 |
| Price/Sales | 98.60 | 368.59 |
| EV/Revenue | 87.28 | 295.70 |
| Analyst target | $106.92 | $81.47 |
| Target upside | -0.30% | +1.00% |
Growth, profitability & risk
| Metric | RKLB | ASTS |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth | 63.50% | 1952.20% |
| Earnings growth | N/A | N/A |
| EPS growth | N/A | N/A |
| FCF margin | -31.64% | -1663.33% |
| Operating margin | N/A | N/A |
| Profit margin | -26.87% | 0.00% |
| ROIC proxy | -13.55% | -37.75% |
| Return on equity | -13.55% | -37.75% |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Beta | 2.50 | 2.63 |
| Debt/equity | 6.12 | 112.42 |
| Current ratio | 4.47 | 18.47 |
| Quick ratio | 3.87 | 17.91 |
Drawdown & downside risk
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
1Y risk snapshot
RKLB max drawdown43.01%
ASTS max drawdown47.69%
RKLB max wkly drop23.65%
ASTS max wkly drop25.44%
5Y risk snapshot
RKLB max drawdown82.96%
ASTS max drawdown85.57%
RKLB max wkly drop26.89%
ASTS max wkly drop33.07%
10Y risk snapshot
RKLB max drawdown82.96%
ASTS max drawdown91.07%
RKLB max wkly drop26.89%
ASTS max wkly drop33.07%
Performance metrics by period
| Period | Metric | RKLB | ASTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growth | +285.06% | +81.87% |
| CAGR | +285.42% | +81.95% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.87 | 1.05 | |
| Max drawdown | 43.01% | 47.69% | |
| Max daily drop | 14.70% | 15.53% | |
| Max wkly drop | 23.65% | 25.44% | |
| 5Y | Growth | +931.15% | +666.73% |
| CAGR | +59.47% | +50.30% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.92 | 0.84 | |
| Max drawdown | 82.96% | 85.57% | |
| Max daily drop | 17.60% | 27.16% | |
| Max wkly drop | 26.89% | 33.07% | |
| 10Y | Growth | +1000.57% | +725.59% |
| CAGR | +53.90% | +37.50% | |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.87 | 0.74 | |
| Max drawdown | 82.96% | 91.07% | |
| Max daily drop | 17.60% | 27.16% | |
| Max wkly drop | 26.89% | 33.07% |
Business comparison
| Category | RKLB | ASTS |
|---|---|---|
| Company | Rocket Lab USA, Inc. | AST SpaceMobile, Inc. |
| Sector | Industrials - Space Launch & Systems | Communication Services - Space-Based Cellular Broadband |
| Industry | N/A | N/A |
| Core business | Rocket Lab operates the Electron small satellite launcher and Space Systems component and spacecraft business, with the Neutron medium-lift rocket in development, serving commercial and government satellite operators globally. | AST SpaceMobile is building a space-based broadband cellular network using very large satellites (BlueBird constellation) that connect directly to standard smartphones, aiming to eliminate mobile connectivity dead zones globally without specialized hardware. |
| Investor focus | Investors track Electron launch cadence and revenue, Space Systems component revenue growth, and Neutron rocket development milestones as the company builds toward medium-lift market entry. | Investors track AST SpaceMobile's BlueBird satellite constellation deployment, commercial service launch with MNO (mobile network operator) partners, and revenue ramp from mobile operators paying for access to AST's space-based coverage. |
RKLB strengths
- →Established launch track record with Electron as one of the world's most-launched small rockets
- →Diversified revenue from both launch services and space systems components
- →Management credibility from consistently achieving technical milestones in commercial space
ASTS strengths
- →If successful, direct-to-phone satellite broadband addresses a genuinely large global coverage gap affecting billions of people
- →Partnerships with major mobile operators (AT&T, Verizon, Vodafone, Rakuten) validate the commercial concept
- →First mover advantage in large-LEO direct-to-standard-phone satellite service
Risks to watch — RKLB
- →Neutron rocket development represents a significant capital investment and technology challenge
- →Small satellite market competition remains intense
- →Profitability timeline extends as Neutron investment is front-loaded
Risks to watch — ASTS
- →Technology and regulatory complexity for deploying large LEO satellites for direct cell service is enormous
- →Significant capital required for full constellation build-out before commercial revenue scales
- →Competes with SpaceX Starlink's direct-to-cell product and other emerging satellite-to-phone solutions
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