ASTC vs BKSY

For growth investors, BlackSky Technology Inc.

(BKSY) is the stronger pick with 4. 4% revenue growth year-over-year, versus -37. 0% for Astrotech Corporation (ASTC). Analysts rate BlackSky Technology Inc. (BKSY) a "Buy" — based on 8 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.

Over the past 5 years, BlackSky Technology Inc.

(BKSY) delivered a total return of -59. 5%, compared to -91. 9% for Astrotech Corporation (ASTC). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: BKSY returned -58. 9% versus ASTC's -98. 9%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.

By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), Astrotech Corporation (ASTC) is the lower-risk stock at 0.

54β versus BlackSky Technology Inc. 's 2. 90β — meaning BKSY is approximately 438% more volatile than ASTC relative to the S&P 500. On balance sheet safety, Astrotech Corporation (ASTC) carries a lower debt/equity ratio of 12% versus 16% for BlackSky Technology Inc. — giving it more financial flexibility in a downturn.

By revenue growth (latest reported year), BlackSky Technology Inc.

(BKSY) is pulling ahead at 4. 4% versus -37. 0% for Astrotech Corporation (ASTC). On earnings-per-share growth, the picture is similar: BlackSky Technology Inc. grew EPS 21. 7% year-over-year, compared to -16. 9% for Astrotech Corporation. Over a 3-year CAGR, BKSY leads at 17. 7% annualised revenue growth. Higher growth typically commands a higher valuation multiple — check whether the premium P/E or P/S is justified by the growth rate using the PEG ratio.

BlackSky Technology Inc.

(BKSY) is the more profitable company, earning -65. 9% net margin versus -1320. 3% for Astrotech Corporation — meaning it keeps -65. 9% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: BKSY leads at -44. 0% versus -1404. 6% for ASTC. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — ASTC leads at 45. 3%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.

None of the stocks in this comparison currently pay a material dividend.

All are effectively zero-yield and should be held for capital appreciation rather than income.

For long-horizon retirement investors, Astrotech Corporation (ASTC) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.

54)). BlackSky Technology Inc. (BKSY) carries a higher beta of 2. 90 — meaning larger drawdowns in market downturns, which matters significantly when you cannot wait years for a recovery. Both have compounded well over 10 years (ASTC: -98. 9%, BKSY: -58. 9%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.

These companies operate in different sectors (ASTC (Industrials) and BKSY (Technology)), which means they face different economic cycles, regulatory environments, and macro sensitivities — making direct comparison nuanced.

These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.