Group 1: Ares Capital - Ares Capital is the largest publicly traded business development company (BDC) with over $17 billion invested since 2004, focusing on middle-market companies with annual revenues between $10 million and $1 billion [3][4] - The company offers a forward dividend yield of 8.63% and has maintained or grown its dividend for 63 consecutive quarters [3][4] - Ares Capital targets a total addressable market of approximately $5.4 trillion, benefiting from a shift towards private capital, and has a diversified portfolio with strong industry relationships and risk management [4][5] Group 2: Enterprise Products Partners - Enterprise Products Partners is a master limited partnership (MLP) leading the North American midstream energy industry, operating over 50,000 miles of pipeline [6][7] - The company has a forward distribution yield of 6.81% and has increased its distribution for 26 consecutive years [7][8] - Demand for oil and gas, particularly natural gas, is expected to grow for decades, ensuring strong demand for Enterprise Products Partners' pipelines [8][9] Group 3: Verizon Communications - Verizon Communications is a major telecommunications company serving millions globally, with a forward dividend yield of 6.22% and a history of increasing dividends for 18 consecutive years [10][11] - The company is expected to maintain its relevance in the market due to the high capital requirements for new competition in wireless services [11][12] - With the upcoming 6G technology, Verizon is anticipated to be a significant player, potentially leading to impressive growth opportunities in the future [12]

RT Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal)ELON: STARLINK IS A COMPLEMENT TO LANDLINES AND 5G“I want to be clear, like it's not like Starlink is some huge threat to telcos.I want to be super clear - it is not.In fact, it will be helpful to telcos because Starlink will serve the hardest to serve customers that telcos otherwise have trouble doing with landlines or even with cell radio stations with cell towers.5G is great for high-density situations like being here in D.C. or New York, San Francisco.5G is great for high-d ...

Core Viewpoint - ZTE Corporation has evolved from a small processing factory to a global leader in integrated information and communication technology solutions, driven by a strong innovation gene deeply embedded in its development trajectory [1][2]. Company Development - ZTE was established in 1985 in Shenzhen, addressing the communication infrastructure challenges of the time, and has since expanded its business to over 160 countries, serving more than one-third of the global population [2][3]. - The company has consistently adhered to the spirit of innovation and has made significant strides in the telecommunications sector, transitioning from 2G to leading in 5G technology [3][6]. Research and Development - ZTE has invested over 100 billion yuan in R&D over the past few years, with R&D expenditure accounting for nearly 20% of its revenue last year [6]. - The company holds approximately 93,000 global patent applications and has received around 48,000 global patents, ranking first in R&D intensity among A-share companies with a market value of over 100 billion yuan [6][5]. Industry Collaboration - ZTE emphasizes open cooperation as a means to achieve technological innovation and development, actively engaging with strategic emerging industries in Shenzhen [7][8]. - The company has established partnerships with over 100 domestic and international universities and research institutions, contributing to the creation of numerous national laboratories and innovation centers [11]. AI and Future Strategy - ZTE is focusing on AI across four dimensions: communication infrastructure, computing infrastructure, industry applications, and AI endpoints, aiming to become a leader in network connectivity and intelligent computing [14][17]. - The company has developed a comprehensive AI solution that includes hardware, platforms, and applications, facilitating the deployment and upgrade of AI infrastructure [14][15]. - ZTE's AI initiatives have led to significant improvements in operational efficiency, such as reducing production scheduling time from 12 hours to 1.5 hours [15]. Economic Impact - ZTE's collaborative efforts in the low-altitude economy and other strategic sectors have created a robust industrial ecosystem, contributing to the economic development of Shenzhen [8][10].

Core Viewpoint - The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has announced a pilot program for number protection services, aimed at reducing the risk of personal phone number leakage by providing temporary numbers for users of various internet platforms [1]. Group 1: Number Protection Service Overview - Number protection service involves assigning temporary numbers (referred to as "intermediate numbers" or "privacy numbers") to users, which can be used instead of their real phone numbers [1]. - The daily order volume for number protection services in China currently stands at at least 350 million, with plans to allocate 700 dedicated numbers to meet the future demand for billions of code resources in delivery, takeaway, and ride-hailing scenarios [1]. Group 2: Implementation and Management - The notification outlines the responsibilities and requirements for three parties involved: application platform providers, basic telecom service operators, and business users, emphasizing compliance, prevention of telecom fraud, and control of commercial marketing calls [1]. - The pilot program will consist of a three-month preparation phase, a three-month transition phase, and a two-year formal pilot phase, after which all number protection services will utilize the 700 dedicated numbers [1]. Group 3: Communication and Security - Experts have indicated that the number protection service will not affect normal communication, as both parties will see and dial the "intermediate number," which will be translated to the actual number for communication purposes [3]. - There are concerns regarding the potential misuse of the 700 dedicated numbers, and experts are discussing measures to prevent such abuse and the penalties for serious violations by participating parties [2][3].

Core Points - The article discusses the total number of shares and voting rights of Orange, in compliance with French commercial regulations [1] - A double voting right is granted to fully paid-up shares held in registered form for at least two years, effective from April 3, 2016 [1] Summary by Category Share Information - As of January 31, 2025, Orange has a total of 2,660,056,599 shares, with 3,835,000 treasury shares without voting rights, resulting in 3,172,669,760 theoretical voting rights and 3,169,834,760 exercisable voting rights [2] - By June 30, 2025, the total number of shares remains the same at 2,660,056,599, with treasury shares decreasing to 1,456,848, leading to 3,180,452,886 theoretical voting rights and 3,178,996,038 exercisable voting rights [2] Voting Rights - The number of theoretical voting rights fluctuates slightly over the months, starting from 3,172,669,760 in January 2025 and reaching 3,180,452,886 by June 2025 [2] - The number of exercisable voting rights also shows a similar trend, starting at 3,169,834,760 in January and increasing to 3,178,996,038 by June [2]

Core Insights - The investment strategy focuses on acquiring strong businesses when they are undervalued, emphasizing the importance of quality and price in investment decisions [1] - The portfolio has evolved over time, transitioning through various industries including telecom, banking, technology, and emerging markets, with a current emphasis on high-quality businesses [1] - The investment philosophy is influenced by notable investors and CEOs, highlighting the value of learning from successful figures in the industry [1] Investment Strategy - The approach prioritizes companies with large user bases and extensive content libraries, recognizing the potential for cross-selling opportunities [1] - Valuation is conducted at the EBIT plus R&D level, reflecting a belief in the significance of certain R&D investments [1] - The investment performance from February 2019 to October 2024 shows an annual return of 11.4% CAGR, which is below the market's 15.18% CAGR, indicating a need for improved future performance [1] Portfolio Management - The strategy aims to minimize portfolio turnover, with a focus on holding existing investments rather than frequent buying and selling [1] - The philosophy rejects traditional "Buy" and "Sell" recommendations, advocating for a "Strong Buy" threshold for exceptional businesses and categorizing others as "Strong Sell" to free up capital for new opportunities [1] - A "Hold" position may be initiated for high-quality businesses if their pricing is not favorable, indicating a flexible approach to investment management [1]

Core Insights - Ericsson has been selected by Latvia's largest communication service provider, Latvijas Mobilais Telefons (LMT), to modernize its core network infrastructure and support the nationwide deployment of 5G Standalone (5G SA) services [1][8] - The partnership between Ericsson and LMT is long-standing, focusing on innovative initiatives and network development projects, marking the initial deployment of Ericsson's Unified Data Management (UDM) solution within the Telia Group [2][8] - The upgrade to a cloud-native architecture will enhance LMT's agility, scalability, and innovation in delivering advanced digital services [1][3] Company Developments - The deal involves a comprehensive overhaul of LMT's subscriber domain infrastructure, transitioning to a cloud-based, service-oriented architecture [3] - Key components of the transformation include the deployment of Ericsson's Network Functions Virtualization Infrastructure, allowing LMT to run both virtualized and cloud-native network functions [4] - The agreement also includes replacing LMT's legacy Home Location Register (HLR) and Home Subscriber Server (HSS) with Ericsson's UDM platform, crucial for supporting Latvia's expanding digital economy [5] Market Position and Strategy - Ericsson is positioned to grow by capitalizing on strong 5G demand, aiming to lead in mobile networks and develop a robust enterprise business [6] - The company has made strategic acquisitions, including Vonage and Cradlepoint, to expand into wireless, 5G, and security sectors [6] - Recent innovations include the launch of Ericsson On-Demand, a SaaS model for 5G core network services developed in collaboration with Google Cloud, enhancing operational efficiency for communications service providers [7] Challenges and Competition - Despite growth opportunities, Ericsson faces pressures from geopolitical and economic challenges, including declining revenues in China due to market share issues and competition from Huawei and Nokia [8][9] - Supply-chain issues and reduced spending by telecom operators in various regions are contributing to revenue declines [9] Financial Performance - Ericsson currently holds a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) and has gained 37.3% over the past year, outperforming the Zacks Wireless Equipment industry's growth of 33.3% [10]

South Korean authorities said SK Telecom should waive fees for users who want to leave the network following a data breach that affected about half the country’s population https://t.co/kwT7bhXgYj ...

June 30, 2025 04:01 AM GMT US Equity Strategy | North America Weekly Warm-up: Is the Equity Market Strength Justified? Equity markets have been resilient since bottoming in April, and the rally has been more fundamentally-driven than many appreciate. While there could be some consolidation during 3Q, we remain bullish on a 6-12 month horizon as EPS tailwinds expand, and the market has line of sight to Fed cuts. | M Weekly Warm-up: Is the Equity Market Strength Justified? Equity markets have been resilient s ...

Core Insights - The One Big Beautiful Bill Act will enable AT&T to accelerate fiber infrastructure deployment, adding 1 million fiber customer locations annually starting in 2026 [1][2] - The legislation aims to enhance U.S. leadership in innovation and create economic opportunities nationwide [2] - The bill includes provisions for midband spectrum, addressing consumer demand and maintaining technological competitiveness [3] Company Impact - AT&T anticipates a significant increase in investment in next-generation networks due to the new policies, which will facilitate faster infrastructure builds [2][3] - The company plans to provide an update on the financial impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act during its second quarter results announcement on July 23, 2025 [5] Legislative Support - Key political figures, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson, played a crucial role in establishing the spectrum pipeline and renewing FCC auction authority [4] - The bill is seen as a strategic move to restore America's global lead in wireless technology through effective policy [3]