Sifting through countless of stocks in the Diversified Telecommunication Services industry can be tedious, and sometimes two stocks are just too similar to judge which is the better investment. If you’re on the fence about investing in Lumen Technologies, Inc. or Iridium Communications Inc. because you’re not sure how they measure up, it’s important to compare them on a few factors before making your decision.

Read on to learn how Lumen Technologies, Inc. and Iridium Communications Inc. compare based on key financial metrics to determine which better meets your investment needs.

About Lumen Technologies, Inc. and Iridium Communications Inc.

Lumen Technologies, Inc., a networking company, provides integrated products and services to business and mass customers in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Business and Mass Markets. It offers dark fiber and conduit, edge cloud, internet protocol (IP), voice over IP, managed security, software-defined wide area networks, unified communications and collaboration, and optical services; ethernet and VPN data networks services; and legacy services to manage cash flow, including time division multiplexing voice and private line; other legacy services, such as Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) based ethernet, legacy data hosting services, and conferencing services; and managed and professional service solutions, as well as sells communications equipment. The company also provides high speed and lower speed broadband service to residential and small business customers; local and long-distance voice services, professional services, and other ancillary services; and federal broadband and state support programs. It serves its products and services under the Lumen, CenturyLink, Black Lotus Labs, and Quantum Fiber brand name. The company was formerly known as CenturyLink, Inc. and changed its name to Lumen Technologies, Inc. in September 2020. Lumen Technologies, Inc. was incorporated in 1968 and is headquartered in Monroe, Louisiana.

Iridium Communications Inc. provides mobile voice and data communications services and products to businesses, the United States and foreign governments, non-governmental organizations, and consumers in the United States, Canada, and internationally. The company offers mobile satellite communications services for land mobile end users and aviation sectors; broadband terminals, embedded devices, and handsets for merchant shipping, fishing, leisure and research vessels, and specialized watercraft; satellite-based IoT services; hosted payload and other data services; and other data services and engineering services. It also provides postpaid mobile voice and data satellite communications; prepaid mobile voice satellite communications; push-to-talk; broadband data; Internet of Things (IoT); and satellite time and location services. In addition, the company offers personnel tracking devices; asset tracking devices for equipment, vehicles, and aircrafts; beyond-line-of-sight aircraft communications applications; maritime communications applications; specialized communications solutions for high-value individuals; and mobile communications and data devices for the military and other government agencies, such as secure satellite handsets; and maintenance services for the U.S. government’s dedicated gateway. Further, it provides satellite handsets, voice and data modems, broadband data devices, and IoT data devices; and various accessories for its devices that include batteries, holsters, earbud headphones, portable auxiliary antennas, antenna adaptors, USB data cables, and charging units. The company sells its products and services to commercial end users through a wholesale distribution network that includes service providers, and value-added resellers and value-added manufacturers. The company was formerly known as Iridium Holdings LLC and changed its name to Iridium Communications Inc. in September 2009. Iridium Communications Inc. is headquartered in McLean, Virginia.

Latest Diversified Telecommunication Services and Lumen Technologies, Inc., Iridium Communications Inc. Stock News

As of July 2, 2026, Lumen Technologies, Inc. had a $6.6 billion market capitalization, compared to the Diversified Telecommunication Services median of $6.1 million. Lumen Technologies, Inc.’s stock is down 17.2% in 2026, down 22.7% in the previous five trading days and up 42.57% in the past year.

Currently, Lumen Technologies, Inc. does not have a price-earnings ratio. Lumen Technologies, Inc.’s trailing 12-month revenue is $12.1 billion with a -14.3% net profit margin. Year-over-year quarterly sales growth most recently was -8.9%. Analysts expect adjusted earnings to reach $-0.796 per share for the current fiscal year. Lumen Technologies, Inc. does not currently pay a dividend.

As of July 2, 2026, Iridium Communications Inc. had a $5.7 billion market cap, putting it in the 69th percentile of all stocks. Iridium Communications Inc.’s stock is up 209.3% in 2026, up 28.5% in the previous five trading days and up 75.81% in the past year.

Currently, Iridium Communications Inc.’s price-earnings ratio is 54.3. Iridium Communications Inc.’s trailing 12-month revenue is $875.8 million with a 12.1% net profit margin. Year-over-year quarterly sales growth most recently was 2.0%. Analysts expect adjusted earnings to reach $1.035 per share for the current fiscal year. Iridium Communications Inc. currently has a 1.1% dividend yield.

How We Compare Lumen Technologies, Inc. and Iridium Communications Inc. Stock Grades

Stock evaluation requires access to huge amounts of data and the knowledge and time to sift through it all, make sense of financial ratios, read income statements and analyze recent stock movements. AAII created A+ Investor, a robust data suite that condenses data research in an actionable and customizable way suitable for investors of all knowledge levels, to help investors streamline and work through such data.

AAII’s proprietary stock grades come with A+ Investor. These offer intuitive A‐F grades for each of five key investing factors: value, growth, momentum, earnings estimate revisions and quality. Here, we’ll take a closer look at Lumen Technologies, Inc. and Iridium Communications Inc.’s stock grades to see how they measure up against one another.

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Lumen Technologies, Inc. and Iridium Communications Inc. Growth Grades

Company	Ticker	Growth
Lumen Technologies, Inc.	LUMN	F
Iridium Communications Inc.	IRDM	A

The foundation of growth investing is seeking out stocks of companies exhibiting strong, consistent and prolonged growth that is expected to continue into the future.

In order to compute the growth score and assign it a letter grade, the percentile ranks for each of three components‐consistency of annual sales growth, five-year sales growth rankings adjusted for extreme levels, and consistency of positive annual cash from operations‐must be determined. These three rank figures are added together, and the sum is ranked against the entire stock universe to arrive at a company’s Growth Score to create an equal distribution of grades.

The companies in the bottom 20% of the stock universe receive Growth Grades of F, considered to be very weak, while those in the top 20% receive A grades, which are considered very strong.

Lumen Technologies, Inc. has a Growth Score of 13, which is Very Weak. Iridium Communications Inc. has a Growth Score of 100, which is Very Strong.

The Growth Grade Winner: Iridium Communications Inc.

As you can clearly see from the Growth Grade breakdown above, Iridium Communications Inc. has a more attractive growth grade than Lumen Technologies, Inc.. For investors who focus solely on how a company is growing relative to other companies in the same industry, Iridium Communications Inc. could be a good stock to add to their portfolio. However, it’s important for investors to analyze multiple factors based on a wide range of metrics before deciding whether to buy.

Lumen Technologies, Inc. and Iridium Communications Inc.’s Momentum Grades

Company	Ticker	Momentum
Lumen Technologies, Inc.	LUMN	B
Iridium Communications Inc.	IRDM	A

Momentum grades help to uncover stocks experiencing anomalously high rates of return; research finds that stocks with high relative levels of momentum tend to outperform, whereas those with low levels of momentum tend to continue underperforming. Momentum is based on the price change of a stock over a specified period relative to all other stocks.

Typically, AAII looks at the weighted relative strength over the trailing four quarters. The weighted four-quarter relative strength rank is the relative price change for each of the past four quarters. The most recent quarterly price change is given a weight of 40% and each of the three previous quarters are given a weighting of 20%.

Lumen Technologies, Inc. has a Momentum Score of 62, which is Strong. Iridium Communications Inc. has a Momentum Score of 93, which is Very Strong.

The Momentum Grade Winner: Iridium Communications Inc.

As you can clearly see from the Momentum Grade breakdown above, Iridium Communications Inc. is considered to have stronger momentum compared to Lumen Technologies, Inc.. For those specifically looking for companies that have stronger momentum compared to other companies in the same industry, Iridium Communications Inc. could be a good stock to invest in. However, it’s important for investors to analyze multiple factors based on a wide range of metrics before deciding whether to buy.

Lumen Technologies, Inc. and Iridium Communications Inc.’s Estimate Revisions Grades

Company	Ticker	Earnings Estimate
Lumen Technologies, Inc.	LUMN	C
Iridium Communications Inc.	IRDM	F

Earnings estimate revisions scores consider the magnitude of a company’s earnings surprise in its last two reported fiscal quarters. Often, positive surprises beget further positive surprises‐or at least continued sales growth (the exact opposite is generally true, too).

Estimate revisions offer an indication of what analysts are thinking about the short-term prospects of a firm. Estimate revisions are based on the statistical significance of a firm’s last two quarterly earnings surprises and the percentage change in its consensus estimate for the current fiscal year over the past month and past three months.

Lumen Technologies, Inc. has a Earnings Estimate Score of 45, which is Neutral. Iridium Communications Inc. has a Earnings Estimate Score of 13, which is Very Negative.

The Earnings Estimate Revisions Stock Winner: No Clear Winner

Neither Lumen Technologies, Inc. or Iridium Communications Inc. has an Earnings Estimate Revisions Grade that could be considered a “winner.” Investors considering these companies should do additional due diligence and research to see if either could be a good addition to their portfolios. It’s important to look at a wide range of financial metrics in order to determine if Lumen Technologies, Inc. or Iridium Communications Inc. is the better investment when it comes to estimate revisions.

Other Lumen Technologies, Inc. and Iridium Communications Inc. Grades

In addition to Estimate Revisions, Momentum and Growth, A+ Investor also provides grades for Value and Quality.

Successful stock investing involves buying low and selling high, so stock valuation is an important consideration for stock selection. Buying stocks that are going to go up typically means buying stocks that are undervalued in the first place, although momentum investors may argue that point.

AAII’s A+ Investor Quality Grade comes from the ranking of key metrics. Specifically, the quality grade is the percentile rank of the composite of return on assets (ROA), return on invested capital (ROIC), gross profit relative to assets, buyback yield, change in total liabilities to assets, accruals, Z double prime bankruptcy risk (Z) score and F-Score.

These 2 key factors, when combined with the above, provide a holistic view into a particular stock. Further, by joining A+ Investor you can see whether Lumen Technologies, Inc. and Iridium Communications Inc. pass any of our 60+ stock screens that have outperformed the market since their creation.

So, Which Is the Better Investment, Lumen Technologies, Inc. or Iridium Communications Inc. Stock?

Overall, Lumen Technologies, Inc. stock has a Growth Score of 13, Momentum Score of 62 and Estimate Revisions Score of 45.

Iridium Communications Inc. stock has a Growth Score of 100, Momentum Score of 93 and Estimate Revisions Score of 13.

Comparing Lumen Technologies, Inc. and Iridium Communications Inc.’s grades, scores and metrics can act as a solid basis to determine whether they may be a good investment or not. You’ll also want to look at your portfolio’s asset allocation as well as your risk tolerance and financial goals to see if either of these stocks would make a good fit for you. AAII can help you figure out which investments align with your individual needs and preferences.

Investors are encouraged to do their own due diligence and research. In this way, individuals can effectively become managers of their own assets‐without having to rely on others for financial independence. You can count on AAII for timeless articles on financial planning and stock-picking, unbiased research and actionable analysis.

A+ Investor adds to our qualitative teaching with a powerful data suite to help you whittle down investment choices to find stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or mutual funds that meet your needs.

AAII Disclaimer

We make no representations or warranties that any investor will, or is likely to, achieve profits similar to those shown, because past, hypothetical or simulated performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. Before making an investment decision, you should consider your circumstances and whether the information on our content is applicable to your situation. This information was prepared in good faith, and we accept no liability for any errors or omissions. The full disclaimer can be read here.