ASTS vs. STX: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
Updated onHere’s a clear look at ASTS and STX, comparing key factors like historical performance, profitability, financial strength, growth, dividend, and valuation.
Company Overview
STX’s market capitalization of 31.71 billion USD is significantly greater than ASTS’s 15.96 billion USD, highlighting its more substantial market valuation.
With betas of 2.02 for ASTS and 1.43 for STX, both stocks show similar sensitivity to overall market movements.
| Symbol | ASTS | STX |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | AST SpaceMobile, Inc. | Seagate Technology Holdings plc |
| Country | US | IE |
| Sector | Technology | Technology |
| Industry | Communication Equipment | Computer Hardware |
| CEO | Abel Avellan | William David Mosley |
| Price | 45.6 USD | 149.44 USD |
| Market Cap | 15.96 billion USD | 31.71 billion USD |
| Beta | 2.02 | 1.43 |
| Exchange | NASDAQ | NASDAQ |
| IPO Date | November 1, 2019 | December 11, 2002 |
| ADR | No | No |
Historical Performance
This chart compares the performance of ASTS and STX 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.
STX
-127.18%
Computer Hardware Industry
- Max
- 123.03%
- Q3
- 15.78%
- Median
- -13.44%
- Q1
- -119.16%
- Min
- -227.95%
STX has a negative Return on Equity of -127.18%. 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.
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.
STX
30.37%
Computer Hardware Industry
- Max
- 30.37%
- Q3
- 20.44%
- Median
- 7.03%
- Q1
- -12.47%
- Min
- -31.70%
In the upper quartile for the Computer Hardware industry, STX’s Return on Invested Capital of 30.37% 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.
STX
17.49%
Computer Hardware Industry
- Max
- 40.72%
- Q3
- 10.87%
- Median
- 4.33%
- Q1
- -378.64%
- Min
- -753.20%
A Net Profit Margin of 17.49% places STX in the upper quartile for the Computer Hardware industry, signifying strong profitability and more effective cost management than most of its peers.
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.
STX
19.12%
Computer Hardware Industry
- Max
- 42.27%
- Q3
- 13.53%
- Median
- 4.56%
- Q1
- -295.01%
- Min
- -592.84%
An Operating Profit Margin of 19.12% places STX in the upper quartile for the Computer Hardware industry. This signals a strong ability to translate revenue into operating profit, outperforming most of its competitors in core business efficiency.
Profitability at a Glance
| Symbol | ASTS | STX |
|---|---|---|
| Return on Equity (TTM) | -76.72% | -127.18% |
| Return on Assets (TTM) | -23.81% | 19.75% |
| Return on Invested Capital (TTM) | -19.41% | 30.37% |
| Net Profit Margin (TTM) | -7033.20% | 17.49% |
| Operating Profit Margin (TTM) | -5397.45% | 19.12% |
| Gross Profit Margin (TTM) | -486.80% | 33.79% |
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.
STX
1.36
Computer Hardware Industry
- Max
- 20.73
- Q3
- 11.54
- Median
- 2.69
- Q1
- 1.40
- Min
- 0.73
STX’s Current Ratio of 1.36 falls into the lower quartile for the Computer Hardware 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.
STX
-6.21
Computer Hardware Industry
- Max
- 1.36
- Q3
- 0.67
- Median
- 0.04
- Q1
- 0.03
- Min
- 0.00
STX has a Debt-to-Equity Ratio of -6.21, which indicates negative shareholder equity where liabilities exceed assets. This is a critical sign of financial distress.
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.
STX
4.98
Computer Hardware Industry
- Max
- 32.50
- Q3
- 21.85
- Median
- 4.98
- Q1
- -7.71
- Min
- -34.24
STX’s Interest Coverage Ratio of 4.98 is positioned comfortably within the norm for the Computer Hardware industry, indicating a standard and healthy capacity to cover its interest payments.
Financial Strength at a Glance
| Symbol | ASTS | STX |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (TTM) | 10.62 | 1.36 |
| Quick Ratio (TTM) | 10.62 | 0.75 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (TTM) | 0.02 | -6.21 |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio (TTM) | 0.01 | 0.68 |
| Net Debt-to-EBITDA Ratio (TTM) | 1.82 | 2.05 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | -52.83 | 4.98 |
Growth
The following charts compare key year-over-year (YoY) growth metrics for ASTS and STX. 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.
STX
1.91%
Computer Hardware Industry
- Max
- 9.24%
- Q3
- 1.58%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
With a Dividend Yield of 1.91%, STX offers a more attractive income stream than most of its peers in the Computer Hardware industry, signaling a strong commitment to shareholder returns.
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.
STX
39.76%
Computer Hardware Industry
- Max
- 193.79%
- Q3
- 30.72%
- Median
- 0.00%
- Q1
- 0.00%
- Min
- 0.00%
STX’s Dividend Payout Ratio of 39.76% is in the upper quartile for the Computer Hardware industry. This indicates a strong commitment to shareholder returns but also suggests that a smaller portion of earnings is retained for reinvestment compared to many peers.
Dividend at a Glance
| Symbol | ASTS | STX |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 0.00% | 1.91% |
| Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM) | 0.00% | 39.76% |
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.
STX
21.21
Computer Hardware Industry
- Max
- 24.60
- Q3
- 24.01
- Median
- 20.31
- Q1
- 18.24
- Min
- 13.38
STX’s P/E Ratio of 21.21 is within the middle range for the Computer Hardware 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.
STX
0.71
Computer Hardware Industry
- Max
- 9.77
- Q3
- 5.18
- Median
- 1.77
- Q1
- 1.17
- Min
- 0.02
The Forward PEG Ratio is often not a primary valuation metric in the Computer Hardware 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.
STX
3.71
Computer Hardware Industry
- Max
- 57.61
- Q3
- 47.40
- Median
- 3.37
- Q1
- 1.56
- Min
- 0.43
STX’s P/S Ratio of 3.71 aligns with the market consensus for the Computer Hardware industry. This suggests its valuation, based on sales, is seen as standard and is on par with its competitors.
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.
STX
-38.22
Computer Hardware Industry
- Max
- 21.21
- Q3
- 14.71
- Median
- 9.28
- Q1
- 3.74
- Min
- 0.43
STX has a negative P/B Ratio of -38.22, indicating its liabilities exceed its assets and result in negative shareholder equity. This is a critical warning sign of financial distress.
Valuation at a Glance
| Symbol | ASTS | STX |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E, TTM) | -31.32 | 21.21 |
| Forward PEG Ratio (TTM) | 15.35 | 0.71 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S, TTM) | 5043.28 | 3.71 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (P/B, TTM) | 13.32 | -38.22 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (P/FCF, TTM) | -64.66 | 41.03 |
| EV-to-EBITDA (TTM) | -47.80 | 17.02 |
| EV-to-Sales (TTM) | 4858.60 | 4.22 |