Windstream Unveils WE Connect To Augment Customer Experience

Windstream Holdings, Inc.’s (NASDAQ:WIN) business segment, Windstream Enterprise & Wholesale, recently announced that it is introducing WE Connect — a unified services portal and mobile app — designed to enhance customer experience.

The U.S. network communications and technology solutions provider’s customer portal enables clients to optimize their services as it provides the best-in-class online, self-service controls within a single interface. Notably, the latest solution integrates services such as SD-WAN, Cloud Security and OfficeSuite UC Unified Communications, offering a single pane of glass to bolster user interface. While benefiting from advanced analytics, customizable dashboards and AI technology, customers can also enjoy personalized experiences and keep their important business resources at fingertips.

Further, Windstream is seeking diversification from legacy telecom services to more enterprise and wholesale opportunities. It has made substantial investment to upgrade its network and product portfolio, including advances in SD-WAN capabilities and Cloud Core architecture, in a bid to optimize customer experience. The company is realigning its wireless network toward a software-centric model to meet growing business demands and customer requirements. Its comprehensive portfolio of services and solutions is aimed at helping businesses to enhance productivity.

Windstream’s initiatives on improving sales, cost-cutting and pricing are laudable. Investments made in data center and fiber expansion should provide impetus for revenue growth in the upcoming quarters. Expansion of metro fiber network business in new areas and its intent to extend the deployment of G.fast technologies over traditional copper telephone wires augur well. In order to better focus on core business operations, Windstream recently announced that it has monetized the legacy EarthLink consumer Internet business to reduce capital expenditure. The business was sold for $330 million in cash to Trive Capital.

However, the company’s shares have recorded an average loss of 34% compared with 1% decline for the industry over the past three months. It is to be seen whether such coveted service offerings can help Windstream script a turnaround in 2019 by supporting its bottom line.



Windstream currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). Better-ranked stocks in the industry include Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:CCOI) , United States Cellular Corporation (NYSE:S) and Sprint Corporation (NYSE:S) . While Cogent Communications and United States Cellular sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), Sprint carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

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

United States Cellular has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 1%.

Sprint has a long-term earnings growth expectation of 19.7%.

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