We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
CenturyLink, Inc. reported mixed first-quarter 2019 financial results, wherein the top line missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate but the bottom line surpassed the same.
Net Loss
Net loss for the quarter was $6,165 million or loss of $5.77 per share against net income of $115 million or 11 cents per share in the year-ago quarter. The year-over-year deterioration was primarily due to lower revenues and higher operating expenses.
Net income (excluding integration and transformation costs, and special Items) came in at $360 million or 34 cents per share compared with $262 million or 25 cents per share in the prior-year quarter. The bottom line beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 7 cents.
CenturyLink, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Quarterly operating revenues decreased 5% year over year to $5,647 million as the company had contract rerates from some of its large customers mainly in wholesale and global accounts. The top line lagged the consensus estimate of $5,728 million.
By Business unit, Small & Medium business revenues were $755 million while Enterprise revenues totaled $1,523 million. Wholesale and International & Global Accounts generated $1,037 million and $891 million, respectively. Consumer revenues were $1,441 million compared with $1,569 million in the first quarter of 2018 due to headwinds related to retail video and voice attrition, partly offset by growth in broadband revenues.
Other Details
Total operating expenses increased 114.6% year over year to $11,146 million on account of goodwill impairment. Operating loss was $5,499 million against income of $750 million in the prior-year quarter, mainly due to higher operating expenses. Adjusted EBITDA rose to $2,228 million from $2,074 million. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 39.5% compared with 34.9% a year ago, driven by cost transformation initiatives.
Cash Flow & Liquidity
During the first quarter, CenturyLink generated $1,182 million of net cash from operations compared with $1,667 million in the year-ago period. For the same period, free cash flow (excluding cash integration and transformation costs) was $315 million compared with $941 million in the prior-year period. As of Mar 31, 2019, the communications company had $441 million in cash and equivalents with $34,858 million of long-term debt.
2019 Outlook
Owing to a good start in capturing synergy and cost transformation savings, CenturyLink has reiterated all of its full-year 2019 financial outlook measures. It continues to expect adjusted EBITDA of $9.00-$9.20 billion. While free cash flow is expected in the range of $3.10-$3.40 billion, free cash flow after dividends is projected between $2.025 billion and $2.325 billion. Outlook for capital expenditures is anticipated between $3.50 billion and $3.80 billion, and depreciation (and amortization) is expected to be $4.90-$5.10 billion. Effective income tax rate is expected to be about 25%.
Going Forward
CenturyLink aims to transform its business operations through product evolution and digitizing of customer interactions. It is working toward generating healthy revenue growth in its business markets. The company sees the scale of its global assets alongside innovative product portfolio to be accretive to earnings. CenturyLink is also working with customers to enable their 5G roadmaps while extending its fiber footprint.
Furthermore, CenturyLink remains committed to its de-leveraging objectives and reaching the target leverage range of 2.75x-3.25x (net debt to adjusted EBITDA) in the next three years owing to strong business fundamentals. The company intends to return significant value to shareholders while investing in revenues and EBITDA growth drivers.
T-Mobile has long-term earnings growth expectation of 15.1%.
Harris has long-term earnings growth expectation of 8%.
Juniper has long-term earnings growth expectation of 6.2%.
This Could Be the Fastest Way to Grow Wealth in 2019
Research indicates one sector is poised to deliver a crop of the best-performing stocks you'll find anywhere in the market. Breaking news in this space frequently creates quick double- and triple-digit profit opportunities.
These companies are changing the world – and owning their stocks could transform your portfolio in 2019 and beyond. Recent trades from this sector have generated +98%, +119% and +164% gains in as little as 1 month.
Image: Bigstock
CenturyLink (CTL) Q1 Earnings Beat, Revenues Decline Y/Y
CenturyLink, Inc. reported mixed first-quarter 2019 financial results, wherein the top line missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate but the bottom line surpassed the same.
Net Loss
Net loss for the quarter was $6,165 million or loss of $5.77 per share against net income of $115 million or 11 cents per share in the year-ago quarter. The year-over-year deterioration was primarily due to lower revenues and higher operating expenses.
Net income (excluding integration and transformation costs, and special Items) came in at $360 million or 34 cents per share compared with $262 million or 25 cents per share in the prior-year quarter. The bottom line beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 7 cents.
CenturyLink, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
CenturyLink, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise | CenturyLink, Inc. Quote
Revenues
Quarterly operating revenues decreased 5% year over year to $5,647 million as the company had contract rerates from some of its large customers mainly in wholesale and global accounts. The top line lagged the consensus estimate of $5,728 million.
By Business unit, Small & Medium business revenues were $755 million while Enterprise revenues totaled $1,523 million. Wholesale and International & Global Accounts generated $1,037 million and $891 million, respectively. Consumer revenues were $1,441 million compared with $1,569 million in the first quarter of 2018 due to headwinds related to retail video and voice attrition, partly offset by growth in broadband revenues.
Other Details
Total operating expenses increased 114.6% year over year to $11,146 million on account of goodwill impairment. Operating loss was $5,499 million against income of $750 million in the prior-year quarter, mainly due to higher operating expenses. Adjusted EBITDA rose to $2,228 million from $2,074 million. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 39.5% compared with 34.9% a year ago, driven by cost transformation initiatives.
Cash Flow & Liquidity
During the first quarter, CenturyLink generated $1,182 million of net cash from operations compared with $1,667 million in the year-ago period. For the same period, free cash flow (excluding cash integration and transformation costs) was $315 million compared with $941 million in the prior-year period. As of Mar 31, 2019, the communications company had $441 million in cash and equivalents with $34,858 million of long-term debt.
2019 Outlook
Owing to a good start in capturing synergy and cost transformation savings, CenturyLink has reiterated all of its full-year 2019 financial outlook measures. It continues to expect adjusted EBITDA of $9.00-$9.20 billion. While free cash flow is expected in the range of $3.10-$3.40 billion, free cash flow after dividends is projected between $2.025 billion and $2.325 billion. Outlook for capital expenditures is anticipated between $3.50 billion and $3.80 billion, and depreciation (and amortization) is expected to be $4.90-$5.10 billion. Effective income tax rate is expected to be about 25%.
Going Forward
CenturyLink aims to transform its business operations through product evolution and digitizing of customer interactions. It is working toward generating healthy revenue growth in its business markets. The company sees the scale of its global assets alongside innovative product portfolio to be accretive to earnings. CenturyLink is also working with customers to enable their 5G roadmaps while extending its fiber footprint.
Furthermore, CenturyLink remains committed to its de-leveraging objectives and reaching the target leverage range of 2.75x-3.25x (net debt to adjusted EBITDA) in the next three years owing to strong business fundamentals. The company intends to return significant value to shareholders while investing in revenues and EBITDA growth drivers.
Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
CenturyLink currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). A few better-ranked stocks in the broader industry are T-Mobile US, Inc. (TMUS - Free Report) , Harris Corp. and Juniper Networks, Inc. (JNPR - Free Report) , each carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
T-Mobile has long-term earnings growth expectation of 15.1%.
Harris has long-term earnings growth expectation of 8%.
Juniper has long-term earnings growth expectation of 6.2%.
This Could Be the Fastest Way to Grow Wealth in 2019
Research indicates one sector is poised to deliver a crop of the best-performing stocks you'll find anywhere in the market. Breaking news in this space frequently creates quick double- and triple-digit profit opportunities.
These companies are changing the world – and owning their stocks could transform your portfolio in 2019 and beyond. Recent trades from this sector have generated +98%, +119% and +164% gains in as little as 1 month.
Click here to see these breakthrough stocks now >>