Core Insights - Mastercard's service business is becoming a crucial part of its long-term growth strategy, enhancing its core payments franchise and improving resilience and profitability [1][4] - The service segment, known as Value-Added Services (VAS), is driving sustainable revenue growth and competitive differentiation [1][8] Revenue Diversification - Mastercard generates revenues primarily from transaction volumes, but its service business diversifies these revenues, making them less dependent on consumer spending and economic cycles [2] - Services such as data analytics, cybersecurity, and fraud prevention focus on long-term client relationships, reducing earnings volatility and providing a steadier growth profile [2] Growth in Value-Added Services - Demand for Mastercard's service offerings surged during COVID-19, with revenues from Value-Added Services growing 17.7% in 2023, 16.8% in 2024, and 22% year-over-year in the first nine months of 2025 [3][8] - The growth is driven by increased demand for consumer acquisition, engagement, and business insights [3] Strategic Acquisitions and Partnerships - Mastercard's acquisitions and partnerships, including those with Recorded Future, Dynamic Yield, and the Monetary Authority of Singapore, are expanding its service business and enhancing cybersecurity capabilities [4] - These strategic moves support continued growth in the service segment as the payments business gains momentum [4] Competitive Landscape - Visa and American Express are also leveraging their service businesses to drive growth beyond transaction-based revenues, enhancing customer retention and diversifying revenue streams [5][6] - American Express, in particular, utilizes its closed-loop network to boost spending and customer loyalty through its service offerings [6] Stock Performance - Mastercard's shares have gained 9.5% year-to-date, outperforming the industry [7] Valuation Metrics - Mastercard trades at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of 30.36, which is above the industry average of 21.07, indicating a relatively expensive valuation [9] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Mastercard's fourth-quarter 2025 EPS and first-quarter 2026 EPS has not changed in the last 30 days, with slight downward adjustments for 2025 and 2026 earnings [10][11]

MELVILLE, N.Y., Dec. 23, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Data Storage Corporation (Nasdaq: DTST) (“Data Storage” or the “Company”), today announced that it will extend the Expiration Time for its Offer to Purchase. The Offer to Purchase shall be extended from January 7, 2026 to January 12, 2026. The Company will file an Amendment No. 2 to its Schedule TO with the Securities and Exchange Commission solely to extend the expiration date of the Tender Offer to 12:00 Midnight at the end of the day, New York City Time o ...

Group 1: Blockchain Stocks Overview - Five notable blockchain stocks to watch include Core Scientific, Globant, Argo Blockchain plc 8.75% Senior Notes due 2026, Figure Technology Solutions, and Bitdeer Technologies Group, identified by MarketBeat's stock screener tool [2] - "Blockchain stocks" refer to publicly traded companies involved in blockchain and distributed ledger technologies or holding significant cryptocurrency-related assets, covering a wide spectrum from developers to legacy firms [2] Group 2: Core Scientific (CORZ) - Core Scientific, Inc. provides digital asset mining services in North America, operating through Mining and Hosting segments [3] - The company offers blockchain infrastructure, software solutions, and services, and operates data center mining facilities while also mining digital assets for its own account [3] Group 3: Globant (GLOB) - Globant S.A. provides technology services globally, including digital solutions in blockchain, cloud technologies, cybersecurity, data and AI, and enterprise technology solutions [4] Group 4: Argo Blockchain plc (ARBKL) - Argo Blockchain offers a platform for users to mine bitcoin, ethereum, and other altcoins from home with a transparent monthly fee [5] Group 5: Figure Technology Solutions (FIGR) - Figure is focused on building the future of capital markets using blockchain technology, enhancing lending, trading, and investing activities [6] Group 6: Bitdeer Technologies Group (BTDR) - Bitdeer Technologies Group operates in blockchain and computing, offering hash rate sharing solutions and one-stop mining machine hosting services [7]

Valued at a market cap of $12.4 billion, Akamai Technologies, Inc. (AKAM) is a prominent provider of cloud computing, cybersecurity, and content delivery network services. Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the company operates a globally distributed edge platform that helps enterprises deliver faster, more secure, and more reliable digital experiences to users worldwide. Companies valued at $10 billion or more are typically classified as “large-cap stocks,” and AKAM fits the label perfectly, wit ...

Core Insights - IBM is a mega-cap stock with a market capitalization of $284.6 billion, providing a wide range of integrated solutions and services in the IT sector [1][2] - The company has shown strong performance in the stock market, with a 37.9% year-to-date increase and a 32.5% rise over the past 52 weeks, significantly outperforming the Dow Jones Industrials Average [4] Financial Performance - In Q3, IBM reported an adjusted EPS of $2.65, exceeding Wall Street's expectations of $2.44, and revenue of $16.3 billion, surpassing the forecast of $16.1 billion [6] - Over the past three months, IBM stock gained 25%, while the Dow Jones Industrials Average only gained 4.4% during the same period [3] Market Position and Trends - IBM's advancements in quantum computing, particularly the 120-qubit Quantum Nighthawk processor, are expected to drive future growth, aiming for quantum advantage by 2026 and fault-tolerant computing by 2029 [5] - The demand for AI and automation solutions is contributing to IBM's growth, with software annual recurring revenue (ARR) increasing by 12.2%, and the AI business exceeding $9.5 billion [5] Stock Performance - Despite a recent slip of 6.7% from its 52-week high of $324.90, IBM has been trading above its 200-day moving average for the past year, indicating a bullish trend [3][4] - The stock has also been above its 50-day moving average since mid-September, further confirming its positive momentum [4]

Core Points - Data Storage Corporation (Nasdaq: DTST) has rescheduled its 2025 third quarter business update conference call to November 19, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time [1] - The conference call will be accessible via telephone and webcast, with specific dialing instructions provided for both U.S. and international callers [2] - A replay of the conference call will be available on the company's website until May 19, 2026, and a telephone replay will be accessible until November 26, 2025 [3] Company Overview - Data Storage Corporation plans to invest in various sectors, including GPU Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), AI-driven software applications, cybersecurity, and voice/data telecommunications [4] - The company's mission focuses on building sustainable, recurring revenue streams while maintaining financial discipline and strategic focus [4]

Core Points - Data Storage Corporation has postponed its 2025 third quarter business update conference call originally scheduled for November 14, 2025, due to necessary accounting adjustments related to the sale of its CloudFirst subsidiary [1][2] - The company is actively working to finalize these accounting adjustments and will announce a new date and time for the conference call once available [2] - Data Storage Corporation plans to invest in various sectors including GPU Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), AI-driven software applications, cybersecurity, and voice/data telecommunications, aiming to build sustainable, recurring revenue streams while maintaining financial discipline [3]

Core Insights - Wall Street sentiment towards Mastercard is improving, with upward revisions in earnings estimates for 2025 and 2026, projecting EPS of $16.41 and $19.05 respectively, indicating year-over-year growth of 12.4% and 16.1% [1][5] - The company has consistently outperformed EPS estimates over the past four quarters, with an average surprise of 3.1%, and revenue forecasts for 2025 and 2026 are $32.6 billion and $36.7 billion, reflecting growth rates of 15.7% and 12.7% [2][5] Financial Performance - Despite positive estimates, Mastercard shares fell 1.3% in the past month, compared to a 4.3% decline in the broader industry, while peers like American Express saw a 14.1% increase [3] - Mastercard's gross dollar volume (GDV) grew by 8.3% in the first nine months of 2025, following 10.2% growth in 2023 and 8.2% in 2024 [9][11] - Value-added services revenue surged 21.4% year-over-year in the first three quarters of 2025, contributing significantly to overall growth [5][14] Market Position and Strategy - Mastercard is currently trading below its average analyst price target of $658.65, suggesting a potential upside of 19% from current levels [7] - The company is focusing on expansion in emerging markets, particularly Southeast Asia and Latin America, which present significant opportunities for financial inclusion [15] - Mastercard is integrating digital currencies into its network through partnerships, positioning itself as a bridge between traditional finance and the digital asset economy [16][17] Valuation and Costs - Mastercard's forward P/E ratio stands at 29.55X, above the industry average of 20.64X, reflecting its superior growth and innovation [18] - Adjusted operating expenses have increased significantly, with a rise of 10.5% in 2023, 11% in 2024, and 14.4% in the first nine months of 2025 [20] Regulatory Environment - Regulatory challenges are a concern, with recent rulings in the UK and accusations in the US regarding competitive practices potentially impacting revenue growth [21][22] - The company has also faced scrutiny over corporate governance, evidenced by a settlement related to workplace pay bias [23]

Core Insights - Kyivstar Group Ltd reported a strong financial performance in Q3 2025, with total revenue growth of 20.9% year-over-year, reaching UAH 12.3 billion (USD 297 million) [3][10] - The company's EBITDA increased by 21.5% year-over-year to UAH 7.1 billion (USD 171 million), with an EBITDA margin of 57.6% [4][10] - Digital revenue surged by 531% to UAH 1.5 billion (USD 35 million), now accounting for nearly 12% of total revenues, driven by the acquisition of Uklon [5][10] Financial Performance - Total revenue grew to UAH 12.3 billion, reflecting a 20.9% increase YoY, and a 19.8% increase in USD terms [3][10] - EBITDA rose to UAH 7.1 billion, marking a 21.5% YoY growth, with a 20.4% increase in USD terms [4][10] - Adjusted net profit was reported at USD 73 million, excluding a non-cash charge of USD 162 million related to the company's listing [10] Digital Strategy - Direct digital revenue reached UAH 1.5 billion, contributing 11.9% to total revenue, supported by the integration of Uklon [5][10] - The number of multiplay users increased by 24.8% YoY to 6.6 million, representing 31.7% of one-month-active mobile customers [5][10] - Digital monthly active users (MAUs) grew by 49.4% to 13.5 million, indicating strong customer engagement [10] Strategic Initiatives - Kyivstar became the first Ukrainian company to list on the NASDAQ on August 15, 2025 [7] - The company is advancing its digital ecosystem, including the launch of Ukraine's first Starlink Direct to Cell network and the development of a national large language model in partnership with the Ministry of Digital Transformation [7][9] - Kyivstar plans to invest USD 1 billion in Ukraine from 2023 to 2027, focusing on infrastructure and technological development [15] Future Outlook - The company anticipates revenue growth of 24% to 27% YoY and EBITDA growth of 23% to 26% YoY in UAH terms for the full year [8] - In USD terms, revenue growth is expected to be between 20% to 23% YoY, with EBITDA growth of 19% to 22% YoY for 2025 [8]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q3 2025, service revenue totaled $1.34 billion, reflecting a year-over-year decline of 0.5%, primarily due to a $74 million negative impact from IAS 21 application in Bolivia [12][14] - Adjusted EBITDA reached a record $695 million, with an all-time high margin of 48.9%, representing a year-over-year increase of 23.8% [13][17] - Equity-free cash flow rose by 18.1% year-over-year, totaling $638 million for the first nine months of 2025 [14][19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Mobile service revenue grew 5.5% year-over-year, driven by ARPU expansion in prepaid and a 14% increase in postpaid customers [4][12] - Home business service revenue was flat year-over-year, a significant improvement from a nearly 5% decline a year ago, with 60,000 new customers added [5][12] - B2B service revenue reached $231 million, up 5.3% year-over-year, with digital services growing by 10% [5][12] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Colombia's service revenue expanded 6.5% year-over-year to $364 million, with postpaid customers increasing by 12% [15][17] - Guatemala's local currency service revenue grew 3.6% year-over-year, reaching $366 million, driven by mobile strategy and customer base management [15][17] - In Panama, service revenue remained flat at $170 million, with a 15% increase in postpaid customers [15][17] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company completed acquisitions in Uruguay and Ecuador, enhancing its regional footprint and earnings quality [8][9] - The focus remains on maintaining leverage below 2.5x while integrating new acquisitions and pursuing operational efficiencies [3][22] - The company aims to deliver continued top-line growth and sustainable margin expansion, despite challenges from currency devaluation and legal settlements [23] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in achieving the $750 million equity-free cash flow target for 2025, despite external challenges [2][23] - The company remains optimistic about the ongoing integration of Ecuador and Uruguay, expecting to unlock meaningful synergies [8][9] - Management highlighted the importance of maintaining operational focus and efficiency in light of regulatory challenges in Costa Rica [10][26] Other Important Information - The company recorded a $118 million provision related to an ongoing DOJ investigation, reflecting expected financial impacts [11][12] - The sale of tower companies in El Salvador and Honduras was completed for approximately $975 million, marking a successful conclusion to the infrastructure monetization plan [9][22] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the leverage impact of the Ecuador and Uruguay transactions? - Current leverage is 2.09, expected to normalize to around 2.3 after accounting for the acquisitions [24] Question: Will the burden of spectrum renewal payments fall on Millicom? - The license renewal payment of approximately $115 million was paid by Telefónica, but there will be additional 5G auction costs expected in 2026 [25] Question: What is the future course of action in Costa Rica if the appeal is rejected? - The company plans to refocus on its operational model and invest in infrastructure while appealing the regulatory decision [26][28] Question: What is the outlook for CapEx in 2026? - The company expects to maintain CapEx around $700 million, focusing on demand-driven investments [29][30] Question: How is the competitive environment evolving in Guatemala? - The company is actively managing competition through targeted strategies and investments, resulting in stable performance [45][46]