Communications and technology solutions provider Windstream Corp. (WIN) reported Thursday a surge in first-quarter profit, as strong sales and continued growth in consumer broadband revenues helped topline to rise 51 percent.
Jeff Gardner, president and CEO of the company said, "Our business and consumer channels delivered a strong performance during the first quarter. The business channel has gained significant traction with the acquisition of PAETEC....Our consumer business also had a very solid quarter driven by growth in broadband service revenues and continued success with our bundling strategy."
It was in last December that Windstream completed the acquisition of peer PAETEC Holding Corp., in a transaction valued at about $2.3 billion.
Business service revenues grew 3.2 percent on a pro forma basis to $897 million. Consumer broadband service revenues were $113 million, up 5.9 percent year-over-year. Business and consumer broadband revenues represented about 68 percent of Windstream's total revenues and sales in the quarter.
Meanwhile, overall consumer service revenues declined 2.6 percent and Wholesale revenues dropped 6.3 percent from last year.
Windstream's quarterly net income rose to $64.6 million or $0.11 per share from $29.4 million or $0.06 per share in the same quarter last year.
Results for the recent quarter included about $14 million in after-tax merger and integration expense and an after-tax gain of nearly $1 million related to the early extinguishment of debt.
Excluding these items, adjusted earnings per share were $0.13 for the first quarter.
On average, 16 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected the company to earn $0.14 per share for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.
Total revenues and sales for the quarter increased 51 percent to $1.55 billion from $1.02 billion in the prior-year quarter, but was slightly below analysts' consensus estimate of $1.56 billion. Revenues and sales decreased 0.5 percent on a pro forma basis.
Total costs and expenses advanced 77 percent to $1.29 billion.
According to the company, pro-forma results include the acquisition of PAETEC and to exclude all merger and integration costs related to strategic transactions.
WIN closed Wednesday's regular trading at $11.26 on the Nasdaq.
For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
Business News
June 12, 2026 17:14 ET Major central bank action was the focus this week in economic news. The European Central Bank became the first major central bank to move in response to the rising inflationary pressures in the backdrop of the conflict in the Middle East. In North America, the U.S. inflation and trade data as well as Canada’s central bank decision gained attention. The Chinese trade data was the main news in Asia.