Workflow
Wireless National
icon
Search documents
T-Mobile Surges 53.5% in a Year: Reason to Buy the Stock?
ZACKSยท 2025-05-06 19:10
Core Viewpoint - T-Mobile has demonstrated significant stock performance, gaining 53.5% over the past year, outperforming the Wireless National industry and the S&P 500, while facing competition from Verizon and AT&T [1] Group 1: Market Position and Performance - T-Mobile leads in the 5G market, utilizing the mid-band 2.5 GHz spectrum for deployment, which offers high speed and extensive coverage, providing a competitive advantage over AT&T and Verizon [2] - The company has outperformed Verizon, which gained 11.8%, but underperformed AT&T, which surged 63.9% during the same period [1] Group 2: Network Resilience and Technology - T-Mobile is enhancing its network infrastructure to withstand extreme weather events, employing AI through its Self-Organizing Network (SON) to identify and address outages in real-time [3] - The integration of Dataminr's AI-powered alert systems and T-Satellite connectivity allows users to maintain communication during network disruptions, showcasing T-Mobile's commitment to customer service and technological advancement [4] Group 3: Customer Growth and Engagement - The company has seen solid growth in postpaid customers, with 1.3 million net additions and 424,000 net high-speed Internet additions, driven by updated pricing plans and a focus on network modernization [5] - T-Mobile's customer-oriented approach, including low-priced service plans and promotional activities, is aimed at increasing customer engagement despite competitive pressures [8] Group 4: Financial Outlook and Valuation - Earnings estimates for T-Mobile have increased, with a 1.44% rise for 2025 to $10.56 and a 1.54% increase for 2026 to $12.54, indicating positive investor sentiment [9] - The company is trading at a premium valuation with a price/earnings ratio of 22.16, significantly higher than the industry average of 13.81 [11] Group 5: Strategic Initiatives and Future Positioning - T-Mobile's initiatives in network expansion, direct-to-cell satellite services, and support for small businesses position it well to maintain a dominant role in the telecommunications sector [14] - The company has a trailing four-quarter average earnings surprise of 10.89%, suggesting potential for further stock price appreciation [15]
AT&T Surges 24% in 6 Months: Buy, Sell or Hold the Stock?
ZACKSยท 2025-05-05 14:50
Core Viewpoint - AT&T Inc. has significantly outperformed the Wireless National industry and major competitors over the past year, indicating strong market performance and growth potential [1][4]. Price Performance - AT&T's stock has increased by 23.7% over the past year, while the Wireless National industry grew by 9.6%. In contrast, the S&P 500 composite and Zacks Computer & Technology sector declined by 3.9% and 6%, respectively [1]. - The stock closed at $27.61, reflecting a 0.1% decrease in the last trading session and is currently trading at a 5% discount to its 52-week high [5]. Major Tailwinds for AT&T - The company is enhancing its network infrastructure, focusing on 5G and fiber networks to improve coverage and capacity nationwide [6]. - AT&T reported 290,000 post-paid net additions in Q1 2025, including 324,000 postpaid wireless phone additions, with a postpaid churn rate of 0.83% [7]. - The company aims to exceed 30 million total fiber locations by mid-2025 and over 50 million by 2029, transitioning from legacy copper networks to 5G and fiber [8]. - AT&T is capitalizing on the 5G boom, utilizing millimeter-wave spectrum in dense areas and mid- and low-band spectrum in suburban and rural areas [9]. - The company is focusing on edge computing services to enhance data traffic management and improve customer experiences through partnerships with Google Cloud and Microsoft [10][12]. Financial Performance - AT&T reaffirmed its full-year free cash flow guidance of over $16 billion, with Q1 2025 generating $9.05 billion in cash from operations and $3.15 billion in free cash flow [13]. - The company plans to initiate share repurchases targeting $3 billion by year-end under a $10 billion authorization, indicating a commitment to returning capital to shareholders [14]. Challenges - Despite strong wireless growth, AT&T faces challenges from declining legacy services and competitive pressures in its wireline division [15]. - High-speed Internet revenues are contracting due to the decline of legacy Digital Subscriber Line services and increased competition from cable companies [16]. - The evolving macroeconomic environment and potential tariff impacts on costs remain concerns for the company [18]. - Analysts have revised estimates downwards for the current and next year, reflecting bearish sentiments regarding the stock's growth potential [19]. Valuation Metrics - AT&T's shares are trading at a price/earnings ratio of 12.96, which is lower than the industry average of 13.88 but above its historical mean of 9.64 [21]. Investment Strategy - By investing in infrastructure and new technologies, AT&T is positioned to enhance connectivity and drive postpaid subscriber growth [23]. - However, a saturated wireless market and competitive pricing pressures have affected profitability, leading to skepticism about future growth [24].
United States Cellular (USM) Q1 Earnings and Revenues Miss Estimates
ZACKSยท 2025-05-02 13:40
Core Viewpoint - U.S. Cellular reported quarterly earnings of $0.21 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.37 per share, representing an earnings surprise of -43.24% [1] - The company posted revenues of $891 million for the quarter, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.72% and down from $950 million a year ago [2] Financial Performance - Over the last four quarters, U.S. Cellular has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times [2] - The company had a previous quarter surprise of 150%, with actual earnings of $0.05 against an expected loss of $0.10 [1] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.39 on revenues of $912.36 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is $1.16 on revenues of $3.69 billion [7] Stock Performance - U.S. Cellular shares have increased by approximately 9.8% since the beginning of the year, contrasting with the S&P 500's decline of -4.7% [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating expected performance in line with the market in the near future [6] Industry Outlook - The Wireless National industry, to which U.S. Cellular belongs, is currently ranked in the top 38% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting a favorable outlook [8] - Empirical research indicates a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which can impact stock performance [5]
ATN International (ATNI) Reports Q1 Loss, Tops Revenue Estimates
ZACKSยท 2025-04-30 23:50
Company Performance - ATN International reported a quarterly loss of $0.57 per share, significantly worse than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $0.10, marking an earnings surprise of -470% [1] - The company posted revenues of $179.29 million for the quarter ended March 2025, slightly exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.35%, but down from $186.79 million a year ago [2] - Over the last four quarters, ATN International has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times and topped consensus revenue estimates three times as well [2] Stock Outlook - The stock has increased approximately 8.9% since the beginning of the year, contrasting with the S&P 500's decline of -5.5% [3] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is -$0.17 on revenues of $183.71 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is -$0.08 on revenues of $728.03 million [7] Industry Context - The Wireless National industry, to which ATN International belongs, is currently ranked in the top 31% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating a favorable outlook [8] - Empirical research suggests a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions, which can impact ATN International's stock performance [5][6]
Spok Holdings (SPOK) Surpasses Q1 Earnings and Revenue Estimates
ZACKSยท 2025-04-30 23:10
Group 1: Earnings Performance - Spok Holdings reported quarterly earnings of $0.25 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.18 per share, and up from $0.21 per share a year ago, representing an earnings surprise of 38.89% [1] - The company posted revenues of $36.29 million for the quarter ended March 2025, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 6.75%, compared to year-ago revenues of $34.91 million [2] Group 2: Stock Performance and Outlook - Spok shares have declined approximately 10.2% since the beginning of the year, while the S&P 500 has decreased by 5.5% [3] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.20 on revenues of $34.3 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is $0.79 on revenues of $138 million [7] Group 3: Industry Context - The Wireless National industry, to which Spok belongs, is currently ranked in the top 31% of over 250 Zacks industries, indicating a favorable outlook compared to the bottom 50% [8] - Cambium (CMBM), another company in the same industry, is expected to report a quarterly loss of $0.11 per share, reflecting a year-over-year change of +76.1%, with revenues anticipated to be $45.53 million, up 7.5% from the previous year [9]
Is ATN International (ATNI) Stock Outpacing Its Computer and Technology Peers This Year?
ZACKSยท 2025-04-29 14:40
Group 1 - ATN International (ATNI) is a notable stock in the Computer and Technology sector, currently outperforming its peers with a year-to-date return of 6.4% compared to the sector average of -11.2% [4] - The Zacks Rank for ATN International is 1 (Strong Buy), indicating a positive earnings outlook and strong analyst sentiment, with a 74.7% increase in the consensus estimate for full-year earnings over the past three months [3][4] - ATN International belongs to the Wireless National industry, which has an average year-to-date return of 9.7%, indicating that ATNI is slightly underperforming its industry [6] Group 2 - Another stock in the Computer and Technology sector, Spotify (SPOT), has shown a year-to-date return of 33.6% and has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) with a 20.7% increase in the consensus estimate for its current year EPS over the past three months [5] - The Computer and Technology sector is ranked 8 in the Zacks Sector Rank, which measures the strength of individual sector groups [2]
Cogent (CCOI) Surges 6.3%: Is This an Indication of Further Gains?
ZACKSยท 2025-04-10 16:05
Company Overview - Cogent Communications (CCOI) shares increased by 6.3% to close at $53.83, following a notable trading volume, despite a 27.6% loss over the past four weeks [1] - The company is a leading provider of high-speed Internet access, benefiting from cost-effective operations and a streamlined product offering [2] - Cogent has a strong network presence in major North American cities and carrier-neutral colocation centers in North America and Europe, which supports high Internet traffic levels [2] Market Factors - The U.S. Government's decision to suspend higher tariffs for most countries for 90 days, excluding China, has positively impacted investor confidence in Cogent [2] - The consensus EPS estimate for Cogent's upcoming quarterly report is a loss of $0.88 per share, reflecting a year-over-year change of +31.8%, with expected revenues of $252.09 million, down 5.3% from the previous year [3] Earnings Estimates - Over the last 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for Cogent has been revised 6% higher, indicating a potential for price appreciation [4] - Empirical research suggests a strong correlation between earnings estimate revisions and near-term stock price movements, highlighting the importance of monitoring these trends [3][4] Industry Context - Cogent belongs to the Zacks Wireless National industry, which includes other companies like T-Mobile (TMUS), that also experienced a recent stock price increase [4] - T-Mobile's consensus EPS estimate has changed by +0.2% to $2.47, representing a year-over-year change of +23.5% [5]
Lumen Plummets 34% in a Month: Buy, Sell or Hold the Stock?
ZACKSยท 2025-04-09 15:00
Core Viewpoint - Lumen Technologies, Inc. (LUMN) has experienced a significant decline in its stock price, dropping 34.1% in the past month, which is notably worse than the declines of the S&P 500 and the Technology Services industry [1][4]. Price Performance - The broader market has been affected by escalating tariff and trade tensions, particularly with China, leading to supply chain disruptions and inflationary pressures [4]. - LUMN's stock has underperformed compared to peers like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, which have seen smaller declines of 9.3%, 3.3%, and 7.6% respectively [5]. Company-Specific Challenges - Lumen is facing challenges from its legacy business, which saw a 5.3% year-over-year revenue decline to $3,329 million in Q4 2024, with 25% of this decline attributed to divestitures and sales [7]. - The company anticipates adjusted EBITDA for 2025 to be between $3.2 billion and $3.4 billion, with capital expenditures expected to range from $4.1 billion to $4.3 billion [8]. Debt Concerns - Despite repaying $1.6 billion of debt in 2024, Lumen's balance sheet remains heavily indebted, with $17.494 billion in long-term debt as of December 31, 2024 [9][10]. AI and Growth Opportunities - Lumen's pivot to AI is seen as a potential growth catalyst, with $8.5 billion in Private Connectivity Fabric (PCF) deals secured in 2024 [11]. - The demand for fiber capacity is increasing due to AI needs, with significant sales growth in IP and Wave services, both up 13% in North America's enterprise channels [12]. Network Expansion and Utilization - Lumen plans to expand its inter-city fiber miles from 12 million in 2022 to 47 million by 2028, aiming to increase network utilization from 57% to 70% during the same period [13][14]. Cost Containment Efforts - The company is targeting $1 billion in cost savings by the end of 2027 through infrastructure simplification and product portfolio reduction [17]. Valuation Perspective - Lumen is currently trading at a price-to-sales ratio of 0.24, significantly lower than the Technology Services industry's ratio of 3.46, indicating a compelling valuation opportunity [18][19]. Conclusion - Lumen is navigating a transformative period with potential growth from AI and cloud services, but faces challenges from legacy business issues and high debt levels. The company is focusing on cost containment and network expansion to improve its financial position [20][21].