Will VEON’s (VEON) Buyback Shift the Balance Between Capital Efficiency and Growth?

• Earlier in November 2025, VEON Ltd. launched a US$100 million buyback program targeting its American Depositary Shares and outstanding bonds, while also reaffirming 2025 revenue growth guidance of 13% to 15% in local currency and 7% to 8% in US dollars.
• Alongside these announcements, VEON reported mixed quarterly results, with higher sales but a quarterly net loss, signaling both ongoing growth initiatives and operational challenges.
• We'll explore how VEON's new buyback program could impact its investment narrative by addressing capital structure and long-term value creation.

The best AI stocks today may lie beyond giants like Nvidia and Microsoft. Find the next big opportunity with these 25 smaller AI-focused companies with strong growth potential through early-stage innovation in machine learning, automation, and data intelligence that could fund your retirement.

VEON Investment Narrative Recap

To be a shareholder in VEON today, you need conviction in the company's ability to translate its digital expansion strategy in frontier markets into sustainable earnings and cash flow, even as local currency volatility and competitive threats linger. The recent US$100 million buyback program is supportive of the company's capital return ambitions, but it does not materially alter the key near-term catalyst: whether VEON can accelerate digital revenue growth without eroding margins, the biggest current risk remains high leverage coupled with external macro pressures.

Among recent news, VEON’s confirmation of 2025 revenue guidance, calling for 13% to 15% local-currency growth and 7% to 8% in US dollar terms, stands out. This remains a critical touchstone for evaluating progress on its core growth narrative, especially as headline results have shown mixed profitability trends in the face of currency swings and shifting market exposure.

By contrast, investors should be aware that while these ambitions are robust, persistent debt obligations may yet...

Read the full narrative on VEON (it's free!)

VEON's outlook anticipates $5.1 billion in revenue and $688.2 million in earnings by 2028. This scenario is based on a 7.0% annual revenue growth rate, but reflects a decrease of $295.8 million in earnings from the current $984.0 million.

Uncover how VEON's forecasts yield a $69.64 fair value, a 33% upside to its current price.

Exploring Other Perspectives

Four members of the Simply Wall St Community estimate VEON's fair value from US$45.56 to US$509.49 per share. Given mixed earnings trends and elevated leverage, these views highlight how market participants weigh risk and future opportunity differently, consider reviewing more perspectives before forming your own view.

Explore 4 other fair value estimates on VEON - why the stock might be worth over 9x more than the current price!

Build Your Own VEON Narrative

Disagree with existing narratives? Create your own in under 3 minutes - extraordinary investment returns rarely come from following the herd.

• A great starting point for your VEON research is our analysis highlighting 5 key rewards and 2 important warning signs that could impact your investment decision.
• Our free VEON research report provides a comprehensive fundamental analysis summarized in a single visual - the Snowflake - making it easy to evaluate VEON's overall financial health at a glance.

Interested In Other Possibilities?

Opportunities like this don't last. These are today's most promising picks. Check them out now:

• Uncover the next big thing with financially sound penny stocks that balance risk and reward.
• Trump has pledged to "unleash" American oil and gas and these 22 US stocks have developments that are poised to benefit.
• Rare earth metals are an input to most high-tech devices, military and defence systems and electric vehicles. The global race is on to secure supply of these critical minerals. Beat the pack to uncover the 36 best rare earth metal stocks of the very few that mine this essential strategic resource.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com