Viasat Stock Jumps 23% After Q4 Earnings — But One Telecom Rival Just Grew Revenue by 131%
Satellite giant Viasat (NASDAQ: VSAT) posted solid Q4 results, beating EPS estimates and lifting its stock by 23.2% — yet a closer look at the broader telecommunication services sector reveals a far more dramatic story unfolding among its peers. From a regional carrier reporting triple-digit growth to an industry veteran watching revenues decline, the Q4 earnings season paints a vivid picture of a sector in flux.
This roundup covers the Q4 highs and lows across six telecommunication services stocks — including Array, Globalstar, Iridium, and Lumen — so you get a clear, data-backed picture of where the sector stands and which names the market rewards or punishes right now.
The Sector at a Glance: Satellites vs. Terrestrial Telecom
The telecommunication services industry tells a story of two very different worlds. Satellite telecommunications companies ride a wave of rising global demand for connectivity in remote and hard-to-reach areas. Terrestrial telecom providers, by contrast, face a tougher road — they largely operate in a deflationary market, where the cost of transmitting data tends to fall over time as technology advances.
Yet both camps share a common challenge. Competition from large telecom conglomerates, hyperscalers building out their own networks, and newer entrants like SpaceX’s Starlink puts pressure on everyone in the space.
Across the six telecommunication services stocks tracked in this report, Q4 results came in strong. As a group, revenues beat analysts consensus estimates by 0.6%. Despite that collective outperformance, share prices across the group remain relatively unchanged since the latest earnings announcements.
Also Read : Why Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile Are Beating the Market in 2026
Viasat (NASDAQ: VSAT) — A Beat on Earnings, A Miss on Revenue
Satellite Operator Posts $1.16 Billion in Q4 Revenue
Viasat operates a fleet of 23 satellites that orbit Earth and beam connectivity to airlines, maritime vessels, governments, businesses, and residential customers worldwide.
In Q4, Viasat reported revenues of $1.16 billion, marking a 3% increase year on year. The print fell short of analyst revenue expectations by 1%, but the company still managed to beat analyst EPS estimates — a combination that the market has rewarded handsomely.
The stock surged 23.2% since reporting and currently trades at $46.12. For a satellite communications operator competing in an increasingly crowded space, that kind of post-earnings pop signals strong investor confidence in the companys underlying earnings trajectory.
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Best Q4: Array (NYSE: AD) — 131% Revenue Growth Steals the Show
Regional Wireless Carrier Crushes Analyst Estimates
If one company dominated this Q4 earnings cycle in the telecom sector, Array (NYSE: AD) takes that crown without contest. A majority-owned subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems since its founding in 1983, Array serves 4.6 million customers across 21 states with mobile phone, internet, and IoT services.
Array reported revenues of $60.33 million — up a staggering 131% year on year. It also outperformed analyst revenue expectations by 7% and beat EPS estimates, making it the standout performer of the group on both growth and execution metrics.
Array delivered the biggest analyst estimate beat and the fastest revenue growth among all peers tracked in this report. Yet despite those headline-grabbing numbers, the market reacted coolly. The stock fell 4.3% since reporting and currently trades at $48.20 — a reminder that Wall Street often prices in strong results before earnings day even arrives.
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Globalstar (NASDAQ: GSAT) — Growth Overshadowed by Guidance Miss
iPhone Emergency SOS Partner Posts 17.6% Revenue Gain
Globalstar powers the emergency SOS feature in newer Apple iPhones and operates a network of low-earth orbit satellites that provide voice and data communications in remote areas where traditional cellular networks do not reach.
In Q4, Globalstar reported revenues of $71.96 million, up 17.6% year on year, exceeding analyst expectations by 1.9%. That sounds encouraging — but the results carry a catch. The company posted full-year revenue guidance that missed analyst expectations significantly and also posted a significant miss on EPS estimates.
The stock sits flat since the earnings report and currently trades at $58.45. Investors appear willing to hold the line, but Globalstars guidance disappointment dampens what would otherwise look like a solid quarter.
Also Read : Telecom Stocks Beat the Market in 2026 — and Analysts Say They Still Look Cheap
Iridium (NASDAQ: IRDM) — Weakest Revenue Beat, Strongest Stock Reaction
66-Satellite Constellation Posts Flat Revenue — Stock Rallies 34.5%
Iridium Communications (NASDAQ: IRDM) operates a constellation of 66 low-earth orbit satellites that provide coverage to every corner of the planet, offering voice and data services in areas where traditional telecommunications simply do not exist.
Iridium reported Q4 revenues of $212.9 million — flat year on year and lagging analyst expectations by 3.2%. The quarter was mixed: the company beat analyst EPS estimates but missed analyst revenue estimates significantly, earning it the label of weakest performance against analyst estimates among its peers.
Yet the stock tells a completely different story. Iridium shares jumped 34.5% since reporting and currently trade at $24.82. That disconnect between revenue performance and stock movement points to investors placing greater weight on profitability trajectory than top-line growth.
Lumen (NYSE: LUMN) — Slowest Revenue Growth, Steepest Stock Drop
Fiber Giant Reports $3.04 Billion Revenue as Decline Continues
Lumen Technologies (NYSE: LUMN) operates approximately 350,000 route miles of fiber optic cable spanning North America and the Asia Pacific. The company provides communications, cloud connectivity, security, and IT solutions to businesses and consumers.
Lumen reported Q4 revenues of $3.04 billion, down 8.7% year on year. The result met analyst expectations, and the company did beat on EPS estimates — a bright spot in an otherwise challenging report.
Lumen recorded the slowest revenue growth among all peers tracked in this roundup. The market responded sharply. The stock fell 21.7% since reporting and currently trades at $6.62. For a company with one of the most extensive fiber networks on the continent, the continued revenue contraction raises serious questions about its competitive positioning in a fast-evolving connectivity market.
Sector Takeaways: What Q4 Tells Us About Telecom
The Q4 earnings cycle across these six telecommunication services stocks highlights a clear divide. Satellite operators like Viasat and Iridium command investor enthusiasm even when revenues disappoint, largely because the global connectivity narrative remains powerful. Array proves that regional wireless carriers can still deliver explosive growth under the right conditions. Meanwhile, Lumen underscores the structural headwinds facing legacy fiber players unable to offset price deflation with volume.
With SpaceX’s Starlink and other disruptors continuing to reshape the competitive landscape, the divergence between satellite and terrestrial telecom is likely to widen further in 2026 and beyond.
Questions and Answers
Q1: How did Viasat perform in Q4 earnings?
Viasat reported Q4 revenues of $1.16 billion, up 3% year on year. The company missed analyst revenue expectations by 1% but beat EPS estimates. Following the results, Viasat stock climbed 23.2% and now trades at $46.12.
Q2: Which telecom stock grew revenue the fastest in Q4?
Array (NYSE: AD) recorded the fastest revenue growth in Q4, with revenues rising 131% year on year to $60.33 million. It also beat analyst revenue estimates by 7%, making it the top performer in the telecommunication services group tracked this quarter.
Q3: Why did Iridium stock rise 34.5% despite missing revenue estimates?
Iridium reported flat revenues of $212.9 million and missed analyst revenue estimates by 3.2%. However, the company beat EPS estimates, and investors appeared to focus on profitability over top-line growth. The stock responded strongly, surging 34.5% after the report.
Q4: What challenges does Lumen Technologies face after Q4 results?
Lumen reported Q4 revenues of $3.04 billion, down 8.7% year on year — the slowest revenue growth among peers. The stock dropped 21.7% following the results. Lumen faces structural pressure from price deflation in the terrestrial telecom market and growing competition from satellite and hyperscaler networks.
Reference Source: Yahoo Finance / StockStory — “Q4 Earnings Highs and Lows: Viasat (NASDAQ:VSAT) Vs The Rest Of The Telecommunication Services Stocks” https://finance.yahoo.com/news/q4-earnings-highs-lows-viasat-113820375.html
