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Cincinnati Bell (CBB) Q2 Loss Narrows Y/Y, Revenues Rise
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Cincinnati Bell Inc. reported higher-than-expected second-quarter 2019 financial results, wherein both the top line and the bottom line surpassed the respective Zacks Consensus Estimate.
Following the announcement, its share price increased 20.3% to eventually close at $4.27 on Friday.
Net Loss
On a GAAP basis, net loss was $8.1 million or loss of 16 cents per share compared with net loss of $16.4 million or loss of 39 cents per share in the year-ago quarter. The narrower loss was due to top-line growth, partially offset by higher operating expenses.
Non-GAAP net loss came in at $6.6 million or loss of 13 cents per share compared with net loss of $7.9 million or loss of 19 cents per share in the prior-year quarter. The bottom line was narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 26 cents.
Revenues
Quarterly revenues grew 29.4% year over year to $384.2 million backed by impressive results from investments in fiber and IT services. Also, the top line, surpassed the consensus estimate of $376 million.
Cincinnati Bell Inc Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Revenues from Entertainment and Communications improved 44% year over year to $250.5 million, primarily driven by strong sales in fiber businesses. Cincinnati Bell’s merger with Hawaiian Telcom significantly expanded its high-quality metro fiber asset portfolio to meet the increased need for bandwidth and support the demand for IoT ecosystems.
IT Services and Hardware revenues increased 9.3% year over year to $140.2 million. Notably, the rise was driven by 13.7% growth in Consulting revenues and 16.3% increase from Communications revenues.
Other Details
Overall operating income was $24.9 million compared with $20.2 million in the year-ago quarter. Adjusted EBITDA increased $23 million to $103.1 million.
Cash Flow & Liquidity
During the second quarter, Cincinnati Bell generated $62 million of cash from operating activities compared with $31.4 million in the year-ago quarter. As of Jun 30, 2019, the regional telephone company’s net debt (non-GAAP) totaled $1,927.8 million.
2019 Outlook
Cincinnati Bell has reiterated guidance for full-year 2019, reflecting expected contribution from Hawaiian Telcom. Notably, the company continues to anticipate revenues between $1,515 million and $1,575 million, and adjusted EBITDA in the range of $400-$410 million.
Moving Ahead
Cincinnati Bell is focused on transforming itself from a legacy copper-based telecommunications company to a technology company with contemporary fiber assets servicing both consumer and business customers with flexible data, video, voice and IP solutions. With a well-designed marketing program, popular brand value and strong reputation of offering high-quality service, the company expects to increase its Entertainment and Communications revenues. Also, the expansion of the company's geographic footprint in IT services has brought enhanced scale and client diversification, supporting its transformation to a hybrid IT solutions provider.
Zacks Rank & Key Picks
Cincinnati Bell currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks in the same space are Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (TDS - Free Report) , BCE, Inc. (BCE - Free Report) and Frontier Communications Corporation . While Telephone and Data Systems sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), BCE and Frontier Communications carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Telephone and Data Systems outpaced estimates in the last reported quarter by 18.47%.
BCE delivered average positive earnings surprise of 2.27% in the trailing four quarters.
Frontier Communications pulled off average positive earnings surprise of 115.81% in the trailing four quarters.
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Cincinnati Bell (CBB) Q2 Loss Narrows Y/Y, Revenues Rise
Cincinnati Bell Inc. reported higher-than-expected second-quarter 2019 financial results, wherein both the top line and the bottom line surpassed the respective Zacks Consensus Estimate.
Following the announcement, its share price increased 20.3% to eventually close at $4.27 on Friday.
Net Loss
On a GAAP basis, net loss was $8.1 million or loss of 16 cents per share compared with net loss of $16.4 million or loss of 39 cents per share in the year-ago quarter. The narrower loss was due to top-line growth, partially offset by higher operating expenses.
Non-GAAP net loss came in at $6.6 million or loss of 13 cents per share compared with net loss of $7.9 million or loss of 19 cents per share in the prior-year quarter. The bottom line was narrower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of 26 cents.
Revenues
Quarterly revenues grew 29.4% year over year to $384.2 million backed by impressive results from investments in fiber and IT services. Also, the top line, surpassed the consensus estimate of $376 million.
Cincinnati Bell Inc Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Cincinnati Bell Inc price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Cincinnati Bell Inc Quote
Segmental Performance
Revenues from Entertainment and Communications improved 44% year over year to $250.5 million, primarily driven by strong sales in fiber businesses. Cincinnati Bell’s merger with Hawaiian Telcom significantly expanded its high-quality metro fiber asset portfolio to meet the increased need for bandwidth and support the demand for IoT ecosystems.
IT Services and Hardware revenues increased 9.3% year over year to $140.2 million. Notably, the rise was driven by 13.7% growth in Consulting revenues and 16.3% increase from Communications revenues.
Other Details
Overall operating income was $24.9 million compared with $20.2 million in the year-ago quarter. Adjusted EBITDA increased $23 million to $103.1 million.
Cash Flow & Liquidity
During the second quarter, Cincinnati Bell generated $62 million of cash from operating activities compared with $31.4 million in the year-ago quarter. As of Jun 30, 2019, the regional telephone company’s net debt (non-GAAP) totaled $1,927.8 million.
2019 Outlook
Cincinnati Bell has reiterated guidance for full-year 2019, reflecting expected contribution from Hawaiian Telcom. Notably, the company continues to anticipate revenues between $1,515 million and $1,575 million, and adjusted EBITDA in the range of $400-$410 million.
Moving Ahead
Cincinnati Bell is focused on transforming itself from a legacy copper-based telecommunications company to a technology company with contemporary fiber assets servicing both consumer and business customers with flexible data, video, voice and IP solutions. With a well-designed marketing program, popular brand value and strong reputation of offering high-quality service, the company expects to increase its Entertainment and Communications revenues. Also, the expansion of the company's geographic footprint in IT services has brought enhanced scale and client diversification, supporting its transformation to a hybrid IT solutions provider.
Zacks Rank & Key Picks
Cincinnati Bell currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks in the same space are Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (TDS - Free Report) , BCE, Inc. (BCE - Free Report) and Frontier Communications Corporation . While Telephone and Data Systems sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), BCE and Frontier Communications carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Telephone and Data Systems outpaced estimates in the last reported quarter by 18.47%.
BCE delivered average positive earnings surprise of 2.27% in the trailing four quarters.
Frontier Communications pulled off average positive earnings surprise of 115.81% in the trailing four quarters.
Today's Best Stocks from Zacks
Would you like to see the updated picks from our best market-beating strategies? From 2017 through 2018, while the S&P 500 gained +15.8%, five of our screens returned +38.0%, +61.3%, +61.6%, +68.1%, and +98.3%.
This outperformance has not just been a recent phenomenon. From 2000 – 2018, while the S&P averaged +4.8% per year, our top strategies averaged up to +56.2% per year.
See their latest picks free >>