Verizon Reports Strong Balanced Results; Delivers Customer, Earnings and Cash
Flow Growth in First Quarter
NEW YORK, April 21, 2015 --
1Q 2015 HIGHLIGHTS
Consolidated
* $1.02 in earnings per share (EPS), compared with $1.15 per share and 84
cents in adjusted EPS (non-GAAP) in 1Q 2014.
Wireless
* 6.9 percent year-over-year increase in total revenues; 35.0 percent
operating income margin.
* 55.8 percent segment EBITDA margin on service revenues (non-GAAP), and 44.8
percent segment EBITDA margin on total revenues (non-GAAP).
* 565,000 net retail postpaid connections added in the quarter; low retail
postpaid churn of 1.03 percent; 108.6 million total retail connections;
102.6 million total retail postpaid connections.
Wireline
* 4.0 percent year-over-year increase in consumer revenues, the 11th
consecutive quarter of increases of at least 4 percent.
* 10.2 percent year-over-year increase in FiOS revenues; 133,000 FiOS
Internet and 90,000 FiOS Video net additions.
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ) today announced first-quarter
2015 results highlighted by customer growth in key wireless and broadband
markets, strong earnings and increased cash flow.
"Verizon is off to a strong start in 2015 with another quarter of profitable
growth," said Verizon Chairman and CEO Lowell McAdam. "We expanded our base of
customers seeking a premium experience, and we grew revenues, earnings and cash
flow during a quarter in which we also took significant steps to sharpen our
strategic focus. We are confident in our ability to maintain momentum and
continue to add value for customers and shareholders."
The company reported $1.02 in EPS in first-quarter 2015, compared with $1.15
per share in first-quarter 2014.
There were no non-operational adjustments to first-quarter 2015 per-share
results; first-quarter-2014 results included non-operational gains related to
Verizon's acquisition of full ownership of Verizon Wireless in February 2014.
First-quarter 2015 earnings of $1.02 per share compares with 84 cents per share
in adjusted EPS (non-GAAP) in first-quarter 2014 - an increase of 21.4 percent.
In first-quarter 2015, Verizon agreed to sell its local wireline operations
serving customers in three states to Frontier Communications, monetized
wireless tower assets in a transaction with American Tower, and announced an
accelerated share-repurchase program to return $5 billion in capital to
shareholders. The company also completed the purchase of $10.4 billion in
spectrum in the Federal Communications Commission's AWS-3 auction.
Consolidated Margin Expansion and Cash Flow Growth
On a consolidated basis, Verizon generated top-line growth, margin expansion
and increased cash flow in first-quarter 2015.
Consolidated Highlights
* Total operating revenues in first-quarter 2015 were $32.0 billion, a 3.8
percent increase compared with first-quarter 2014. Excluding first-quarter
2014 revenues from a business that has since been sold, the comparable
year-over-year growth rate (non-GAAP) would have been 4.2 percent.
* Continued effective cost management drove first-quarter 2015 operating
income to $8.0 billion, an 11.2 percent increase compared with
first-quarter 2014.
* Consolidated operating income margin was 24.9 percent in first-quarter
2015, compared with 23.2 percent in first-quarter 2014. Consolidated EBITDA
margin (non-GAAP, based on earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation
and amortization) was 37.4 percent in first-quarter 2015, compared with
36.7 percent in first-quarter 2014.
* Cash flow from operating activities increased to $10.2 billion in
first-quarter 2015, compared with $7.1 billion in first-quarter 2014. The
$10.2 billion included a non-recurring $2.4 billion related to the
monetization of tower assets.
* Excluding the tower-transaction impact, free cash flow (non-GAAP, cash flow
from operations less capital expenditures) totaled about $4.2 billion in
first-quarter 2015, compared with $3.0 billion in first-quarter 2014.
Verizon continues to expect full-year 2015 capital expenditures to range
between $17.5 billion and $18.0 billion.
Verizon Wireless Delivers Quality Customer Growth and Profitability
In first-quarter 2015, Verizon Wireless delivered quality connections growth
and strong profitability.
Wireless Financial Highlights
* Total revenues were $22.3 billion in first-quarter 2015, up 6.9 percent
year over year. Service revenues totaled $17.9 billion, down 0.4 percent
year over year, while equipment revenues increased $1.5 billion compared
with first-quarter 2014 as more customers chose Verizon Edge pricing. This
pricing makes it easy to buy a new device with a low upfront cost and
simple monthly installments.
* Service revenues plus Edge installment billings increased 3.1 percent year
over year. The percentage of phone activations on the Edge program was
about 39 percent in first-quarter 2015, compared with about 25 percent in
fourth-quarter 2014. The company expects this percentage, which is
currently approaching 50 percent, to continue to increase.
* In first-quarter 2015, wireless operating income margin was 35.0 percent,
flat with last year's first quarter. Segment EBITDA margin on service
revenues was 55.8 percent, compared with 52.1 percent in first-quarter
2014; and segment EBITDA margin on total revenues was 44.8 percent, similar
to a year ago.
Wireless Operational Highlights
* Verizon Wireless had 565,000 retail postpaid net additions in first-quarter
2015, a 4.8 percent increase compared with first-quarter 2014. At the end
of first-quarter 2015, the company had 108.6 million retail connections, a
5.1 percent year-over-year increase, and had 102.6 million retail postpaid
connections.
* The company added 621,000 4G smartphones to its customer base in
first-quarter 2015. In light of a net decline in 3G smartphones, overall
smartphone growth totaled 247,000. The company also added 820,000 4G
tablets and reported net declines of 385,000 basic phones and 188,000
prepaid devices in first-quarter 2015.
* 4G devices now constitute approximately 70 percent of the retail postpaid
connections base, up from 49 percent a year ago - with the 4G LTE network
handling about 86 percent of total wireless data traffic in first-quarter
2015.
* Growth in 4G device adoption continues to drive increased data and video
usage. Within More Everything accounts, average data usage continues to
rise, up 54 percent year over year.
* At 1.03 percent in first-quarter 2015, retail postpaid churn improved both
sequentially and year over year. Retail postpaid smartphone customer churn
was less than 0.9 percent.
Wireline Consumer Revenue Maintains Consistent Growth
Verizon's wireline segment reported continued strong results for consumer
services. Year-over-year quarterly revenues, driven by FiOS fiber-optic
broadband services, have now grown by at least 4 percent for the 11th
consecutive quarter.
Wireline Financial Highlights
* In first-quarter 2015, consumer revenues were $4.0 billion, an increase of
4.0 percent compared with first-quarter 2014, with FiOS revenues
representing 78 percent of the total.
* Total FiOS revenues grew 10.2 percent, to $3.4 billion, comparing
first-quarter 2015 with first-quarter 2014.
* Wireline operating income margin was 4.3 percent in first-quarter 2015, up
from 1.5 percent in first-quarter 2014. Segment EBITDA margin (non-GAAP)
was 22.7 percent in first-quarter 2015, compared with 22.5 percent in
first-quarter 2014.
Wireline Operational Highlights
* In first-quarter 2015, Verizon added 133,000 net new FiOS Internet
connections and 90,000 net new FiOS Video connections. Verizon had totals
of 6.7 million FiOS Internet and 5.7 million FiOS Video connections at the
end of the first quarter, representing year-over-year increases of 9.4
percent and 7.9 percent, respectively.
* FiOS Internet penetration (subscribers as a percentage of potential
subscribers) was 41.5 percent at the end of first-quarter 2015, compared
with 39.7 percent at the end of first-quarter 2014. In the same periods,
FiOS Video penetration was 36.0 percent, compared with 35.0 percent.
* By the end of first-quarter 2015, 62 percent of consumer FiOS Internet
customers subscribed to FiOS Quantum, which provides speeds ranging from 50
to 500 megabits per second, up from 59 percent at year-end 2014. The
highest rate of growth is in the 75-megabit-per-second tier, to which more
than 20 percent of FiOS customers subscribe.
* Broadband connections totaled 9.2 million at the end of first-quarter 2015,
a 2.4 percent year-over-year increase. Net broadband connections increased
by 41,000 in first-quarter 2015, as FiOS Internet net additions more than
offset declines in DSL-based High Speed Internet connections.
* Verizon continues to replace portions of its residential copper network
with fiber optics to provide customers with a more reliable and resilient
infrastructure, which has proven to increase customer satisfaction and
reduce repair costs. In first-quarter 2015, Verizon migrated 47,000
customers who had been using copper connections, toward a full-year goal of
200,000.
* Verizon Enterprise Solutions helped clients around the globe improve
customer experience, drive growth and business performance and manage risk
in the first quarter. The company deployed innovative enterprise-grade
network, cloud, security, Internet of Things, mobility and other business
solutions for some of the world's leading brands, including Altisource,
Cisco, Hallmark Cards Inc., MiCTA, National DCP LLC, PetSmart Inc.,
Slomin's Inc., TNT, Visteon Corporation and The Welsh Government.
Wireline segment results include operations being sold to Frontier. Verizon's
consolidated balance sheet reflects these operations as assets held for sale.
Accounting rules require that depreciation expense not be recorded on such
assets; accordingly, wireline depreciation expense will be lower in 2015. This
produced an EPS benefit of 2 cents per share in first-quarter 2015 and is
expected to produce a 3-cent-per-share benefit in subsequent full quarters
until the transaction's closing, targeted for first-half 2016.
NOTE: See the accompanying schedules and www.verizon.com/about/investors for
reconciliations to generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for non-GAAP
financial measures cited in this document.
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a
global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline
communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale
customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network,
with 108.6 million retail connections nationwide. Verizon also provides
converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's
most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions
to customers worldwide. A Dow 30 company with more than $127 billion in 2014
revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of 176,200. For more information,
visit www.verizon.com/news/.
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Forward-Looking Statements
In this communication we have made forward-looking statements. These statements
are based on our estimates and assumptions and are subject to risks and
uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include the information concerning
our possible or assumed future results of operations. Forward-looking
statements also include those preceded or followed by the words "anticipates,"
"believes," "estimates," "hopes" or similar expressions. For those statements,
we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements
contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The
following important factors, along with those discussed in our filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), could affect future results and
could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in the
forward-looking statements: adverse conditions in the U.S. and international
economies; the effects of competition in the markets in which we operate;
material changes in technology or technology substitution; disruption of our
key suppliers' provisioning of products or services; changes in the regulatory
environment in which we operate, including any increase in restrictions on our
ability to operate our networks; breaches of network or information technology
security, natural disasters, terrorist attacks or acts of war or significant
litigation and any resulting financial impact not covered by insurance; our
high level of indebtedness; an adverse change in the ratings afforded our debt
securities by nationally accredited ratings organizations or adverse conditions
in the credit markets affecting the cost, including interest rates, and/or
availability of further financing; material adverse changes in labor matters,
including labor negotiations, and any resulting financial and/or operational
impact; significant increases in benefit plan costs or lower investment returns
on plan assets; changes in tax laws or treaties, or in their interpretation;
changes in accounting assumptions that regulatory agencies, including the SEC,
may require or that result from changes in the accounting rules or their
application, which could result in an impact on earnings; and the inability to
implement our business strategies.
Verizon Communications Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts)
3 Mos. Ended 3 Mos. Ended
Unaudited 3/31/15 3/31/14 % Change
Operating Revenues $ 31,984 $ 30,818 3.8
Operating Expenses
Cost of services and sales 12,096 11,189 8.1
Selling, general and administrative expense 7,939 8,332 (4.7)
Depreciation and amortization expense 3,989 4,137 (3.6)
Total Operating Expenses 24,024 23,658 1.5
Operating Income 7,960 7,160 11.2
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated businesses (34) 1,902 *
Other income and (expense), net 75 (894) *
Interest expense (1,332) (1,214) 9.7
Income Before Provision for Income Taxes 6,669 6,954 (4.1)
Provision for income taxes (2,331) (968) *
Net Income $ 4,338 $ 5,986 (27.5)
Net income attributable to
noncontrolling interests $ 119 $ 2,039 (94.2)
Net income attributable to Verizon 4,219 3,947 6.9
Net Income $ 4,338 $ 5,986 (27.5)
Basic Earnings per Common Share
Net income attributable to Verizon $ 1.03 $ 1.15 (10.4)
Weighted average number of common shares
(in millions) 4,116 3,425
Diluted Earnings per Common Share (1)
Net income attributable to Verizon $ 1.02 $ 1.15 (11.3)
Weighted average number of common
shares-assuming dilution (in millions) 4,121 3,430
Footnotes:
(1) Diluted Earnings per Common Share includes the dilutive effect of shares
issuable under our stock-based compensation plans, which represents the
only potential dilution.
Certain reclassifications have been made, where appropriate, to reflect
comparable operating results.
* Not meaningful
Verizon Communications Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(dollars in millions)
Unaudited 3/31/15 12/31/14 $ Change
Assets
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents $ 4,386 $ 10,598 $ (6,212)
Short-term investments 547 555 (8)
Accounts receivable, net 12,698 13,993 (1,295)
Inventories 1,076 1,153 (77)
Assets held for sale 893 552 341
Prepaid expenses and other 3,236 2,772 464
Total current assets 22,836 29,623 (6,787)
Plant, property and equipment 210,389 230,508 (20,119)
Less accumulated depreciation 128,747 140,561 (11,814)
81,642 89,947 (8,305)
Investments in unconsolidated businesses 762 802 (40)
Wireless licenses 75,693 75,341 352
Goodwill 23,303 24,639 (1,336)
Other intangible assets, net 5,779 5,728 51
Non-current assets held for sale 9,580 - 9,580
Deposit for wireless licenses 10,430 921 9,509
Other assets 5,765 5,707 58
Total Assets $ 235,790 $ 232,708 $ 3,082
Liabilities and Equity
Current liabilities
Debt maturing within one year $ 4,439 $ 2,735 $ 1,704
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 15,189 16,680 (1,491)
Liabilities related to assets held for sale 572 - 572
Other 8,513 8,649 (136)
Total current liabilities 28,713 28,064 649
Long-term debt 108,949 110,536 (1,587)
Employee benefit obligations 33,010 33,280 (270)
Deferred income taxes 42,330 41,578 752
Non-current liabilities related to
assets held for sale 943 - 943
Other liabilities 11,086 5,574 5,512
Equity
Common stock 424 424 -
Contributed capital 10,391 11,155 (764)
Reinvested earnings 4,422 2,447 1,975
Accumulated other comprehensive income 916 1,111 (195)
Common stock in treasury, at cost (7,093) (3,263) (3,830)
Deferred compensation - employee
stock ownership plans and other 279 424 (145)
Noncontrolling interests 1,420 1,378 42
Total equity 10,759 13,676 (2,917)
Total Liabilities and Equity $ 235,790 $ 232,708 $ 3,082
Verizon - Selected Financial and Operating Statistics
Unaudited 3/31/15 12/31/14
Total debt (in millions) $ 113,388 $ 113,271
Net debt (in millions) $ 109,002 $ 102,673
Net debt / Adjusted EBITDA(1) 2.5x 2.4x
Common shares outstanding end of period (in millions) 4,078 4,155
Total employees 176,200 177,300
Quarterly cash dividends declared per common share $ 0.550 $ 0.550
Footnotes:
(1) Adjusted EBITDA excludes the effects of non-operational items.
The unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets are based on preliminary
information.
Verizon Communications Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(dollars in millions)
3 Mos. Ended 3 Mos. Ended
Unaudited 3/31/15 3/31/14 $ Change
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net Income $ 4,338 $ 5,986 $ (1,648)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization expense 3,989 4,137 (148)
Employee retirement benefits 284 281 3
Deferred income taxes 823 (155) 978
Provision for uncollectible accounts 383 231 152
Equity in earnings (losses) of unconsolidated businesses, 44 (1,894) 1,938
net of dividends received
Changes in current assets and liabilities, net of effects
from acquisition/disposition of businesses (888) (1,626) 738
Other, net 1,196 179 1,017
Net cash provided by operating activities 10,169 7,139 3,030
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Capital expenditures (including capitalized software) (3,665) (4,150) 485
Acquisitions of investments and businesses, net of cash acquired (2) (157) 155
Acquisitions of wireless licenses (9,555) (213) (9,342)
Other, net 46 (11) 57
Net cash used in investing activities (13,176) (4,531) (8,645)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Proceeds from long-term borrowings 6,497 16,952 (10,455)
Repayments of long-term borrowings and capital lease obligations (5,576) (7,951) 2,375
Increase in short-term obligations, excluding current maturities 482 252 230
Dividends paid (2,153) (1,517) (636)
Proceeds from sale of common stock - 34 (34)
Purchase of common stock for treasury (5,000) - (5,000)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest - (58,886) 58,886
Other, net 2,545 (2,113) 4,658
Net cash used in financing activities (3,205) (53,229) 50,024
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents (6,212) (50,621) 44,409
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 10,598 53,528 (42,930)
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 4,386 $ 2,907 $ 1,479
Footnotes:
Certain reclassifications of prior period amounts have been made, where
appropriate, to reflect comparable operating results.
Verizon Communications Inc.
Wireless - Selected Financial Results
(dollars in millions)
3 Mos. Ended 3 Mos. Ended
Unaudited 3/31/15 3/31/14 % Change
Operating Revenues
Retail service $ 17,143 $ 17,246 (0.6)
Other service 771 741 4.0
Service 17,914 17,987 (0.4)
Equipment 3,373 1,870 80.4
Other 1,041 1,022 1.9
Total Operating Revenues 22,328 20,879 6.9
Operating Expenses
Cost of services and sales 6,959 5,856 18.8
Selling, general and administrative 5,369 5,644 (4.9)
expense
Depreciation and amortization expense 2,190 2,061 6.3
Total Operating Expenses 14,518 13,561 7.1
Operating Income $ 7,810 $ 7,318 6.7
Operating Income Margin 35.0% 35.0%
Segment EBITDA $ 10,000 $ 9,379 6.6
Segment EBITDA Margin 44.8% 44.9%
Segment EBITDA Service Margin 55.8% 52.1%
Footnotes:
The segment financial results and metrics above are adjusted to exclude the
effects of non-operational items, as the Company's chief operating decision
maker excludes these items in assessing business unit performance.
Intersegment transactions have not been eliminated.
Certain reclassifications have been made, where appropriate, to reflect
comparable operating results.
Verizon Communications Inc.
Wireless - Selected Operating Statistics
Unaudited 3/31/15 3/31/14 % Change
Connections ('000)
Retail postpaid 102,637 97,273 5.5
Retail prepaid 5,945 6,057 (1.8)
Retail 108,582 103,330 5.1
3 Mos. Ended 3 Mos. Ended
Unaudited 3/31/15 3/31/14 % Change
Net Add Detail ('000) (1)
Retail postpaid 565 539 4.8
Retail prepaid (188) 10 *
Retail 377 549 (31.3)
Account Statistics
Retail Postpaid Accounts ('000) (2) 35,516 35,061 1.3
Retail postpaid ARPA $ 156.14 $ 159.67 (2.2)
Retail postpaid connections per account (2) 2.89 2.77 4.3
Churn Detail
Retail postpaid 1.03% 1.07%
Retail 1.33% 1.37%
Retail Postpaid Connection Statistics
Total Smartphone postpaid % of phones activated 91.4% 90.1%
Total Smartphone postpaid phone base (2) 79.9% 72.3%
Total Internet postpaid base (2) 14.8% 11.3%
Other Operating Statistics
Capital expenditures (in millions) $ 2,419 $ 2,554 (5.3)
Footnotes:
(1) Connection net additions exclude acquisitions and adjustments.
(2) Statistics presented as of end of period.
The segment financial results and metrics above are adjusted to exclude
the effects of non-operational items, as the Company's chief operating
decision maker excludes these items in assessing business unit
performance.
Intersegment transactions have not been eliminated.
Certain reclassifications have been made, where appropriate, to reflect
comparable operating results.
* Not meaningful
Verizon Communications Inc.
Wireline - Selected Financial Results
(dollars in millions)
3 Mos. Ended 3 Mos. Ended
Unaudited 3/31/15 3/31/14 % Change
Operating Revenues
Consumer retail $ 3,992 $ 3,840 4.0
Small business 600 624 (3.8)
Mass Markets 4,592 4,464 2.9
Strategic services 2,048 2,071 (1.1)
Core 1,215 1,400 (13.2)
Global Enterprise 3,263 3,471 (6.0)
Global Wholesale 1,524 1,583 (3.7)
Other 90 144 (37.5)
Total Operating Revenues 9,469 9,662 (2.0)
Operating Expenses
Cost of services and sales 5,287 5,339 (1.0)
Selling, general and administrative expense 2,031 2,149 (5.5)
Depreciation and amortization expense 1,746 2,033 (14.1)
Total Operating Expenses 9,064 9,521 (4.8)
Operating Income $ 405 $ 141 *
Operating Income Margin 4.3% 1.5%
Segment EBITDA $ 2,151 $ 2,174 (1.1)
Segment EBITDA Margin 22.7% 22.5%
Footnotes:
The segment financial results and metrics above are adjusted to exclude the
effects of non-operational items, as the Company's chief operating decision
maker excludes these items in assessing business unit performance.
Intersegment transactions have not been eliminated.
Certain reclassifications have been made, where appropriate, to reflect
comparable operating results.
* Not meaningful
Verizon Communications Inc.
Wireline - Selected Operating Statistics
Unaudited 3/31/15 3/31/14 % Change
Connections ('000)
FiOS Video Subscribers 5,739 5,319 7.9
FiOS Internet Subscribers 6,749 6,170 9.4
FiOS Digital Voice residence connections 4,661 4,350 7.1
FiOS Digital connections 17,149 15,839 8.3
HSI 2,497 2,861 (12.7)
Total Broadband connections 9,246 9,031 2.4
Primary residence switched access connections 5,397 6,224 (13.3)
Primary residence connections 10,058 10,574 (4.9)
Total retail residence voice connections 10,457 11,048 (5.3)
Total voice connections 19,475 20,733 (6.1)
3 Mos. Ended 3 Mos. Ended
Unaudited 3/31/15 3/31/14 % Change
Net Add Detail ('000)
FiOS Video Subscribers 90 57 57.9
FiOS Internet Subscribers 133 98 35.7
FiOS Digital Voice residence connections 59 102 (42.2)
FiOS Digital connections 282 257 9.7
HSI (92) (82) 12.2
Total Broadband connections 41 16 *
Primary residence switched access connections (199) (257) (22.6)
Primary residence connections (140) (155) (9.7)
Total retail residence voice connections (158) (181) (12.7)
Total voice connections (320) (352) (9.1)
Revenue Statistics
FiOS revenues (in millions) $ 3,352 $ 3,041 10.2
Strategic services as a % of total Enterprise revenues 62.8% 59.7%
Other Operating Statistics
Capital expenditures (in millions) $ 1,077 $ 1,385 (22.2)
Wireline employees ('000) 75.5 80.9
FiOS Video Open for Sale ('000) 15,931 15,184
FiOS Video penetration 36.0% 35.0%
FiOS Internet Open for Sale ('000) 16,264 15,530
FiOS Internet penetration 41.5% 39.7%
Footnotes:
The segment financial results and metrics above are adjusted to exclude the
effects of non-operational items, as the Company's chief operating decision
maker excludes these items in assessing business unit performance.
Intersegment transactions have not been eliminated.
Certain reclassifications have been made, where appropriate, to reflect
comparable operating results.
* Not meaningful
SOURCE Verizon Communications Inc.
CONTACT: Bob Varettoni, 908-559-6388, robert.a.varettoni@verizon.com; or Ray
McConville, 908-559-3504, raymond.mcconville@verizon.com