Quarterly earnings results are a good time to check in on a company’s progress, especially compared to its peers in the same sector. Today we are looking at Viasat (NASDAQ: VSAT) and the best and worst performers in the telecommunication services industry.

The sector is a tale of two cities. Satellite telecommunication is generally buoyed by rising global demand for connectivity in costly-to-connect and remote areas. On the other hand, terrestrial telecommunication companies face an uphill battle, as they mostly sell into a deflationary market, where the price of moving a bit tends to decrease over time with better technology. Despite the differences in demand drivers, companies across the entire industry must contend competition from larger telecom conglomerates and hyperscalers expanding their own networks as well as newer entrants such as SpaceX's StarLink.

The 6 telecommunication services stocks we track reported a strong Q4. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 0.6%.

In light of this news, share prices of the companies have held steady. On average, they are relatively unchanged since the latest earnings results.

Viasat (NASDAQ: VSAT)

Operating a fleet of 23 satellites that orbit the Earth and beam connectivity from space, Viasat (NASDAQ: VSAT) provides satellite-based communications networks and services for airlines, maritime vessels, governments, businesses, and residential customers worldwide.

Viasat reported revenues of $1.16 billion, up 3% year on year. This print fell short of analysts’ expectations by 1%, but it was still a strong quarter for the company with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

Interestingly, the stock is up 23.2% since reporting and currently trades at $46.12.

Is now the time to buy Viasat? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Best Q4: Array (NYSE: AD)

Operating as a majority-owned subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems since its founding in 1983, Array (NYSE: Array) is a regional wireless telecommunications provider serving 4.6 million customers across 21 states with mobile phone, internet, and IoT services.

Array reported revenues of $60.33 million, up 131% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 7%. The business had an incredible quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ revenue estimates.

Array delivered the biggest analyst estimates beat and fastest revenue growth among its peers. Although it had a fine quarter compared its peers, the market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 4.3% since reporting. It currently trades at $48.20.

Is now the time to buy Array? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Globalstar (NASDAQ: GSAT)

Known for powering the emergency SOS feature in newer Apple iPhones, Globalstar (NASDAQ: GSAT) operates a network of low-earth orbit satellites that provide voice and data communications services in remote areas where traditional cellular networks don't reach.

Globalstar reported revenues of $71.96 million, up 17.6% year on year, exceeding analysts’ expectations by 1.9%. Still, it was a softer quarter as it posted full-year revenue guidance missing analysts’ expectations significantly and a significant miss of analysts’ EPS estimates.

The stock is flat since the results and currently trades at $58.45.

Read our full analysis of Globalstar’s results here.

Iridium (NASDAQ: IRDM)

With a constellation of 66 low-earth orbit satellites providing coverage to every inch of the planet, Iridium Communications (NASDAQ: IRDM) operates a global satellite network that provides voice and data services to customers in remote areas where traditional telecommunications are unavailable.

Iridium reported revenues of $212.9 million, flat year on year. This result lagged analysts' expectations by 3.2%. Taking a step back, it was a mixed quarter as it also recorded a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates but a significant miss of analysts’ revenue estimates.

Iridium had the weakest performance against analyst estimates among its peers. The stock is up 34.5% since reporting and currently trades at $24.82.

Read our full, actionable report on Iridium here, it’s free.

Lumen (NYSE: LUMN)

With approximately 350,000 route miles of fiber optic cable spanning North America and the Asia Pacific, Lumen Technologies (NYSE: LUMN) operates a vast fiber optic network that provides communications, cloud connectivity, security, and IT solutions to businesses and consumers.

Lumen reported revenues of $3.04 billion, down 8.7% year on year. This number met analysts’ expectations. It was a very strong quarter as it also produced a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

Lumen had the slowest revenue growth among its peers. The stock is down 21.7% since reporting and currently trades at $6.62.

Read our full, actionable report on Lumen here, it’s free.

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