Windstream Announces Expansion Of Cloud Connect Network

Windstream Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:WIN) recently announced that it is working to expand the number of network on ramps to cater to customers’ requirements of dedicated connectivity to third-party cloud service providers (CSPs).

Notably, this will enable customers to choose any network connection from Windstream to create a dedicated, high-speed, vastly secure cloud-optimized network connection to major Cloud Service Providers — including Amazon.com, Inc.’s (NASDAQ:AMZN) Web Services, Microsoft Corporation’s (NASDAQ:MSFT) Azure, and Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Cloud. As a matter of fact, the expansion will enable customers to access key markets like Texas Phoenix and Las Vegas as well as cities in Silicon Valley.

Our Take

Windstream is realigning its wireless network toward a software-centric model to meet increasing business demands and customers’ needs. This provider’s SD-WAN service is experiencing robust demand from customers across different sectors like regional banking, healthcare, retail and manufacturing.

Moreover, the company made a significant financial investment to upgrade its network and product portfolio, including significant advances in software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN) capabilities and new Cloud Core architecture. In addition, acquisitions of EarthLink and Broadview also played a major role in boosting the company’s SD-WAN and cloud suite.

However, this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company has lost 21% in the past month against the industry’s growth of 3%. The company remains under pressure, with losses in the wholesale business. These, in particular, include diminishing access lines, lower switched access rates and fewer minutes of usage. The company expects wholesale revenues to improve, albeit at a slower pace.

Stock to Consider

A better-ranked stock in the same space is United States Cellular Corporation (NYSE:USM) , which currently sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

United States Cellular surpassed estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average positive earnings surprise being 108.11%.

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