Lumen Technologies shares surge 29.54% after-hours as CEO buys $500,000 in stock post-earnings sell-off.

Lumen Technologies surged 29.54% in after-hours trading following its CEO, Kate Johnson, purchasing $500,000 worth of company stock. The purchase occurred after a 17% post-earnings sell-off, with Johnson buying 78,685 shares at an average price of $6.35. The move signaled strong management confidence in the company’s turnaround strategy, particularly after the stock had declined 30% in the week post-earnings. While the earnings report showed mixed results—meeting revenue expectations and beating adjusted EPS but forecasting continued revenue declines—Johnson’s investment highlighted optimism about Lumen’s debt reduction progress and long-term growth in AI-driven networking solutions. The rebound aligned with analysts’ revised 2026 forecasts, which anticipate narrower losses and stable valuation metrics, despite broader industry headwinds.