A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Shaw Communications Inc. . Shares have lost about 3.3% in that time frame, underperforming the market.
Will the recent negative trend continue leading up to the stock's next earnings release, or is it due for a breakout? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts.
Shaw Communications Beats Q3 Earnings, Results Impress
Shaw Communications Inc. reported impressive financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 2017 (ended May 31, 2017) wherein both the bottom line and top line surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate.
Net Income
Net income was $179.15 million, reflecting a decrease of 81.1% from $948.29 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2016. Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of 44 cents outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 25 cents. The company’s bottom line grew 18.92%, on a year-over-year basis.
Revenue
Total revenue came in at $1766.2 million, reflecting an increase of 79.03% from $986.5 million in the year-ago quarter. Moreover, the top line beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $992.5 million
Operating Metrics
Third-quarter fiscal 2017 operating income before restructuring costs and amortization was $740.85 million, down 0.5% from $744.89 million in the fiscal third quarter of 2016. Operating margin came at 42.0%, down from 43.4% in the year ago quarter.
Cash Flow
In the third quarter of fiscal 2017, Shaw Communications generated $173.76 million cash from continued operations compared with $202.05 million from the prior-year quarter.
Free cash flow came in at $177.80 million versus $245.15 million in the year-ago quarter, reflecting an decrease of 27.5%. The decrease in free cash flow was largely due to high planned capital expenditures and low free cash flow from discontinued operations primarily related to former Media operations (sold on Apr 1, 2016). The decreases were partially offset by higher dividends from Corus.
Liquidity
At the end of third-quarter fiscal 2017, Shaw Communications had cash and total outstanding debt of $235.73 million and $7,677.9 compared with $545.54 million and $7,186.25 million, respectively, at the end of Aug 2016.
Subscriber Statistics (As of May 31, 2017)
At the Consumer segment, the video cable customer base totaled 1,663,710,reflecting a net addition of 12,921subscribers in the quarter under review. Video satellite customer count increased 6,531to 776,825. Meanwhile, with the addition of 20,892customers in the quarter, the company's Internet base now stands at 1,838,964. Digital phone lines grossed 930,066, reflecting a sequential reduction of 1,827 lines.
In the Business Network Service segment, the video cable customer base totaled 53,522, marking a net gain of 47 customers in the quarter. Video satellite customers decreased by 1,009 to 30,991. Further, the company lost 435 Internet customers, taking the tally to 172,709. Digital phone lines grossed 319,637 reflecting a sequential addition of 7,253 lines.
In the Wireless Segment, the postpaid customer base totaled 735,002 marking a net addition of 20,085 customers from the previous quarter. The prepaid section however lost 111 customers from the prior-year quarter, taking the total to 371,157 customers.
The period, however, ended with 6,892,583 customers, inclusive of 1,106,159 Wireless subscribers. Consumer and Business Network Services saw a combined 44,373 RGU (revenue generating unit) incline in the quarter, marking a significant improvement. Cable TV subscribers grew for the first time since 2010, with Consumer and Wireless divisions gaining 58,491 subscribers.
Consumer Segment
Quarterly revenues grossed $1252.71 million in the fiscal third quarter, down 0.5% year over year from $1259.44 million. Quarterly operating income before restructuring costs and amortization came in at $540.15 million, down 6.1% year-over-year. Operating margin was 43.1%, down from 45.7% in the third quarter of fiscal 2016.
Business Network Services Segment
Quarterly total revenue from the division was $184.54 million, up 7.0% year over year from $172.42 million. The segment’s quarterly operating income before restructuring costs and amortization was $94.29 million, up 9.4% year over year from $86.21 million. Operating margin came in at 51.1%, up from 50.0% from the third quarter of fiscal 2016.
Business Infrastructure Services Segment
Quarterly total revenue was $129.31 million, up 11.6% year over year from $115.84 million. Operating income before restructuring costs and amortization was $49.84 million, up 12.1% year over year from $44.45 million. Operating margin for the third quarter of fiscal 2017 was 38.5%, up from 38.4% in the comparable quarter a year ago.
Wireless Service Segment
Quarterly revenues from the newly acquired wireless segment was $207.44 million (up 16.7% year-over-year) in the third quarter of fiscal 2017 while operating income before restructuring costs and amortization was $56.57 million (up 44.8% year-over-year). Operating margin came in at 27.3%, up from 22.0% in the year-ago quarter.
Financial Outlook
Shaw Communications is refining its full year fiscal 2017 financial guidance. Operating income before restructuring costs and amortization is expected to range between $2.135 and $2.160 billion and free cash flow is expected around $400 million. Consolidated capital investment targets have been raised to nearly $1.35 billion from $1.3 billion (previous quarter guidance).
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?
It turns out, fresh estimates have trended upward during the past month. There has been one revision higher for the current quarter.
VGM Scores
At this time, Shaw Communications' stock has a subpar Growth Score of 'D', however its Momentum is doing a lot better with an 'B'. However, the stock was allocated a grade of 'C' on the value side, putting it in the middle 20% for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of 'C'. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
Our style scores indicate that the stock is more suitable for momentum investors than value investors.
Outlook
Estimates have been trending upward for the stock. The magnitude of these revisions also looks promising. Notably, the stock has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We are expecting an inline return from the stock in the next few months.
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Shaw Communications (SJR) Down 3.3% Since Earnings Report: Can It Rebound?
A month has gone by since the last earnings report for Shaw Communications Inc. . Shares have lost about 3.3% in that time frame, underperforming the market.
Will the recent negative trend continue leading up to the stock's next earnings release, or is it due for a breakout? Before we dive into how investors and analysts have reacted as of late, let's take a quick look at its most recent earnings report in order to get a better handle on the important catalysts.
Shaw Communications Beats Q3 Earnings, Results Impress
Shaw Communications Inc. reported impressive financial results for the third quarter of fiscal 2017 (ended May 31, 2017) wherein both the bottom line and top line surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate.
Net Income
Net income was $179.15 million, reflecting a decrease of 81.1% from $948.29 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2016. Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of 44 cents outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 25 cents. The company’s bottom line grew 18.92%, on a year-over-year basis.
Revenue
Total revenue came in at $1766.2 million, reflecting an increase of 79.03% from $986.5 million in the year-ago quarter. Moreover, the top line beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $992.5 million
Operating Metrics
Third-quarter fiscal 2017 operating income before restructuring costs and amortization was $740.85 million, down 0.5% from $744.89 million in the fiscal third quarter of 2016. Operating margin came at 42.0%, down from 43.4% in the year ago quarter.
Cash Flow
In the third quarter of fiscal 2017, Shaw Communications generated $173.76 million cash from continued operations compared with $202.05 million from the prior-year quarter.
Free cash flow came in at $177.80 million versus $245.15 million in the year-ago quarter, reflecting an decrease of 27.5%. The decrease in free cash flow was largely due to high planned capital expenditures and low free cash flow from discontinued operations primarily related to former Media operations (sold on Apr 1, 2016). The decreases were partially offset by higher dividends from Corus.
Liquidity
At the end of third-quarter fiscal 2017, Shaw Communications had cash and total outstanding debt of $235.73 million and $7,677.9 compared with $545.54 million and $7,186.25 million, respectively, at the end of Aug 2016.
Subscriber Statistics (As of May 31, 2017)
At the Consumer segment, the video cable customer base totaled 1,663,710,reflecting a net addition of 12,921subscribers in the quarter under review. Video satellite customer count increased 6,531to 776,825. Meanwhile, with the addition of 20,892customers in the quarter, the company's Internet base now stands at 1,838,964. Digital phone lines grossed 930,066, reflecting a sequential reduction of 1,827 lines.
In the Business Network Service segment, the video cable customer base totaled 53,522, marking a net gain of 47 customers in the quarter. Video satellite customers decreased by 1,009 to 30,991. Further, the company lost 435 Internet customers, taking the tally to 172,709. Digital phone lines grossed 319,637 reflecting a sequential addition of 7,253 lines.
In the Wireless Segment, the postpaid customer base totaled 735,002 marking a net addition of 20,085 customers from the previous quarter. The prepaid section however lost 111 customers from the prior-year quarter, taking the total to 371,157 customers.
The period, however, ended with 6,892,583 customers, inclusive of 1,106,159 Wireless subscribers. Consumer and Business Network Services saw a combined 44,373 RGU (revenue generating unit) incline in the quarter, marking a significant improvement. Cable TV subscribers grew for the first time since 2010, with Consumer and Wireless divisions gaining 58,491 subscribers.
Consumer Segment
Quarterly revenues grossed $1252.71 million in the fiscal third quarter, down 0.5% year over year from $1259.44 million. Quarterly operating income before restructuring costs and amortization came in at $540.15 million, down 6.1% year-over-year. Operating margin was 43.1%, down from 45.7% in the third quarter of fiscal 2016.
Business Network Services Segment
Quarterly total revenue from the division was $184.54 million, up 7.0% year over year from $172.42 million. The segment’s quarterly operating income before restructuring costs and amortization was $94.29 million, up 9.4% year over year from $86.21 million. Operating margin came in at 51.1%, up from 50.0% from the third quarter of fiscal 2016.
Business Infrastructure Services Segment
Quarterly total revenue was $129.31 million, up 11.6% year over year from $115.84 million. Operating income before restructuring costs and amortization was $49.84 million, up 12.1% year over year from $44.45 million. Operating margin for the third quarter of fiscal 2017 was 38.5%, up from 38.4% in the comparable quarter a year ago.
Wireless Service Segment
Quarterly revenues from the newly acquired wireless segment was $207.44 million (up 16.7% year-over-year) in the third quarter of fiscal 2017 while operating income before restructuring costs and amortization was $56.57 million (up 44.8% year-over-year). Operating margin came in at 27.3%, up from 22.0% in the year-ago quarter.
Financial Outlook
Shaw Communications is refining its full year fiscal 2017 financial guidance. Operating income before restructuring costs and amortization is expected to range between $2.135 and $2.160 billion and free cash flow is expected around $400 million. Consolidated capital investment targets have been raised to nearly $1.35 billion from $1.3 billion (previous quarter guidance).
How Have Estimates Been Moving Since Then?
It turns out, fresh estimates have trended upward during the past month. There has been one revision higher for the current quarter.
Shaw Communications Inc. Price and Consensus
Shaw Communications Inc. Price and Consensus | Shaw Communications Inc. Quote
VGM Scores
At this time, Shaw Communications' stock has a subpar Growth Score of 'D', however its Momentum is doing a lot better with an 'B'. However, the stock was allocated a grade of 'C' on the value side, putting it in the middle 20% for this investment strategy.
Overall, the stock has an aggregate VGM Score of 'C'. If you aren't focused on one strategy, this score is the one you should be interested in.
Our style scores indicate that the stock is more suitable for momentum investors than value investors.
Outlook
Estimates have been trending upward for the stock. The magnitude of these revisions also looks promising. Notably, the stock has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). We are expecting an inline return from the stock in the next few months.