Summary of Cogent's Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Cogent Communications - **Industry**: Telecommunications Key Points and Arguments Revenue and EBITDA Guidance - Cogent aims for a revenue target of $1.5 billion and EBITDA of $500 million by mid-2028, following the acquisition of Sprint [3][8] - The combined revenue from Sprint and Cogent was initially over $1 billion, with Cogent contributing approximately 60% and Sprint 40% [4] - Sprint's revenue had been declining at 10.6% annually prior to the acquisition, while Cogent's revenue grew at about 7% [4] Financial Performance Post-Acquisition - Post-acquisition, Cogent experienced negative revenue growth but improved underlying EBITDA by $5 million each quarter over eight quarters [5] - A subsidy payment from T-Mobile of $700 million over 54 months has significantly boosted EBITDA, with first-year EBITDA rising from $260 million to $350 million [5][9] Revenue Growth Projections - Anticipated revenue growth of 6-8% annually, with a potential acceleration in the near term to meet long-term targets [10][11] - The legacy Cogent business is growing at about 5% year-over-year, while the acquired Sprint enterprise business is flat with lower margins [6][7] Wavelength Business - The wavelength business, which started from zero, has reached a $36 million annual run rate and is projected to grow to $500 million with a 95% contribution margin [7][8] - Cogent aims to increase its market share in the wavelength market from less than 1% to 25% over the next three years [15] Corporate Business Performance - The corporate business, driven by on-net services, has seen a decline but is stabilizing, with growth expected to return to around 5% [38][41] - The Sprint corporate business is expected to remain flat, contributing to a slight overall decline in the corporate segment [40] Pricing Strategy and Market Dynamics - Cogent typically offers a 20% discount to market rates, with transit services discounted by about 50% [28][30] - The NetCentric business has grown 7% year-over-year, driven by increased sales from smaller customers and international markets [32][34] Capital Return Strategy - Cogent has returned $2 billion to shareholders through buybacks and dividends, with a focus on increasing free cash flow [50][52] - The company is considering shifting from dividends to stock buybacks due to the current stock price dislocation [52] Asset Management - Cogent is actively looking to sell non-core assets, including data centers and excess IPv4 addresses, while focusing on growing recurring revenues [55] Market Outlook - The company is optimistic about achieving its growth targets, with a strong focus on the wavelength business and improving EBITDA margins [16][17] Additional Important Information - The integration of Sprint's network is complete, allowing for more effective sales and provisioning of wavelengths [20][21] - Customer feedback indicates a better-than-expected addressable market for wavelengths, enhancing growth prospects [24]