Orange Lifts Key Metric Outlook, Revenue Rises

By Najat Kantouar

Orange raised guidance of a key earnings metric for the full year after it reported higher first-quarter revenue driven by strong growth in Africa and Middle East.

The French telecommunications company now expects earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization after leases growth above 3%, up from its previous guidance of around 3%. It still anticipates organic cash flow of around 4 billion euros ($4.68 billion) and an expansion of capital expenditures at roughly 15% of revenue.

For the first quarter, revenue rose to 10.095 billion euros from 9.755 billion euros for the same period a year earlier.

On a comparable basis, France revenue grew 2.3%, reflecting growth in its retail services and wholesale services segments, while Europe revenue rose 2.2%. In Africa and Middle East, revenue rose around 13% driven by retail services engines, including mobile data, fixed broadband, Orange Money and business-to-business, it said Thursday.

"In the current environment, Orange remains strong and resilient, with limited exposure to the effects of the Middle East crisis," Chief Executive Christel Heydemann said.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization after leases increased to 2.60 billion euros from 2.44 billion euros.

Analysts had forecast revenue at 10.02 billion euros and Ebitdaal of 2.58 billion euros, according to a company-compiled consensus.

Write to Najat Kantouar at najat.kantouar@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

April 23, 2026 02:21 ET (06:21 GMT)