KYIV, Ukraine, Feb. 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Members of the Board of Directors of Kyivstar Group Ltd (“Kyivstar Group”; Nasdaq: KYIV;KYIVW), the parent company of JSC Kyivstar, Ukraine's leading digital operator and part of VEON Group (Nasdaq: VEON), visited the company's headquarters in Kyiv on the fourth anniversary of the full-scale war to meet with Ukrainian employees and reaffirm their unwavering support for Ukraine. VEON Founder Augie K Fabela II, the 70th US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Michie ...

The Zacks Diversified Communication Services industry appears well-positioned to capitalize on the healthy demand trends driven by the fast-track 5G deployment and the transition to cloud and fiber network infrastructure. However, high capital expenditures for infrastructure upgrades, volatility in raw material prices, geopolitical conflicts and elevated inventory levels amid uncertain market conditions have dented the industry’s profitability.  Telefonica Brasil S.A. (VIV) , Lumen Technologies, Inc. (LUMN) ...

We came across a bullish thesis on VEON Ltd. on Value investing subreddit by Itchy-Commission-195. In this article, we will summarize the bulls’ thesis on VEON. VEON Ltd.'s share was trading at $55.72 as of January 29th. VEON’s trailing and forward P/E were 6.12 and 14.10 respectively according to Yahoo Finance. Cisco (CSCO) Soars to 25-Year High on Earnings Blowout hin255/Shutterstock.com Veon Ltd. (VEON) operates as a leading telecom provider across frontier markets, including Pakistan, Ukraine, Kazak ...

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the growing interest in cheap stocks as investors seek to avoid high valuations in equity markets, highlighting a shift towards value stocks that have underperformed in recent years and are showing signs of recovery [1]. Group 1: Market Trends - The iShares Russell 1000 Value ETF increased by 3.9% in the fourth quarter, while the iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF gained only 2.3%, indicating a renewed focus on value stocks [2]. - The S&P 500 is expected to continue its double-digit rallies, but future gains may be more challenging, with a potential shift towards value stocks as the Federal Reserve may cut interest rates [2]. - Dennis DeBusschere, chief market strategist at 22V Research, noted that productivity improvements could allow the economy to grow at 2.5% without inflation issues, benefiting fundamental factors and procyclical equities [3]. Group 2: Investment Methodology - The methodology for identifying the best cheap stocks involved selecting U.S.-listed stocks with a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of less than 15 and an upside potential of over 60% as of January 16, focusing on those popular among elite hedge funds [6]. - The strategy of imitating top stock picks from hedge funds has historically outperformed the market, with a quarterly newsletter returning 427.7% since May 2014, surpassing its benchmark by 264 percentage points [8]. Group 3: Company Highlights - VEON Ltd. (NASDAQ:VEON) has a forward P/E of 13.77 and an upside potential of 60.23%, with 12 hedge fund holders. The company confirmed that its subsidiary Kyivstar has over 3 million registered users for satellite connectivity in Ukraine [9][10]. - Playtika Holding Corp. (NASDAQ:PLTK) has a forward P/E of 6.98 and an upside potential of 105.13%, with 27 hedge fund holders. The company announced a cost-cutting initiative, laying off 15% of its workforce to transition to leaner teams utilizing AI and automation [16][17].

In less than 2 months since Starlink Direct to Cell launched in Ukraine, 3M+ people have subscribed to the satellite-to-mobile serviceVEON (@VEONGroup):📢 Kyivstar reaches 3 million registered users of Direct to Cell satellite connectivity services powered by @Starlink.Since the launch of Direct to Cell last November, more than 1.2 million SMS messages have been delivered through satellite connectivity, with the rapid adoption https://t.co/S8UhsmsMtb ...

Group 1: Smithfield Foods, Inc. - Smithfield Foods, Inc. is a pork producer and food-processing company with a Zacks Rank 1 (Strong Buy) [1] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has increased by 3% over the last 60 days [1] - The company has a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 9.97, compared to the industry average of 10.80, and possesses a Value Score of A [1] Group 2: VEON - VEON is engaged in telecommunication and digital services and also carries a Zacks Rank 1 [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its next year earnings has increased by 15.2% over the last 60 days [2] - The company has a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 5.21, significantly lower than the industry average of 17.60, and possesses a Value Score of A [2] Group 3: 1st Source - 1st Source is a bank holding company offering a broad range of commercial banking, personal banking, and trust services, with a Zacks Rank 1 [3] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current year earnings has increased by 4.2% over the last 60 days [3] - The company has a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 10.07, compared to the industry average of 11, and possesses a Value Score of B [3]

Core Insights - Nabeel Bukhari combines legal expertise in company and corporate law with self-taught financial analysis skills, providing a unique perspective on business dynamics [1] - His work has been published on respected platforms such as InvestorPlace and GuruFocus, and featured in notable publications like Forbes, Yahoo Finance, and MSN [1] Company and Industry Analysis - Bukhari's integration of legal knowledge with financial insights positions him as a valuable asset in the financial realm, enhancing the understanding of business operations [1] - The collaboration with another Seeking Alpha author, Saba Sadiq, indicates a network of professionals contributing to financial analysis [1]

Industry Overview - The Zacks Diversified Communication Services industry is facing challenges such as high capital expenditures for 5G infrastructure, unpredictable raw material prices, supply-chain disruptions due to geopolitical tensions, and high customer inventory levels [1] - The industry is expected to benefit from accelerated 5G rollout and increased fiber densification in the long run [1] Current Market Conditions - Companies like Telenor ASA, Telecom Italia S.p.A., and VEON Ltd. are likely to benefit from increased demand for scalable infrastructure due to the proliferation of IoT and the transition to cloud networks [2] - Demand for traditional telephony services is declining as customers switch to lower-priced alternatives and migrate to IP-based services, exacerbated by ongoing geopolitical tensions [4] Strategic Focus - Companies are focusing on providing customized support services to small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) to improve profitability and adapt to technology advancements [5] - The industry is also offering free services to low-income families and enhancing wireless connectivity to address operating risks [5] Supply Chain and Cost Challenges - The industry continues to face a shortage of chips and high raw material prices due to inflation and economic sanctions, impacting production costs and schedules [6] - Extended lead times for basic components are likely to further escalate production costs and affect profitability [6] Profitability Outlook - The growth of video and bandwidth-intensive applications has led to significant investments in LTE, broadband, and fiber, although these investments have compromised short-term profitability [7] - The industry is transforming from traditional telecommunications firms to technology-driven companies to meet growing demand [7] Industry Performance - The Zacks Diversified Communication Services industry ranks 184, placing it in the bottom 25% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating bearish near-term prospects [8][9] - The industry has underperformed compared to the S&P 500 and the broader Zacks Utilities sector, with a meager growth of 0.7% over the past year compared to 21.1% and 6.3% respectively [10] Valuation Metrics - The industry is currently trading at a trailing 12-month EV/EBITDA of 11.93X, below the S&P 500's 17.79X and the sector's 14.98X [13] Company Highlights - **Telenor ASA**: Recently completed a $15 billion merger with Axiata Group, with a current-year earnings estimate revised upward by 14.1% to $0.89 per share, and a stock gain of 34.2% in the past year [16] - **Telecom Italia**: Achieved a 101% stock gain in the past year, with current-year earnings estimate revised upward by 188.9% to $0.08 per share [17] - **VEON Ltd.**: Stock gained 112.6% in the past year, with current-year earnings estimate revised upward by 112% since June 2025 [21]

Core Insights - Kyivstar will host an investor meeting on August 28, 2025, to discuss strategic initiatives, financial performance, and market outlook [1][2] - The meeting will include presentations from senior management and a Q&A session with investors [2] Event Details - Date: August 28, 2025 [3] - Time: 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM Eastern Time [3] - Location: Virtual meeting accessible via a provided link [3] Company Overview - Kyivstar serves nearly 22.4 million mobile customers and over 1.1 million home internet fixed line customers as of June 30, 2025 [4] - The company offers a range of services including 4G, big data, cloud solutions, cybersecurity, and digital TV [4] - Kyivstar plans to invest USD 1 billion in Ukraine from 2023 to 2027 for infrastructure, technological development, and strategic acquisitions [4] - VEON, the parent company, operates across five countries and serves nearly 160 million customers [5]

Core Viewpoint - The business combination between VEON Ltd. and Cohen Circle Acquisition Corp. I has successfully closed, resulting in the establishment of Kyivstar Group Ltd. as a U.S.-listed company, marking a significant milestone for Ukrainian investment opportunities in the U.S. stock market [1][2][4]. Company Overview - Kyivstar Group Ltd. will begin trading on Nasdaq under the ticker symbols "KYIV" and "KYIVW" on or about August 15, 2025, making it the first pure-play Ukrainian investment opportunity in U.S. markets [2]. - VEON holds an 89.6% stake in Kyivstar Group Ltd. following the business combination [2]. Shareholder Approval and Financials - Cohen Circle's shareholders approved the business combination at an extraordinary general meeting on August 12, 2025, with only 25.4% of Class A ordinary shares exercising redemption rights, resulting in transaction proceeds of USD 178 million [3]. Leadership Statements - VEON's Chairman emphasized the historical significance of Kyivstar's listing on Nasdaq and its role in showcasing Ukraine's resilience and investment potential [4]. - The CEO of VEON highlighted the strong investor confidence in Kyivstar, evidenced by low redemption rates during the transaction [4]. - Kyivstar's President expressed excitement about sharing the company's growth story with international investors [4]. Company Services and Market Position - Kyivstar serves nearly 23 million mobile customers and 1.1 million fixed connectivity customers, offering a range of digital services including healthcare, entertainment, and enterprise solutions [6][10]. - The company is also a key player in Ukraine's software development landscape and has partnerships with international technology firms [6]. Future Developments - Kyivstar plans to commercially launch satellite-powered Direct to Cell services in Q4 2025, enhancing connectivity across Ukraine [7]. Investment Commitment - VEON and Kyivstar Group intend to invest USD 1 billion in Ukraine from 2023 to 2027, focusing on infrastructure, technological development, and strategic acquisitions [10].