Lumen Ratings Upgraded by Top 3 Global Ratings Agencies

Upgrades reflect strengthened balance sheet, improved liquidity profile, and disciplined execution against its financial and strategic priorities

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Lumen Technologies (NYSE: LUMN) today announced that it has received upgraded ratings from all three major global ratings agencies – Fitch Ratings (Fitch), Moody’s Investor Service (Moody’s), and S&P Global (S&P) – marking a significant milestone in the company’s multi-year financial and operational transformation.

“These upgrades validate the hard work of our teams and the structural progress we’ve made to strengthen our balance sheet and reposition Lumen for sustainable growth,” said Kate Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of Lumen. “We have reduced debt, lowered our cost of capital, and enhanced financial flexibility, while investing in the next generation of digital network infrastructure to support enterprise customers in the AI-driven economy.”

All three agencies cited significant debt reduction and lower leverage, extended maturity runway with no major maturities near term, strengthened liquidity and financial flexibility, and improved stability following strategic portfolio simplification:

• Moody’s upgraded Lumen’s Corporate Family Rating to B2 from B3 with a stable outlook, citing the company’s materially improved credit profile following the $4.8 billion debt reduction tied to the Mass Markets sale to AT&T. Moody’s highlighted lower leverage, projected total debt-to-EBITDA near 4.0x by year-end 2026, and strong liquidity. The agency also noted solid demand for Lumen’s fiber capacity from large enterprise customers and improved financial flexibility.
• Fitch upgraded Lumen’s long-term issuer default rating to ‘B’ from ‘CCC+’, citing meaningful deleveraging, strengthened liquidity, and extended debt maturities following the sale of the company’s Mass Markets fiber business to AT&T and associated debt reduction. Recent private connectivity fabric (PCF) contract wins, totaling nearly $13 billion, were also among the contributing factors cited by Fitch.
• S&P raised Lumen’s senior unsecured debt rating to ‘B’ from ‘CCC’ and improved its recovery rating, reflecting enhanced recovery prospects for noteholders and improved leverage metrics. The agency also cited proceeds from the completed AT&T transaction which retired all $4.8 billion in super-priority debt, reducing the company’s interest expense by $300 million annually. S&P affirmed Lumen’s issuer credit rating at ‘B-’, given its large amount of cash on hand to fund its hyperscaler projects.

The latest rating upgrades come ahead of Lumen’s Investor Day on Wednesday, Feb. 25, when senior management will outline the company’s multi-year growth strategy and financial framework.

The event webcast and post-event replay will be accessible on Lumen’s Investor Relations website under Investor Day. The replay and summary materials from the presentations will be available on the website approximately 24 hours following the completion of the event.

About Lumen Technologies

Lumen is unleashing the world's digital potential. We ignite business growth by connecting people, data, and applications – quickly, securely, and effortlessly. As the trusted network for AI, Lumen uses the scale of our network to help companies realize AI’s full potential. From metro connectivity to long-haul data transport to our edge cloud, security, managed service, and digital platform capabilities, we meet our customers’ needs today and as they build for tomorrow.

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Forward-Looking Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including statements regarding management’s expectations with respect to our business, strategy and operations as well as statements identified by words such as “estimates,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “plans,” “intends,” “will,” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are not promises nor guarantees of future results, are based on our current expectations only and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including those described in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as updated in our other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated by us in these statements due to several factors, including those referenced in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.