Core Viewpoint - Akanda Corp. is transitioning from being a competitor in Mexico's telecom upgrade to a dominant player that other companies must rely on [1] Company Summary - Akanda Corp. is now positioning itself as a key landlord in the telecom sector, indicating a shift in its operational strategy [1]

Group 1 - Layoffs announced by U.S. employers slowed sharply in November, with planned cuts falling 53% from October to 71,321, although this figure is still 24% higher than a year earlier, marking the largest November total since 2022 [1][2] - Job cuts in November have risen above 70,000 only twice since 2008, indicating a concerning trend in the labor market despite the recent decline in layoffs [3] - Through the first 11 months of 2025, companies announced 1.171 million layoffs, a 54% increase from the same period last year, while hiring plans were at their weakest since 2010, with only 497,151 intended additions, down 35% from 2024 [4] Group 2 - Restructuring was the primary reason for job cuts in November, followed by business closures and demand-related reductions, with tariffs and economic uncertainty also impacting smaller firms [6] - Telecom companies, particularly Verizon, led the layoffs in November, with technology firms and meat processors also significantly contributing to job cuts, totaling 153,536 job cuts in the tech sector so far this year, up 17% from the previous year [7] - Despite the high volume of layoffs, unemployment claims have not surged, indicating that employers are more inclined to hold positions vacant rather than aggressively firing employees, reflecting a "no-fire, no-hire" labor market [8]

Consumer spending is holding up but shifting toward smaller baskets, private labels and value pricing.Jobless claims fell to their lowest level in three years, even as job cut announcements rose across several sectors.A trio of labor reports, spanning government, private sector data and PYMNTS Intelligence findings, shows that uncertainty is rising among hourly workers even as their spending continues.By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of yo ...

Core Insights - The logistics sector has seen significant engagement from investors, particularly in the ASEAN and US markets, highlighting its growth potential and diversification opportunities [1] - The popularity of insurance companies in the Philippines since 2014 indicates a shift in investment strategies among local investors, moving towards a more diversified portfolio [1] - The entry into the US market in 2020 reflects a growing interest in international investments, particularly in sectors such as banking, hotels, and logistics [1] Investment Strategies - Initial investments were focused on blue-chip companies, showcasing a common strategy among investors to seek stability and reliability [1] - The diversification into various industries and market cap sizes demonstrates a strategic approach to risk management and potential returns [1] - The use of platforms like Seeking Alpha for analysis indicates a trend towards utilizing external resources for informed investment decisions [1] Market Trends - The logistics and shipping industries are highlighted as key areas of investment, suggesting their importance in the current economic landscape [1] - The increasing engagement in the US market by investors from the Philippines points to a broader trend of globalization in investment practices [1] - The focus on banking and telco sectors in both ASEAN and US markets indicates their critical role in the overall economic framework [1]

Core Insights - Dycom Industries, Inc. (DY) is experiencing growth due to increased demand for fiber and digital infrastructure, which is compensating for weaknesses in certain wireless market segments [1] - The company’s contract revenues for the first nine months of fiscal 2026 reached $4.09 billion, a 13% year-over-year increase, driven by strong demand for telecommunications and digital infrastructure [2] - Dycom anticipates a generational deployment of digital infrastructure, with significant construction of outside plant data center networks expected to ramp up in 2026 [3] Financial Performance - The total backlog for Dycom as of October 2025 grew 4.7% year-over-year to $8.22 billion, with the next 12-month backlog increasing by 11.4% [3] - Earnings estimates for fiscal 2026 and fiscal 2027 have increased by 5.6% and 36.9% respectively, indicating year-over-year growth of 25.2% and 42.3% [12] - Dycom's stock has appreciated by 42.1% over the past three months, outperforming various industry benchmarks [8] Market Position - Dycom specializes in fiber deployment and has a competitive edge over other market players like Quanta Services, Inc. and MasTec, Inc. due to its focused expertise in telecommunications infrastructure [5][6] - The pending acquisition of Power Solutions will enhance Dycom's capabilities in mission-critical data center electrical infrastructure, aligning with the growing demand driven by AI [4] - Dycom's ability to self-perform complex fiber builds at scale, supported by a national workforce, differentiates it from competitors who have a more diversified revenue stream [7] Valuation Metrics - Dycom's stock is currently trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 24.61, indicating a premium compared to industry peers [11] - The robust demand for fiber and data centers is expected to sustain momentum through fiscal 2027, contributing to the company's long-term growth trajectory [9]

Summary of ZTE (0763.HK) Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: ZTE Corporation - **Ticker**: 0763.HK - **Industry**: Telecommunications and Consumer Electronics Key Points Product Launch and Innovation - ZTE has launched the Nubia M153 AI smartphone, priced at Rmb3,499 (US$489), in partnership with Bytedance, featuring advanced AI capabilities [1][11] - The Nubia M153 includes an operating system level AI assistant, Doubao, which offers features like multi-modal capabilities, smart task execution, and AI photo editing [9][10][12] - The phone will receive bi-weekly software updates through Q1 2026 to enhance user experience [1] Market Position and Growth - ZTE's smartphone business is experiencing rapid growth, with overseas smartphone activations increasing by over 25% year-on-year in the first nine months of 2025 [12] - The collaboration with Bytedance is expected to enhance the attractiveness of ZTE's smartphone products, potentially boosting demand for Nubia smartphones globally [1][12] Financial Performance and Valuation - ZTE maintains a neutral rating with a fair valuation, supported by solid growth opportunities in AI devices and data center computing infrastructure [1][17] - The target price for ZTE's H-share is set at HK$43.6, based on a 19.2x 2026E P/E ratio, while the A-share target price is Rmb67.6, reflecting a 32.4x 2026E P/E [24] Competitive Landscape - The Nubia M153 competes with other mid-high end smartphones, offering larger RAM (16GB) and ROM (512GB) compared to peers, but with less emphasis on camera specifications [11][13] - The global smartphone market is projected to see a 1% shipment growth in 2026 and 2027, with foldable phone shipments expected to reach 46 million and 66 million respectively [22] Risks and Considerations - Key risks include fluctuations in demand for telecom infrastructure and 5G BTS building in China, as well as potential non-operating gains or losses affecting financial estimates [25] Conclusion - ZTE is positioned as an early mover in AI smartphone innovation, leveraging its design and manufacturing capabilities to capture growth in the evolving smartphone market [1][12]

1 December 2025 | 7:32PM HKT Equity Research China Unicom (0762.HK): Rising AI Capex with wide IDC coverage; Integrated telecom users in expansion; Buy We view China Unicom as one of the key beneficiaries of the rising AI trend in China, supported by continuous Capex spending on AI computing infrastructure and its wide coverage of IDC cabinets across China. The company's 3Q25 revenues remained flattish at Rmb92.8bn (vs. -1% YoY in 2Q25), and Unicom Cloud delivered double digit YoY growth in 3Q25. Despite mu ...

Core Insights - The logistics sector has seen significant engagement from investors, particularly in the ASEAN and US markets, highlighting its growth potential and diversification opportunities [1] - The popularity of insurance companies in the Philippines since 2014 indicates a shift in investment strategies among local investors, moving towards a more diversified portfolio [1] - The trend of investing in blue-chip companies has evolved, with investors now holding a mix of stocks across various industries and market capitalizations, reflecting a broader investment strategy [1] Investment Focus - The primary focus areas for investment include banking, telecommunications, logistics, and hospitality sectors, both in the ASEAN region and on NYSE/NASDAQ [1] - The entry into the US market in 2020 has allowed for a comparative analysis of investment opportunities between the US and Philippine markets, enhancing investment strategies [1] - The use of platforms like Seeking Alpha has facilitated knowledge sharing and analysis, contributing to informed investment decisions in the US market [1]

Transformation & Leadership - The challenge society faces is leadership, not technology, and the best leadership comes from those on the cutting edge of change [1] - Lumen's transformation involves financial, strategic, and cultural shifts, aiming to disrupt the market through innovation, customer experience changes, and investment in people [1] - A key element of transformation is shifting from a "play not to lose" to a "play to win" mindset, which involves risk-taking, learning, resilience, and courage [1] - 80% of transformation is about the people, not process or technology, highlighting the importance of culture [2] - Vulnerability, defined as the emotion experienced in uncertainty, risk, and exposure, is crucial for staying anchored to mission, values, and winning during disruption [10] Strategy & Vision - Lumen's potential lies in its fiber optic network and the increasing demand for data driven by AI, requiring data centers and connectivity [1] - Lumen's North Star is to uniquely connect people, data, and applications quickly, securely, and effortlessly [2] - The company aims to provide an "easy button" for CIOs dealing with complex technology architectures, differentiating itself from legacy telcos [46] - A critical aspect of transformational change involves protecting the core mission while breaking some things and resisting the urge to rebuild with systems that don't serve growth and revenue [14] Cultural & Operational Changes - Systemic thinking is crucial for navigating internal and external complexity, requiring permeable boundaries for feedback between systems [30][31] - Building a culture of candor and honesty is essential, with transparency about existential threats [14] - The company is investing in skills building, including communication, conflict resolution, and tough conversations, to rewire the nervous system to tolerate uncertainty [37]

Core Insights - The credit growth of banks in India is expected to rebound as companies increase their working capital utilization for day-to-day operations, following a temporary dip linked to IPO fundraising [1][2][5][7] Group 1: Credit Growth Trends - Recent credit offtake slowdown is seen as temporary, primarily due to the surge in IPO fundraising across various sectors [1][3] - Historical data indicates a modest negative correlation between IPO mobilization and overall bank credit growth, suggesting that higher IPO funds can lead to reduced immediate borrowing needs from banks [2][3] Group 2: Sectoral Analysis - Industries such as finance, automobiles, pharmaceuticals, telecom, consumer durables, and infrastructure have shown lower credit growth in years with higher IPO fundraising [3][4] - Companies typically utilize IPO funds for expansion, capital expenditure, or debt repayment, which reduces their immediate need for bank loans [4] Group 3: Economic Context - As business activity remains strong and production levels rise, firms are expected to seek more financing for operational expenses, leading to increased demand for bank loans [5] - The overall economic momentum in India, supported by strong GDP numbers, is anticipated to drive higher funding needs among companies [5] Group 4: Role of the Reserve Bank of India - The Reserve Bank of India is expected to play a crucial role in maintaining proactive liquidity management to support the anticipated rise in credit demand [6] - Adequate liquidity in the banking system is essential for stable borrowing conditions and recovery in loan growth [6] Group 5: Future Outlook - With rising working capital requirements, fading IPO-related effects, and robust economic activity, India's credit growth is projected to rebound in the coming quarters [7]