If you missed Nvidia in 2016... (From Behind the Markets)
What You Need to Know
- AST SpaceMobile solidifies its commercial standing with the deployment of large-scale satellites that connect directly to standard mobile devices.
- Coherent secures its role in the artificial intelligence boom by supplying critical optical hardware that enables massive data centers to scale speed.
- FTAI Aviation capitalizes on the global aircraft shortage by expanding its engine leasing model and securing strategic partnerships for power generation.
Wall Street has a graduation day, and for three companies, that day has finally arrived.
On Feb. 10, MSCI Inc. (NYSE: MSCI) announced the results of its February Quarterly Index Review. This quarterly event is more than just a press release; it is a mechanical trigger that forces the global financial machinery to turn its gears.
When a stock is added to a major benchmark like the MSCI World Index, a phenomenon known as the index effect takes hold. The market is full of passively managed mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and institutional portfolios that do not pick stocks but simply track indexes.
When the indexes change, those funds are mathematically required to update their holdings by selling the losers and buying the new additions to ensure their portfolios align with their benchmarks. This buying pressure is not optional. It must happen by the close of business on the implementation date: Feb. 27.
For investors, this creates a predictable window of liquidity and demand. For the February 2026 cycle, three companies have risen above the rest in terms of market capitalization and liquidity. No longer niche players, they have cleared the rigorous hurdles of financial health and public float to earn their spot on the global stage.
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AST SpaceMobile: From Sci-Fi to WiFi
AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ: ASTS) has evolved rapidly from a speculative concept into a critical piece of global telecommunications infrastructure. Currently trading near $90 per share, the stock’s ascent reflects the market’s realization that space-based cellular broadband is no longer science fiction but an operational reality.
The company’s inclusion in the MSCI World Index is a major validation of its direct-to-device technology. Unlike legacy satellite internet, which requires expensive dishes or hardware, ASTS connects directly to standard smartphones. This capability effectively eliminates dead zones for regular mobile users, a solution that has drawn massive interest from both retail investors and government entities. The primary driver for AST SpaceMobile’s recent price action is the successful deployment of BlueBird 6, which launched on Dec. 23 and successfully unfolded its array, which the company confirmed on Feb. 10.
This satellite features the largest commercial communications array ever deployed in low Earth orbit. The sheer size of the array matters because it dictates the bandwidth and speed the network can handle. With BlueBird 6 operational and BlueBird 7 scheduled for launch later this month, ASTS has proven it can manufacture and deploy satellites at a commercial cadence.
Investors often worry about the volatility of space stocks, but ASTS has built a significant defensive moat through partnerships. The company has secured definitive commercial agreements with industry titans AT&T (NYSE: T), Verizon (NYSE: VZ), and Vodafone (NASDAQ: VOD). These partnerships de-risk the regulatory path and provide a clear road to revenue.
For the market, ASTS is transitioning from a risky startup to a utility provider supported by a duopoly of telecom giants.
Coherent: The Nervous System of AI
While companies like NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) manufacture the brains of artificial intelligence, Coherent (NYSE: COHR) manufactures the nervous system. Trading in the $210–$225 range, Coherent has surged over the last year as the smart money has looked for ways to play the AI infrastructure boom beyond the chipmakers.
Coherent’s recent Q2 earnings report, released on Feb. 4, highlighted exactly why it made the cut for the MSCI World Index. The company reported record revenue of $1.69 billion, beating analyst expectations.
However, the real story lies in the specific hardware driving this growth: 800G and 1.6T optical transceivers.
As tech's hyperscalers continue building massive data centers, they are facing a physical bottleneck. The speed at which data moves between chips is just as important as the chips' speed itself. If the connection is slow, the expensive AI processor sits idle.
Coherent’s optical transceivers serve as high-speed pipes that enable thousands of AI processors to work in unison without lag.
Under the leadership of CEO Jim Anderson, the company has also improved its profit margins by divesting non-core assets. This discipline has turned Coherent into a profitable, cash-generating machine. Inclusion in the MSCI is likely to attract generalist funds that need exposure to the AI sector but want to diversify their holdings into the industrial supply chain.
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FTAI Aviation: The Perpetual Power Machine
FTAI Aviation (NASDAQ: FTAI) is perhaps the most unique addition to the index this quarter. Trading near $265, the company is outperforming traditional aerospace peers by capitalizing on a global crisis: the shortage of airplanes.
The aviation industry is currently in a super-cycle of scarcity. Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Airbus (OTCMKTS: EADSF) have faced significant delays in delivering new aircraft. Consequently, airlines are forced to keep older planes flying longer than originally planned. This scenario is perfect for FTAI, which owns a massive portfolio of jet engines (specifically the CFM56) and operates a proprietary maintenance network known as The Module Factory.
Traditional engine maintenance can take months. FTAI’s Module Factory approach allows it to swap out specific engine modules rather than performing a full overhaul.
This is like a pit stop in a race rather than a full garage rebuild. It gets planes back in the air faster, which is exactly what airlines are desperate for right now.
Beyond aviation, FTAI has unlocked a new value stream with FTAI Power. On Jan. 22, the company signed a massive partnership with CFM International. This deal supports their initiative to convert jet engines into power generation units for data centers. By bridging the gap between industrial aerospace and the insatiable power needs of the high-tech sector, FTAI has created a dual-threat business model that appeals to both value and growth investors.
The Countdown to Feb. 27
The inclusion of AST SpaceMobile, Coherent, and FTAI Aviation in the MSCI World Index represents a shift in market sentiment toward hard tech. Investors are moving capital into tangible assets, satellites, optical hardware, and jet engines that power the modern economy.
For investors, the critical date to watch is Feb. 27. As this implementation deadline approaches, trading volumes for these three stocks will likely spike as passive funds execute their mandatory buy orders.
While the index effect often creates a short-term price premium, the long-term takeaway is clear: These companies have successfully graduated from niche players to institutional staples. The volatility may be high, but the validation is permanent.
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