We recently published a list of 10 Worst 5G Stocks To Buy According to Short Sellers. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Juniper Networks, Inc. (NYSE:JNPR) stands against other worst 5G stocks to buy according to short sellers.
As we move a quarter of the way into the 21st century, the world is paving the way for new technologies to make human lives easier and more advanced. Out of those, 5G and artificial intelligence (AI) are two of the century’s most important innovations.
We discussed the correlation between the two of them in our article about the best 5g stocks to buy according to short sellers. Here is an excerpt from the article:
“In a CNBC interview at the Mobile World Congress Shanghai on June 26, director-general of the GSM Association, Mats Granryd highlighted the deep connection between 5G and AI and suggested that their mutual rise is not accidental. He said that “AI feeds off 5G and 5G feeds off AI.” This is especially evident in China, where the development of standalone 5G networks is well advanced and discussions are already shifting toward 5G Advanced (5.5G). While some countries lag, like the Philippines, Mats pointed out that this dynamic between 5G and AI is most prominent in regions with widespread 5G coverage…
…Mats believes that 5G will follow a similar path to become a common platform worldwide, which will also extend to AI. While some regions may advance faster than others initially, he showed confidence in the fact that everyone will eventually catch up and benefit from the integration of AI with 5G.”
The Outlook For 5G Industry
We also previously discussed the Market Research Future report which expects the 5G market to reach $229.41 billion by 2032, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 40.60% between 2024 and 2032.
According to a 5G Americas report, the wireless telecommunications sector continued to expand in the first quarter of 2024, driven by the widespread growth of 5G technology. Global 5G connections reached nearly two billion. North America’s leading adoption accounted for 32% of all 5G connections and added 22 million new connections, totaling 220 million. Latin America also experienced growth, with 8 million new LTE connections and 9 million 5G connections.
For the future, the 5G Americas forecast suggests that global 5G connections will reach 7.7 billion by 2028, with North America projected to have 700 million. The Internet of Things (IoT) is expected to further drive 5G adoption, with global IoT subscriptions expected to grow from 3.3 billion to 5 billion by 2028.
The Evolution of Mobile Networks with 5G Advanced and 6G
According to a March report by CNBC, telecom executives discussed plans for 5.5G or 5G Advanced at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, even as 5G is still being rolled out. The new stage of mobile technology is expected to enable advanced applications like mixed reality headsets, autonomous vehicles, and smart factories, which were initially promised with 5G.
The 5.5G technology will improve network capabilities by increasing data speeds and enhancing connectivity. It will also use AI to optimize networks and reduce power consumption. Huawei expects that 5.5G will begin commercial deployments by 2024, with the potential for much faster download speeds. The focus now is on improving 5G’s commercial relevance and paving the way for 6G in the future.
Moreover, a team of scientists, led by Professor Withawat Withayachumnankul from the University of Adelaide, has created a new polarisation multiplexer that could greatly improve 6G communications. The device works at terahertz frequencies, which are much faster than current wireless systems. It can send multiple data streams at the same time over the same frequency, effectively doubling the data capacity.
The multiplexer is built on a silicon base and has been successfully tested and reduces data loss compared to existing technology. The innovation could lead to faster, more reliable wireless networks and would benefit areas like telecommunications, video streaming, and future 6G mobile networks. The team expects it to drive more research and become available in commercial products within the next decade.
Our Methodology
To select the 10 worst 5G stocks according to short sellers, we used ETFs and screeners to identify over 40 stocks that have significant involvement in the 5G industry. Next, we narrowed our list to 10 stocks with the highest short interest. Finally, these stocks were ranked in ascending order of their short interest.
We also added the hedge fund sentiment around each stock which was taken from Insider Monkey’s database of over 900 elite hedge funds. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).
A close-up on a technician’s hands adjusting the knobs of a router in a sophisticated server room.
Juniper Networks, Inc. (NYSE:JNPR)
Short Interest as % of Shares Outstanding: 3.86%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 45
Juniper Networks, Inc. (NYSE:JNPR) is a global networking company headquartered in California. The company specializes in developing and marketing a range of networking products, including routers, switches, network management tools, security solutions, and software-defined networking technologies.
According to the company, 5G success requires integrating several network components and automation for better management, security, and service quality. Its solutions include Open RAN for flexible and innovative network setups, Cloud Metro for consistent and cost-effective service delivery, and automation tools to ensure a responsive and reliable network.
The company also provides strong security across the network and cloud-native architecture for smooth operations in hybrid environments. These tools help service providers enhance their 5G networks and meet customer expectations.
In January, Juniper Networks (NYSE:JNPR) announced that it is being acquired by Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE:HPE). The deal is expected to be completed in late 2024 or early 2025.
While the company is a key player in the 5G industry, the acquisition does not leave much room for stock price growth. The $14 billion deal allows HPE to acquire the company for $40 per share while the company’s stock was at $38.60 at the September 13 market close.
Juniper Networks’ (NYSE:JNPR) stock was held by 45 hedge funds, at a combined value of $1.114 billion in the second quarter. As of June 30, Pentwater Capital Management owns 8.875 million shares of the company, valued at $323.582 million, and is the company’s most significant shareholder.
Overall, JNPR ranks 8th on our list of 10 worst 5G stocks to buy according to short sellers. While we acknowledge the potential of JNPR as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than JNPR but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.