Verizon reports 1Q earnings for 2022

Verizon Communications Inc. reported first-quarter results today, including the expansion of its 5G Ultra Wideband network to nearly 113 million people around the country and elevated demands for its 5G mobility and nationwide broadband services. The company’s performance produced its best broadband result in over a decade, a surge in upgrades and increased wireless service revenue growth.

“Our operational performance in the first-quarter further positions Verizon for long-term growth and increases our competitive standing in mobility, nationwide broadband, the value market, and above the network business solutions and applications,” said Verizon Chairman and CEO Hans Vestberg. “The January launch of C-Band and expansion of our 5G Ultra Wideband network helped to amplify our fixed wireless momentum in both Consumer and Business, with quarterly additions 2.5 times that of our fourth-quarter performance, and drove momentum in wireless upgrades. We continue to accelerate our C-Band network build with our goal of reaching at least 175 million people by the end of the year and, with the recent early clearing spectrum announcement, we now have the ability to deploy more of this spectrum a full year sooner.”

For first-quarter 2022, Verizon reported EPS of $1.09, compared with $1.27 in first-quarter 2021. On an adjusted basis1, EPS, excluding special items, was $1.35 in first-quarter 2022, compared with adjusted EPS1 of $1.36 in first-quarter 20212.

Reported first-quarter earnings consisted of a pre-tax loss from special items of approximately $1.5 billion, including a pre-tax loss of approximately $1.2 billion from early debt redemption costs. Additionally, the impact to amortization of intangible assets related to TracFone and other acquisitions was $238 million.

“At our Investor Day last month, we presented our strategy for investing in and growing the business to generate an incremental $14 billion of service and other revenue by 2025. The bottom-line performance of our results today shows the strength of our core business to deliver profitability, even during a period of significant investment,” said Verizon Chief Financial Officer Matt Ellis. “We expect that over 75 percent of our growth over the next four years will come from 5G mobility and nationwide broadband. In the first-quarter, we saw growth in our wireless sales, customer loyalty, and rapid expansion of our fixed wireless product, fortifying our confidence in our growth prospects.”

Consolidated results

• Total consolidated operating revenues in first-quarter 2022 were $33.6 billion, up 2.1 percent from first-quarter 2021.
• Total wireless service revenue growth was 9.5 percent, reflecting the first full quarter of TracFone ownership, as well as continued execution of our Network as a Service strategy and contributions from our five vectors of growth.
• Service and other revenue was down 2.5 percent, as the revenues lost from Verizon Media Group (Verizon Media) more than offset incremental revenue from TracFone. Excluding the impact of the sale of Verizon Media, service and other revenue was up 4.2 percent from first-quarter 2021.
• Cash flow from operating activities for the quarter totaled $6.8 billion compared with $9.7 billion in first-quarter 2021. The reduction was primarily due to working capital impacts as the increase in activation volumes to more normal levels impacted receivable levels, and inventory levels increased as part of supply chain management in the current environment.
• Capital spending for the first-quarter totaled $5.8 billion, an increase of $1.3 billion compared to first-quarter 2021 driven by C-Band spending of $1.5 billion. The continued build out of OneFiber and Verizon’s investment to support traffic growth on its 4G LTE network while expanding the reach and capacity of its 5G Ultra Wideband network enhances its opportunity to effectively compete in all of its businesses. The net result of cash flow from operations and capital spending is free cash flow1 for the first-quarter of the year of $1.0 billion.
• Verizon’s unsecured debt as of the end of first-quarter 2022 increased by $614 million sequentially to $137.3 billion. The company’s net unsecured debt1 balance increased sequentially by $1.9 billion to $135.6 billion, and its net unsecured debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio1 at quarter-end was approximately 2.8 times, as it issued its fourth Green Bond, with the net proceeds expected to be allocated to renewable energy. In addition, the company completed a number of other transactions during the quarter the proceeds of which were used as consideration in an over $5 billion tender offer to retire some higher cost, long-term debt.

Verizon Consumer results

• Total Verizon Consumer revenue for the quarter grew 10.9 percent year over year, driven by the first full quarter of TracFone integration, higher equipment revenue, and strong core wireless service revenue growth. Total Verizon Consumer revenues were $25.3 billion.
• Wireless service revenue was up 11.2 percent year over year. In addition to the inclusion of TracFone, Postpaid ARPA increased 2.6 percent driven primarily by step-up momentum and growth within non-connectivity products and services. Verizon Consumer ended the quarter with 36 percent of its account base on a premium tier.
• Verizon Consumer wireless retail postpaid churn was 0.95 percent in first-quarter 2022, and wireless retail postpaid phone churn was 0.77 percent.
• While churn was steady, the competitive dynamics within the industry resulted in wireless retail postpaid phone net losses of 292,000, due to a decline in gross additions of 2 percent from prior year.
• Verizon Consumer had fixed wireless net additions of 112,000 for the quarter, with sales boosted by Verizon’s launch of C-Band spectrum and “5G Ultra” campaign. Additionally, Fios internet net additions for the quarter were 55,000, driven by record-low churn levels with gross additions lower compared to first-quarter 2021. Verizon Consumer Fios revenues were $2.9 billion in first-quarter 2022, an increase of 1.8 percent year over year. Verizon Consumer reported 78,000 Fios Video net losses in first-quarter 2022.
• Prepaid ARPU in the quarter was $30.89 across all of Verizon Consumer’s prepaid brands. This decline over first-quarter 2021 results was driven, in part, by pressure in the TracFone brands, though prepaid ARPU is expected to stabilize and subsequently grow sequentially as we execute our strategy to bring additional value to our customers.
• In first-quarter 2022, Verizon Consumer operating income was $7.3 billion, a decrease of 2.7 percent year over year, and segment operating income margin was 28.9 percent, a decrease from 33 percent in first-quarter 2021. Segment EBITDA1 for the quarter grew 1.0 percent, driven by the inclusion of TracFone results, as well as ARPA and customer volume gains, partially offset by the elevated marketing expenses related to the 5G Ultra campaign, investments in TracFone, and higher bad debt, driven in part by the additional sales volumes in the quarter. Segment EBITDA margin1 of 41.4 percent was impacted by significantly higher equipment revenue and the inclusion of TracFone.

Verizon Business results

• Total Verizon Business revenues were $7.7 billion in first-quarter 2022, down 0.9 percent year over year. Ongoing legacy wireline declines continue to offset Wireless revenue growth.
• Verizon Business wireless service revenues were $3.1 billion, an increase of 2.1 percent, driven by momentum in the SMB market, which continues to see strong post pandemic recovery.
• Verizon Business reported 395,000 wireless retail postpaid net additions in first-quarter 2022, including 256,000 phone net additions. This was the best quarterly phone net addition performance for Business since Verizon 2.0 reporting began.
• Verizon Business wireless retail postpaid churn was 1.34 percent in first-quarter 2022, and wireless retail postpaid phone churn was 1.06 percent.
• Verizon Business reported 82,000 Fixed Wireless net additions for the quarter, up substantially from the prior quarter. The flexibility, reliability and value of the product have generated an elevated demand and competitive wins within this space.
• In first-quarter 2022, Verizon Business operating income was $673 million, a decrease of 25.1 percent year over year, and segment operating income margin was 8.7 percent, a decrease from 11.6 percent in first-quarter 2021. Segment EBITDA1 was $1.7 billion for the quarter, a decrease of 9.3 percent, driven in part by the loss of high margin wireline revenue. Segment EBITDA margin1 was 22.5 percent, a decrease from 24.6 percent in first-quarter 2021.

Outlook and guidance
For 2022, Verizon is updating its prior guidance for service and other revenue which is now expected to be approximately flat compared to 2021.

Additionally, Verizon expects the following results for full-year 2022:

• Reported wireless service revenue growth at the lower end of the previously guided range of 9 percent to 10 percent.
• Adjusted EBITDA1 growth at the lower end of the previously guided range of 2 percent to 3 percent.
• Adjusted EPS1 at the lower end of the previously guided range of $5.40 to $5.55.
• Adjusted effective income tax rate1 in the range of 23 percent to 25 percent.
• Capital spending, excluding C-Band, in the range of $16.5 billion to $17.5 billion. Additional expenditures related to the deployment of the company’s C-Band 5G network are expected to be in the range of $5 billion to $6 billion.

In addition to announcing first-quarter results, today, the company published its 2021 ESG Report, outlining its approach to the company’s ESG strategy and integration, and detailing the company’s progress on important ESG issues, such as carbon emissions, energy efficiency, data protection and privacy, employee engagement and human rights.

CT Bureau