SpaceX outperforms peers in October as Viasat leads space stocks

SpaceX holds up better than peers in October

Yahoo Finance reports that SpaceX, traded as SPCX, is ending October in a stronger position than AST SpaceMobile, Rocket Lab and Planet Labs, although it still declined over the month. SPCX fell 5%, which was a smaller drop than ASTS at 27%, RKLB at 15% and PL at 13%. Viasat, traded as VSAT, was the only name in the group to rise, gaining 11%.

Stocktwits data cited by Yahoo Finance said SPCX retail sentiment moved to bearish from bullish a month earlier, with low message volume. The shares were down 11% year to date.

SpaceX reports revenue growth and expands wireless ambitions

Yahoo Finance says SpaceX paired its October updates with strong third-quarter results. The company reported revenue of $14.58 billion, up 161% from a year earlier, and net income of $4.4 billion. Its Super Intelligence business contributed $7.56 billion, while connectivity revenue rose 69% to $5.25 billion. Starlink ended September with 13.6 million consumer subscribers.

The article also says a possible Tesla merger drew attention. Both companies have formed special committees to review a potential deal, but no agreement has been reached. Elon Musk said, “I think it would be a good idea,” while adding that the special committees will decide.

Yahoo Finance reports that SpaceX also moved further into wireless plans by agreeing to buy Grain Management’s nationwide 800 MHz spectrum portfolio, subject to regulatory approval. The spectrum is intended to support Starlink Mobile’s satellite and terrestrial services. Separately, the FCC approved a 15,000-satellite Starlink Mobile constellation. The company is also reported to be discussing access to at least 80,000 U.S. cellular sites as it considers a nationwide wireless network.

Rocket Lab delays Neutron while advancing other programs

According to Yahoo Finance, Rocket Lab’s October news combined a delay on Neutron with progress in launches, robotics and defense. The company pushed Neutron’s first flight to 2027 after finding air pockets in the carbon-composite layers of a first-stage tank dome. Rocket Lab said it has corrected the manufacturing process and is building a replacement, but tank assembly, pressure testing and cryogenic testing still need to be completed.

CEO Peter Beck said he preferred to show ongoing work rather than give a date he might later revise. The article notes that Neutron’s second stage and thrust module have arrived in Wallops, Virginia, for ground testing.

Rocket Lab also completed its 98th Electron mission and 19th launch of 2026 by delivering three HawkEye 360 satellites. It then shipped its 100th Electron, though that flight has not yet happened. On the non-rocket side, the company showed a NASA-backed robotic arm meant to move across spacecraft and carry out repairs, with a demonstration planned for late 2027. Its defense business also advanced, with eight of 18 spacecraft in production under an existing $515 million Space Development Agency program. A separate $816 million award lifted the combined potential value of the two programs above $1.3 billion. RKLB sentiment on Stocktwits slipped to neutral from bullish a month earlier, with normal message volume, and shares were down 15% year to date.

Viasat gains on deal talk, NASA work and partnerships

Yahoo Finance reports that Viasat was the month’s strongest performer, helped by takeover speculation and business updates. Satellite consultant Tim Farrar suggested Amazon could buy Viasat and said AST SpaceMobile had tried to assemble a competing bid, but no transaction has been announced.

The company also launched the Rocket Lab-built Maxwell spacecraft under two NASA awards worth a combined $81 million. Testing through March 2027 is meant to evaluate commercial alternatives to NASA’s older satellite-relay system. The article says a Terrestar memorandum described possible links between Terrestar’s planned CaStar network and Equatys, Viasat’s venture with Space42. Viasat also joined Bridge Alliance to help mobile operators extend satellite coverage. In addition, Viasat asked the FCC to deny AST’s overseas spectrum request, citing interference and allocation concerns, while AST pointed to national approvals and technical safeguards. On Stocktwits, VSAT sentiment rose to extremely bullish from neutral a month earlier, with high message volume, and the shares were up 126% year to date.

AST SpaceMobile and Planet Labs also report progress amid share declines

Yahoo Finance says AST SpaceMobile continued building toward service launches, but investors remained focused on competition and execution. Piper Sandler downgraded ASTS to Neutral from Overweight and cut its target to $54 from $98, while Clear Street stayed positive on the company’s direct-to-cell lead. AST says it aims to start initial intermittent coverage before year-end in the U.S., Canada, Japan, the U.K. and Saudi Arabia. It reported more than 60 gateways deployed, installed or planned, plus partnerships with more than 60 mobile operators serving over 3 billion subscribers.

The company also received Brazilian spectrum approvals, signed four regional operators and planned four gateways. A Thursday FCC filing said Philippine service with Smart Communications is expected to begin imminently, with local approvals already in place. Stocktwits sentiment for ASTS was bearish from bullish a month ago, with low message volume, and shares were down 41% year to date.

Planet Labs’ October update included a Google Project Suncatcher demonstration, the launch of Tanager-2 and 18 SuperDoves, and an ESA assignment to build Slovenia’s Space Resilience Node as a 12-month disaster-detection pilot. Pelican-12 was also launched, making it Planet’s fifth Pelican and 25th satellite launched in 2026. Yahoo Finance says it carries Nvidia Jetson hardware for onboard AI and an SES package to test faster satellite-relay data delivery. The company’s second-generation Pelicans are intended to produce 30-centimeter imagery, compared with 50 centimeters for the first generation. NASA also gave Planet an evaluation task order covering more than 250,000 square kilometers of Tanager hyperspectral data to assess its quality and usefulness for Earth science. PL sentiment remained bearish for a month with low message volume, and the shares were down 27% year to date.