ASTS, RKLB Stocks Get The Trump Pump After Hidden Space Stock Bets Emerge

• The new filings showed that Trump bought $1,001-$15,000 worth of ASTS stock and $15,001-$50,000 worth of RKLB shares.
• AST SpaceMobile remains under pressure following weak earnings and concerns about launch execution.
• Rocket Lab has emerged as one of Wall Street’s biggest Golden Dome trades, driven by growing exposure to missile-warning systems.

Shares of AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) and Rocket Lab (RKLB) are in the spotlight early Friday after fresh filings from U.S. President Donald Trump showed purchases in both space firms, alongside several major chip and communications stocks.

ASTS stock jumped 11% on Thursday, and RKLB shares advanced 8%. 

Trump Trades Reveal ASTS, RKLB Bets

The new filings released on Thursday showed that Trump bought between $1,001 and $15,000 worth of ASTS shares on March 17, while disclosures showed a larger $15,001 to $50,000 purchase in RKLB stock on Jan.21. The filings also revealed positions in Alphabet, Intel, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments and Corning. 

Investors viewed the basket as a broader bet on satellite broadband, launch infrastructure, AI defense systems, communications networks and semiconductor demand, particularly as Trump continues pushing his proposed Golden Dome missile-defense initiative. The system is expected to require large-scale satellite deployment, orbital tracking infrastructure, interceptor systems, secure communications networks and defense electronics, fueling investor interest across space and defense equities.

Trump’s ASTS Bet Faces Timeline Test

The renewed attention comes after AST SpaceMobile’s latest earnings report intensified concerns around satellite deployment timelines. The company reported a quarterly loss wider than Wall Street estimates, while revenue also missed expectations. Although the company maintained its full-year revenue outlook, investors focused heavily on manufacturing and launch execution risks.

Satellite communications consultant Tim Farrar said after the earnings call that AST SpaceMobile’s assumptions may not support its target of placing 45 satellites in orbit by year-end. He argued that the company would likely require multiple rapid launches from both Blue Origin and SpaceX to hit the goal.

Concerns intensified after BlueBird-7 failed to reach its intended orbit during Blue Origin’s New Glenn Mission-3 launch following an upper-stage anomaly. AST SpaceMobile later said the satellite is expected to de-orbit and that insurance should cover the loss.

However, investor sentiment improved after AST SpaceMobile disclosed that three BlueBird satellites are scheduled for a mid-June Falcon 9 launch. The company also said 32 satellites are already in advanced stages of assembly and reiterated its plans to launch every one to two months on average.

The company also highlighted government and defense opportunities, including potential exposure to Golden Dome-related programs and Space Development Agency contracts. President Scott Wisniewski said AST SpaceMobile sees a potential revenue opportunity nearing $1 billion in 2027, driven largely by contracted and recurring revenue streams.

RKLB Becomes A Golden Dome Standout

RKLB, meanwhile, has become one of Wall Street’s biggest Golden Dome trades. On Thursday, Rocket Lab revealed that the U.S. Space Force Chief of Space Operations General Chance Saltzman recently visited the company.

The fresh focus also followed a Congressional Budget Office estimate projecting that Trump’s Golden Dome initiative could ultimately cost as much as $1.2 trillion over the next two decades, with a major portion expected to go toward space-based interceptor systems and satellite networks.

During its latest earnings call, CEO Peter Beck said Rocket Lab was already supporting missile-warning systems, missile-tracking programs, hypersonic testing and Space-Based Interceptor initiatives connected to Golden Dome. Rocket Lab also disclosed that the company, alongside RTX Corporation, was selected for interceptor development work, while its Haste hypersonic launch platform secured a $190 million Department of Defense contract.

Investor optimism got a further boost after Rocket Lab said that its 1,000th Rutherford engine had rolled off the production line, reinforcing confidence in Electron launch scalability. On the other hand, demand for Neutron remains strong. Neutron is the company’s larger reusable rocket targeting constellation deployment and national-security missions.

How Do Retail Traders Feel About RKLB, ASTS?

On Stocktwits, retail sentiment around RKLB was ‘extremely bullish’ with ‘extremely high’ message volume, while ASTS drew ‘bullish’ sentiment alongside ‘high’ message activity. 

While ASTS stock has jumped 216% over the past year, RKLB stock has rocketed 449% over the same period. 

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