EDINBURG, Va., Feb. 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Shenandoah Telecommunications Company (“Shentel”) (Nasdaq: SHEN) announced fourth quarter and full year 2024 financial and operating results.
2024 Highlights
“2024 was a pivotal year as we successfully expanded into Ohio through our acquisition of Horizon, completed the integration in nine months and raised our synergy target by over $4 million from our original projection.” said President and CEO, Christopher E. French. “This was also a record year for construction and sales with the addition of approximately 97,000 new Glo Fiber passings and more than 21,000 net Glo Fiber customers. We expect our consolidated revenue and Adjusted EBITDA long-term compound annual growth rates will return to the levels achieved after the launch of our Glo Fiber line of business in 2019.”
Shentel’s fourth quarter earnings conference call will be webcast at 8:30 a.m. ET on Thursday, February 20, 2025. The webcast and related materials will be available on Shentel’s Investor Relations website at https://investor.shentel.com/. For Analysts, please register to dial-in at this link.
Full Year 2024 Results
______________________________________________________
1 Incumbent Broadband Markets consists of Shentel Incumbent Cable Markets and Horizon Incumbent Telephone Markets including Fiber-To-The-Home (“FTTH”) passings.
Fourth Quarter 2024 Results Compared with Fourth Quarter 2023 Results
Other Information
Conference Call and Webcast
Date: Thursday, February 20, 2025
Time: 8:30 a.m. (ET)
Listen via Internet: https://investor.shentel.com/
For Analysts, please register to dial-in at this link.
A live webcast of the call will be available on the “ Investor Relations” page of the Company’s website at http://investor.shentel.com/.
A replay of the call will be available for a limited time on the Investor Relations page of the Company’s website.
About Shenandoah Telecommunications
Shenandoah Telecommunications Company (Shentel) provides broadband services through its high speed, state-of-the-art fiber optic and cable networks to residential and commercial customers in eight contiguous states in the eastern United States. The Company’s services include: broadband internet, video, voice, high-speed Ethernet, dark fiber leasing, and managed network services. The Company owns an extensive regional network with over 16,800 route miles of fiber. For more information, please visit www.shentel.com.
This release contains forward-looking statements about Shentel regarding, among other things, its business strategy, its prospects and its financial position. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” or “anticipates” or the negative or other variation of these or similar words, or by discussions of strategy or risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements are based upon management’s beliefs, assumptions and current expectations and may include comments as to Shentel’s beliefs and expectations as to future events and trends affecting its business that are necessarily subject to uncertainties, many of which are outside Shentel’s control. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not, and should not be relied upon as, a guarantee of future performance or results, nor will they necessarily prove to be accurate indications of the times at which such performance or results will be achieved, and actual results may differ materially from those contained in or implied by the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. A discussion of other factors that may cause actual results to differ from management’s projections, forecasts, estimates and expectations is available in Shentel’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Those factors may include, among others, the expected savings and synergies from the Horizon Transaction may not be realized or may take longer or cost more than expected to realize, changes in overall economic conditions including rising inflation, regulatory requirements, changes in technologies, changes in competition, demand for our products and services, availability of labor resources and capital, natural disasters, pandemics and outbreaks of contagious diseases and other adverse public health developments, such as COVID-19, and other conditions. The forward-looking statements included are made only as of the date of the statement. Shentel undertakes no obligation to revise or update such statements to reflect current events or circumstances after the date hereof, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law.
CONTACTS:
Shenandoah Telecommunications Company
Jim Volk
Senior Vice President - Chief Financial and Accounting Officer
540-984-5168
Jim.Volk@emp.shentel.com
SHENANDOAH TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
(Figures for the quarters ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 are unaudited)
Quarter Ended December 31, | Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||
Residential & SMB - Incumbent Broadband Markets1 | $ | 43,930 | $ | 44,041 | $ | 177,485 | $ | 176,879 | |||||||
Residential & SMB - Glo Fiber Expansion Markets2 | 16,596 | 10,611 | 57,907 | 35,103 | |||||||||||
Commercial Fiber | 17,456 | 9,766 | 67,011 | 42,132 | |||||||||||
RLEC & Other | 7,430 | 3,495 | 25,655 | 15,017 | |||||||||||
Service revenue and other | $ | 85,412 | $ | 67,913 | $ | 328,058 | $ | 269,131 | |||||||
Operating expenses: | |||||||||||||||
Cost of services exclusive of depreciation and amortization | 33,171 | 24,399 | 128,112 | 100,850 | |||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative | 28,970 | 25,283 | 115,193 | 99,304 | |||||||||||
Restructuring, integration and acquisition | 893 | 1,337 | 14,509 | 2,915 | |||||||||||
Impairment expense | 382 | — | 382 | 2,552 | |||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 27,750 | 16,331 | 98,453 | 63,368 | |||||||||||
Total operating expenses | 91,166 | 67,350 | 356,649 | 268,989 | |||||||||||
Operating (loss) income | (5,754 | ) | 563 | (28,591 | ) | 142 | |||||||||
Other (expense) income: | |||||||||||||||
Interest expense | (4,157 | ) | (1,717 | ) | (15,897 | ) | (4,212 | ) | |||||||
Other income, net | 1,819 | 972 | 6,461 | 5,587 | |||||||||||
(Loss) income from continuing operations before income taxes | (8,092 | ) | (182 | ) | (38,027 | ) | 1,517 | ||||||||
Income tax (benefit) expense | (1,902 | ) | (2,039 | ) | (9,670 | ) | 501 | ||||||||
(Loss) income from continuing operations | (6,190 | ) | 1,857 | (28,357 | ) | 1,016 | |||||||||
Discontinued operations: | |||||||||||||||
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax | 34 | 732 | 1,957 | 7,022 | |||||||||||
Gain on the sale of discontinued operations, net of tax | 3,412 | — | 220,217 | — | |||||||||||
Total income from discontinued operations, net of tax | 3,446 | 732 | 222,174 | 7,022 | |||||||||||
Net (loss) income | (2,744 | ) | 2,589 | 193,817 | 8,038 | ||||||||||
Dividends on redeemable noncontrolling interest | 1,791 | — | 3,429 | — | |||||||||||
Net (loss) income attributable to common shareholders | $ | (4,535 | ) | $ | 2,589 | $ | 190,388 | $ | 8,038 | ||||||
Net (loss) income per share attributable to common shareholders, basic and diluted: | |||||||||||||||
Basic - (Loss) income from continuing operations | $ | (0.11 | ) | $ | 0.05 | $ | (0.59 | ) | $ | 0.02 | |||||
Basic - Income from discontinued operations, net of tax | 0.06 | — | 4.13 | 0.14 | |||||||||||
Basic net (loss) income per share | $ | (0.05 | ) | $ | 0.05 | $ | 3.54 | $ | 0.16 | ||||||
Diluted - (Loss) income from continuing operations | $ | (0.11 | ) | $ | 0.05 | $ | (0.59 | ) | $ | 0.02 | |||||
Diluted - Income from discontinued operations, net of tax | 0.06 | — | 4.13 | 0.14 | |||||||||||
Diluted net (loss) income per share | $ | (0.05 | ) | $ | 0.05 | $ | 3.54 | $ | 0.16 | ||||||
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic | 54,798 | 50,422 | 53,722 | 50,396 | |||||||||||
Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted | 54,798 | 50,971 | 53,722 | 50,715 |
_______________________________________________________
SHENANDOAH TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
December 31, 2024 and 2023
(in thousands) | 2024 | 2023 | |||
ASSETS | |||||
Current assets: | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 46,272 | $ | 139,255 | |
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for credit losses of $1,156 and $886, respectively | 29,722 | 19,782 | |||
Income taxes receivable | 1,244 | 4,691 | |||
Prepaid expenses and other | 17,282 | 11,782 | |||
Current assets held for sale | — | 561 | |||
Total current assets | 94,520 | 176,071 | |||
Investments | 15,709 | 13,198 | |||
Property, plant and equipment, net | 1,438,538 | 850,337 | |||
Goodwill and intangible assets, net | 157,723 | 81,123 | |||
Operating lease right-of-use assets | 19,548 | 13,024 | |||
Deferred charges and other assets | 14,235 | 11,561 | |||
Non-current assets held for sale | — | 68,915 | |||
Total assets | $ | 1,740,273 | $ | 1,214,229 | |
LIABILITIES, TEMPORARY EQUITY AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | |||||
Current liabilities: | |||||
Current maturities of long-term debt, net of unamortized loan fees | $ | 9,204 | $ | 7,095 | |
Accounts payable | 57,820 | 53,546 | |||
Advanced billings and customer deposits | 16,104 | 12,394 | |||
Accrued compensation | 16,283 | 11,749 | |||
Current operating lease liabilities | 3,060 | 2,222 | |||
Accrued liabilities and other | 12,100 | 7,747 | |||
Current liabilities held for sale | — | 3,602 | |||
Total current liabilities | 114,571 | 98,355 | |||
Long-term debt, less current maturities, net of unamortized loan fees | 407,675 | 292,804 | |||
Other long-term liabilities: | |||||
Deferred income taxes | 167,716 | 88,147 | |||
Benefit plan obligations | 4,945 | 3,943 | |||
Non-current operating lease liabilities | 10,794 | 7,185 | |||
Other liabilities | 33,525 | 16,912 | |||
Non-current liabilities held for sale | — | 54,213 | |||
Total other long-term liabilities | 216,980 | 170,400 | |||
Commitments and contingencies (Note 16) | |||||
Temporary equity: | |||||
Redeemable noncontrolling interest | 82,464 | — | |||
Shareholders’ equity: | |||||
Common stock, no par value, authorized 96,000; 54,605 and 50,272 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively | — | — | |||
Additional paid in capital | 147,733 | 66,933 | |||
Retained earnings | 768,997 | 584,069 | |||
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of taxes | 1,853 | 1,668 | |||
Total shareholders’ equity | 918,583 | 652,670 | |||
Total liabilities, temporary equity and shareholders’ equity | $ | 1,740,273 | $ | 1,214,229 |
SHENANDOAH TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Years Ended December 31, 2024 and 2023
(in thousands) | 2024 | 2023 | |||||
Cash flows from operating activities: | |||||||
Net income | $ | 193,817 | $ | 8,038 | |||
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax | 222,174 | 7,022 | |||||
(Loss) income from continuing operations | (28,357 | ) | 1,016 | ||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: | |||||||
Depreciation and amortization | 96,908 | 62,878 | |||||
Amortization of intangible assets | 1,545 | 490 | |||||
Provision for credit losses | 2,132 | 2,852 | |||||
Stock-based compensation expense, net of amount capitalized | 9,837 | 10,033 | |||||
Deferred income taxes | (9,759 | ) | 2,973 | ||||
Impairment expense | 382 | 2,552 | |||||
Gain on sale of FCC spectrum licenses | — | (1,328 | ) | ||||
Other, net | 626 | (462 | ) | ||||
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effects of business acquisition: | |||||||
Accounts receivable | (2,452 | ) | (143 | ) | |||
Current income taxes | 1,382 | 25,532 | |||||
Operating lease assets and liabilities, net | (361 | ) | 65 | ||||
Other assets | (3,268 | ) | 4,879 | ||||
Accounts payable | (2,240 | ) | (2,959 | ) | |||
Other deferrals and accruals | 3,004 | (4,048 | ) | ||||
Net cash provided by operating activities - continuing operations | 69,379 | 104,330 | |||||
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities - discontinued operations | (6,812 | ) | 9,444 | ||||
Net cash provided by operating activities | 62,567 | 113,774 | |||||
Cash flows from investing activities: | |||||||
Capital expenditures | (319,070 | ) | (255,070 | ) | |||
Government grants received | 19,238 | 1,904 | |||||
Cash disbursed for acquisition, net of cash acquired | (347,411 | ) | — | ||||
Proceeds from the sale of FCC spectrum licenses | — | 17,300 | |||||
Proceeds from sale of assets and other | 2,010 | 655 | |||||
Net cash used in investing activities - continuing operations | (645,233 | ) | (235,211 | ) | |||
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities - discontinued operations | 305,827 | (1,480 | ) | ||||
Net cash used in investing activities | (339,406 | ) | (236,691 | ) | |||
Cash flows from financing activities: | |||||||
Principal payments on long-term debt | (7,044 | ) | — | ||||
Proceeds from credit facility borrowings | 125,000 | 225,000 | |||||
Payments for debt amendment costs | (4,570 | ) | (300 | ) | |||
Proceeds from the issuance of redeemable noncontrolling interest, net of financing fees paid | 79,380 | — | |||||
Dividends paid | (5,805 | ) | (4,523 | ) | |||
Taxes paid for equity award issuances | (1,727 | ) | (1,387 | ) | |||
Payments for financing arrangements and other | (1,378 | ) | (679 | ) | |||
Net cash provided by financing activities | 183,856 | 218,111 | |||||
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents | (92,983 | ) | 95,194 | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | 139,255 | 44,061 | |||||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | $ | 46,272 | $ | 139,255 | |||
Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information | |||||||
Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized | $ | (12,075 | ) | $ | (3,026 | ) |
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin
The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as (loss) income from continuing operations calculated in accordance with GAAP, adjusted for the impact of depreciation and amortization, impairment expense, other income (expense), net, interest income, interest expense, income tax expense (benefit), stock compensation expense, transaction costs related to acquisition and disposition events (including professional advisory fees, integration costs, and related compensatory matters), restructuring expense, tax on equity award vesting and exercise events, and other non-comparable items. A reconciliation of (loss) income from continuing operations, which is the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, to Adjusted EBITDA is provided below herein.
Adjusted EBITDA margin is the Company’s calculation of Adjusted EBITDA, divided by revenue calculated in accordance with GAAP.
The Company uses Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin as supplemental measures of performance to evaluate operating effectiveness and assess its ability to increase revenues while controlling expense growth and the scalability of the Company’s business growth strategy. Adjusted EBITDA is also a significant performance measure used by the Company in its incentive compensation programs. The Company believes that the exclusion of the expense and income items eliminated in calculating Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin provides management and investors a useful measure for period-to-period comparisons of the Company’s core operating results by excluding items that are not comparable across reporting periods or that do not otherwise relate to the Company’s ongoing operations. Accordingly, the Company believes that Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin provide useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating the Company’s operating results. However, use of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin as analytical tools has limitations, and investors and others should not consider them in isolation or as substitutes for analysis of our financial results as reported under GAAP. In addition, other companies may calculate Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin or similarly titled measures differently, which may reduce their usefulness as comparative measures.
Quarter Ended December 31, | Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||
(Loss) income from continuing operations | $ | (6,190 | ) | $ | 1,857 | $ | (28,357 | ) | $ | 1,016 | |||||
Depreciation and amortization | 27,750 | 16,331 | 98,453 | 63,368 | |||||||||||
Impairment expense | 382 | — | 382 | 2,552 | |||||||||||
Interest expense | 4,157 | 1,717 | 15,897 | 4,212 | |||||||||||
Other expense (income), net | (1,819 | ) | (972 | ) | (6,461 | ) | (5,587 | ) | |||||||
Income tax (benefit) expense | (1,902 | ) | (2,039 | ) | (9,670 | ) | 501 | ||||||||
Stock-based compensation | 2,217 | 1,669 | 9,837 | 10,033 | |||||||||||
Restructuring, integration and acquisition | 893 | 1,337 | 14,509 | 2,915 | |||||||||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 25,488 | $ | 19,900 | $ | 94,590 | $ | 79,010 | |||||||
Adjusted EBITDA margin | 30 | % | 29 | % | 29 | % | 29 | % |
Supplemental Information
Operating Statistics
December 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||
Homes and businesses passed (1) | 585,340 | 449,635 | ||||
Incumbent Broadband Markets (4) | 239,041 | 215,763 | ||||
Glo Fiber Expansion Markets (5) | 346,299 | 233,872 | ||||
Residential & SMB Revenue Generating Units ("RGUs"): | ||||||
Broadband Data | 176,465 | 151,389 | ||||
Incumbent Broadband Markets (4) | 111,325 | 109,679 | ||||
Glo Fiber Expansion Markets (5) | 65,140 | 41,710 | ||||
Video | 40,023 | 43,152 | ||||
Voice | 44,831 | 40,757 | ||||
Total Residential & SMB RGUs (excludes RLEC) | 261,319 | 235,298 | ||||
Residential & SMB Penetration (2) | ||||||
Broadband Data | 30.1 | % | 33.7 | % | ||
Incumbent Broadband Markets (4) | 46.6 | % | 50.8 | % | ||
Glo Fiber Expansion Markets (5) | 18.8 | % | 17.8 | % | ||
Video | 6.8 | % | 9.6 | % | ||
Voice | 8.0 | % | 9.5 | % | ||
Fiber route miles | 16,830 | 9,875 | ||||
Total fiber miles (3) | 1,858,081 | 861,980 |
______________________________________________________
(1) Homes and businesses are considered passed (“passings”) if we can connect them to our network without further extending the distribution system. Passings is an estimate based upon the best available information. Passings will vary among video, broadband data and voice services.
(2) Penetration is calculated by dividing the number of RGUs by the number of passings or available homes, as appropriate.
(3) Total fiber miles are measured by taking the number of fiber strands in a cable and multiplying that number by the route distance. For example, a 10 mile route with 144 fiber strands would equal 1,440 fiber miles.
(4) Incumbent Broadband Markets consists of Shentel Incumbent Cable Markets and Horizon Incumbent Telephone Markets with Fiber-To-The-Home (“FTTH”) passings.
(5) Glo Fiber Expansion Markets consists of FTTH passings in greenfield expansion markets in the Shentel and former Horizon markets.
Residential and SMB ARPU | ||||||||||||||
Quarter Ended December 31, | Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||
(in thousands) | 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
Residential and SMB Revenue: | ||||||||||||||
Broadband Data | $ | 43,542 | $ | 36,679 | $ | 164,984 | $ | 139,102 | ||||||
Incumbent Broadband Markets | 28,489 | 27,400 | 112,852 | 108,822 | ||||||||||
Glo Fiber Expansion Markets | 15,053 | 9,279 | 52,132 | 30,280 | ||||||||||
Video | 14,203 | 13,791 | 58,029 | 56,924 | ||||||||||
Voice | 3,184 | 3,057 | 12,765 | 12,203 | ||||||||||
Discounts, adjustments and other | (403 | ) | 1,125 | (386 | ) | 3,753 | ||||||||
Total Residential & SMB Revenue | $ | 60,526 | $ | 54,652 | $ | 235,392 | $ | 211,982 | ||||||
Average RGUs: | ||||||||||||||
Broadband Data | 173,771 | 149,134 | 164,320 | 142,598 | ||||||||||
Incumbent Broadband Markets | 111,384 | 109,528 | 110,888 | 109,591 | ||||||||||
Glo Fiber Expansion Markets | 62,387 | 39,606 | 53,432 | 33,007 | ||||||||||
Video | 40,596 | 43,621 | 41,491 | 44,876 | ||||||||||
Voice | 44,840 | 40,726 | 43,402 | 40,372 | ||||||||||
ARPU: (1) | ||||||||||||||
Broadband Data | $ | 83.52 | $ | 81.98 | $ | 83.67 | $ | 81.27 | ||||||
Incumbent Broadband Markets | $ | 85.26 | $ | 83.39 | $ | 84.81 | $ | 82.75 | ||||||
Glo Fiber Expansion Markets | $ | 80.42 | $ | 78.10 | $ | 81.30 | $ | 76.45 | ||||||
Video | $ | 116.62 | $ | 105.38 | $ | 116.55 | $ | 105.71 | ||||||
Voice | $ | 23.67 | $ | 25.02 | $ | 24.51 | $ | 25.19 |
______________________________________________________
(1) Average Revenue Per RGU calculation = (Residential & SMB Revenue) / average RGUs / 3 months.