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On Monday, Lumen Technologies Inc. (NYSE:LUMN) received an upgrade in its stock rating from Raymond (NSE:RYMD) James. The firm’s analyst, Frank Louthan, shifted the rating from Market Perform to Outperform, setting a price target of $4.50 for the company’s shares. The upgrade comes as the stock trades at $3.78, having shown remarkable resilience with a 186% return over the past year. According to InvestingPro data, three analysts have recently revised their earnings expectations upward for the upcoming period.
The upgrade comes amid expectations of significant developments for Lumen over the next six to nine months that could positively influence the company’s equity value. According to Louthan, the primary driver for this optimistic outlook is the anticipated sale of the company’s Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) assets and customers.
Louthan suggests that the sale of these assets could lead to a substantial improvement in the company’s financial leverage, potentially reducing it by up to a full turn. He anticipates that the after-tax proceeds from the sale could be a game-changer for Lumen’s financial standing.
Furthermore, the analyst predicts that following the asset sale, a sequence of financial events and refinancing opportunities could emerge. These events are expected to contribute to an increase in the company’s equity value, providing a more favorable outlook for Lumen’s stock.
The upgrade by Raymond James reflects a belief in the potential for Lumen’s strategic moves to deliver value to its shareholders. Lumen Technologies has not yet provided public confirmation or details regarding the sale of its FTTH assets or the exact financial impact it could have on the company’s leverage and equity value.
In other recent news, Lumen Technologies reported earnings for the first quarter of 2025, exceeding expectations with an earnings per share (EPS) of -$0.13, compared to the forecasted -$0.26. The company also reported revenue of $3.18 billion, surpassing the anticipated $3.12 billion. This positive financial performance was partly attributed to a 10% year-over-year increase in strategic growth product revenues within its business segment. Additionally, Lumen’s adjusted EBITDA performance exceeded forecasts, and the company reaffirmed its full-year guidance for EBITDA and Free Cash Flow.
Despite these positive results, Citi analysts lowered their price target for Lumen Technologies to $6.00 from $6.50 but maintained a Buy rating, citing potential for value enhancement over the next year. The company’s business segment revenue declined by 2.6%, while mass market revenue fell by 5.9% year-over-year. Lumen is focusing on strategic innovations, such as the Lumen Connectivity Fabric and a partnership with Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Cloud, to strengthen its market position. The company aims for significant cost reductions and EBITDA growth by 2026, with plans to expand its fiber network and achieve $1 billion in expense reductions by 2027.
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