| Vodafone Group PLC (GB00BH4HKS39) | |||
0,79 GBXStand (close): 03.07.25 |
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| 24.06.25 16:26:00 | Tech, Media & Telecom Roundup: Market Talk |  |
| Find insight on Canadian carriers, Vodafone’s hurdles, and more in the latest Market Talks covering Technology, Media and Telecom. Continue Reading View Comments |
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| 24.06.25 15:53:00 | NOW Expands AI Adoption: Can Subscription Growth Accelerate Further? |  |
| ServiceNow NOW is expanding the use of AI-powered workflows across industries to support customer growth and boost subscription revenues. NOW has been adding generative AI features across its key products to help enterprises automate services, follow compliance rules and improve efficiency. Now Assist continues to gain traction across the platform. It is being used to accelerate case resolution, streamline service requests and enable intelligent self-service across IT, employee and customer workflows. The Pro Plus tier packages these capabilities into prebuilt modules, while RaptorDB enhances performance with higher throughput and faster analytics. These offerings contributed to 72 transactions of more than $1 million in net new Annual Contract Value in the first quarter of 2025, reflecting strong enterprise demand for AI-native workflows. ServiceNow is benefiting from an expanding partner base as adoption expands across enterprise customers. Vodafone is implementing ServiceNow’s AI stack to modernize global service operations, while Aptiv is co-developing workflow solutions across industrial and automotive environments. Collaboration with Devoteam is supporting CRM transformation across Europe and the Middle East, helping enterprises digitize engagement at scale. The launch of the Singapore Protected Platform (SPP-SG) adds a sovereign AI cloud offering tailored to regulated sectors. Built on Microsoft Azure and compliant with Multi-Tier Cloud Security Level 3 standards, SPP-SG enables government agencies to adopt AI workflows with in-country data residency. NOW Faces Stiff Competition ServiceNow faces growing competition from Salesforce CRM and BigBear.ai BBAI, both of which are expanding their AI capabilities and platform reach across enterprise and public sector workflows. Salesforce is advancing its AI strategy with Einstein Copilot, a generative AI assistant embedded across sales, service and support workflows. The assistant helps automate case resolutions, generate summaries and streamline CRM interactions, directly overlapping with ServiceNow’s Now Assist, Pro Plus and customer service offerings. Salesforce’s strong client base in front-office automation makes it a key competitor in AI-powered enterprise transformation. BigBear.ai is focused on AI-driven decision intelligence and autonomous workflows, particularly in public sector and regulated environments. The company delivers mission-critical analytics and AI orchestration for defense, logistics and national security operations. As ServiceNow expands sovereign cloud offerings like SPP-SG, BigBear.ai’s footprint in public workflows positions it as a direct challenger in government-focused AI deployment. Story Continues NOW’s Share Price Performance, Valuation and Estimates ServiceNow’s shares have declined 7.5% year to date, while the broader Zacks Computer & Technology sector has increased 0.9% and the Computer-IT services industry has plunged 10.5%. Now's PerformanceZacks Investment Research Image Source: Zacks Investment Research ServiceNow stock is trading at a premium, with a forward 12-month Price/Sales of 14.34X compared with the industry’s 18.47X. NOW has a Value Score of F. NOW’s ValuationZacks Investment Research Image Source: Zacks Investment Research The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ServiceNow’s second-quarter 2025 earnings is pegged at $3.53 per share, unchanged over the past 30 days, indicating 12.78% year-over-year growth. ServiceNow, Inc. Price and ConsensusServiceNow, Inc. Price and Consensus ServiceNow, Inc. price-consensus-chart | ServiceNow, Inc. Quote The consensus mark for NOW’s 2025 earnings is pegged at $16.51 per share, which has remained unchanged over the past 30 days. The figure indicates an 18.61% increase year over year. ServiceNow currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rak (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Salesforce Inc. (CRM) : Free Stock Analysis Report ServiceNow, Inc. (NOW) : Free Stock Analysis Report BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc. (BBAI) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research View Comments |
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| 24.06.25 13:00:00 | Vodafone and Cyient unveil AI-Powered Network Configuration Management Solution to deliver Data driven, Smarter Network Operations | |
| HYDERABAD, India and DALLAS, June 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In a landmark collaboration, Vodafone, a leading technology communications company and Cyient, a global Intelligent Engineering solutions company, have launched an AI-powered Global Network Configuration Management solution supported by data-driven, intelligent configuration analytics This innovation represents a major milestone in transforming network engineering and operations, delivering unprecedented visibility and efficiency across Vodafone's teams and markets. This cutting-edge solution is the result of a close collaboration between Vodafone and Cyient teams. It leverages AI to unify configuration data, as well as logical and physical inventory, enhancing network management efficiency across multiple Vodafone local markets The platform provides Vodafone teams with unified network visibility across markets, enabling them to benchmark configurations, detect anomalies, and track deployments. It supports mobility strategy analysis and spectrum utilization, driving efficiency, alignment, and faster data-driven decisions "VISMON provides the strategic foundation to oversee configuration data across all markets, enabling us to harmonize practices, identify best-performing setups, and optimize our networks more effectively than ever," said Mostafa Noureldien, Manager, Network Development Digital Strategy, Vodafone. VISMON, an AI-powered solution, has already delivered transformational benefits in large-scale deployments, including a 70% reduction in time spent compiling cross-market reports, three times faster decision-making, and an expected 50% decrease in errors caused by inconsistent configuration. "At Cyient, we are proud to partner with Vodafone in their journey toward smarter, faster, and more intelligent network operations," said Joaquim Croca, Vice President and Regional Head of Sales, Cyient. "This AI-driven platform exemplifies how intelligent automation and data-led insights can drive real impact—delivering agility, consistency, and strategic clarity at scale." This collaboration reflects both organizations' commitment to pioneering next-generation network management. About Cyient Cyient (Estd: 1991, NSE: CYIENT) delivers intelligent engineering solutions across products, plants, and networks for over 300 global customers, including 30% of the top 100 global innovators. As a company, Cyient is committed to designing a culturally inclusive, socially responsible, and environmentally sustainable tomorrow together with our stakeholders. Story Continues For more information, please visit www.cyient.com Follow news about the company at @Cyient Gowtham Uyalla Kaizzen PR +91 99892 22959 gowtham.uyalla@kaizzencomm.com Phalguna Hari jandhyala Cyient Phalguna.Harijandhyala@cyient.com SOURCE Cyient View Comments |
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| 20.06.25 09:31:54 | CFOs On the Move: Week ending June 20 | |
| This story was originally published on CFO.com. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily CFO.com newsletter. Pilar López | Vodafone Vodafone has appointed Pilar López as the new finance chief for the U.K.-based telecom group. She joins Vodafone after a decade at Microsoft, where she held several senior leadership positions. These included chief operating officer for Western Europe, the country general manager for Spain, and, more recently, leading the partnership with the London Stock Exchange Group. Before her time at Microsoft, López spent 16 years at Telefónica in various finance and senior leadership roles, including CFO of Telefónica Europe and CFO of O2 Plc. She began her career at J.P. Morgan. López takes over from Luka Mucic, who announced his departure in May to become CEO of the German property firm Vonovia. Chris Turner | Yum Brands Yum Brands, the parent company of KFC and Taco Bell, has promoted its chief financial and franchise officer, Chris Turner, to chief executive officer, effective Oct. 1. Turner has been the CFO of the fast food company since 2019 and assumed the role of chief franchise officer in 2024. Before joining Yum Brands, he led PepsiCo’s retail and e-commerce business with Walmart. He also spent over 13 years at McKinsey, where he was a partner in the firm’s Dallas office. Turner succeeds David Gibbs, who is retiring after 37 years with the company. Paul Joachimczyk | Sonoco Sonoco hired Paul Joachimczyk as the sustainable packaging company’s new chief financial officer, effective June 30. Joachimczyk was previously the CFO of cabinet manufacturer American Woodmark. Before that, he was vice president of finance for TopBuild, a construction services and distribution company. He earlier held finance leadership positions at Stanley Black & Decker and General Electric’s healthcare and capital markets divisions. Joachimczyk replaces Jerry Cheatham, who has been interim chief financial officer since Jan. 6. Cheatham will transition to a senior finance leadership role. Marc Graff | Ciena Marc Graff will take over as finance chief of high-speed connectivity company Ciena on Aug. 1. Graff was previously CFO of hardware and software solutions provider Altera, where he helped execute the majority sale of Altera from Intel. Before that, he spent over 26 years at Intel and was most recently CFO and chief operating officer for its data center and artificial intelligence group. He previously held other executive finance roles across manufacturing and business units at Intel. Graff succeeds James Moylan, who is retiring. Story Continues Aaron Izzard | ASOS Aaron Izzard, director of group finance at British online fashion retailer ASOS, has been promoted to CFO. Izzard joined the retailer in January 2017 as head of retail finance. Before joining ASOS, he held several leadership roles in finance, including head of operations finance at Argos, head of FP&A at Home Retail Group, and cash flow supervisor at Caterpillar. Izzard succeeds Dave Murray, who is stepping down on June 30. Murray, who joined the retailer as finance chief in April 2024, will remain with ASOS for a transition period. Victoria Payne | Girls on the Run International Victoria Payne was appointed finance chief of Girls on the Run International, a nonprofit that offers empowering after-school programs designed for girls. Payne joins the company from clinical skincare brand Urban Skin Rx, where she was most recently chief executive officer. Before assuming the role of CEO, she served as CFO. Earlier leadership experience includes over 13 years at men’s apparel retailer Mountain Khakis, where she served as CFO, and at home improvement retailer Lowe’s, where she held the position of senior finance manager. Tim Karaca | SolarWinds Tim Karaca was promoted to chief financial officer of SolarWinds, an IT infrastructure management software provider. For three years, Karaca was the group vice president for strategic finance and investor relations. Karaca spent nearly two decades in the technology industry and on Wall Street, working in senior finance roles before joining SolarWinds. His leadership experience spans senior roles at companies such as AIG, Microsoft and Bridgewater Associates. Alice Heathcote | Origis Energy Origis Energy, a renewable energy and decarbonization solution platform, appointed Alice Heathcote as finance chief. Since Jan. 2023, Heathcote was the CFO of renewable energy company Strata Clean Energy. Before joining Strata, she spent seven years at global independent power producer ContourGlobal in several leadership roles, including senior vice president of financing and acquisitions, where she led its IPO on the London Stock Exchange. She earlier spent four years as CFO of its renewable division.Sergio Maiworm, CFO of Expro Sergio Maiworm | Expro Global energy services company Expro named Sergio Maiworm as CFO, effective June 30. Maiworm joins the company from Talos Energy, where he has worked for the last seven years and was most recently its chief financial officer. He has over 20 years of energy and finance experience, including as vice president of energy investment banking at Deutsche Bank, in M&A and commercial finance at Shell and director of finance at ION Geophysical. Maiworm succeeds Quinn Fanning, who is leaving the company. View Comments |
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| 02.04.25 17:39:20 | Vodafone Group (LSE:VOD) Announces Board Reshuffle With New Non-Executive Director | |
| In light of significant board changes, Vodafone Group experienced a share price rise of just over 5% over the last quarter. The appointment of new leaders, alongside executive shifts at subsidiary levels, highlighted the company's evolving governance. Concurrently, Vodafone's strategic agreement to enhance European satellite services and its proactive debt management initiatives underscored efforts to strengthen its market position. Meanwhile, broader market conditions showed volatility, with key indices like the S&P 500 rebounding from recent declines and economic discussions surrounding upcoming U.S. tariffs creating an uncertain backdrop, potentially influencing market sentiment and investor actions regarding Vodafone shares. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 3 risks for Vodafone Group you should know about.LSE:VOD Earnings Per Share Growth as at Apr 2025 AI is about to change healthcare. These 24 stocks are working on everything from early diagnostics to drug discovery. The best part - they are all under $10b in market cap - there's still time to get in early. Over the last year, Vodafone Group achieved a total shareholder return of 10.98%. This outcome, while positive, lags behind the UK Wireless Telecom industry and UK Market returns of 19.3% and 5.6%, respectively. The performance is set against several key developments: Vodafone forged strategic digital partnerships with Microsoft and Google Cloud, enhancing its service portfolio and potentially bolstering future margins. The company's agreement with AST SpaceMobile for European satellite services further bolstered its connectivity offerings. However, Vodafone's operational challenges, particularly a 6.2% revenue decline in Germany's Q2, posed significant hurdles, impacting profit margins. Financially, Vodafone pursued flexibility through asset sales in Italy and share buybacks, including the repurchase of 609 million shares by November 2024. Additionally, Vodafone addressed its financial foundation by reducing debt through bond repurchases. However, a dividend cut in November 2024 indicated ongoing caution in cash management. Executives' appointments, aimed at enhancing leadership effectiveness, rounded out the year's strategic maneuvers. Assess Vodafone Group's future earnings estimates with our detailed growth reports. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Story Continues Companies discussed in this article include LSE:VOD. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com View Comments |
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| 01.04.25 13:35:45 | Almost half of Britain cannot browse internet because of poor mobile signal | |
| Illustration: poor signal Britain’s mobile coverage is so patchy that almost half the country struggles to browse the internet, data have revealed. The four mobile network operators have “acceptable” coverage across just 55pc of the country’s landmass on average, leaving large swathes of the population with sluggish connections, according to figures compiled by mobile data firm Streetwave. The research appears to underscore concerns among Britons that shoddy mobile signal is frustrating consumers and damaging productivity. Kester Mann, an analyst at CCS Insight, said the analysis “highlights, once again, the disappointing performance of UK mobile networks”. He added: “This is a combination of several factors, including a lack of investment from the industry, the mandated swap-out of equipment from Huawei, environmental push-back against the deployment of new masts and burdensome planning restrictions.” The research found significant disparity between the performance of the UK’s four mobile networks. EE’s coverage levels were the highest at 69pc, followed by Vodafone at 61pc. O2’s acceptable coverage reached just 50pc, while Three lagged well behind on 38pc. Overall, however, the results for all providers are below the official data compiled by regulator Ofcom in September stating geographic 4G coverage is in the range of 88pc to 89pc. Sir Terry Matthews, the Welsh billionaire and an investor in Streetwave, said the data were “enabling the industry to have a candid conversation around how coverage can be improved in the UK, while empowering consumers to make informed choices about which mobile network best meets their needs”. An operator is considered to have “acceptable” coverage where their network provides users with 5 Mbps download speeds, 2 Mbps upload speeds, and latency below 40ms on any connection ranging from 2G to 5G. These are the speeds at which most mobile functions including browsing the internet, streaming videos and joining conference calls can be carried out. Any drop below this level would be likely to result in a compromised user experience, such as videos buffering and images taking time to load. The survey was conducted in 113 councils across the UK, representing 37pc of the UK’s geography and around 19m people. It was carried out by attaching signal readers to rubbish collection lorries, measuring mobile performance outside virtually every home and business in each council area. Mobile UK, which represents mobile network operators, said it disputed the findings of the research. A spokesman said: “While we acknowledge that all models, including our own, involve predictive elements, Streetwave’s conclusions are based on an extremely limited dataset, derived from just a third of councils across four nations, and are heavily skewed towards rural, low-population density areas. This significantly restricts its applicability to the broader UK mobile landscape. Story Continues “While we do not agree with these findings it once again puts in sharp focus the need for the Government to better prioritise mobile deployment in its policy making.” An Ofcom spokesman said: “Streetwave’s coverage data isn’t directly comparable to ours, which comes from mobile network operators’ predictions and may not always match people’s real-world experience at a very local level. “We’re working hard to improve the data we use, and we will relaunch our mobile coverage checker later this year with new and improved information to better reflect what people can expect.” Poor mobile connectivity has become a major political issue, with MPs lining up to bemoan patchy coverage, especially in rural areas. The first stage of a £1bn government-backed project to stamp out so-called “not spots” in rural areas has now been completed and a target of reaching 95pc of the UK’s landmass with at least one provider by the end of the year has already been met. However, ministers are now discussing watering down the second stage of the programme, the Shared Rural Network, in a move that is likely to anger mobile companies. Vodafone and Three are in the process of combining in a £15bn merger that will create the UK’s largest mobile network. The companies have long argued that the tie-up was necessary to upgrade the country’s sluggish 5G connectivity. Angus Hay, the chief executive of Streetwave, said: “A collaborative approach is needed to improve mobile connectivity across the UK. This includes continued private and public investment into the networks, as well as local efforts by councils and planning authorities to support infrastructure investments. “Our findings raise significant questions around whether there is need for an extension to the Shared Rural Network programme to further support rural communities.” View Comments |
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| 31.03.25 19:38:23 | Is Vodafone Group Public Limited Company (VOD) The Best Stock Under $10 to Buy Now? | |
| We recently compiled a list of the 10 Best Stocks Under $10 to Buy Now. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Vodafone Group Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:VOD) stands against the other stocks under $10. On March 28, Friday, US stocks declined as Wall Street continued to struggle with President Trump’s trade war and signs of rising inflation. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped almost 1.7% and the S&P 500 fell nearly 2%. Technology stocks led the losses and as a result, the Nasdaq suffered the most by falling 2.7%. READ ALSO: 10 Cheap Technology Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds and 8 Fastest Growing AI Stocks To Buy Right Now. This disappointing performance came after the release of a hotter-than-expected reading of the Personal Consumption Expenditures index, which captures inflation across a wide range of consumer expenses and reflects changes in consumer behavior. The report showed that prices rose more than expected in February, increasing 0.4% month-over-month and 2.8% year-over-year. This indicates persistent inflation pressures are standing in the way of the Fed’s 2% target. Additionally, US consumer sentiment fell to its lowest level since November 2022 as the latest reading from the University of Michigan came in at 57, falling from a reading of 64.7 in February. On Friday, Trump stated that he had a “very good talk” with the new Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. With regard to the tariffs, President Trump said he would “absolutely” proceed with tariffs against Canada. Stocks have had a volatile week, starting off strong on hopes that President Trump might soften his tariff plans and then sharply declining on Wednesday following news of new duties on auto imports. On Thursday, the market continued to decline as Wall Street reacted to Trump’s 25% tariffs on foreign cars and his more hawkish comments about the trade war’s future. April 2 is approaching and broad reciprocal tariffs are set to take effect. Methodology To compile our list of the 10 best stocks under $10 to buy now, we used the Finviz stock screener. We sorted our results based on market capitalization and picked the top 20 stocks with a share price of under $10 as of March 27, 2025. Next, we focused on the top 10 stocks most favored by institutional investors. Data for the hedge fund sentiment surrounding each stock was taken from Insider Monkey’s Q4 2024 database of more than 1,000 elite hedge funds. Finally, the 10 best stocks under $10 to buy now were ranked in ascending order based on the number of hedge funds holding stakes in them as of Q4 2024. Story Continues Why do we care about what hedge funds do? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter's strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).Why Vodafone Group Plc (VOD) Surged On Thursday? A customer receiving a mobile money transfer notification on their phone. Vodafone Group Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:VOD) Share Price: $9.36 Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 24 Vodafone Group Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:VOD) is a British multinational telecommunications company that operates fixed networks in 21 countries and partners with mobile networks in 48 more countries around the world. It is the largest mobile and fixed network operator in Europe and it also has the biggest and fastest-growing 5G network in the region. Vodafone Group Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:VOD) ranks among the best stocks under $10 to buy. The two telecommunication company’s have a clear plan to invest £11 billion The company is merging with the telecommunication firm Three in the UK. Vodafone Group Public Limited Company’s (NASDAQ:VOD) merger with Three was approved by the Competition and Markets Authority in December 2024. The two telecommunication companies have a clear plan to invest £11 billion to create one of Europe’s most advanced 5G networks. The new network is aimed at transforming the UK’s telecoms landscape and reaching over 50 million customers with better quality, reliability, and capacity. The merger is expected to be finalized in the next few months and Vodafone Group Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:VOD) will own 51% of the new business. After 3 years, the company will have the option to buy out Hutchison’s 49% stake, subject to certain conditions. Overall, VOD ranks 5th on our list of the best stocks under $10 to buy now. While we acknowledge the potential of VOD as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than VOD but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. View Comments |
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| 31.03.25 13:55:00 | Vodafone Advances Cybersecurity for Businesses in Germany | |
| Vodafone, Inc. VOD recently announced the launch of a cybersecurity center in Düsseldorf, Germany. The cybersecurity center is set to offer around-the-clock protection to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the country. Vodafone boasts a comprehensive cybersecurity portfolio. The Vodafone Business Managed Security Services makes businesses more resilient against emerging cyber threats. The Unified Endpoint Management enables the admin to configure and monitor smartphones, laptops and other devices an enterprise is using. Vodafone Business Security Assessment – Security Ratings is a risk management platform that empowers businesses to continuously monitor and offer a 360-degree view of potential cyber risks. This comprehensive visibility and proper assessment of cyber health enable organizations to take swift action in the event of security issues. Vodafone’s cyber security center will work to identify potential threats and effectively trigger protective mechanisms to thwart cyber breaches. Moreover, it will offer a cyber hub that will display info related to security status and averted cyber-attacks. Vodafone has employed more than 100 security experts and offers 24/7 services to ensure seamless implementation, monitoring and maintenance of security systems for its customers. The company is also actively working with major tech companies, including Microsoft, Lookout, CybSafe, Zscaler and Google, to further expand security capabilities and incorporate advanced features. Vodafone’s cyber center will also collaborate with customers to provide enterprise employees with proper training and tools to detect potential threats. Will This Initiative Drive VOD’s Share Performance? Large corporations with extensive financial resources deploy sophisticated IT infrastructure to avert cyber-attacks. SMEs with limited resources cannot commit to large-scale investments in cyber defense. This makes them vulnerable and puts them in a disadvantageous position in a highly competitive business landscape. Cybercriminals often capitalize on this loophole. Recent studies have suggested that over 50% of cyber-attacks target SMEs, and it takes about 21 days for SMEs to recover from such attacks. This immensely affects business operations. SMEs are the backbone of the German economy, and growing cyberattacks on SMEs are a worrying sign for the country. Recognizing this overlooked segment, Vodafone, with the launch of a cyber security center, is aiming to strengthen the digital resilience of its SME customers across the country. Such a customer-oriented approach augurs well for the company’s long-term growth. Story Continues Other Stocks to Consider InterDigital IDCC delivered an earnings surprise of 158.41% in the trailing four quarters. It is a pioneer in advanced mobile technologies that enable wireless communications and capabilities. The company designs and develops a wide range of advanced technology solutions used in digital cellular, wireless 3G, 4G and IEEE 802-related products and networks. Celestica Inc. CLS provides competitive manufacturing technology and service solutions for printed circuit assembly and system assembly, as well as post-manufacturing support to many of the world's leading original equipment manufacturers. United States Cellular Corporation USM delivered an earnings surprise of 150% in the last reported quarter. U.S. Cellular has taken concrete steps to accelerate subscriber additions and improve churn management. The company aims to offer the best wireless experience to customers by providing superior quality network and national coverage. It is well-positioned to support the investment required for network enhancements, including the deployment of 5G technology. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report United States Cellular Corporation (USM) : Free Stock Analysis Report Vodafone Group PLC (VOD) : Free Stock Analysis Report Celestica, Inc. (CLS) : Free Stock Analysis Report InterDigital, Inc. (IDCC) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research View Comments |
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| 28.03.25 13:59:20 | Is Vodafone Group (VOD) the Best Telecom Stock to Buy According to Hedge Funds? | |
| We recently published a list of the 13 Best Telecom Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Vodafone Group Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:VOD) stands against other best telecom stocks. The global telecom services market is estimated at $1.98 trillion as of 2024, according to Grand View Research. It is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.5% from 2025 to 2030. This expansion is driven by the increasing expenditures on 5G infrastructure deployment, which is fueled by a shift in customer preference towards next-generation technologies and smartphone devices. Additionally, the rising number of mobile subscribers, the soaring demand for high-speed data connectivity, and the growing need for value-added managed services are key factors that contribute to this market growth. Initially a trend in 2019, 5G has solidified its position as a critical driver of the industrial economy. The Future of Commerce reported that the global 5G connections are projected to surge from 1.76 billion in 2023 to 7.9 billion by 2028. This indicates that 5G will constitute over half of all connections, as per reports from 5G Americas and Omdia. This expansion is driven by investments from government and telecom companies, as well as the demand for faster internet speeds, lower latency, and improved battery life. While 5G deployment continues, 6G is emerging and promises ultra-high data speeds via terahertz spectrum bands, low latency, and AI integration. It aims to revolutionize communication through applications like smart grids and immersive XR experiences. However, challenges like energy efficiency and responsible AI integration remain. Telecom companies stand to capture a $100 billion opportunity within the 5G economy. AI is deeply ingrained in the telecom sector as well. It evolved from basic echo cancellation in the 1950s to sophisticated algorithms for network management and failure prediction. In 2025, AI’s role will intensify, with global telco investments projected to rise from $3.34 billion in 2024 to $58.7 billion by 2032. AI is crucial in network topology improvements. It facilitates self-healing networks, automated transitions, and AR applications. It will drive 6G’s evolution towards connected intelligence and enhance predictive maintenance, fault detection, security, and customer experiences through predictive and cognitive AI. Our Methodology We used the Finviz stock screener to compile an initial list of top telecom stocks. We then selected the 13 stocks that were the most popular among elite hedge funds and that analysts were bullish on. The stocks are ranked in ascending order of the number of hedge funds that have stakes in them, as of Q4 2024. The hedge fund data was sourced from Insider Monkey’s database which tracks the moves of over 900 elite money managers. Story Continues Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).Is Vodafone Group (NASDAQ:VOD) the Best Telecom Stock to Buy According to Hedge Funds? A customer receiving a mobile money transfer notification on their phone. Vodafone Group Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:VOD) Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 24 Vodafone Group Public Limited Company (NASDAQ:VOD) is a telecom giant that delivers mobile and fixed connectivity services, alongside advanced enterprise solutions. These include cloud, IoT, and cybersecurity. With a strong presence in Europe and Africa, it also provides innovative digital services like M-PESA and integrated communication platforms. The company is currently navigating a challenging German telecom market, which significantly impacted its overall performance. The company experienced a 3.8% year-over-year headwind in FQ2 2025 due to the MDU TV customer migration, with a 1.5% sequential drop from broadband price increases. The company anticipates this impact continuing into FQ3, before easing in FQ4. Despite this, Vodafone Group (NASDAQ:VOD) is expanding its gigabit-capable broadband reach and now covers 75% of German households, which includes an additional 5 million through new fiber wholesale agreements. The company is aiming for a U-shaped recovery in Germany, with FQ2 marking the bottom. It anticipates positive growth returning by FY26. It’s monitoring the increasingly competitive German mobile market, where it’s maintaining pricing discipline amidst aggressive moves from competitors. Overall, VOD ranks 12th on our list of the best telecom stocks to buy according to hedge funds. While we acknowledge the growth potential of VOD, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold great promise for delivering high returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than VOD but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. View Comments |
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| 24.03.25 08:13:40 | BofA downgrades Vodafone on expected impact of the Three merger, Germany headwinds | |
| Investing.com -- Bank of America (BofA) on Monday downgraded Vodafone (LON:VOD) (NASDAQ:VOD) stock to Neutral from Buy, citing a more challenging near-term financial outlook for the telecom giant, particularly due to the impact of the imminent merger with UK peer Three and market conditions in Germany. Last year, Vodafone and Three received approval to merge their UK operations, paving the way for the creation of the country's largest mobile network. The £16.5 billion deal will combine their customer bases, resulting in a group with over 27 million subscribers. As part of the agreement, the companies have committed to significant investment in upgrading the merged network across the UK. According to BofA, while the merger lays a strong foundation for Vodafone, it also brings about a near-term cash flow dilution of approximately 35%. This dilution is expected to affect the company for at least two years, causing a dip in cash yield below 5%, compared to the sector average of over 7%. The bank also noted that Vodafone's dividend cover is tight, leaving little margins for further earnings slippage. Another factor driving the downgrade is the competitive landscape in Germany, where Vodafone “must lower prices to stay competitive,” BofA analysts said. “Vodafone has faced multiple challenges in Germany in recent years, but there are signs of improvement with broadband losses now at a three-year low,” analysts David Wright and Samuel Bruce wrote. “However mobile prepay churn has gapped up as O2D responds to VOD’s 1&1 deal. A major tariff reshuffle at Deutsche Telekom (ETR:DTEGn), doubling down on family tariffs, suggests Vodafone must cut prices to remain competitive,” they added. The analysts expect Vodafone's EBITDA to remain negative at -1% year-over-year in fiscal year 2026 (FY26) due to these market pressures. Despite the downgrade, BofA sees a mid-term recovery for Vodafone as attractive, with prospects for dividend growth from FY27 onwards. “But while there is an element of being ‘paid to wait’ with 5% dividend and 6% buyback, the wait is now longer and the impact more material. Thus, we lower to Neutral,” added the analysts, who also cut their price target on the stock to £91 from £106. Related Articles BofA downgrades Vodafone on expected impact of the Three merger, Germany headwinds European stocks start new week positively; tariffs, Ukraine peace talks in focus Bayer ordered to pay $2.1 billion in Georgia Roundup weedkiller case View Comments |
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