What happened
Shares of China Unicom (CHU) have soared today, up by 19% as of 12:15 p.m. EDT, after the company reported financial results for the first half of 2020. Its performance was mixed relative to analyst expectations.
So what
Revenue in the first half came in at 150.4 billion yuan ($21.7 billion), which was shy of the consensus estimate of 146.8 billion yuan ($21.1 billion). That translated into earnings per share of 0.25 yuan ($0.04), which topped analysts' forecast of 0.22 yuan ($0.03) per share. The Chinese telecommunications giant now has 309.5 million mobile subscribers, including 260.7 million 4G subscribers.
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"In the first half of 2020, facing the abrupt outbreak of COVID-19, the Company proactively responded to the challenges and took precise measures to prevent and control the pandemic," CEO Wang Xiaochu wrote in a letter to shareholders. "Through pushing forward the comprehensive digital transformation and innovating communications service offerings, the Company turned adversity into opportunities."
Now what
China Unicom is optimistic that new technologies around 5G and artificial intelligence (AI) will help bolster the business going forward. The company, which is controlled by the Chinese government, did not provide specific financial guidance.
"Looking forward to the second half of the year, the Company will continue to deepen the strategy of focus, innovation and cooperation," Xiaochu added. "It will assure stable development of the fundamental businesses, strengthen the core capabilities of government and enterprise business, and enhance the momentum of innovative business, thereby ensuring the steady growth of the Company."
