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Near-Term Outlook for Communication Infrastructure Industry
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The Zacks Communication - Infrastructure industry comprises companies that provide various infrastructure solutions for the core, access and edge layers of communication networks. These companies support mission-critical, high bandwidth applications, using proprietary modeling and simulation techniques to optimize networks. Their product portfolio encompasses optical fiber and twisted pair structured cable solutions, infrastructure management hardware and software, network racks and cabinets, and fiber-to-home equipment like hardened connector systems, couplers and splitters and hardened optical terminating enclosures. In addition, the firms provide materials for cellular base station sites and connectivity; indoor, small cell and distributed antenna wireless systems; and wireless network backhaul planning and optimization products and services.
Apart from supporting high-bandwidth applications like cloud-based computing, video, mobile and machine-to-machine connectivity, the firms provide Ethernet, enterprise private and connectivity services, managed services, as well as cloud-based compute and storage products to medium and large-scale enterprises. Some firms within the industry even provide data center infrastructure solutions that include colocation space and power and interconnection services to various enterprise, cloud, carrier and content customers.
Here are the three major themes in the industry:
• With rapid growth in video and other bandwidth-intensive applications, the industry participants are making considerable investments in LTE, broadband and fiber in order to provide additional capacity and ramp up Internet and wireless networks. As a result, these companies are rapidly transforming from legacy copper-based telecommunications firms to technology powerhouses with capabilities to meet the growing demand for flexible data, video, voice and IP solutions. At the same time, the industry participants continue to focus on leveraging wireline momentum, expanding media coverage, improving customer service and achieving a competitive cost structure to generate higher average revenue per user and attract new customers. Increasing demand for reliable access and fast-data services are expected to expand customer base.
• The impending 5G boom is likely to propel the industry to newer heights. The success of 5G technology hinges on substantial investments to upgrade infrastructure in the core fiber backhaul network to support anticipated growth in data services. With operators moving toward converged or multi-use network structures, combining voice, video and data communications into a single network, the industry is developing solutions to support wireline and wireless network convergence, which will be essential for the success of 5G. Although these investments will eventually help minimize service delivery costs to adequately support broadband competition, rural coverage and wireless densification, short-term profitability is likely to get eroded. The industry's near-term growth prospects also remain vulnerable to a number of factors like risks of disruption from extreme weather and the growing menace of cyber-attacks. Efforts to build resilient infrastructure facilities to withstand natural catastrophes will further increase operating costs. Moreover, simmering tensions between the United States and China related to trade restrictions imposed on the sale of communication equipment to Chinese firms have dented the industry's credibility and led to loss of some businesses.
• In order to enable the service providers to accelerate time to market, reduce costs and improve customer satisfaction, some of the industry participants offer a complete portfolio of maintenance, turnkey network implementation, maintenance, solutions integration and managed services. The network implementation services offer a full spectrum of services related to engineering (pre-construction), installation/turn-up (construction) and provisioning (post-construction), partnering with customers to tailor a program to each specific service delivery need. This holistic growth model augurs well for the overall development of the industry and enables service providers to continue rolling out avant-garde solutions to meet the rising demand for bandwidth.
Overall, despite some headwinds, the industry appears to be poised to benefit from healthy growth dynamics and solid demand trends.
Zacks Industry Rank Indicates Bullish Prospects
The Zacks Communication - Infrastructure industry is housed within the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector. It carries a Zacks Industry Rank #25, which places it at the top 10% of more than 250 Zacks industries.
The group’s Zacks Industry Rank, which is basically the average of the Zacks Rank of all the member stocks, indicates encouraging prospects. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperforms the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
The industry’s positioning in the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries is a result of positive earnings outlook for the constituent companies in aggregate. Looking at the aggregate earnings estimate revisions, it appears that analysts have reposed faith in this group’s earnings growth potential. While the industry’s earnings estimates for the current year have remained steady over the past six months, the same for 2019 has improved 52.2% over the past year.
Before we present a few communication infrastructure stocks that are well positioned to outperform the market based on a strong earnings outlook, let’s take a look at the industry’s recent stock-market performance and valuation picture.
Industry Underperforms Sector and S&P 500
The Zacks Communication - Infrastructure Industry has lagged the broader Zacks Utilities Sector as well as the S&P 500 composite over the past year.
The industry has declined 16.9% over this period compared to the S&P 500 and sector’s increases of 6.3% and 3%, respectively.
One Year Price Performance
Industry’s Current Valuation
On the basis of trailing 12-month enterprise value-to EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) ratio, which is the most appropriate multiple for valuing telecom stocks, the industry is currently trading at 9.82X compared to the S&P 500’s 10.87X. It is below the sector’s trailing-12-month EV/EBITDA of 10.07X.
Over the past five years, the industry has traded as high as 25.81X and as low as 7.52X and at the median of 11.59X, as the chart below shows.
Trailing 12-Month enterprise value-to EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) Ratio
Bottom Line
Despite some operational headwinds, the industry remains well poised to benefit from healthy growth dynamics once the market stabilizes and the effect of the capital investments percolates.
We are also presenting two stocks, one with a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and another with Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) that are well positioned to grow.
Bandwidth Inc. (BAND - Free Report) : Headquartered in Raleigh, NC, this communications infrastructure provider has gained a stellar 162.6% in the past year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current fiscal-year earnings for this Zacks Rank #1 stock has moved up 135.5% in the past year.
Price and Consensus: BAND
ADTRAN, Inc. (ADTN - Free Report) : This Huntsville, AL-based communication infrastructure stock has a solid earning history, the trailing four-quarter average positive surprise being 197.1%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current-year EPS for this Zacks Rank #2 stock has been revised 38.7% upward over the past 90 days.
Price and Consensus: ADTN
CommScope Holding Company, Inc. (COMM - Free Report) : Headquartered in Hickory, NC, this communications infrastructure provider has long-term earnings growth expectations of 8.2%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current fiscal-year earnings of this Zacks Rank #3 stock has remained stable over the past 90 days at $2.41.
Price and Consensus: COMM
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Near-Term Outlook for Communication Infrastructure Industry
The Zacks Communication - Infrastructure industry comprises companies that provide various infrastructure solutions for the core, access and edge layers of communication networks. These companies support mission-critical, high bandwidth applications, using proprietary modeling and simulation techniques to optimize networks. Their product portfolio encompasses optical fiber and twisted pair structured cable solutions, infrastructure management hardware and software, network racks and cabinets, and fiber-to-home equipment like hardened connector systems, couplers and splitters and hardened optical terminating enclosures. In addition, the firms provide materials for cellular base station sites and connectivity; indoor, small cell and distributed antenna wireless systems; and wireless network backhaul planning and optimization products and services.
Apart from supporting high-bandwidth applications like cloud-based computing, video, mobile and machine-to-machine connectivity, the firms provide Ethernet, enterprise private and connectivity services, managed services, as well as cloud-based compute and storage products to medium and large-scale enterprises. Some firms within the industry even provide data center infrastructure solutions that include colocation space and power and interconnection services to various enterprise, cloud, carrier and content customers.
Here are the three major themes in the industry:
• With rapid growth in video and other bandwidth-intensive applications, the industry participants are making considerable investments in LTE, broadband and fiber in order to provide additional capacity and ramp up Internet and wireless networks. As a result, these companies are rapidly transforming from legacy copper-based telecommunications firms to technology powerhouses with capabilities to meet the growing demand for flexible data, video, voice and IP solutions. At the same time, the industry participants continue to focus on leveraging wireline momentum, expanding media coverage, improving customer service and achieving a competitive cost structure to generate higher average revenue per user and attract new customers. Increasing demand for reliable access and fast-data services are expected to expand customer base.
• The impending 5G boom is likely to propel the industry to newer heights. The success of 5G technology hinges on substantial investments to upgrade infrastructure in the core fiber backhaul network to support anticipated growth in data services. With operators moving toward converged or multi-use network structures, combining voice, video and data communications into a single network, the industry is developing solutions to support wireline and wireless network convergence, which will be essential for the success of 5G. Although these investments will eventually help minimize service delivery costs to adequately support broadband competition, rural coverage and wireless densification, short-term profitability is likely to get eroded. The industry's near-term growth prospects also remain vulnerable to a number of factors like risks of disruption from extreme weather and the growing menace of cyber-attacks. Efforts to build resilient infrastructure facilities to withstand natural catastrophes will further increase operating costs. Moreover, simmering tensions between the United States and China related to trade restrictions imposed on the sale of communication equipment to Chinese firms have dented the industry's credibility and led to loss of some businesses.
• In order to enable the service providers to accelerate time to market, reduce costs and improve customer satisfaction, some of the industry participants offer a complete portfolio of maintenance, turnkey network implementation, maintenance, solutions integration and managed services. The network implementation services offer a full spectrum of services related to engineering (pre-construction), installation/turn-up (construction) and provisioning (post-construction), partnering with customers to tailor a program to each specific service delivery need. This holistic growth model augurs well for the overall development of the industry and enables service providers to continue rolling out avant-garde solutions to meet the rising demand for bandwidth.
Overall, despite some headwinds, the industry appears to be poised to benefit from healthy growth dynamics and solid demand trends.
Zacks Industry Rank Indicates Bullish Prospects
The Zacks Communication - Infrastructure industry is housed within the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector. It carries a Zacks Industry Rank #25, which places it at the top 10% of more than 250 Zacks industries.
The group’s Zacks Industry Rank, which is basically the average of the Zacks Rank of all the member stocks, indicates encouraging prospects. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperforms the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.
The industry’s positioning in the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries is a result of positive earnings outlook for the constituent companies in aggregate. Looking at the aggregate earnings estimate revisions, it appears that analysts have reposed faith in this group’s earnings growth potential. While the industry’s earnings estimates for the current year have remained steady over the past six months, the same for 2019 has improved 52.2% over the past year.
Before we present a few communication infrastructure stocks that are well positioned to outperform the market based on a strong earnings outlook, let’s take a look at the industry’s recent stock-market performance and valuation picture.
Industry Underperforms Sector and S&P 500
The Zacks Communication - Infrastructure Industry has lagged the broader Zacks Utilities Sector as well as the S&P 500 composite over the past year.
The industry has declined 16.9% over this period compared to the S&P 500 and sector’s increases of 6.3% and 3%, respectively.
One Year Price Performance
Industry’s Current Valuation
On the basis of trailing 12-month enterprise value-to EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) ratio, which is the most appropriate multiple for valuing telecom stocks, the industry is currently trading at 9.82X compared to the S&P 500’s 10.87X. It is below the sector’s trailing-12-month EV/EBITDA of 10.07X.
Over the past five years, the industry has traded as high as 25.81X and as low as 7.52X and at the median of 11.59X, as the chart below shows.
Trailing 12-Month enterprise value-to EBITDA (EV/EBITDA) Ratio
Bottom Line
Despite some operational headwinds, the industry remains well poised to benefit from healthy growth dynamics once the market stabilizes and the effect of the capital investments percolates.
One of the stocks in the space currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
We are also presenting two stocks, one with a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) and another with Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) that are well positioned to grow.
Bandwidth Inc. (BAND - Free Report) : Headquartered in Raleigh, NC, this communications infrastructure provider has gained a stellar 162.6% in the past year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current fiscal-year earnings for this Zacks Rank #1 stock has moved up 135.5% in the past year.
Price and Consensus: BAND
ADTRAN, Inc. (ADTN - Free Report) : This Huntsville, AL-based communication infrastructure stock has a solid earning history, the trailing four-quarter average positive surprise being 197.1%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current-year EPS for this Zacks Rank #2 stock has been revised 38.7% upward over the past 90 days.
Price and Consensus: ADTN
CommScope Holding Company, Inc. (COMM - Free Report) : Headquartered in Hickory, NC, this communications infrastructure provider has long-term earnings growth expectations of 8.2%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current fiscal-year earnings of this Zacks Rank #3 stock has remained stable over the past 90 days at $2.41.
Price and Consensus: COMM
Today's Stocks from Zacks' Hottest Strategies
It's hard to believe, even for us at Zacks. But while the market gained +21.9% in 2017, our top stock-picking screens have returned +115.0%, +109.3%, +104.9%, +98.6%, and +67.1%.
And this outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. Over the years it has been remarkably consistent. From 2000 - 2017, the composite yearly average gain for these strategies has beaten the market more than 19X over. Maybe even more remarkable is the fact that we're willing to share their latest stocks with you without cost or obligation.
See Them Free>>