UBS analyst Steven Milunovich calls Apple's (AAPL) new iPhone upgrade program a smart move. Customers upgrading their phones more often will drive higher revenue and make the iPhone look more like an annuity and less like a "hits business," Milunovich tells investors in a research note. More sustainable revenue could drive both earnings and Apple's valuation higher, the analyst contends. He says the upgrade program "could be a big deal" and points out the cost is largely in-line with the installment plans offered by Verizon (VZ) and AT&T (T) when factoring in insurance fees. Sprint (S) and T-Mobile's (TMUS) flagship leasing offers are cheaper options, he adds. Milunovich keeps a Buy rating on Apple with a $150 price target. The stock closed yesterday up $1.10 to $115.31.

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FY25 EPS consensus $2.16.

Ribbon Communications (RRBN) announced plans for a major network modernization program with Verizon (VZ) to retire legacy TDM switching platforms and replace their function with modern cloud-based technologies. Verizon is leveraging Ribbon's portfolio of Voice Products including the vC20 Call Controller, G5 Line Access Gateway, G6 Universal Media Gateway, virtual and Cloud-native Session Border Controllers, and other products which allows for the consolidation and replacement of equipment with energy efficient, software-centric platforms while maintaining full feature functionality.

Reports Q1 revenue $30B, consensus $28.65B. Reports Q1 349,000 postpaid phone net adds. "Our results this quarter reflect continued strong growth in our Mobility and Consumer Wireline connectivity businesses, which represent about 80% of our total revenues," said John Stankey, AT&T CEO. "Customers are choosing AT&T and staying with us. We achieved a record-low first-quarter postpaid phone churn, grew consumer broadband subscribers for the third consecutive quarter, and expanded margins in Mobility and Consumer Wireline. We're also delivering on our commitment to grow and improve the quality and cadence of free cash flow, which increased by more than $2 billion year over year. This consistent, solid performance driven by our investment-led strategy gives us confidence to re-affirm our full-year consolidated financial guidance."

Apple saw sales of its iPhones fall 19.1% in the first three months of the year, CNBC's Ryan Browne reports, citing data from Counterpoint Research. Meanwhile, Huawei saw a 69.7% surge in smartphone sales in the country during the same period, Counterpoint said. Reference Link

Wells Fargo lowered the firm's price target on Verizon to $40 from $44 and keeps an Equal Weight rating on the shares. The firm sees encouraging signs in Q1 - improvement in sub trends and limited churn from price-ups - offset by some softness in the business segment and prepaid. Wells would get more constructive when there's visibility on a sustainable improvement in sub trends.