Verizon Adds BlackBerry Cylance's Solutions To MSS Portfolio

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE:VZ) recently included BlackBerry Cylance’s artificial intelligence (AI)-powered antivirus security solutions to its Managed Security Services (MSS) portfolio. As a result, the telecommunications company’s MSS customers are likely to get access to a technology that is capable of averting known and unknown malwares, unwanted programs and other potential vulnerabilities.

Notably, CylancePROTECT and CylanceOPTICS endpoint security products are now available for licensing by Verizon MSS. While CylancePROTECT prevents ransomware and unknown threats, CylanceOPTICS is the industry’s first AI-driven endpoint detection and response product. Furthermore, BlackBerry Cylance’s endpoint security intelligence is used to power the Verizon Risk Report (VRR) security assessment framework. The VRR allows enterprises to compute their exposure to cyber risks while providing quantitative and qualitative assessment of preventative measures. Verizon expects to help its customers deal with cyber threats in today’s world.

Verizon’s Key Focus

Verizon aims to launch next-generation 5G wireless residential broadband services in multiple U.S. markets in 2019. The company has already introduced the world’s first commercial 5G service — Verizon 5G Home — in parts of Houston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles and Sacramento to give customers the first taste of commercial 5G network.

It is using millimeter-wave spectrum (radio signals), instead of copper or fiber cables, to provide customers with unparalleled wireless speeds for Internet access. The company announced its plans to launch commercial 5G smartphones in the market in the first half of 2019 in collaboration with Samsung (KS:005930) to gain first mover advantage in the race to 5G.

With one of the most efficient wireless networks in the United States, Verizon continues deploying 4G LTE advanced technologies to provide faster peak data speeds and capacity for customers, driven by customer-focused planning and strategic investment. The company has been aggressively forging ahead to expand its fiber optics networks to support 4G LTE, 5G wireless standards and wireline connections.

Moreover, Verizon has an attractive fundamental outlook based on increasingly favorable growth prospects for its wireless business and the possibility of improved performance from its wireline operations. It is expected to continue to achieve growth and profitability with focus on gaining share in the retail postpaid market, increasing penetration of smartphones and selling more Internet devices.

Verizon expects considerable business growth in both its Wireless and Wireline businesses in 2019 and beyond. Its focus on online content delivery, mobile video and online advertising should drive growth. Backed by proper execution of operational priorities, shares of Verizon have recorded an average gain of 13.6% against the industry’s decline of 1.6% over the past year.



Verizon currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). A few better-ranked stocks in the broader industry are Harris Corporation (NYSE:HRS) , Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI) and Clearfield, Inc. (NASDAQ:CLFD) , each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Harris has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 8%.

Motorola has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 8%.

Clearfield currently has a forward P/E (F1) of 49.5x.

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