Core Insights - Cogeco anticipates "materially improving financial trends" for its U.S. business starting in the second half of the fiscal year, supported by improved debt outlooks from Moody's and S&P [1][6] - The company is launching a new fully digital brand in the U.S. next month, aiming to enhance sales channels and marketing capabilities [1][6] Financial Performance - Cogeco reported a 4.9% decline in consolidated revenue and a 3.7% decline in adjusted EBITDA in constant currency, while maintaining its fiscal 2026 guidance [5][14] - The company declared a quarterly dividend of CAD 0.987 per share, reflecting a 7% year-over-year increase [4][5] U.S. Operations - The U.S. segment, Breezeline, experienced a 9.9% revenue decline in constant currency, attributed to a shrinking subscriber base and competitive pricing [10] - Despite a decline of 1,100 internet subscribers in the U.S. during the quarter, this was viewed as a significant improvement compared to previous periods [11] Canadian Operations - Canadian operations showed stable revenue with positive year-over-year EBITDA growth, adding 8,900 internet subscribers in the first quarter [6][7] - Adjusted EBITDA for Cogeco Connexion rose by 2% in constant currency, driven by stable revenue and lower operating expenses [8] Market Dynamics - Management noted that competitive intensity in wireline services has increased, leading to expectations of modest customer growth in the near term [8][12] - Fixed wireless access (FWA) has not significantly impacted subscriber churn, although there is ongoing experimentation with resale and promotions in the market [9] Capital Allocation and Debt Management - The company is focused on reducing debt and plans to revisit share buybacks once leverage and cash visibility improve [18][19] - Capital intensity rose to 22.2% from 20.4% a year earlier, but the company remains on track to meet its annual capital expenditure guidance [15]