▌Top Stocks · SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS·Updated July 18, 2026
The Best Satellite Communications Stocks Right Now (Updated July 2026)
These seven satellite communications stocks span direct-to-device, aviation, IoT, and network infrastructure, ranked by overall investment quality for July 2026.
Top Stocks · SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONSUpdated July 18, 2026
Satellite communications is moving from a niche connectivity layer into a more central part of global communications infrastructure. That shift matters because demand is broadening well beyond traditional remote links into aviation, maritime, enterprise, public safety, and government networks. At the same time, the market is evolving from legacy geostationary capacity toward multi-orbit architectures, software-defined networks, and direct-to-device services that can eventually extend coverage to standard smartphones and low-power connected devices.
For investors, this theme spans several different business models. Some companies operate satellite networks and monetize recurring service revenue, while others own spectrum, build terminals and modems, or integrate ground infrastructure for defense and commercial customers. The most important structural drivers right now are resilient connectivity demand, the expansion of low-Earth-orbit and direct-to-device systems, and rising government and defense interest in secure, ubiquitous communications. Those tailwinds are real, but this remains a capital-intensive, execution-sensitive part of the market.
In this list, the stocks are ranked by investment quality, not just by thematic excitement. That means balance between business relevance, profitability, growth, earnings execution, and our composite quality metrics. The countdown starts with the more speculative or operationally challenged names and works down to the strongest overall pick at the end, from #7 through #1.
For this screen, we focused on US-listed satellite communications names and related communications-equipment companies with market capitalizations above $500 million, then ranked them by investment quality using primary-source financial data, profitability, growth, earnings consistency, analyst sentiment, and our composite quality grade. Because this is a thematic list, some companies are pure-play network operators while others are infrastructure or equipment providers with meaningful satellite exposure. The order is a countdown, so the highest-ranked name appears last at #1.
Market cap: $484.2M · Quality grade: C · Analyst consensus: Hold (avg target $9.5)
What they do. The company provides broadband connectivity services to the aviation industry, selling in-flight systems, in-flight services, airborne equipment, antennas, software, and engineering support. Gogo also operates supporting network infrastructure, towers, cybersecurity software, and data centers, with products sold primarily to aircraft operators and business aviation OEMs through a dealer network.
Why it fits. Gogo belongs on a satellite communications list because in-flight connectivity is becoming a major end market for multi-orbit satellite capacity. Its platform spans antennas, airborne equipment, and service delivery, which gives it exposure not just to bandwidth demand but also to the hardware and integration layer that embeds satellite links into business aviation.
Numbers that matter. Revenue stands at $906.5 million, with EBITDA of $181.7 million and a 42.9% gross margin. Operating margin is 14.8%, but net margin is only 1.54%, showing that profitability is still thin at the bottom line. Revenue declined 1.7% year over year, while earnings growth was 7.2% year over year. Valuation is mixed: trailing P/E is 35.8, while forward P/E is 6.02, suggesting expectations for a meaningful earnings rebound.
Recent momentum. Earnings execution has been uneven, with a beat rate of 3 out of the last 7 reported quarters. The company merely met estimates in May 2026 at $0.08 per share, after a sharp miss in February 2026 when it posted a loss of $0.07 against a $0.02 profit estimate. Analyst sentiment is restrained, with 1 Buy and 2 Hold ratings, and the next earnings report is scheduled for August 6.
What they do. EchoStar is a diversified communications company spanning pay-TV, wireless, broadband, and satellite services. Within satellite communications, its Broadband and Satellite Services segment provides broadband satellite technologies, managed services, hardware, communications solutions for government and enterprise customers, in-flight connectivity solutions, and gateway and terminal equipment for other satellite systems.
Why it fits. EchoStar has broad exposure to the satcom value chain, from consumer broadband to aeronautical and government connectivity, plus ground equipment and network design. That breadth gives it real thematic relevance, especially as resilient connectivity and multi-transport communications become more important across underserved, enterprise, and aviation markets.
Numbers that matter. Revenue is large at $14.8 billion, and EBITDA reached $1.59 billion, but the quality of earnings is the central issue here. Net margin is deeply negative at -97.56%, return on equity is -112.28%, and revenue fell 5.2% year over year. Earnings growth was also sharply negative at -85.6% year over year. The forward P/E of 1.70 points to expectations for a dramatic recovery, but current profitability metrics remain weak.
Recent momentum. EchoStar has beaten estimates in 4 of the last 7 quarters, but the path has been volatile. In May 2026, it reported a loss of $0.71 per share versus a -$1.22 estimate, a 41.8% positive surprise, yet in February 2026 it missed badly with a -$4.16 result against a -$0.746 estimate. Analyst coverage leans cautious, with 1 Buy and 4 Hold ratings ahead of the July 30 earnings report.
What they do. Globalstar provides mobile satellite services, including two-way voice and data, commercial IoT connectivity, SPOT emergency and tracking devices, satellite transmitter modules, and engineering services built around its MSS and terrestrial spectrum licenses. Its customer base spans forestry, maritime, government, oil and gas, mining, emergency services, construction, and transportation.
Why it fits. Globalstar is one of the more direct ways to invest in the expanding role of satellite connectivity for remote operations, asset tracking, emergency response, and spectrum-enabled services. It is especially relevant to the current theme because the market is increasingly rewarding companies with mobile satellite service assets, IoT endpoints, and pathways into government and direct-to-device style applications.
Numbers that matter. Revenue is $283.0 million, and revenue growth was strong at 16.7% year over year, one of the better top-line growth rates on this list. Gross margin is a healthy 63.7% and operating margin is 16.32%, but net margin remains negative at -3.09%, so the company has not fully converted growth into bottom-line profitability. EBITDA was $109.2 million, and the forward P/E of 9.22 suggests the market expects earnings to turn positive, with next-year EPS estimated at 0.3063.
Recent momentum. The recent earnings record is inconsistent, with a beat rate of 3 out of 7 quarters. Globalstar missed in both May 2026 and February 2026, including a May result of -$0.09 per share versus a -$0.01 estimate, an -800.0% surprise. Even so, analyst sentiment is not bearish in the limited coverage available, with a consensus score of 4.3333 and a $90 average target ahead of the August 6 report.
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Market cap: $48.4M · Quality grade: C · Analyst consensus: Hold (avg target $6)
What they do. Comtech provides critical communications technology through its Satellite and Space Communications segment and its Allerium emergency-services business. On the satellite side, it sells ground infrastructure, system integration, amplifiers, modems, VSAT platforms, frequency converters, transportable terminals, and troposcatter equipment, serving defense contractors, governments, and telecom customers.
Why it fits. Comtech is not a satellite operator, but it is a meaningful satcom infrastructure and equipment play. Its exposure to GEO, MEO, and LEO ground systems, portable terminals, and defense-oriented communications makes it relevant to investors looking for picks-and-shovels exposure to satellite network buildouts and mission-critical connectivity.
Numbers that matter. Revenue is $454.2 million, but it declined 16.4% year over year, which is a clear weak point. Gross margin is 33.0%, operating margin is -0.64%, and net margin is -5.52%, so profitability remains under pressure despite EBITDA of $37.0 million. Forward P/E is 5.29, but next-year EPS is still estimated at -0.81, which shows the turnaround case is not yet complete.
Recent momentum. One positive is earnings execution: Comtech has beaten estimates in 6 of the last 7 quarters. Its June 2026 result of -$0.26 per share beat the -$0.30 estimate by 13.3%, following a 40.0% beat in March 2026. Analyst coverage is sparse, with 1 Hold rating and a $6 average target, which reflects both the small size and the speculative nature of the story.
What they do. Gilat designs and manufactures ground-based satellite communications equipment and provides managed network solutions. Its portfolio includes cloud-based satellite network platforms, VSATs, amplifiers, modems, on-the-move antennas, ESA antennas, transceivers, portable terminals, and network planning and operation services for service providers, satellite operators, mobile network operators, and defense customers.
Why it fits. Gilat is a strong fit because it sits in the enabling layer of the satellite communications ecosystem. As the industry shifts toward multi-orbit architectures and more mobile, defense, and enterprise use cases, demand for modems, terminals, antennas, and integrated ground infrastructure should remain essential, regardless of which constellation operators win the most traffic.
Numbers that matter. Revenue reached $470.1 million, with 20.0% year-over-year growth, making Gilat one of the faster-growing profitable names in this group. Net margin is 6.8%, operating margin is 3.97%, and gross margin is 30.3%, while EBITDA stands at $50.8 million. Trailing P/E is 21.42 and forward P/E is 24.94, so the stock is not especially cheap on earnings, but it combines profitability with growth better than many satellite peers.
Recent momentum. Gilat has one of the best earnings records on this list, beating estimates in 6 of the last 7 quarters. In May 2026, it delivered $0.18 per share against a $0.04 estimate, a 350.0% surprise, after another beat in February 2026. Analyst sentiment is also notably constructive, with a 4.6667 consensus score, a $19.2 average target, and 1 Buy rating in the available coverage.
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This list is refreshed monthly and starts with a thematic screen for US-listed satellite communications and satellite-enablement companies with market capitalizations above $500 million. We then rank eligible names by investment quality using a blend of business relevance to the theme, profitability, revenue and earnings trends, earnings-surprise consistency, analyst consensus, and our composite quality grade. Because the satellite ecosystem includes both operators and equipment vendors, the final list intentionally includes companies across the value chain. The ranking is a countdown format, so the strongest overall pick appears last at #1.
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