Orange Shares Soar by 4% Following Earnings Report
Orange shares climbed 4.18% to €18.085 this Thursday, boosted by the release of its first-quarter 2026 results. The telecom group reported growth in revenue and operational profitability, although part of this momentum is based on non-recurring items. The surge occurred in a positive Parisian market, with the CAC 40 gaining 0.46% during the session.
Impact of the Latest Earnings Release
Today's publication is at the heart of the market reaction. Orange reported a 3.5% increase in revenue and a 6.6% rise in EBITDAaL for the first quarter, driven by strong commercial performances in France, Africa, and Europe. However, the group noted that this acceleration includes about 100 million euros related to fiber network co-financing, elements considered exceptional. Excluding these, the organic revenue growth falls to 2.5%, while EBITDAaL growth is at 3.5%. This dual interpretation explains the mixed reception: although the stock has gained significantly, the question of the sustainability of this trajectory beyond the one-time elements remains factually posed. The next financial meeting is scheduled for July 28, with the publication of the first-half results.
In terms of European comparables, Bouygues is up 1.36% in the session, while Nokia is down 0.54%. Across the Atlantic, T-Mobile US fell 3.31% at its last close, and Verizon was down 0.63%, with only AT&T showing a slight gain of 0.39%.
Significant Revaluation Over Recent Months
With a gain of over 21% in three months and nearly 42% over a year, Orange's trajectory reflects significant revaluation. The current price of €18.085 is very close to the technical resistance identified at €18.10, a threshold whose crossing would be a notable signal for traders. The stock is also in the upper part of its Bollinger bands, at 85% of the interval between the lower bound (€17.02) and the upper bound (€18.27), which corresponds to a potential overbought zone.
The RSI stands at 47, a neutral level that does not indicate any marked directional tension despite the day's rise. The price is significantly above its 50-day moving average (€17.53) and even more so above its 200-day moving average (€14.89), confirming the underlying bullish trend. The low monthly volatility, at 6.02, and a slightly negative beta of -0.05 underline the defensive nature of the stock, which tends to move relatively independently of the overall market.
