Markets
markets

AST SpaceMobile slides on $1 billion convertible note offering, debt repurchase, and stock sale

AST SpaceMobile has slumped 8% in premarket trading after the company unveiled a trio of financing moves aimed at raising fresh capital to expand its satellite network while paying down existing, costlier loans.

After Wednesday’s close, the satellite network company said it intends to raise $1 billion through a private offering of convertible senior notes due in 2036 to qualified institutional buyers. Initial purchasers may also buy up to $150 million in additional notes by February 20, 2026. The proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes, including accelerating AST’s global satellite deployment, investing in US government space opportunities, and reducing higher-interest debt, per the release.

In a separate press release, AST also said it intends to repurchase up to $300 million of its existing convertible senior notes due in 2032, including $50 million of its 4.25% notes and $250 million of its 2.375% notes. The buybacks will be funded through concurrent issuances of class A common stock.

All transactions were “subject to market conditions and other factors,” the company added.

Earlier on Wednesday, AST shares had briefly climbed after the company announced it had successfully completed the “unfolding of its next-generation BlueBird 6 satellite.” However, the multilayered financing plan announced later in the day appears to have spooked investors, pushing the stock lower in after-hours trading and into today.

More Markets

See all Markets
markets

SpaceX gets a wave of bullish ratings from Wall Street analysts

SpaceX received more than a dozen positive analyst calls on Tuesday — including from major Wall Street banks — as they initiate coverage on Elon Musk’s space and AI company.

SpaceX went public on June 12 at a $2.2 trillion valuation, the largest debut in history. While the company hasn’t yet posted a profit, it seems to have convinced Wall Street that it will get there and grow its valuation on the way.

Of the at least 17 analysts that gave a rating on Tuesday, all but one gave it a “buy” or “outperform” rating. MoffettNathanson was "neutral."

The ratings come as SpaceX joined the Nasdaq 100 index, a benchmark tech-heavy basket of companies that underpins millions of portfolios. The inclusion adds built-in demand for the stock from index funds and ETFs.

Still, SpaceX fell more than 5% on Tuesday amid a broader sell-off, and is currently effectively flat from its opening price of $150 a share.

markets

Nike sinks to lowest level since 2014 after warning of “challenged” sales environment in Q4 report

Did Nike do it?

Investors had a mixed reaction after the global sports apparel company reported its fourth quarter earnings on Tuesday after the bell. Shares initially rose 5% as Nike beat out Wall Street expectations amid a hefty tariff refund bonus. However, the stock then sank to its lowest level since August 2014 in postmarket trading.

Here are the Q4 numbers:

  • Revenue of $11.0 billion (estimate: $10.8 billion).

  • Adjusted earnings per share of $0.20 (estimate: $0.12).

Ahead of this report, Nike warned that results would be flattered by a one-time tariff refund (now estimated at roughly $0.52 per share for the bottom line). That gave the company an extra cushion in snapping its streak of seven quarters of year-over-year profit declines.

Over the past year, the company had been punished by tariffs on imported goods, stagnant consumer spending, and increasing competition from other footwear brands like New Balance, Adidas, and Hoka.

Outgoing CFO Matthew Friend deemed it an “increasingly challenging operating environment, where sell-through remains challenged.”

Latest Stories

Sherwood Media, LLC and Chartr Limited produce fresh and unique perspectives on topical financial news and are fully owned subsidiaries of Robinhood Markets, Inc., and any views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the views of any other Robinhood affiliate, including Robinhood Markets, Inc., Robinhood Financial LLC, Robinhood Securities, LLC, Robinhood Crypto, LLC, Robinhood Money, LLC, Robinhood U.K. Ltd, Robinhood Derivatives, LLC, Robinhood Gold, LLC, Robinhood Asset Management, LLC, Robinhood Credit, Inc., Robinhood Ventures DE, LLC and, where applicable, its managed investment vehicles.