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Crown Castle (CCI) Beats on Earnings and Revenues in Q1
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Crown Castle International Corp. (CCI - Free Report) , a leading wireless communication tower operator, reported impressive financial results for the first quarter of 2017. The company’s top line as well as the bottom line surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate.
Wireless services are rapidly gaining ground courtesy of additional features and capabilities. Buyout of wireless towers also bodes well. Much of the infrastructure and upgrades require effective site management of cell towers and equipment. Crown Castle efficiently addresses this opportunity since over 90% of its quarterly revenues come from wireless service providers like Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ - Free Report) , AT&T Inc. (T - Free Report) and T-Mobile US Inc. (TMUS - Free Report) . Crown Castle currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Net Income
The company reported quarterly earnings per share of $1.24, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.16. Likewise, GAAP net income rose a whopping 149% year over year to $119.1 million.
Revenue
Total revenue in the quarter increased 8.7% year over year to $1,015.9 million, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,009 million. Site Rental Segment quarterly revenues were $856.9 million, up 7.2% year over year. Network Services Segment quarterly revenues were $159 million, up 17.7% year over year.
Operating Metrics
Quarterly operating income came in at $256.5 million compared with $211.7 in the year-ago quarter. Total operating expenses rose to $759.4 million from $722.6 million in the year-ago quarter. Operating margin in the reported quarter was 25.3% compared with 22.7% in the year-ago quarter. Quarterly adjusted EBITDA was approximately $581 million, representing a year-over-year increase of 7.8%.
Cash Flow
During the first quarter of 2017, funds flow from operations (FFO) totaled $400.9 million compared with 316.3 million in the prior-year quarter. Quarterly adjusted funds flow from operations (AFFO) was $450.2 million compared with $395.2 million in the year-ago quarter.
Balance Sheet
At the end of the first quarter of 2017, Crown Castle had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $205.2 million on its balance sheet compared with $567.6 million at the end of 2016. At first-quarter 2017 end, debt and other long-term obligations totaled approximately $13,493 million, up from $12,069.4 million at the end of 2016.
Crown Castle International Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
For the second quarter of 2017, Crown Castle expects Site Rental revenues in the range of $866 million to $871 million. Site Rental cost of operation is projected in the band of $275 million to $280 million. Adjusted EBITDA is anticipated between $584 million and $589 million. Site Rental gross margin is expected in the band of $589–$594 million. Interest expense (inclusive of amortization) is estimated at $137–$142 million. Meanwhile, FFO is anticipated in the $394–$399 million band. AFFO is projected in the $433–$438 million range and net income is projected at $90–$110 million.
Full-Year 2017 Outlook
Crown Castle has raised its outlook for 2017. The company expects Site Rental revenues in the range of $3,473–$3,503 million. Site Rental cost of operation is projected in the $1,071–$1,101 million band. Site Rental gross margin is expected between $2,387 million and $2,417 million. Adjusted EBITDA is anticipated between $2,372 million and $2,402 million. Interest expense (inclusive of amortization) is estimated in the $542–$572 million range. FFO is projected at $1,623 –$1,653 million. AFFO is expected between $1,805 million and $1,835 million. Net income is anticipated between $427 million and $477 million.
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Crown Castle (CCI) Beats on Earnings and Revenues in Q1
Crown Castle International Corp. (CCI - Free Report) , a leading wireless communication tower operator, reported impressive financial results for the first quarter of 2017. The company’s top line as well as the bottom line surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate.
Wireless services are rapidly gaining ground courtesy of additional features and capabilities. Buyout of wireless towers also bodes well. Much of the infrastructure and upgrades require effective site management of cell towers and equipment. Crown Castle efficiently addresses this opportunity since over 90% of its quarterly revenues come from wireless service providers like Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ - Free Report) , AT&T Inc. (T - Free Report) and T-Mobile US Inc. (TMUS - Free Report) . Crown Castle currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Net Income
The company reported quarterly earnings per share of $1.24, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.16. Likewise, GAAP net income rose a whopping 149% year over year to $119.1 million.
Revenue
Total revenue in the quarter increased 8.7% year over year to $1,015.9 million, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,009 million. Site Rental Segment quarterly revenues were $856.9 million, up 7.2% year over year. Network Services Segment quarterly revenues were $159 million, up 17.7% year over year.
Operating Metrics
Quarterly operating income came in at $256.5 million compared with $211.7 in the year-ago quarter. Total operating expenses rose to $759.4 million from $722.6 million in the year-ago quarter. Operating margin in the reported quarter was 25.3% compared with 22.7% in the year-ago quarter. Quarterly adjusted EBITDA was approximately $581 million, representing a year-over-year increase of 7.8%.
Cash Flow
During the first quarter of 2017, funds flow from operations (FFO) totaled $400.9 million compared with 316.3 million in the prior-year quarter. Quarterly adjusted funds flow from operations (AFFO) was $450.2 million compared with $395.2 million in the year-ago quarter.
Balance Sheet
At the end of the first quarter of 2017, Crown Castle had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $205.2 million on its balance sheet compared with $567.6 million at the end of 2016. At first-quarter 2017 end, debt and other long-term obligations totaled approximately $13,493 million, up from $12,069.4 million at the end of 2016.
Crown Castle International Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Crown Castle International Corporation Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | Crown Castle International Corporation Quote
Second-Quarter 2017 Outlook
For the second quarter of 2017, Crown Castle expects Site Rental revenues in the range of $866 million to $871 million. Site Rental cost of operation is projected in the band of $275 million to $280 million. Adjusted EBITDA is anticipated between $584 million and $589 million. Site Rental gross margin is expected in the band of $589–$594 million. Interest expense (inclusive of amortization) is estimated at $137–$142 million. Meanwhile, FFO is anticipated in the $394–$399 million band. AFFO is projected in the $433–$438 million range and net income is projected at $90–$110 million.
Full-Year 2017 Outlook
Crown Castle has raised its outlook for 2017. The company expects Site Rental revenues in the range of $3,473–$3,503 million. Site Rental cost of operation is projected in the $1,071–$1,101 million band. Site Rental gross margin is expected between $2,387 million and $2,417 million. Adjusted EBITDA is anticipated between $2,372 million and $2,402 million. Interest expense (inclusive of amortization) is estimated in the $542–$572 million range. FFO is projected at $1,623 –$1,653 million. AFFO is expected between $1,805 million and $1,835 million. Net income is anticipated between $427 million and $477 million.
Zacks’ Best Private Investment Ideas
While we are happy to share many articles like this on the website, our best recommendations and most in-depth research are not available to the public.
Starting today, for the next month, you can follow all Zacks' private buys and sells in real time. Our experts cover all kinds of trades… from value to momentum . . . from stocks under $10 to ETF and option moves . . . from stocks that corporate insiders are buying up to companies that are about to report positive earnings surprises. You can even look inside exclusive portfolios that are normally closed to new investors.
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