American Tower Corp.
's (
AMT
) third-quarter 2012 adjusted earnings per share came in at 58
cents, way ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 38 cents. On
a GAAP basis, net income in the reported quarter was $232.1
million or 58 cents per share compared to a net loss of $15.7
million or a loss of 4 cents per share in the prior-year
quarter.
Quarterly total revenue was $713.3 million, up 13.2% year over
year but almost in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $714
million.
Adjusted EBITDA in the quarter was $463.6 million,
representing an annualized growth of 15.7%. Adjusted EBITDA
margin was 65% compared with 64% in the prior-year quarter.
Gross margin in the reported quarter was 74.1% compared with
74.4% in the year-ago quarter. Selling, general &
administrative expenses were $81.5 million compared with $76.5
million in the year-ago quarter.
Quarterly operating income was $295.6 million, up 29.5% year
over year. In the reported quarter, American Tower repurchased
0.1 million shares of its Class A common stock for a total
consideration of $5.9 million.
At the end of the first nine months of 2012, American Tower
had around $1,116.5 million in cash from operations against $850
million at the end of the first nine months of 2011. Proforma
adjusted funds from operations (AFFO) in the quarter was $284.1
million, up 10.2% from the year-ago quarter. Quarterly proforma
AFFO per share was $0.71, up 9.2% year over year.
At the end of the reported quarter, the company had $382.3
million in cash and marketable securities and around $7,489.6
million in outstanding debt on its balance sheet compared with
$330.2 million in cash and marketable securities and $7,134.5
million in outstanding debt at the end of 2011. At the end of the
reported quarter, debt-to-capitalization ratio was 0.67% against
0.67 at the end of 2011.
Domestic Rental and Management Segment
Quarterly revenue was $480.3 million, up 10% year over year.
Gross margin came in at 80.8% compared with 79.1% in the year-ago
quarter.Operating margin was 77% compared with 74% in the
year-ago quarter.
International Rental and Management Segment
Quarterly revenue stood at $217.2 million, showing a 22%
year-over-year surge. Gross margin for the segment was 62.5%
compared with 63.6% in the year-ago quarter.Operating margin was
51% flat as compared with previous the year-ago quarter.
Network Development Services Segment
Quarterly revenue was $15.8 million, up 1.2% year over year.
Gross margin was 53.6% compared with 50.2% in the year-ago
quarter.Operating margin was 40% compared with 38% in the
year-ago quarter.
Tower Count
As of September 30, 2012, AmericanTowermanaged 50,699
communications towers, of which 50,226 are for Wireless network
and 473 for Broadcasting. Geographically, the company operates
21,668 wireless towers and 274 broadcast towers in the U.S. along
with 29,031 wireless towers and 199 broadcast towers outside the
U.S.
Financial Outlook
For 2012, total revenue from the Rental & Management
segment is likely to be in the range of $2,775 million to $2,805
million. Adjusted EBITDA is anticipated in the band of $1,850
-$1,880 million. AFFO is estimated to be around $1,185 -$1,207
million. Net income is estimated around $625 -$660 million.
Capital expenditure is expected in the band of $500 -$550
million.
Recommendation
The company is expected to benefit from the surge in wireless
voice, broadband, data and video networks, which require more
tower space. Next-generation 4G LTE networks coupled with
increased usage of smartphones and tablets will also create
impressive demand for tower leasing. Rapid expansion in emerging
markets like Brazil and India will provide long-term sustainable
business opportunities for the company.
However, American Tower has a huge debt burden, which may
hinder the company's effort to access the debt market at
favorable rates in order to borrow and refinance its expansion
plans. Additionally, the recent acquisition of 7200 T-Mobile
towers has made its arch rival
Crown Castle International
(
CCI
) the largest tower operator in the U.S. and is expected to
provide stiff competition going forward.
We maintain our long-term Neutral recommendation on American
Tower Corporation. However, the company has a Zacks #2 Rank,
implying a short-term Buy rating.
AMER TOWER CORP (AMT): Free Stock Analysis
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CROWN CASTLE (CCI): Free Stock Analysis
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