Telecom & Wireless

Why T-Mobile Earnings Prove It's the Top Major Telecom Stock in 2017

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T-Mobile US Inc. (NASDAQ: TMUS) reported its most recent quarterly results before the markets opened on Monday. Many investors also were expecting to hear an update from the potential merger talks between Sprint and T-Mobile, but this was not addressed. Earnings seemed to be enough.

The third-quarter results helped carried T-Mobile shares even higher early in Monday’s session, as the only major telecom company that has actually posted a gain in 2017, up over 5%. Over the past 52 weeks the stock is up about 29%, while the next highest major telecom stock is up only 3%.

The company posted $0.63 in earnings per share (EPS) and $10.02 billion in revenue, which compared with consensus estimates from Thomson Reuters of $0.46 and $10.01 billion, respectively. In the third quarter of last year, T-Mobile reported EPS of $0.42 and $9.25 billion in revenue.

During the most recent quarter, T-Mobile had record service revenues of $7.6 billion, up 7%. At the same time the firm noted record adjusted EBITDA increasing 5% to $2.8 billion.

In terms of the metrics, T-Mobile had 1.3 million total net additions, marking 18 straight quarters of adding more than a million. Additionally, the company posted 817,000 total branded postpaid net additions and 226,000 branded prepaid net additions.

Management has 3,000 total new stores planned for 2017, with 1,200 new T-Mobile and 1,300 net new MetroPCS stores opened year to date.

Looking ahead, T-Mobile is updating its guidance for the 2017 full year. The firm expects to see branded postpaid net additions to be between 3.3 million and 3.6 million, up from the previous range of 3.0 million to 3.6 million. Adjusted EBITDA is expected to come in between $10.8 billion and $11.0 billion, up from $10.5 billion to $10.9 billion.

The consensus estimates call for $2.28 in EPS and $40.69 billion in revenue for the 2017 full year.

John Legere, president and CEO of T-Mobile, commented:

Just step back and look at these financial results — they’re incredible! Record service revenues, record free cash flow, record Q3 Adjusted EBITDA — and that’s on top of 18 quarters in a row with more than one million customers added. We’re delivering results that no one else can match and have proven time and time again that we know how to fight for customers and win for shareholders. We won’t stop!

Shares of T-Mobile were last seen up almost 2% at $61.61, with a consensus analyst price target of $71.81 and a 52-week range of $48.32 to $68.88.

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