ASTS vs. JBL: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at ASTS and JBL, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Overview
JBL’s market capitalization of 24.26 billion USD is significantly greater than ASTS’s 15.96 billion USD, highlighting its more substantial market valuation.
ASTS’s beta of 2.02 points to significantly higher volatility compared to JBL (beta: 1.14), suggesting ASTS has greater potential for both gains and losses relative to market movements.
| Symbol | ASTS | JBL |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | AST SpaceMobile, Inc. | Jabil Inc. |
| Country | US | US |
| Sector | Technology | Technology |
| Industry | Communication Equipment | Hardware, Equipment & Parts |
| CEO | Abel Avellan | Michael Dastoor |
| Price | 45.6 USD | 226.01 USD |
| Market Cap | 15.96 billion USD | 24.26 billion USD |
| Beta | 2.02 | 1.14 |
| Exchange | NASDAQ | NYSE |
| IPO Date | November 1, 2019 | May 3, 1993 |
| ADR | No | No |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of ASTS and JBL by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each. Use the tabs to select the desired time period.
Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Profitability
Return on Equity
ASTS
-76.72%
Communication Equipment Industry
- Max
- 30.07%
- Q3
- 8.07%
- Median
- 1.84%
- Q1
- -11.93%
- Min
- -31.65%
ASTS has a negative Return on Equity of -76.72%. This indicates the company is generating a loss for its shareholders, which can be a result of unprofitability or negative shareholder equity and is often a sign of financial distress.
JBL
38.64%
Hardware, Equipment & Parts Industry
- Max
- 38.64%
- Q3
- 17.03%
- Median
- 8.95%
- Q1
- 1.23%
- Min
- -14.34%
In the upper quartile for the Hardware, Equipment & Parts industry, JBL’s Return on Equity of 38.64% signals a highly effective use of shareholder capital to drive profitability compared to most of its peers.
Return on Invested Capital
ASTS
-19.41%
Communication Equipment Industry
- Max
- 11.59%
- Q3
- 6.61%
- Median
- 2.97%
- Q1
- -2.58%
- Min
- -13.18%
ASTS has a negative Return on Invested Capital of -19.41%. This indicates that its operations are failing to generate a profit on the total capital invested, signaling significant inefficiency or value destruction.
JBL
15.00%
Hardware, Equipment & Parts Industry
- Max
- 17.24%
- Q3
- 9.87%
- Median
- 6.54%
- Q1
- 1.56%
- Min
- -7.50%
In the upper quartile for the Hardware, Equipment & Parts industry, JBL’s Return on Invested Capital of 15.00% signifies a highly effective use of its capital to generate profits when compared to its peers.
Net Profit Margin
ASTS
-7,033.20%
Communication Equipment Industry
- Max
- 23.65%
- Q3
- 9.21%
- Median
- 2.46%
- Q1
- -8.56%
- Min
- -29.87%
ASTS has a negative Net Profit Margin of -7,033.20%, indicating the company is operating at a net loss as its expenses exceeded its revenues.
JBL
2.02%
Hardware, Equipment & Parts Industry
- Max
- 22.76%
- Q3
- 11.04%
- Median
- 3.80%
- Q1
- 1.13%
- Min
- -8.57%
JBL’s Net Profit Margin of 2.02% is aligned with the median group of its peers in the Hardware, Equipment & Parts industry. This indicates its ability to convert revenue into profit is typical for the sector.
Operating Profit Margin
ASTS
-5,397.45%
Communication Equipment Industry
- Max
- 30.72%
- Q3
- 11.64%
- Median
- 5.79%
- Q1
- -2.28%
- Min
- -18.20%
ASTS has a negative Operating Profit Margin of -5,397.45%. This signifies the company is unprofitable at the operational level, as its core business expenses exceed its revenue.
JBL
4.08%
Hardware, Equipment & Parts Industry
- Max
- 25.25%
- Q3
- 13.73%
- Median
- 8.22%
- Q1
- 4.35%
- Min
- -0.79%
JBL’s Operating Profit Margin of 4.08% is in the lower quartile for the Hardware, Equipment & Parts industry. This indicates weaker profitability from core operations, which may stem from inefficiencies or competitive pressures on pricing.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | ASTS | JBL |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | -76.72% | 38.64% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | -23.81% | 3.10% |
| Return on Invested Capital (TTM) | -19.41% | 15.00% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | -7033.20% | 2.02% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | -5397.45% | 4.08% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | -486.80% | 8.86% |
Financial Strength
Current Ratio
ASTS
10.62
Communication Equipment Industry
- Max
- 3.40
- Q3
- 2.59
- Median
- 1.62
- Q1
- 1.32
- Min
- 0.86
ASTS’s Current Ratio of 10.62 is exceptionally high, placing it well outside the typical range for the Communication Equipment industry. This indicates a very strong liquidity position, though such a high ratio may also suggest that the company is not using its assets efficiently to generate profits.
JBL
0.98
Hardware, Equipment & Parts Industry
- Max
- 4.10
- Q3
- 3.23
- Median
- 2.37
- Q1
- 1.81
- Min
- 0.58
JBL’s Current Ratio of 0.98 falls into the lower quartile for the Hardware, Equipment & Parts industry. This indicates a tighter liquidity situation and a more constrained capacity to handle short-term debt than many of its competitors.
Debt-to-Equity Ratio
ASTS
0.02
Communication Equipment Industry
- Max
- 1.82
- Q3
- 1.00
- Median
- 0.53
- Q1
- 0.20
- Min
- 0.02
Falling into the lower quartile for the Communication Equipment industry, ASTS’s Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 0.02 points to a conservative financing strategy. This results in lower financial risk but potentially limits strategic investments compared to more leveraged competitors.
JBL
2.59
Hardware, Equipment & Parts Industry
- Max
- 1.19
- Q3
- 0.56
- Median
- 0.33
- Q1
- 0.11
- Min
- 0.00
With a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of 2.59, JBL operates with exceptionally high leverage compared to the Hardware, Equipment & Parts industry norm. This suggests an aggressive reliance on debt financing, which can magnify returns but also significantly elevates financial risk.
Interest Coverage Ratio
ASTS
-52.83
Communication Equipment Industry
- Max
- 16.12
- Q3
- 9.22
- Median
- 2.52
- Q1
- -0.75
- Min
- -12.07
ASTS has a negative Interest Coverage Ratio of -52.83. This indicates that its earnings were insufficient to cover even its operational costs, let alone its interest payments, signaling significant financial distress.
JBL
28.37
Hardware, Equipment & Parts Industry
- Max
- 28.37
- Q3
- 14.25
- Median
- 9.35
- Q1
- 2.86
- Min
- -13.16
JBL’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 28.37 is in the upper quartile for the Hardware, Equipment & Parts industry, signifying a strong and healthy capacity to meet its interest payments from operating profits.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | ASTS | JBL |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (TTM) | 10.62 | 0.98 |
| Quick Ratio (TTM) | 10.62 | 0.64 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (TTM) | 0.02 | 2.59 |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio (TTM) | 0.01 | 0.18 |
| Net Debt-to-EBITDA Ratio (TTM) | 1.82 | 1.73 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | -52.83 | 28.37 |
Growth
The following charts compare key year-over-year (YoY) growth metrics for ASTS and JBL. These metrics are based on the companies’ annual financial reports.
Revenue Growth
Earnings Per Share (EPS) Growth
Free Cash Flow Growth
Dividend
Dividend Yield
ASTS
0.00%
Communication Equipment Industry
- Max
- 4.72%
- Q3
- 0.38%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ASTS currently does not pay a dividend, resulting in a yield of 0%. This is a common strategy for growth-focused companies that prioritize reinvesting earnings, though it may be less typical in mature, income-oriented sectors.
JBL
0.14%
Hardware, Equipment & Parts Industry
- Max
- 2.16%
- Q3
- 0.66%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
JBL’s Dividend Yield of 0.14% is consistent with its peers in the Hardware, Equipment & Parts industry, providing a dividend return that is standard for its sector.
Dividend Payout Ratio
ASTS
0.00%
Communication Equipment Industry
- Max
- 91.96%
- Q3
- 26.44%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
ASTS has a Dividend Payout Ratio of 0%, indicating it does not currently pay a dividend. This is a common strategy for growth-oriented companies that reinvest all profits back into the business.
JBL
6.59%
Hardware, Equipment & Parts Industry
- Max
- 71.55%
- Q3
- 25.37%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
JBL’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 6.59% is within the typical range for the Hardware, Equipment & Parts industry, suggesting a balanced approach between shareholder payouts and company reinvestment.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | ASTS | JBL |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 0.14% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 6.59% |
Valuation
Price-to-Earnings Ratio
ASTS
-31.32
Communication Equipment Industry
- Max
- 44.37
- Q3
- 41.98
- Median
- 30.61
- Q1
- 23.44
- Min
- 2.14
ASTS has a negative P/E Ratio of -31.32. This occurs when a company has negative earnings (a net loss), making the ratio unsuitable for valuation analysis.
JBL
43.17
Hardware, Equipment & Parts Industry
- Max
- 86.58
- Q3
- 53.54
- Median
- 36.07
- Q1
- 25.99
- Min
- 12.16
JBL’s P/E Ratio of 43.17 is within the middle range for the Hardware, Equipment & Parts industry. This suggests its valuation is in line with the sector average, representing neither a significant premium nor a discount compared to its peers.
Forward P/E to Growth Ratio
ASTS
15.35
Communication Equipment Industry
- Max
- 15.97
- Q3
- 6.99
- Median
- 2.78
- Q1
- 0.66
- Min
- 0.05
The Forward PEG Ratio is often not a primary valuation metric in the Communication Equipment industry.
JBL
2.77
Hardware, Equipment & Parts Industry
- Max
- 5.22
- Q3
- 3.27
- Median
- 2.16
- Q1
- 1.77
- Min
- 0.00
The Forward PEG Ratio is often not a primary valuation metric in the Hardware, Equipment & Parts industry.
Price-to-Sales Ratio
ASTS
5,043.28
Communication Equipment Industry
- Max
- 6.38
- Q3
- 3.88
- Median
- 2.17
- Q1
- 1.15
- Min
- 0.37
With a P/S Ratio of 5,043.28, ASTS trades at a valuation that eclipses even the highest in the Communication Equipment industry. This implies the market has priced in exceptionally optimistic scenarios for future revenue growth, posing considerable valuation risk.
JBL
0.85
Hardware, Equipment & Parts Industry
- Max
- 8.50
- Q3
- 4.95
- Median
- 2.45
- Q1
- 1.17
- Min
- 0.32
In the lower quartile for the Hardware, Equipment & Parts industry, JBL’s P/S Ratio of 0.85 indicates its revenue is valued more conservatively than most of its peers. This could present a compelling opportunity if the market has overlooked its sales-generating capabilities.
Price-to-Book Ratio
ASTS
13.32
Communication Equipment Industry
- Max
- 14.42
- Q3
- 7.01
- Median
- 3.09
- Q1
- 1.38
- Min
- 0.41
ASTS’s P/B Ratio of 13.32 is in the upper tier for the Communication Equipment industry. This indicates that investors are paying a premium relative to the company’s net assets, a valuation that hinges on its ability to generate superior profits.
JBL
19.38
Hardware, Equipment & Parts Industry
- Max
- 7.53
- Q3
- 4.63
- Median
- 3.34
- Q1
- 2.35
- Min
- 0.48
At 19.38, JBL’s P/B Ratio is at an extreme premium to the Hardware, Equipment & Parts industry. This signifies that the market’s valuation is heavily reliant on future potential rather than its current net asset value, which can be a high-risk proposition.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | ASTS | JBL |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E, TTM) | -31.32 | 43.17 |
| Forward PEG Ratio (TTM) | 15.35 | 2.77 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S, TTM) | 5043.28 | 0.85 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (P/B, TTM) | 13.32 | 19.38 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (P/FCF, TTM) | -64.66 | 19.41 |
| EV-to-EBITDA (TTM) | -47.80 | 24.92 |
| EV-to-Sales (TTM) | 4858.60 | 0.91 |