Applied Optoelectronics (AAOI) vs AST SpaceMobile (ASTS)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 8, 2026.
Summary
Applied Optoelectronics (AAOI) has outperformed AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) over the past year, gaining 291.1% versus a loss of 18.9%. Over five years, AAOI leads with a +1597.2% price change compared with +494.0% for ASTS. AST SpaceMobile is the larger company by market cap ($23.60 billion vs $10.40 billion), about 2.3 times the size.
Applied Optoelectronics converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of -8.4% versus -482.2%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | AAOI | ASTS |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $122.54 | $60.65 |
| Market cap | $10.40B | $23.60B |
| 1-day change | -5.85% | -3.91% |
| YTD return | +251.52% | -16.49% |
| 1-year return | +291.06% | -18.86% |
| 5-year return | +1597.23% | +494.03% |
| Forward P/E | 26.63 | — |
| EPS (TTM) | $-0.75 | $-2.13 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $455.71M | $70.92M |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +82.75% | +1511.77% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $-38.23M | $-341.94M |
| Gross margin | 30.04% | — |
| Operating margin | -11.98% | — |
| Net margin | -8.39% | -482.16% |
| 52-week high | $233.67 | $133.86 |
| 52-week low | $18.50 | $49.31 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -47.56% | -54.69% |
| Analyst consensus | none | hold |
| Avg. price target upside | +33.34% | +28.51% |
| Average volume | 9.46M | 12.11M |
| Shares outstanding | 84.91M | 299.79M |
| Employees | 4,691 | 1,126 |
| Sector | Technology | Consumer Discretionary |
| Industry | Semiconductors | Telecommunications Equipment |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- AST SpaceMobile is about 2.3 times larger than Applied Optoelectronics by market value ($23.60B vs $10.40B).
- AAOI has outperformed ASTS by 309.9 percentage points over the past year.
- Applied Optoelectronics is more profitable, keeping -8.4 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus -482.2 cents for AST SpaceMobile.
- AST SpaceMobile grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+1511.77% vs +82.75%).
- The two companies sit in different sectors: Applied Optoelectronics in Technology and AST SpaceMobile in Consumer Discretionary.
About Applied Optoelectronics
AAOI stock →Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. engages in the design, manufacture, and sale of fiber-optic networking products in the United States, Taiwan, and China.
Technology · Semiconductors · 4,691 employees
About AST SpaceMobile
ASTS stock →AST SpaceMobile, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs and develops the constellation of BlueBird satellites in the United States. The company provides a cellular broadband network in space to be accessible directly by smartphones for commercial use and other applications, as well as for government use.
Consumer Discretionary · Telecommunications Equipment · 1,126 employees
AAOI vs ASTS FAQ
Which is bigger, Applied Optoelectronics or AST SpaceMobile?
AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) is larger, with a market capitalization of $23.60B compared with $10.40B for Applied Optoelectronics (AAOI).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, AAOI or ASTS?
AAOI returned +291.06% over the past 12 months, compared with -18.86% for ASTS (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Are Applied Optoelectronics and AST SpaceMobile in the same industry?
No. Applied Optoelectronics is in the Technology sector, while AST SpaceMobile is in Consumer Discretionary.