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Equinix (EQIX) Tops on Q4 FFO, Sees Revenue Growth in '21
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Equinix Inc. (EQIX - Free Report) posted strong results for fourth-quarter 2020, wherein adjusted funds from operations (AFFO) per share and revenues surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate and improved year over year.
The company’s quarterly AFFO per share was $5.76, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.65. The figure also improved 4.5% from the year-ago quarter’s $5.51.
The upside primarily stemmed from steady growth in interconnection revenues. In fact, during the fourth quarter, it added an incremental 7,700 interconnections, which were driven by cloud, content and gaming segments.
For 2020, Equinix reported AFFO per share of $24.76, up 8.5% from the prior year’s $22.81 and also outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $24.60. Total revenues of around $6 billion were up 7.8% year over year.
Quarter in Detail
Total quarterly revenues were $1.56 billion, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.23%. Also, the top-line figure improved 10.4% year over year, representing the 72nd consecutive quarter of revenue growth.
Recurring revenues were $1.46 billion, up 9.6% from the year-ago quarter’s figure. Non-recurring revenues improved 23.8% from the year-ago quarter to roughly $98 million.
Revenues from the three geographic regions increased on a year-over-year basis as well. Revenues from the Americas, EMEA and the Asia Pacific jumped 8.9%, 10.3% and 13.7% to $712 million, $511.3 million and $340.7 million, respectively.
Cash gross margin was 65%, declining from the prior-year quarter’s 66%. Total operating expenses flared up 33.4% year over year to $504.8 million.
Adjusted EBITDA was $711.4 million, up 5.4% year over year. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 45%, down from 48% recorded in the prior-year quarter. AFFO appreciated 9.4% year over year to $517 million in the December-end quarter.
Balance Sheet
Equinix exited the fourth quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $1.6 billion. The company’s total debt principal outstanding was $12.5 billion as of Dec 31, 2020.
Dividend Update
Concurrent with its fourth-quarter 2020 earnings release, on Feb 10, Equinix’s board of directors approved a quarterly cash dividend of $2.87 per share. The dividend will be paid out on Mar 17 to shareholders of record as of Feb 24, 2021.
Guidance
The company expects to realize foreign currency benefits in 2021. Further, for the ongoing year, it estimates generating revenues of $6.58-$6.64 billion, indicating year-over-year growth of 10-11% on a normalized and constant currency basis. Assuming integration costs of $30 million, it predicts adjusted EBITDA of $3.067-$3.127 billion.
Moreover, 2021 AFFO is expected to be $2.413-$2.463 billion, suggesting year-over-year growth of 10-12%. Further, AFFO per share is estimated to be $26.72-$27.28, up 8-10% year over year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the same is pegged at $26.90.
For first-quarter 2021, Equinix projects revenues of $1.587-$1.607 billion, implying midpoint growth of 2% quarter over quarter. Adjusted EBITDA is likely to be between $737 million and $757 million.
Our Take
Going forward, Equinix’s global data-center portfolio is well-poised to gain from inter-connected data-center demand, stemming from a rise in remote working and a higher need for digital infrastructure.
However, the company’s expansion efforts involve significant capital outlays and given its significant debt obligations, such activities are likely to increase financial obligations and impact operating results.
We now look forward to the earnings releases of other REITs like SBA Communications Corporation (SBAC - Free Report) , PS Business Parks, Inc. and Extra Space Storage (EXR - Free Report) , whichare slated to report fourth-quarter results on Feb 22.
Note: Anything related to earnings presented in this write-up represent funds from operations (FFO) — a widely used metric to gauge the performance of REITs.
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Equinix (EQIX) Tops on Q4 FFO, Sees Revenue Growth in '21
Equinix Inc. (EQIX - Free Report) posted strong results for fourth-quarter 2020, wherein adjusted funds from operations (AFFO) per share and revenues surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate and improved year over year.
The company’s quarterly AFFO per share was $5.76, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.65. The figure also improved 4.5% from the year-ago quarter’s $5.51.
The upside primarily stemmed from steady growth in interconnection revenues. In fact, during the fourth quarter, it added an incremental 7,700 interconnections, which were driven by cloud, content and gaming segments.
For 2020, Equinix reported AFFO per share of $24.76, up 8.5% from the prior year’s $22.81 and also outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $24.60. Total revenues of around $6 billion were up 7.8% year over year.
Quarter in Detail
Total quarterly revenues were $1.56 billion, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.23%. Also, the top-line figure improved 10.4% year over year, representing the 72nd consecutive quarter of revenue growth.
Recurring revenues were $1.46 billion, up 9.6% from the year-ago quarter’s figure. Non-recurring revenues improved 23.8% from the year-ago quarter to roughly $98 million.
Revenues from the three geographic regions increased on a year-over-year basis as well. Revenues from the Americas, EMEA and the Asia Pacific jumped 8.9%, 10.3% and 13.7% to $712 million, $511.3 million and $340.7 million, respectively.
Cash gross margin was 65%, declining from the prior-year quarter’s 66%. Total operating expenses flared up 33.4% year over year to $504.8 million.
Adjusted EBITDA was $711.4 million, up 5.4% year over year. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 45%, down from 48% recorded in the prior-year quarter. AFFO appreciated 9.4% year over year to $517 million in the December-end quarter.
Balance Sheet
Equinix exited the fourth quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $1.6 billion. The company’s total debt principal outstanding was $12.5 billion as of Dec 31, 2020.
Dividend Update
Concurrent with its fourth-quarter 2020 earnings release, on Feb 10, Equinix’s board of directors approved a quarterly cash dividend of $2.87 per share. The dividend will be paid out on Mar 17 to shareholders of record as of Feb 24, 2021.
Guidance
The company expects to realize foreign currency benefits in 2021. Further, for the ongoing year, it estimates generating revenues of $6.58-$6.64 billion, indicating year-over-year growth of 10-11% on a normalized and constant currency basis. Assuming integration costs of $30 million, it predicts adjusted EBITDA of $3.067-$3.127 billion.
Moreover, 2021 AFFO is expected to be $2.413-$2.463 billion, suggesting year-over-year growth of 10-12%. Further, AFFO per share is estimated to be $26.72-$27.28, up 8-10% year over year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the same is pegged at $26.90.
For first-quarter 2021, Equinix projects revenues of $1.587-$1.607 billion, implying midpoint growth of 2% quarter over quarter. Adjusted EBITDA is likely to be between $737 million and $757 million.
Our Take
Going forward, Equinix’s global data-center portfolio is well-poised to gain from inter-connected data-center demand, stemming from a rise in remote working and a higher need for digital infrastructure.
However, the company’s expansion efforts involve significant capital outlays and given its significant debt obligations, such activities are likely to increase financial obligations and impact operating results.
Equinix, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Equinix, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Equinix, Inc. Quote
Equinix carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
We now look forward to the earnings releases of other REITs like SBA Communications Corporation (SBAC - Free Report) , PS Business Parks, Inc. and Extra Space Storage (EXR - Free Report) , whichare slated to report fourth-quarter results on Feb 22.
Note: Anything related to earnings presented in this write-up represent funds from operations (FFO) — a widely used metric to gauge the performance of REITs.
+1,500% Growth: One of 2021’s Most Exciting Investment Opportunities
In addition to the stocks you read about above, would you like to see Zacks’ top picks to capitalize on the Internet of Things (IoT)? It is one of the fastest-growing technologies in history, with an estimated 77 billion devices to be connected by 2025. That works out to 127 new devices per second.
Zacks has released a special report to help you capitalize on the Internet of Things’s exponential growth. It reveals 4 under-the-radar stocks that could be some of the most profitable holdings in your portfolio in 2021 and beyond.
Click here to download this report FREE >>