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Sub-sector: Telecommunications
T-Mobile US
- Sector: Technology Media and Telecommunications
- Sub Sector: Telecommunications
- Region: US
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Fundamental View
AS OF 18 Mar 2025We expect T-Mobile will maintain its position as the industry leader in postpaid phone net additions, service revenue and EBITDA growth in 2025. We think the company has significant subscriber runway remaining in the suburban/rural and enterprise markets.
Adjusted net leverage (2.4x at 4Q24) is 0.3x/0.5x lower than AT&T/Verizon. Relatively strong EBITDA growth and a modest dividend commitment results in greater financial flexibility than peers.
T-Mobile benefits from the strongest spectrum position in the industry, including an average of 181 MHz in the 2.5 GHz band, which results in better 5G network coverage than AT&T and Verizon.
Business Description
AS OF 18 Mar 2025- TMUS is the one of the top 3 U.S. wireless carriers and is owned ~50% by Deutsche Telekom (DT). On April 1, 2020, TMUS and S completed an all-stock merger, valuing S at an EV of approximately $59.7 bn.
- TMUS ended 4Q24 with ~130 mn customers, including 104 mn postpaid and 25 mn prepaid.
- TMUS reaches 330+mn POPs with its Extended Range 5G network (using the 600 MHz spectrum) and reaches 300mn customers with its Ultra Capacity 5G.
Risk & Catalysts
AS OF 18 Mar 2025Converged wireless/broadband offers from cable operators raises the risk of pricing pressure in the mature consumer wireless market.
The company has not shied away from acquisitions. T-Mobile recently acquired Mint Mobile and announced deals for US Cellular and two FTTH JVs (Lumos and MetroNet). So far, M&A has not had much impact on T-Mobile’s credit metrics, but further moves into FTTH may be received poorly by investors.
With T-Mobile’s credit rating now comfortably in the mid-BBB area and leverage in the vicinity of the group’s mid-2x target area, we expect the company’s capital allocation to shift toward shareholder returns.
Key Metric
AS OF 18 Mar 2025| $ mn | FY20 | FY21 | FY22 | FY23 | FY24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 68,397 | 80,118 | 79,571 | 78,558 | 81,400 |
| Organic Revenue Growth | 5.8% | 7.3% | (0.7%) | (1.3%) | 3.6% |
| EBITDA | 24,557 | 26,924 | 27,821 | 29,428 | 31,864 |
| Adj. EBITDA Growth | 4.3% | (64.0%) | 33.9% | 5.8% | 8.3% |
| Adj. EBITDA Margin | 35.9% | 33.6% | 35.0% | 37.5% | 39.1% |
| CapEx % of Sales | 16.1% | 15.4% | 17.6% | 12.5% | 10.9% |
| Total Debt | 76,660 | 79,574 | 78,425 | 83,586 | 84,255 |
| Net Debt | 66,275 | 72,943 | 73,918 | 78,451 | 78,846 |
| Gross Leverage | 3.5x | 3.4x | 3.0x | 2.9x | 2.7x |
| Net Leverage | 0.0x | 3.0x | 2.7x | 2.6x | 2.4x |
| Interest Coverage | 9.0x | 7.2x | 8.0x | 8.3x | 8.7x |
| FCF as % of Debt | 14.1% | 13.7% | 13.2% | 19.2% | 23.0% |
CreditSight View Comment
AS OF 25 Apr 2025We expect TMUS will once again lead the Big 3 in major KPIs in 2025, including ~5% EBITDA growth. We view earnings/growth visibility as higher than peers, with the outlook supported by its leading 5G mid-band coverage (over 300 million PoPs with ~200 MHz) and historical under-penetration in rural and enterprise markets. T-Mobile also boasts the lowest leverage (~2.3x) and strongest FCF/debt ratio amongst the Wireless Big 3, while its rising FCF generation and comparatively low dividend commitment provide flexibility for selective M&A. Despite the rising focus on convergence, we believe TMUS will stick with its off-balance sheet strategy for FTTH JVs and view the risk of a transformational broadband acquisition (ILEC or cable) as extremely low.
Recommendation Reviewed: April 25, 2025
Recommendation Changed: March 18, 2021
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Search topics about wealth insights and investments.PLDT
- Sector: Media and TelecommunicationsTechnologyTechnology Media and Telecommunications
- Sub Sector: Telecommunications
- Country: Philippines
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Fundamental View
AS OF 17 Mar 2025PLDT’s FY24 results were stable as expected; we see a modestly improving FY25 credit outlook aided by resilient EBITDA growth and residual PHP 11 bn of tower sales, which could offset persisting high capex.
A potential stake sale of the data center business could drive further deleveraging.
While the spillover of a PHP 33 bn capex overrun to FY25 could weigh on free cash flows, we draw mild comfort that it was likely not due to fraud but rather a management misstep.
Business Description
AS OF 17 Mar 2025- PLDT is a leading telecom operator in the Philippines, competing alongside its main rival Globe Telecom in a predominant duopoly.
- PLDT provides 2G/3G/4G mobile, fixed-line, broadband, enterprise data, and other digital services to retail and corporate customers.
- PLDT operates through 2 main business segments – “Wireless Services” and “Fixed Line Services”.
- Its “Wireless” segment offers mobile voice, mobile SMS, mobile data and mobile broadband services to retail customers in the Philippines. These services are marketed under the “Smart Postpaid”, “Smart Prepaid”, "Sun Postpaid" and “TNT Prepaid” brands.
- Its “Fixed Line Services” segment provides fixed line voice, corporate data and home broadband services to retail and corporate customers in the Philippines.
- PLDT commercially launched 5G services on a small-scale basis in Jul-2020. It currently has over 3,000 5G sites nationwide.
- PLDT maintains dominant market shares in the mobile, fixed line voice, and the home broadband spaces.
- PLDT is backed by three established corporate groups, namely First Pacific (~15% stake), NTT Corporation (~12% stake) and JG Summit Holdings (~7% stake).
Risk & Catalysts
AS OF 17 Mar 2025Aggressive expansion by new entrant DITO over the next 2-4 years could chew away at PLDT’s market share and restrain recoveries in average revenues per user (ARPU).
PLDT incurs significant capex that has restrained improvements in its leverage metrics and free cash flows. This is worsened by a recent capex overrun that has induced mild corporate governance uncertainties (though these have eased in recent months).
Consistently high dividend payouts could worsen PLDT’s already negative free cash flows.
PLDT is exposed to $/PHP depreciation risks ($300 mn 2050 bond is fully unhedged).
Key Metric
AS OF 17 Mar 2025| PHP bn | FY20 | FY21 | FY22 | FY23 | FY24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debt to Book Cap | 67.0% | 68.3% | 71.9% | 73.3% | 74.2% |
| Net Debt to Book Cap | 55.9% | 62.3% | 65.7% | 69.3% | 72.0% |
| Debt/Total Equity | 202.9% | 215.2% | 256.2% | 273.9% | 287.5% |
| Debt/Total Assets | 42.2% | 43.8% | 46.8% | 49.6% | 53.8% |
| Gross Leverage | 2.7x | 2.8x | 2.9x | 2.9x | 3.0x |
| Net Leverage | 2.2x | 2.6x | 2.7x | 2.8x | 2.9x |
| Interest Coverage | 7.8x | 8.1x | 7.4x | 6.5x | 6.1x |
| EBITDA Margin | 50.4% | 50.7% | 48.7% | 49.1% | 51.1% |
CreditSight View Comment
AS OF 17 Mar 2025We have a Market perform recommendation on PLDT and would avoid its 2050 bond. PLDT 2031 trades fairly to Globe 2030, Axiata 2030, and Bharti 2031. We do not like the PLDT 2050 that provides a low spread pickup of just 4 bp wider versus the PLDT 2030. We are comfortable with PLDT’s sturdy credit profile aided by a resilient broadband business and tower sales, cushioning high capex and dividends. A minority stake sale of its data center business is also credit positive. Corporate governance fears have also eased post its capex overrun in end-2022. We are watchful of strong competition in the mobile space due to DITO’s ramp up.
Recommendation Reviewed: March 17, 2025
Recommendation Changed: May 31, 2022
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Search topics about wealth insights and investments.Globe Telecom
- Sector: TechnologyTechnology Media and Telecommunications
- Sub Sector: Telecommunications
- Country: Philippines
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Fundamental View
AS OF 17 Mar 2025Globe’s FY24 earnings grew modestly, with leverage metrics remaining stable. We believe credit metrics may improve modestly in FY25 as modest EBITDA growth, lower YoY capex, and residual tower sales closures through 1H25 are negated by sluggish revenues.
While we acknowledge the stiff competitive pressures brought about by new entrant DITO, the impact is mitigated by Globe’s still-dominant mobile market position and DITO’s slowing expansion (given its weak financials and the costly capex involved).
Weakness in the broadband business has lessened since 3Q24 and could stabilize by mid-2025.
While Globe earlier raised the upper end of its dividend policy, we expect dividend payouts to remain stable.
Business Description
AS OF 17 Mar 2025- Globe is a leading telecom operator in the Philippines, competing alongside its main rival PLDT in a duopoly setting.
- Globe provides 2G/3G/4G mobile, fixed-line, broadband, enterprise data, and other digital services to retail and corporate customers.
- Globe operates through 2 main business segments – “Mobile Services” and “Fixed Line and Home Broadband Services”.
- Its “Mobile Services” segment offers mobile voice, mobile SMS and mobile data services to retail customers in the Philippines. These services are marketed under the “Globe Postpaid”, “Globe Prepaid” and “TM” brands.
- Its “Fixed Line and Home Broadband Services” segment provides fixed line voice, corporate data and home broadband services to retail and corporate customers in the Philippines.
- Globe commercially launched 5G services on a small-scale basis in Jun-2019. It currently maintains 5G coverage of 96% of the National Capital Region, with over 2,000 5G sites nationwide.
- Globe maintains dominant market shares in the mobile data, voice and SMS space (FY22 revenue market share [RMS] of 52% vs PLDT 40%), but loses out to PLDT in the home broadband space (FY22 RMS of 28%-30% vs PLDT 48%-50%).
- Globe is largely owned by two established corporate groups – Ayala Corporation (~47 stake) and Singtel (~43% stake).
Risk & Catalysts
AS OF 17 Mar 2025Globe faces mounting competitive pressures from new mobile entrant DITO and incumbent broadband competitor PLDT.
Aggressive expansion by new entrant DITO over the next 2-4 years could chew away at Globe’s market share and restrain recoveries in average revenues per user (ARPU).
Globe incurs heavy capex that has pressurized its leverage metrics and free cash flows. That said, capex had peaked in FY23 and should meaningfully decline ahead.
Consistent dividend payouts could weigh on Globe’s free cash flows; Globe recently raised the upper end of its dividend policy from 75% to 90% of net income, suggesting an increased skew to shareholder-friendly actions.
Key Metric
AS OF 17 Mar 2025| PHP bn | FY20 | FY21 | FY22 | FY23 | FY24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debt to Book Cap | 67.2% | 69.4% | 67.5% | 69.7% | 70.2% |
| Net Debt to Book Cap | 59.4% | 63.0% | 63.7% | 66.6% | 66.4% |
| Debt/Total Equity | 204.5% | 227.2% | 208.1% | 230.5% | 235.8% |
| Debt/Total Assets | 49.8% | 56.7% | 57.1% | 60.3% | 62.4% |
| Gross Leverage | 2.2x | 3.3x | 3.9x | 4.3x | 4.4x |
| Net Leverage | 1.9x | 3.0x | 3.7x | 4.1x | 4.2x |
| Interest Coverage | 9.3x | 7.6x | 5.9x | 4.6x | 4.3x |
| EBITDA Margin | 48.7% | 46.7% | 46.7% | 47.7% | 49.7% |
CreditSight View Comment
AS OF 17 Mar 2025We have a Market perform recommendation on Globe with a preference for its c.2026 perp. Globe 2030 trades slightly wider to PLDT 2031 that we view as fair. Globe c.2026 perp trades at a juicy 1.4x perp-to-Globe 2030 senior multiple that we view as attractive for short-dated “IG” paper. We anticipate a modestly improving credit outlook as lower capex and residual tower sales closures are offset by a continued weak broadband business and sticky dividends. Stiff competition in both the mobile and broadband spaces is a key concern too. Globe also recently revised its dividend policy to 60%-90% of PAT from 60%-75% previously, suggesting an increased skew towards shareholder-friendly actions, though this has not happened yet.
Recommendation Reviewed: March 17, 2025
Recommendation Changed: June 18, 2024
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