

Discover 5 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. Zacks has released a Special Report to help you do just that, and today it’s free. The only question is “Will you get into the right stocks early when their growth potential is greatest?” Infrastructure Stock Boom to Sweep AmericaĪ massive push to rebuild the crumbling U.S. It has appreciated 4.6% in the past year. Qualcomm delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 11.2%, on average. The consensus estimate for current-year earnings has been revised 0.7% upward over the past 60 days. QCOM, carrying a Zacks Rank #2, is another solid pick for investors. The stock has inched up 6.8% in the past year. SeaChange International delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 37.2%, on average. The consensus estimate for current-year earnings has been revised 10% upward over the past 60 days. The stock has returned 76.3% in the past year. Vocera Communications delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 109.6%, on average. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for its current-year earnings has been revised 6.2% upward over the past 60 days. VCRA is a better-ranked stock in the broader Zacks Computer and Technology sector that sports a Zacks Rank #1. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Zacks Rank & Stocks to ConsiderĮricsson currently has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). In 2021, Ericsson generated SEK 39,065 million of cash from operating activities compared with SEK 28,933 million in 2020.Īs of Dec 31, 2021, the company had SEK 54,050 million ($5,972.1 million) in cash and cash equivalents with SEK 22,241 million ($2,457.5 million) of non-current borrowings. EBIT was SEK 11.9 billion compared with SEK 11 billion in the year-ago quarter on improved gross income in Networks. Total operating expenses were SEK 19.4 billion compared with SEK 17.6 billion in the prior-year quarter. Gross margin increased to 43.2% year over year from 40.6%, driven by margin improvements in all segments (except Emerging Business and Other). The segment’s gross margin declined to 34.9% from 35.3%. Sales in Emerging Business and Other jumped 23.5% year over year to SEK 2.1 billion, driven by the acquired Cradlepoint business and iconectiv. Ericsson’s investments in automation, analytics, and AI-driven offerings are supporting 5G and efficiency in service delivery. The segment’s gross margin increased to 18.2% from 17.7%, primarily driven by efficiency gains. Managed Services’ sales fell 6.9% year over year to SEK 5.4 billion, mainly due to lower demand under certain contracts and contract rescoping.
GROSS BEAT AUTOMATION SOFTWARE
The segment’s gross margin improved to 42.8% from 40.9%, supported by a higher share of software sales.

Sales in China decreased SEK 0.4 billion year over year. The segment’s gross margin improved to 46.3% from 43.4%, mainly due to operational leverage.ĭigital Services’ sales were almost stable year over year at SEK 12.7 billion, reflecting growth in the Middle East and Africa and South East Asia, Oceania and India. The same declined SEK 1.5 billion year over year in China. Organic sales grew 3%, with double-digit growth in North America, Europe and Latin America. Sales in Networks (which accounts for the lion’s share of total sales) increased 3.4% year over year to SEK 51.1 billion, driven mainly by product sales with a lower share of services in the sales mix.

In 2021, reported net sales were almost stable year over year at SEK 232,314 million. The top line beat the consensus estimate of $7,719 million. Organic sales (adjusted for comparable units and currency) grew 2%, primarily driven by 5G deployments in North America, Europe and Latin America as well as by growth in Digital Services in the Middle East and Africa. Quarterly reported net sales increased 2.5% year over year to SEK 71,332 million ($8,056 million). In 2021, net income was SEK 22,694 million or SEK 6.81 per share compared with SEK 17,483 million or SEK 5.26 per share in 2020. The bottom line beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 11 cents. The improvement was driven by lower tax and improved EBIT. Net income in the quarter was SEK 10,076 million ($1,137.4 million) or SEK 3.02 (36 cents) per share compared with SEK 7,522 million or SEK 2.26 per share in the prior-year quarter. The Sweden-based telecom gear maker continues to expand its footprint, despite challenges in China, by leveraging its competitive 5G portfolio. Ericsson ERIC reported impressive fourth-quarter 2021 results, wherein both the bottom and the top lines beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate.
