AMX reported a good set of Q3 numbers yesterday after close. Both revenue and EBITDA beat consensus by ~4%. Service revenue growth accelerated to 5.5% in Q3 vs. 4.7% last quarter and EBITDA growth accelerated to 7.3% from 6.9% in Q2. Almost all geographies beat.
AMX and Totalplay emerged as the strong performers in Q2, in terms of KPIs (Telmex the highest BB subs again) and financials (TPLAY 16% EBITDA y/y growth). MEGA continued good momentum, slowing perhaps a touch (and with weaker Corporate). Izzy (Televisa) continues to back off from chasing growth and focus more on FCF - helped by a cut in Cable capex (from $630m to $590m, or 22% of sales to 20%) and with deal synergies to come (MXN400m per Q).
Televisa reported Q2’s after close. Trends were broadly as expected, with focus on FCF rather than growing the base, meaning revenue momentum slipped further (-6% y/y from -5% in Q1) on the back of limited broadband adds (in contrast to peers like AMX) as well as a video subs disconnection. Operating segment income improved a touch (still down 8% y/y) and with the prospect of DTH/cable synergies coming through from Q3.
AMX reported robust Q2 numbers after close, coming in ~3% ahead of consensus EBITDA. Revenue growth of 4.7% is toward the top of the mid-term guide, EBITDA at 6.9% is ahead. Brazil was the standout business (with Claro likely to be performing ahead of TIM and Vivo) whilst Mexico was solid (though holding price flat isn’t helping near-term revenue momentum)
It’s a difficult reporting season for US$ reporters when regional FX slips so much: sell-side is generally slow to update (and often updates the immediate quarter, but not FYs). We see FY 24 needing to come down at NU (Neutral) and MercadoLibre (Neutral). DLO (BUY) is also exposed though a Q2 share price collapse, significant de-rating as well as a better H2 should underpin the stock.
Liberty LA announced this week that AMX will take control of their 50/50 JV in Chile. This isn’t surprising but still cements a good “exit” for Liberty LA (putting zero value on the residual 9% stake this implies a 15.5x exit on FY 23 VTR EBITDA) and requiring a long-term perspective from AMX in order to turnaround the business - though we note recent top line and KPIs look to be (finally) stabilising.
WOM Chile filed for Chapter 11 last month (April 1), followed a couple of weeks later by a local filing for WOM Colombia. Two filings in one month. Colombia’s relatively modest financing difficulties were likely sealed by the Chilean filing and we review events in Chile to work out how a seemingly successful scaled wireless operator (close to 25% market share of service revenue, 37% EBITDA margins) ended up here.
The market continued to eek out broadband growth in Q1, with Megacable leading the charge. We applaud management’s execution here and the double digit revenue and EBITDA growth, though this now seems embedded in expectations; we think it’s time to close out Megacable stock gains (30% YTD), trading on a 5.5% EFCF yield for 2025. Our target remains MXN55, though we have taken out the probability of cable-cable deal synergies, offset by upgrades following Q1s.
AMX reported strong Q1 numbers after close, coming in ~2% ahead of consensus revenue and EBITDA. Growth accelerated (to 5% y/y from 3.7% in Q4) coming from Mexico and Brazil, and both fixed and wireless. Brazil EBITDA also saw strong support on the cost side. Capex was down y/y in Q1, in keeping with the FY 24 guide (~$7 billion, down from $8.8 billion in 2023); we expect mid-term capex to be provided at the upcoming May 7th Investor Day, and see potential for consensus estimates to come down he...
Following TotalPlay and Televisa results at the end of last week, and Megacable the week prior, we highlight key positive conclusions from the Mexican reporting season: 1/ Capex is coming down across the board in Mexico in FY 24 driving an uplift in OpFCF margin for all players, 2/ Lower promotional intensity through YE is helping ARPUs and would be supportive if it holds.
Megacable reported good Q4s last night with strong broadband adds, revenue growth accelerating (to 14% y/y on core cable/FTTH) and perhaps most supportively EBITDA on core returning to 12% growth on new build operational leverage; EBITDA was flat only a couple of quarters go and the guide is for margin expansion in FY 24 and beyond (ahead of us and the market).
Ahead of the spin of its non-core assets next week (Feb 20th) we highlight the impact to Televisa: potentially an ex-div move of up to $0.5 per ADR (assuming SpinCo trades at 4x EBITDA, in-line with our implied valuation). Cleaning up the business would be a helpful move ahead of potential M&A (with Megacable). We also run through TVUNI (>100% of target TV equity) Q4 results yesterday, feeling the headwinds of a tough comp in the 2022 World Cup, but with a better outlook for 2024 where we think...
AMX reported solid underlying Q4s last night, coming in 1.5% ahead of expectations for revenue and in-line at EBITDA adjusting for Argentina (which booked a large negative contribution to both given 9m 23 hyperinflation adjustments). Trends are in the main unchanged: Mexican wireless OK but lacking the support from price rises – this may come after the Presidential elections and is arguably needed as a catalyst for better earnings momentum; elsewhere, a return to solid adds in Mexican broadband;...
We provide a quick outlook (via a key chart) on the slowing FTTH roll in 2024/25 and how we think this plays into capex, supported also by current stronger peso/$, which we see declining from 2024 helping transform FCF prospects. We also preview numbers ahead of Q4: the last quarter of big capex spend we think, with strong operational momentum anticipated, with some seasonality to EBITDA margin.
After strong stock performance in 2023 we think the Brazilians will continue to perform into 2024 on the back of solid wireless fundamentals: rising prices, revenue/EBITDA > inflation, falling capex/sales – and with IOC (tax) risks in the rear view for now. Shareholder returns are also sector leading whilst valuations are attractive (notably versus quickly falling rates).
One year on and speculation as to a merger between Megacable and Televisa (Izzy Cable) is back, as evidenced by the past few days’ share price rally. Over the last year, Izzy has struggled operationally as Megacable has rapidly overlaid Izzy homes. We re-run a merger analysis reflecting the balance of power swing toward Megacable and the likelihood it rather than Televisa take control of the Cable NewCo.
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