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Telecom Stock Roundup: Knowles Enriches Portfolio, Nokia Settles Dispute & More
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U.S. telecom stocks continued to witness a healthy uptrend over the past five trading days, largely buoyed by the optimism surrounding the proposed federal funds for domestic chip production. The bipartisan legislation is set to approve $52 billion for boosting production of semiconductor chips and R&D activities in the United States over the next five years. The bill made a significant headway in the Senate and is moving closer to the final vote. Industry observers feel that the federal funding could unlock private capital and benefit the overall sector, which possibly triggered the accretion over the past week.
The bill, dubbed the "U.S. Innovation and Competition Act", seeks to bring chip manufacturing back in the country. Various experts opine that this, in turn, could set the ball rolling for creating of about seven to 10 new chip manufacturing units with investments from states and private sector firms. Although it could take a bit of time for the investments to prove beneficial for the industry, the positive steps in this regard have seemingly infused confidence, boosting pent-up demand from the post-pandemic revival. However, some policymakers have cautioned that lack of adequate guardrails and screening procedures could divert these funds to firms backed by China and dilute the fundamental objective of the bill.
Meanwhile, two leading transportation advocacy groups — the Intelligent Transportation Society of America and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation — have legally challenged the FCC’s decision to offer a block of the 5.9 GHz spectrum band for wireless use. The spectrum earmarked for auto safety has mostly been unused and is now being considered to be made available to accommodate the increasing number of wireless devices. The FCC plans to transition the upper 30 MHz from the spectrum band for a different automotive communications technology called Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything, or C-V2X, and use the other 45 MHz for wireless use. The FCC, however, has declined to comment on the issue.
Regarding company-specific news, product launch, legal settlement, portfolio enhancement and collaborations primarily took center stage over the past five trading days.
Recap of the Week’s Most Important Stories
1. Knowles Corporation (KN - Free Report) has augmented its product portfolio by offering a complete development solution that facilitates seamless voice command integration in smart appliances. The solution enables OEMs and ODMs to develop smart electrical gadgets and appliances by combining voice-activated control and far-field speech recognition capabilities to capitalize on the positive macro trends in audio and edge processing solutions.
Dubbed AISonic White Goods Standard Solution, the product leverages Knowles’ AISonic Audio Edge Processor IA8201 that is optimized for machine learning competencies for high compute and low power operation. This industry-leading solution enables voice activation, hands-free control and contextual audio processing for diverse audio and voice input requirements for a wide range of IoT devices, including refrigerators, microwaves, washing machines, vacuums and dishwashers. Together with supporting sensors and pre-integrated microphones, it allows high-quality audio capture for high signal-to-noise ratio.
2. Nokia Corporation (NOK - Free Report) has resolved a long-drawn patent licensing dispute with German automobile manufacturer Daimler AG. The move is likely to preempt a potential investigation by the European Commission on a Daimler complaint and probable consequent imposition of fine if Nokia was found to be at fault, thereby preventing legal hassles and bad publicity associated with it.
With the current truce agreement, Nokia will license its technology to Daimler for an undisclosed fee. All other pending litigations between the two firms, including that in EU, were amicably settled — the terms of which were not revealed to the public.
3. Ericsson (ERIC - Free Report) has introduced Private 5G — an innovative cellular 4G and 5G network — that will help drive the digital transformation of industries. The Private 5G solution streamlines business operations with cloud-based network management. It keeps sensitive data on-premise and delivers high performance through service-level agreements.
With the launch, Ericsson will be able to better address key trends in the enterprise cellular market. The company is focused on delivering the capabilities that are required by service providers for serving their business customers.
4. In a concerted effort to streamline the communications infrastructure of the utility sector, Motorola Solutions, Inc. (MSI - Free Report) recently inked an agreement with Anterix Inc. As part of the collaboration, both the entities will be responsible for helping utilities and other critical-infrastructure companies to capitalize on private LTE networks. The private LTE networks will be deployed and be operational on Anterix’s licensed 900 MHz spectrum.
Markedly, the recent partnership is built on Motorola’s Private Broadband for Critical Infrastructure platform, which was announced last year. The announcement was further supported by a regulatory proceeding by the Federal Communications Commission to enable broadband deployment in the 900 MHz band, driven by enhanced network capacity.
5. Iridium Communications Inc. (IRDM - Free Report) has announced that it will be aiding autonomous transatlantic research vessel, Mayflower Autonomous Ship (“MAS”), in gathering critical information related to marine mammal conservation, ocean acidity and climate change on a real-time basis. MAS also selected French multinational company and Iridium’s ally, Thales Group, to be part of this scientific expedition.
As part of this mission, MAS has been equipped with Thales VesseLINK 700 terminal. It is powered by Iridium Certus, an L-band broadband solution that offers enhanced global coverage. As a result, the AI-enabled marine research vessel will be able to assimilate essential science and environmental data, provide performance feedback and track location, all in real time.
Price Performance
The following table shows the price movement of some of the major telecom stocks over the past week and the six months.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
In the past five trading days, Motorola has been the best performer with its stock gaining 2.4%, while Arista declined the most with its stock falling 1.3%.
Over the past six months, Arista has been the best performer with its stock appreciating 19.2%, while Bandwidth declined the most with its stock falling 32.6%.
Over the past six months, the Zacks Telecommunications Services industry has gained 10.1% while the S&P 500 has rallied 14.1%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
What’s Next in the Telecom Space?
In addition to 5G deployments and product launches, all eyes will remain glued to how the administration implements key policy changes to safeguard the interests of the industry.
Infrastructure Stock Boom to Sweep America
A massive push to rebuild the crumbling U.S. infrastructure will soon be underway. It’s bipartisan, urgent, and inevitable. Trillions will be spent. Fortunes will be made.
The only question is “Will you get into the right stocks early when their growth potential is greatest?”
Zacks has released a Special Report to help you do just that, and today it’s free. Discover 7 special companies that look to gain the most from construction and repair to roads, bridges, and buildings, plus cargo hauling and energy transformation on an almost unimaginable scale.
Image: Shutterstock
Telecom Stock Roundup: Knowles Enriches Portfolio, Nokia Settles Dispute & More
U.S. telecom stocks continued to witness a healthy uptrend over the past five trading days, largely buoyed by the optimism surrounding the proposed federal funds for domestic chip production. The bipartisan legislation is set to approve $52 billion for boosting production of semiconductor chips and R&D activities in the United States over the next five years. The bill made a significant headway in the Senate and is moving closer to the final vote. Industry observers feel that the federal funding could unlock private capital and benefit the overall sector, which possibly triggered the accretion over the past week.
The bill, dubbed the "U.S. Innovation and Competition Act", seeks to bring chip manufacturing back in the country. Various experts opine that this, in turn, could set the ball rolling for creating of about seven to 10 new chip manufacturing units with investments from states and private sector firms. Although it could take a bit of time for the investments to prove beneficial for the industry, the positive steps in this regard have seemingly infused confidence, boosting pent-up demand from the post-pandemic revival. However, some policymakers have cautioned that lack of adequate guardrails and screening procedures could divert these funds to firms backed by China and dilute the fundamental objective of the bill.
Meanwhile, two leading transportation advocacy groups — the Intelligent Transportation Society of America and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation — have legally challenged the FCC’s decision to offer a block of the 5.9 GHz spectrum band for wireless use. The spectrum earmarked for auto safety has mostly been unused and is now being considered to be made available to accommodate the increasing number of wireless devices. The FCC plans to transition the upper 30 MHz from the spectrum band for a different automotive communications technology called Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything, or C-V2X, and use the other 45 MHz for wireless use. The FCC, however, has declined to comment on the issue.
Regarding company-specific news, product launch, legal settlement, portfolio enhancement and collaborations primarily took center stage over the past five trading days.
Recap of the Week’s Most Important Stories
1. Knowles Corporation (KN - Free Report) has augmented its product portfolio by offering a complete development solution that facilitates seamless voice command integration in smart appliances. The solution enables OEMs and ODMs to develop smart electrical gadgets and appliances by combining voice-activated control and far-field speech recognition capabilities to capitalize on the positive macro trends in audio and edge processing solutions.
Dubbed AISonic White Goods Standard Solution, the product leverages Knowles’ AISonic Audio Edge Processor IA8201 that is optimized for machine learning competencies for high compute and low power operation. This industry-leading solution enables voice activation, hands-free control and contextual audio processing for diverse audio and voice input requirements for a wide range of IoT devices, including refrigerators, microwaves, washing machines, vacuums and dishwashers. Together with supporting sensors and pre-integrated microphones, it allows high-quality audio capture for high signal-to-noise ratio.
2. Nokia Corporation (NOK - Free Report) has resolved a long-drawn patent licensing dispute with German automobile manufacturer Daimler AG. The move is likely to preempt a potential investigation by the European Commission on a Daimler complaint and probable consequent imposition of fine if Nokia was found to be at fault, thereby preventing legal hassles and bad publicity associated with it.
With the current truce agreement, Nokia will license its technology to Daimler for an undisclosed fee. All other pending litigations between the two firms, including that in EU, were amicably settled — the terms of which were not revealed to the public.
3. Ericsson (ERIC - Free Report) has introduced Private 5G — an innovative cellular 4G and 5G network — that will help drive the digital transformation of industries. The Private 5G solution streamlines business operations with cloud-based network management. It keeps sensitive data on-premise and delivers high performance through service-level agreements.
With the launch, Ericsson will be able to better address key trends in the enterprise cellular market. The company is focused on delivering the capabilities that are required by service providers for serving their business customers.
4. In a concerted effort to streamline the communications infrastructure of the utility sector, Motorola Solutions, Inc. (MSI - Free Report) recently inked an agreement with Anterix Inc. As part of the collaboration, both the entities will be responsible for helping utilities and other critical-infrastructure companies to capitalize on private LTE networks. The private LTE networks will be deployed and be operational on Anterix’s licensed 900 MHz spectrum.
Markedly, the recent partnership is built on Motorola’s Private Broadband for Critical Infrastructure platform, which was announced last year. The announcement was further supported by a regulatory proceeding by the Federal Communications Commission to enable broadband deployment in the 900 MHz band, driven by enhanced network capacity.
5. Iridium Communications Inc. (IRDM - Free Report) has announced that it will be aiding autonomous transatlantic research vessel, Mayflower Autonomous Ship (“MAS”), in gathering critical information related to marine mammal conservation, ocean acidity and climate change on a real-time basis. MAS also selected French multinational company and Iridium’s ally, Thales Group, to be part of this scientific expedition.
As part of this mission, MAS has been equipped with Thales VesseLINK 700 terminal. It is powered by Iridium Certus, an L-band broadband solution that offers enhanced global coverage. As a result, the AI-enabled marine research vessel will be able to assimilate essential science and environmental data, provide performance feedback and track location, all in real time.
Price Performance
The following table shows the price movement of some of the major telecom stocks over the past week and the six months.
In the past five trading days, Motorola has been the best performer with its stock gaining 2.4%, while Arista declined the most with its stock falling 1.3%.
Over the past six months, Arista has been the best performer with its stock appreciating 19.2%, while Bandwidth declined the most with its stock falling 32.6%.
Over the past six months, the Zacks Telecommunications Services industry has gained 10.1% while the S&P 500 has rallied 14.1%.
What’s Next in the Telecom Space?
In addition to 5G deployments and product launches, all eyes will remain glued to how the administration implements key policy changes to safeguard the interests of the industry.
Infrastructure Stock Boom to Sweep America
A massive push to rebuild the crumbling U.S. infrastructure will soon be underway. It’s bipartisan, urgent, and inevitable. Trillions will be spent. Fortunes will be made.
The only question is “Will you get into the right stocks early when their growth potential is greatest?”
Zacks has released a Special Report to help you do just that, and today it’s free. Discover 7 special companies that look to gain the most from construction and repair to roads, bridges, and buildings, plus cargo hauling and energy transformation on an almost unimaginable scale.
Download FREE: How to Profit from Trillions on Spending for Infrastructure >>