Staying Away From SpaceX? Here Are 3 Other Stocks That Can Boost Your Portfolio's Satellite Economy Exposure.
Staying Away From SpaceX? Here Are 3 Other Stocks That Can Boost Your Portfolio's Satellite Economy Exposure.
Johnny Rice, The Motley FoolFri, June 26, 2026 at 11:49 AM UTC
0
Key Points -
Satellite-focused companies like Rocket Lab, AST SpaceMobile, and Viasat may offer more appealing ways to get exposure to the space economy than SpaceX.
With its Electron rocket and a growing satellite business, Rocket Lab is the closest peer to SpaceX, though the anticipated debut of its Neutron rocket carries significant execution risk.
While these three companies either carry steep valuations or are experiencing balance sheet challenges, each offers a unique angle on the satellite industry.
These 10 stocks could mint the next wave of millionaires ›
Space Exploration Technologies went public on June 12 in the biggest market debut in history. After some significant ups and downs since then, its market capitalization is still around $2 trillion, and given its lofty price-to-sales ratio of over 100, many investors are -- smartly -- staying on the sidelines.
If you want exposure to the satellite industry -- the key economic engine of SpaceX -- without that premium price tag, here are three stocks to consider.
Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now, when you join Stock Advisor. See the stocks »
1. Rocket Lab
Rocket Lab USA (NASDAQ: RKLB) is the closest peer to SpaceX in its core businesses. It launches rockets and manufactures satellites and satellite components.
Its Electron rocket is the world's third-most-launched orbital rocket, behind only SpaceX's Falcon 9 and China's Long March family of rockets. The company's satellite segment has grown rapidly, and now accounts for nearly 70% of revenue.
Here's a look at the company's basic financials:
Metric
Figure
Revenue (TTM)
$679.6 million
Earnings per share (TTM)
($0.32)
Free cash flow (TTM)
($316.3 million)
Price-to-sales ratio
78
Source: Yahoo! Finance. TTM = trailing 12 months. P/S ratio as of June 24, 2026.
The bull case
The company is nearing the debut of Neutron, a much bigger, partially reusable rocket that will directly compete with the Falcon 9, SpaceX's workhorse. If Rocket Lab can successfully fly it, the company has the opportunity to achieve a step change in sales and could, over time, meaningfully encroach on SpaceX's slice of the launch pie.
The bear case
Unfortunately, the date for Neutron's first flight has slipped multiple times, and the company has enormous execution risks ahead. And of course, its valuation is extremely high, with a price-to-sales (P/S) ratio comparable to SpaceX's. That said, as a much smaller player at the moment, it will be easier for Rocket Lab to grow into that valuation.
2. AST SpaceMobile
AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ: ASTS) is a purer satellite play, with a service that competes with Starlink. AST's satellite network beams high-speed data to unmodified smartphones -- no special hardware needed.
Metric
Figure
Revenue (TTM)
$84.9 million
Earnings per share (TTM)
($1.80)
Free cash flow (TTM)
($1.37 billion)
Price/sales ratio
234
Source: Yahoo! Finance. TTM = trailing 12 months. P/S ratio as of June 24, 2026.
The bull case
AST's technology provides up to 5G coverage -- faster than Starlink -- and offers greater capacity in urban areas. To be sure, it is still designed primarily to fill cell coverage gaps in rural areas, but AST's satellites have much more capacity in more densely populated areas.
The company also has some pretty impressive partners, including AT&T and Verizon.
Advertisement
The bear case
While there is a large potential market for this service, no one really knows how big it really is. AST's coverage is designed as an add-on, not a replacement for terrestrial networks.
Like most space stocks, its valuation is pretty extreme, with a P/S of about 234. And launching and maintaining satellites is an expensive endeavor, especially when you don't also have a rocket-launching business in-house.
A satellite orbits the earth.
Image source: Getty Images.
3. Viasat
Finally, Viasat (NASDAQ: VSAT). Traditionally, the company's most valuable business has been its in-flight connectivity service -- the Wi-Fi you use when flying on United or American. Recently, its defense sector business has become the major growth driver.
Metric
Figure
Revenue (TTM)
$4.64 billion
Earnings per share (TTM)
($0.25)
Free cash flow (TTM)
$597.1 million
Price/sales ratio
1.8
Source: Yahoo! Finance. TTM = trailing 12 months. P/S ratio as of June 24, 2026.
The bull case
Viasat has a large revenue backlog, and recently, its defense and government contracts have grown rapidly. The aviation business has been on the back foot, but there are signs that things could be turning a corner, given some of Starlink's technical limitations.
The bear case
Three years ago, Viasat's strategic acquisition of Inmarsat saddled the company with nearly $6 billion in net debt, and interest payments eat much of the cash it generates. The company also suffered a serious setback in 2023 when a (then) brand-new satellite was permanently damaged, severely limiting its capacity.
The company has since handled the issue by launching an additional satellite, but it's a clear example of how much damage a single botched deployment can cause.
Don't miss this second chance at a potentially lucrative opportunity
Ever feel like you missed the boat in buying the most successful stocks? Then you'll want to hear this.
On rare occasions, our expert team of analysts issues a "Double Down" stock recommendation for companies that they think are about to pop. If you're worried you've already missed your chance to invest, now is the best time to buy before it's too late. And the numbers speak for themselves:
Nvidia: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2009, you'd have $516,781!*
Apple: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2008, you'd have $55,859!*
Netflix: if you invested $1,000 when we doubled down in 2004, you'd have $387,428!*
Right now, we're issuing "Double Down" alerts for three incredible companies, available when you join Stock Advisor, and there may not be another chance like this anytime soon.
See the 3 stocks »
*Stock Advisor returns as of June 26, 2026.
Johnny Rice has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends AST SpaceMobile and Rocket Lab. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Source: “AOL Money”
