Latest news with #Ligado
Yahoo
05-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Viasat (VSAT) Soars 22.3% on Bullish Rating, Price Upgrade
We recently published . Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ:VSAT) is one of the companies that stood stronger last week. Viasat jumped by 22.32 percent on Monday to close at $20.28 apiece as investors took heart from an investment firm's bullish rating and price upgrade for its stock. In a market note on the same day, William Blair upgraded Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ:VSAT) to 'outperform' from 'market perform' previously, citing 'plethora of catalysts that improve the company's stock prospects over the next year,' including the potential spinoff and IPO of its defense technology business; an expected $568 million cash infusion from Ligado in fiscal 2026; and expectations of a positive free cash flow in the second half of the year, among others. William Blair underscored that Viasat, Inc.'s (NASDAQ:VSAT) consideration to list its defense technology business publicly could deliver a more than 100 percent upside to its shares over the next year. Carronade Capital has been pushing Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ:VSAT) to spin off its defense technology unit and list it publicly, arguing that it could be one of the most attractive pure-play defense technology platforms in the market with its double-digit revenue growth and strong margins, and could even drive the parent firm's share price to $100. Copyright: bluebay / 123RF Stock Photo Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ:VSAT) is scheduled to release its earnings performance for the first quarter of fiscal year 2026 after market close tomorrow, August 5. While we acknowledge the potential of VSAT as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an extremely cheap AI stock that is also a major beneficiary of Trump tariffs and onshoring, see our free report on the .
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
AST SpaceMobile price target raised to $44 from $36 at B. Riley
B. Riley raised the firm's price target on AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) to $44 from $36 and keeps a Buy rating on the shares. The company is gaining valuable L-band spectrum, the analyst tells investors in a research note. The firm says the company reached a comprehensive agreement with Ligado and other parties to settle litigation and enable a consensual restructuring where AST will gain access to 45 MHz of lower mid-band spectrum controlled by Ligado and Viasat (VSAT) subsidiary Inmarsat. Easily unpack a company's performance with TipRanks' new KPI Data for smart investment decisions Receive undervalued, market resilient stocks right to your inbox with TipRanks' Smart Value Newsletter Published first on TheFly – the ultimate source for real-time, market-moving breaking financial news. Try Now>> See the top stocks recommended by analysts >> Read More on ASTS: Disclaimer & DisclosureReport an Issue Royal Caribbean, Sunrun, Quantum, ON, AST: Insider Sales Surge! AST SpaceMobile reports settlement term sheet for lower mid-band spectrum access Bullish flow in AST SpaceMobile with shares up 2.11% AST SpaceMobile Stock (ASTS) Rallies Alongside Surging Demand for Satellite Internet AST SpaceMobile to join Russell 1000 Index Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Viasat Announces Comprehensive Agreement with Ligado Networks
Viasat expects to receive $568 million from Ligado in fiscal year 2026 CARLSBAD, Calif., June 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Viasat, Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global leader in satellite communications, today announced that its subsidiary Inmarsat Global Ltd. ('Inmarsat') has agreed to a binding term sheet with Ligado Networks ('Ligado') and AST & Science, LLC ('AST') to settle Inmarsat's opposition to Ligado's planned restructuring. Under the conditions set forth in the term sheet, Viasat anticipates receiving $568 million from Ligado in fiscal year 2026, which will primarily be used to manage near term maturities and address its extended maturity profile. Under the conditions of the term sheet, and subject to Bankruptcy Court approval, Inmarsat, Ligado and AST agreed to the following: Starting on September 30, 2025, Ligado will resume making quarterly payments of ~$16 million per quarter to Inmarsat. The quarterly payment amount increases 3% per year for the life of the contract (through 2107). Ligado will make a $420 million lump sum payment to Inmarsat on October 31, 2025. Ligado will pay a lump sum payment of $100 million to Inmarsat on March 31, 2026. Including the December and March quarterly payments, Inmarsat expects to receive a total of $568 million by March 31, 2026. Ligado's lawsuit against Inmarsat is stayed effective immediately and will be dismissed under conditions set forth in the term sheet. Viasat's considerable ability to provide essential mobile satellite services (MSS) globally remains unaffected. The agreement reflects Viasat's continued commitment to facilitate innovation that enables new MSS services while ensuring the interference-free provision of existing services, including vital safety services. The agreement also demonstrates the ability to introduce new satellite configurations within existing spectrum sharing terms that have provided critical stability in the industry for decades. 'We are pleased that our patient and disciplined approach to Ligado's bankruptcy paid off, resulting in a positive outcome for Viasat and our employees, customers, and shareholders,' said Mark Dankberg, Chairman and CEO, Viasat. 'We saw the opportunity of a favorable outcome when completing the Inmarsat acquisition and not only anticipated the potential of utilizing the cash proceeds from such an agreement to repay debt, which will soon further strengthen our capital position, but to also advance our growth strategy. To that end, we look forward to continuing our activities with the MSSA to ensure an open architecture, standards based multi-orbit approach to MSS based on continued cooperation mechanisms among MSS operators.' About ViasatViasat is a global communications company that believes everyone and everything in the world can be connected. With offices in 24 countries around the world, our mission shapes how consumers, businesses, governments and militaries around the world communicate and connect. Viasat is developing the ultimate global communications network to power high-quality, reliable, secure, affordable, fast connections to positively impact people's lives anywhere they are - on the ground, in the air or at sea, while building a sustainable future in space. In May 2023, Viasat completed its acquisition of Inmarsat, combining the teams, technologies and resources of the two companies to create a new global communications partner. Learn more at the Viasat News Room or follow us on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, and YouTube. Copyright © 2025 Viasat, Inc. All rights reserved. Viasat, the Viasat logo and the Viasat Signal are registered trademarks in the U.S. and in other countries of Viasat, Inc. All other product or company names mentioned are used for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners. Viasat, Inc. Contacts Dan Bleier, Public Relations, Viasat, PR@ Lisa Curran/Peter Lopez, Investor Relations, IR@ Forward-Looking StatementsThis press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to the safe harbors created under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Viasat uses words such as 'anticipate,' 'believe,' 'expect,' 'will,' 'would,' variations of such words and similar expressions to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements that refer to the pending Ligado restructuring transaction, the terms and conditions of the term sheet, Viasat's receipt of expected payments under the term sheet, Viasat's plans for the use of such payments, and bankruptcy court approval of the term sheet. Readers are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Actual results could differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include: risks and uncertainties related to the restructuring transaction and the settlement contemplated by the term sheet, which are subject to specified conditions, including bankruptcy court approval, and may not be consummated on the terms described, or at all. In addition, please refer to the risk factors contained in Viasat's SEC filings available at including Viasat's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. Viasat undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements for any in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Globe and Mail
15-06-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
AST SpaceMobile: A High-Risk, High-Reward Play on the Future of Connectivity
Forget what you thought you knew about satellite phones. While market attention remains fixed on artificial intelligence and quantum computing, a Texas-based company is making significant strides in its mission to revolutionize global internet access. AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ: ASTS) is on the verge of launching a commercial space-based cellular network that communicates directly with the smartphone in your pocket. After a volatile journey since its 2021 public debut, a series of critical developments in 2025 are bringing its ambitious vision into sharp focus. Here's what you need to know about this high-profile space stock. A work in progress AST SpaceMobile's first-quarter 2025 results underscored the capital demands of its ambitious mission, reporting a $63 million operating loss driven by heavy research and development (R&D) and manufacturing investments. But that figure now comes with important context. In a pivotal breakthrough, the company secured a term sheet granting it long-term (80-plus years) access to 45 megahertz (MHz) of premium lower mid-band spectrum in North America through a settlement with Ligado. To fund the deal, AST also lined up $550 million in non-recourse financing. This is a game-changing development. It locks in a vital strategic asset and injects substantial capital without shareholder dilution, resolving a major financial overhang and providing the company with a much clearer path forward. Armed with this backing, AST's projections look increasingly credible: gateway equipment bookings of roughly $10 million per quarter and its first major revenue surge, estimated at $50 million to $75 million, in the second half of 2025. The transition from R&D to commercial deployment is no longer theoretical. It's in motion. A market opportunity redefined The global mobile connectivity market is a behemoth, generating over $135 billion in 2024. Yet, vast swathes of the planet and billions of people remain disconnected due to the economic and geographical limitations of terrestrial cell towers. AST SpaceMobile aims to close this digital divide by transforming space into the ultimate cell tower. The company's next-generation Block 2 BlueBird satellites, featuring massive 2,400-square-foot communications arrays, are engineered to deliver up to 10 times the bandwidth of their predecessors. This technological leap represents a fundamental reimagining of telecommunications infrastructure, offering solutions to challenges such as rural tower maintenance, the high cost of 5G densification, and network outages caused by natural disasters. A deepening competitive moat AST SpaceMobile's core advantage is its ability to deliver broadband directly to standard, unmodified smartphones -- eliminating the need for specialized terminals. Unlike traditional satellite internet providers, AST enables seamless roaming between terrestrial and space-based networks, creating a user experience that mirrors existing mobile coverage. That advantage just became more defensible. The company's new long-term agreement for premium L-Band spectrum is a strategic coup, establishing a regulatory and resource barrier that few can match. Combined with a growing patent portfolio and spectrum-sharing deals with major carriers like AT&T and Verizon, AST is locking in a lead that's increasingly hard to close. But urgency is rising. SpaceX's Starlink may be limited to text messaging in its Direct-to-Cell beta, yet it has already completed its first-generation satellite constellation -- proof of its rapid deployment capability. To rival AST's broadband ambitions, Starlink must still secure new spectrum access and enhance its hardware. However, its momentum highlights the importance of AST's early mover edge. Other players are also closing in. Lynk Global, backed by SES, is advancing commercial operations, signaling that the race for direct-to-device dominance is well underway. A valuation demanding a long-term view As of mid-June 2025, AST SpaceMobile has surged 81% year to date, lifting its market cap above $12.5 billion. For a company just beginning to generate revenue, this valuation is undeniably priced for the future. Traditional satellite operators, such as Iridium, offer limited benchmarks. A better comparison might be early-stage biotech or deep-tech firms -- businesses where value hinges on scalability and binary execution milestones. If AST succeeds in launching its commercial service and captures even a modest share of its massive addressable market, today's valuation may prove conservative. The upcoming launch cadence is pivotal. AST plans five orbital launches over the next six to nine months, beginning in July 2025. The goal is to enable continuous cellular broadband coverage across the U.S., Europe, and Japan by 2026. Execution on that timeline could mark the company's transition from promise to reality, thereby justifying the market's confidence. Risks remain, but so does the asymmetric upside The bullish case for AST SpaceMobile has sharpened. With financing secured and spectrum access locked in, the investment thesis now rests squarely on operational execution. The biggest risks are no longer financial -- they're physical. Satellite manufacturing is complex, and any launch failure could derail the rollout timeline. Regulatory headwinds may also emerge, particularly as astronomers raise concerns about light pollution and radio interference from growing satellite constellations. Still, for investors with high risk tolerance and a long-term horizon, AST offers a rare asymmetric opportunity. The company has cleared major technical, strategic, and financial hurdles. Now comes the hardest part: executing at scale. Success would mean not just delivering broadband from space, but reshaping the entire architecture of global connectivity. That's a transformation worth watching closely. Should you invest $1,000 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 $653,702!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $870,207!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor 's total average return is988% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to172%for the S&P 500. 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Time of India
14-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
AST SpaceMobile reaches deal to settle Ligado's Viasat dispute
NEW DELHI: AST SpaceMobile has reached a deal under which the bankrupt satellite operator Ligado Networks would pay more than $500 million it owes to Viasat , and in turn, will gain long-term access to the L-band spectrum to accelerate its planned direct-to-smartphone services in the US and Canada. As per a joint statement on Friday, AST SpaceMobile would provide about $550 million to Ligado, of which, $535 million would be paid to Viasat-owned Inmarsat , settling the mobile satellite services (MSS) operator's opposition to its bankruptcy restructuring plan. Ligado will make a $420 million lump sum payment to Inmarsat on October 31, 2025, and another $100 million on March 31, 2026, including the December and March quarterly payments. Inmarsat expects to receive a total of $568 million in FY26, which it will primarily utilise to manage near-term maturities and address its extended maturity profile. Starting on September 30, 2025, Ligado will resume making quarterly payments of nearly $16 million per quarter to Inmarsat. The quarterly payment amount will gradually increase by 3% per year through the contract, which will run until 2107. Texas-based AST SpaceMobile, which has secured commitments for a $550 million loan to support the deal, currently operates five commercial BlueBird satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO). To recall, shortly after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, Ligado had sued Inmarsat on January 7 for allegedly breaching their 2007 L-band cooperation deal by not upgrading satellite terminals to avoid interference with the network. The lawsuit has now been stayed effective immediately, and will be dismissed under conditions outlined in the deal. 'We are pleased that our patient and disciplined approach to Ligado's bankruptcy paid off, resulting in a positive outcome for Viasat and our employees, customers, and shareholders,' said Mark Dankberg, chairman & CEO, Viasat. 'We saw the opportunity of a favorable outcome when completing the Inmarsat acquisition and not only anticipated the potential of utilising the cash proceeds from such an agreement to repay debt, which will soon further strengthen our capital position, but to also advance our growth strategy,' Dankberg added. As per the terms, as part of Ligado's ongoing restructuring, Inmarsat will support AST SpaceMobile receiving long-term spectrum usage rights for more than 80 years to up to 40 MHz of L-Band MSS spectrum in the United States and Canada held by Ligado, in addition to, access to an additional 5 MHz in the 1670-1675 MHz Band in the United States. Further, Inmarsat has agreed to provide its support of AST SpaceMobile's planned regulatory applications with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States and ISED in Canada, seeking authority to operate an NGSO system within the L-Band mid-band spectrum in North America.
