PLANO, Texas, July 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ribbon Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: RBBN), a global leader of real-time communications technology and IP optical networking solutions, has appointed Fahad Najam as Senior Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Strategy, effective immediately. This strategic hire reflects Ribbon's focus on accelerating its transformation and strengthening relationships with key stakeholders across the industry as it helps service providers, enterprises and critical infras ...

Group 1 - Ribbon Communications Inc. will report its financial results for Q2 2025 on July 23, 2025, after market close [1] - A conference call will be held at 4:30 p.m. ET on the same day to discuss the financial results [2] - The company provides secure cloud communications and IP optical networking solutions globally, focusing on modernizing networks for improved business outcomes [3] Group 2 - Ribbon Communications emphasizes its commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) matters, providing an annual Sustainability Report [3]

Core Insights - Zacks Premium offers various tools for investors to enhance their stock market strategies and confidence [1] - The Zacks Style Scores provide a framework for evaluating stocks based on value, growth, and momentum [2][3][4][5][6] Zacks Style Scores - Each stock is rated from A to F based on value, growth, and momentum characteristics, with A being the highest score [3] - The Value Score focuses on identifying undervalued stocks using financial ratios like P/E and Price/Sales [3] - The Growth Score assesses a company's financial health and future growth potential through earnings and sales projections [4] - The Momentum Score identifies stocks with favorable price trends and earnings outlooks [5] - The VGM Score combines all three Style Scores to highlight stocks with the best overall characteristics [6] Zacks Rank - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary model that uses earnings estimate revisions to guide investment decisions [7] - Stocks rated 1 (Strong Buy) have historically outperformed the S&P 500, achieving an average annual return of +23.62% since 1988 [7] - There are typically over 800 stocks rated 1 or 2, making it essential to utilize Style Scores for selection [8] Investment Strategy - To maximize returns, investors should focus on stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 and Style Scores of A or B [9] - The direction of earnings estimate revisions is crucial; stocks with lower ranks but high Style Scores may still face downward price pressure [10] Company Spotlight: Twilio Inc. - Twilio Inc. is a cloud communications platform founded in 2007 and listed on NYSE in 2016, enabling real-time communications within software applications [11] - Twilio holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) and has a VGM Score of B, indicating potential for growth [12] - The company is forecasted to achieve year-over-year earnings growth of 22.3% for the current fiscal year, with a recent earnings estimate increase [12] - With strong Growth and VGM Style Scores, Twilio is recommended for investors' consideration [13]

Core Insights - Lumen Technologies, Inc. (LUMN) has experienced a significant stock surge of 334% over the past year, outperforming the S&P 500 and its peers in the communications sector [1][9] - The company is focusing on growth through AI, cloud services, and network-as-a-service (NaaS) solutions, securing $8.5 billion in Private Connectivity Fabric (PCF) deals with major tech companies [9][10] Company Overview - Lumen, based in Monroe, LA, provides a wide range of integrated products and services to clients in business and mass markets, leveraging its extensive terrestrial and subsea fiber optic network across multiple regions [3] - The company operates in over 60 countries, with a significant portion of its revenue generated in the United States [3] Strategic Goals for 2025 - Lumen aims to achieve strong financial targets in revenue, EBITDA, and free cash flow by enhancing operational excellence, establishing a foundation for the AI economy, and transforming telecom economics [4][5] - The company plans to streamline its network and product offerings, reducing complexity and improving customer experience [4][12] Technological Advancements - Lumen's new multi-cloud, AI-ready network architecture is designed to reduce costs and latency by minimizing cross-connects and ports, enabling seamless connectivity for enterprises [6] - The company is also advancing its Digital platform with NaaS solutions that provide customizable connectivity and enhanced data security [10] Financial Outlook - For 2025, Lumen expects adjusted EBITDA to be between $3.2 billion and $3.4 billion, reflecting challenges from legacy business declines and transformation costs [13] - Capital spending is projected at $4.1 billion to $4.3 billion, with free cash flow anticipated between $700 million and $900 million [13] Competitive Positioning - Lumen's valuation is attractive, trading at a price-to-sales ratio of 0.35, significantly lower than the industry average of 1.57 [15] - The company faces competition from major players like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, which have higher trading multiples [16] Future Prospects - Lumen is targeting $1 billion in savings by 2027 through network and product streamlining, with expectations of $250 million in cost savings in the current year [12][17] - The company is positioned for long-term growth in AI and telecom, despite facing macroeconomic uncertainties and legacy revenue challenges [17]

Core Insights - Microsoft Corp shares reached an all-time high of $469.65, closing at $467.68, driven by favorable market trends for mega-cap tech stocks, particularly in AI and cloud computing [1] - A BofA Securities survey indicated modest declines in software growth expectations for 2025 and 2026 due to macroeconomic uncertainties, yet spending is projected to grow nearly 10% annually [2][3] - Strong corporate earnings, with nearly 80% of S&P 500 firms exceeding first-quarter expectations and a collective $1.75 trillion market cap gain in May, have contributed to bullish sentiment [3] Company Performance - Microsoft was among the six companies in the Magnificent Seven to beat earnings estimates, contributing to a significant market cap increase [3] - Analysts note that Microsoft is trading at a forward P/E ratio near 27, indicating stretched valuations, but the company is still viewed favorably due to its AI-driven growth and robust business model [4] Industry Trends - Data analytics, cloud communications, and security are identified as top spending priorities, with Microsoft, Snowflake, and Datadog positioned as key beneficiaries in these areas [2] - The overall tech sector is experiencing a positive sentiment, with investors rewarding firms that demonstrate strong growth potential driven by innovation [4]

Company Overview - Ribbon Communications Inc. is a leading supplier of real-time communications technology and IP optical networking solutions, focusing on assisting service providers, enterprises, and critical infrastructure operators in modernizing and safeguarding their networks and services [1][2] - The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of secure cloud communications and IP optical networking solutions, emphasizing cloud-native architectures, automation, analytics tools, and security [2] Upcoming Events - Ribbon Communications executives will participate in the Rosenblatt 5th Annual Technology Virtual Summit Tech Conference on June 10, 2025, and the Northland Capital Virtual Growth Conference on June 25, 2025 [5] - Qualified participants can set up virtual meetings with Ribbon leadership by contacting the company [1]

BofA Securities analyst Brad Sills disclosed its software spending survey on Tuesday.Since his last survey in December, Sills’ IT professionals’ survey suggested that software spending growth intentions have come down a bit for the second half of 2025 and 2026. Software spending is expected to grow +9.9% for 2025, down 100 basis points from his December survey, and +10.8% for 2026, down 40 basis points. He said this aligns with management and channel commentary that changing macro policies are muddling the ...

Core Viewpoint - Ribbon Communications Inc. has announced a share repurchase program of up to $50 million, reflecting the Board's confidence in the company's strategic plan and improved performance, particularly highlighted by record financial results in Q4 2024 [1][2]. Financial Performance - The company reported a 30% increase in earnings for 2024, achieving results at the high end of its original guidance [2]. - Business with US Tier One Service Providers doubled in 2024, supported by a multi-year contract with Verizon for modernizing telecom voice infrastructure [2]. Share Repurchase Program - The share repurchase program will commence on June 5, 2025, and continue through December 31, 2027 [1]. - The program may involve purchases in the open market, privately negotiated transactions, or structured through investment banking institutions, with the timing and amount subject to various factors [2]. Business Strategy and Outlook - The company has seen significant growth in business with Enterprise customers and U.S. Federal agencies [2]. - There is improved visibility in the business with positive book-to-bill ratios and a growing backlog, indicating a focus on driving profitable growth and strong cash flow generation [2]. Company Overview - Ribbon Communications provides secure cloud communications and IP optical networking solutions globally, focusing on modernizing networks for better competitive positioning [3]. - The company emphasizes its commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) matters, offering an annual Sustainability Report to stakeholders [3].

Core Viewpoint - Lumen Technologies, Inc. is experiencing significant stock price growth driven by increasing demand for its Private Connectivity Fabric (PCF) solutions amid the rise of AI, despite challenges from its legacy business and heavy debt load [1][3][12]. Group 1: Stock Performance - Lumen's shares have surged 29.6% in the past month, outperforming the S&P 500 composite's growth of 15.4% and the Diversified Communications Services sector's growth of 6.3% [1]. - The stock closed at $3.98, significantly below its 52-week high of $10.33, prompting investors to consider its growth trajectory [2]. Group 2: Demand and Growth Opportunities - There is increasing demand for Lumen's PCF solutions, with the company securing $8.5 billion in deals in 2024, driven by the urgent need for fiber capacity from large companies in various industries [3]. - Lumen's focus on "cloudifying" telecom and promoting its network-as-a-service (NaaS) solutions is expected to drive growth, with over 500 customers currently using NaaS services in 2024 [5]. Group 3: Financial Outlook - Lumen anticipates adjusted EBITDA for 2025 to be between $3.2 billion and $3.4 billion, with capital expenditures expected to be between $4.1 billion and $4.3 billion [13]. - The company has a debt-heavy balance sheet, with $1.9 billion in cash and $17.334 billion in long-term debt as of March 31, 2024 [14]. Group 4: Competitive Positioning - Lumen's valuation is compelling, trading at a price-to-sales ratio of 0.3, significantly lower than the Technology Services industry's ratio of 1.47 [10]. - The company is facing challenges from its legacy business, which saw a 3.3% year-over-year revenue decline in Q1 2025, impacting top-line growth [12]. Group 5: Strategic Initiatives - Lumen is implementing cost-saving measures aimed at achieving $1 billion in savings by the end of 2027 through infrastructure simplification and product portfolio integration [7][9]. - The company is leveraging AI technology to enhance operational efficiency and reduce its product count from thousands to nearly 300 [9].

Core Insights - Bandwidth (BAND) reported revenue of $174.24 million for the quarter ended March 2025, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 1.9% and surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $168.87 million by 3.18% [1] - The company's EPS was $0.36, up from $0.27 in the same quarter last year, resulting in an EPS surprise of 24.14% compared to the consensus estimate of $0.29 [1] Financial Performance Metrics - Net retention rate was reported at 116%, exceeding the average estimate of 115.3% from three analysts [4] - Geographic Revenue from International markets was $22.45 million, significantly higher than the average estimate of $14.79 million, marking a year-over-year increase of 4.1% [4] - Geographic Revenue from North America was $151.79 million, slightly below the average estimate of $154.45 million, with a year-over-year change of 1.6% [4] - Revenue from Messaging surcharges reached $40.78 million, surpassing the four-analyst average estimate of $37.29 million [4] - Revenue from Cloud communications was $133.46 million, exceeding the four-analyst average estimate of $131.64 million [4] Stock Performance - Over the past month, Bandwidth's shares have returned +5.3%, while the Zacks S&P 500 composite has seen a +10.6% change [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 5 (Strong Sell), indicating potential underperformance relative to the broader market in the near term [3]