Rocket Lab vs AST SpaceMobile stock: RKLB vs ASTS
Updated from live prices and SEC filings
As of 18 Oct 2026: By market value, Rocket Lab is about 2.0 times the size of AST SpaceMobile ($31.92B against $15.82B). This year Rocket Lab has returned -33.1% and AST SpaceMobile -51.3%. Over the past year: Rocket Lab -23.3%, AST SpaceMobile -51.3%.
Rocket Lab and AST SpaceMobile are two of the most widely held space stocks among individual investors, and they are often compared even though they do different things. Rocket Lab launches rockets and builds spacecraft and components for other companies and governments. AST SpaceMobile is building a satellite network to connect ordinary phones directly to space.
RKLB vs ASTS side by side
| RKLB Rocket Lab | ASTS AST SpaceMobile | |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $50.84 | $40.66 |
| Market cap | $31.92B | $15.82B |
| Year to date | -33.1% | -51.3% |
| 1 year | -23.3% | -51.3% |
| Revenue | $769.1M (12 months) | $115.3M (12 months) |
| Revenue growth | +52.5% (12 months) | +2265.6% (12 months) |
| Gross margin | 37.3% | - |
| Net income | -$165.5M (12 months) | -$618.8M (12 months) |
| Cash and investments | $2.30B | $4.59B |
| Debt | $13.1M | $2.97B |
| Free cash flow (12 months) | -$371.1M | -$1.64B |
| Cash runway | 6.2 years | 34 months |
| Shares outstanding, 1y change | +24.8% | - |
| Insider buying minus selling (12 months) | -$683.3M | -$458.5M |
| US government contract awards (12 months) | $824K | None |
| Next earnings | 9 Nov 2026 | 9 Nov 2026 |
Financials are from each company's latest 10-Q and 10-K filings. Where 12-month figures are not yet available (for example, after a recent listing), the latest quarter is shown and labelled.
Key differences
- Business model: Rocket Lab sells launches, spacecraft and parts, so it already has hundreds of millions of dollars of revenue a year. AST's revenue depends on its network coming into commercial service with its mobile operator partners.
- Key milestone: for Rocket Lab it is Neutron, its larger rocket. For AST it is launching enough BlueBird satellites for continuous service.
- Customers: Rocket Lab's include NASA, the US military and satellite operators. AST's are mobile operators that share the revenue from its service.
- Funding: both have sold new shares to pay for growth, so the share count change in the table matters for both.
Full company pages
Frequently asked questions
Do Rocket Lab and AST SpaceMobile compete?
No. Rocket Lab is a launch and spacecraft company; AST SpaceMobile operates a satellite network for phones. They are compared because both are popular, high-growth space stocks.
What is the difference between Rocket Lab and AST SpaceMobile stock?
Rocket Lab: Launch provider (Electron, with the larger Neutron in development) that also builds spacecraft and satellite components. AST SpaceMobile: Building a satellite network designed to provide cellular broadband directly to standard, unmodified mobile phones, in partnership with mobile network operators.
Which is better, RKLB or ASTS?
That depends on what you want to own and how much risk you can take. Orbit Alpha does not make recommendations; the table compares size, growth, cash and dilution so you can weigh them yourself.
Prices from Yahoo Finance; financials, insider trades and share counts from SEC EDGAR; contract awards from USAspending.gov. Figures as of 18 Oct 2026, refreshed whenever the site updates. Orbit Alpha is information, not investment advice.
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