Rakuten Group, Inc., Rakuten Mobile, Inc. and Mikitani Hiroshi, identified as a ten percent owner of AST SpaceMobile (EXCHANGE:ASTS), completed the sale of 3,040,000 shares of Class A common stock across April 14 and April 15, 2026, for approximately $270 million in aggregate proceeds.
The disposition was split into two separate transactions. On April 14, sellers moved 1,690,000 shares at a weighted average price of $91.42. Those shares changed hands in multiple transactions at prices ranging between $87.50 and $103.96 per share. The following day, April 15, an additional 1,350,000 shares were sold at a weighted average price of $86.22, in multiple trades priced from $84.04 to $88.71 per share.
After these sales, Rakuten Mobile, Inc. continues to directly hold 27,980,155 shares of AST SpaceMobile. Mikitani Hiroshi, who serves as founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Rakuten Group, Inc., may be deemed the beneficial owner of the shares held by Rakuten Mobile, although he disclaims beneficial ownership except to the extent of any indirect pecuniary interest.
AST SpaceMobile’s stock has appreciated markedly over the past year, rising 289% over that period. At the same time, InvestingPro Tips cited in public disclosures emphasize that the share price remains quite volatile and noted the company is not expected to be profitable this year.
Corporate developments at AST SpaceMobile include the scheduled launch of its BlueBird 7 satellite on April 19 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. That launch is slated to fly as part of Blue Origin’s New Glenn-3 mission.
Analyst coverage has been active around recent developments. Deutsche Bank lowered its price target for AST SpaceMobile from $139 to $117 while maintaining a Buy rating; the firm cited competition concerns in light of Amazon’s acquisition of Globalstar. Barclays, meanwhile, raised its price target to $65 from $60 but retained an Underweight rating, pointing to successful satellite launches and the company’s revenue guidance for 2026 in support of the adjustment.
Operationally, AST SpaceMobile reported fourth-quarter 2025 results that beat revenue expectations by 30% while missing on EBITDA by 9%. The company has issued revenue guidance for 2026 of $150 million to $200 million, which management attributes primarily to anticipated gateway deliveries and achievement of government milestones.
A recent visit from a Meta executive was noted in company communications, underscoring industry interest in AST SpaceMobile’s technical approach. The company’s model centers on deploying large, high-power satellites that are designed to connect directly to standard smartphones. AST SpaceMobile has stated plans to deploy between 45 and 60 satellites by 2026.
Market reaction to space-sector activity has been evident: AST SpaceMobile shares rose 9% following NASA’s launch of the Artemis II mission, a move observers cited as broadly supportive for space-related equities.
This report presents the transactions and publicly disclosed company updates without additional commentary. The details above reflect the reported sales, analyst actions, quarterly results and near-term operational milestones as communicated by the parties involved.