TELUS(TU) - 2025 Q2 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - TELUS achieved total mobile and fixed customer growth of 198,000 in Q2 2025, driven by mobile phone and connected device additions of 167,000 and fixed customer additions of 31,000 [7][8] - Postpaid mobile phone churn remained at 0.9%, consistent with Q2 of the previous year, marking the twelfth consecutive year below the 1% level [8] - TTEC EBITDA growth, including TELUS Health, was up 4%, consistent with Q1 results [8][19] - Free cash flow increased by 11% year-over-year to CAD 535 million, driven by higher EBITDA and lower capital expenditures [23][25] - Adjusted net income was CAD 342 million, with an EPS of CAD 0.22 [22] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - TELUS Health reported an extraordinary adjusted EBITDA growth of 1629%, with operating revenue also reflecting significant growth [10][19] - Fixed data services revenue grew by 3% year-over-year, marking the eighteenth consecutive quarter of positive growth [19] - Mobile network revenue experienced a slight decline due to lower mobile phone ARPU, which fell by 3.3% [18][19] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The competitive landscape in the mobile sector remains challenging, with ongoing pressures on ARPU due to market conditions [18][19] - TELUS is the only company in the industry to deliver positive net additions in the wireline sector, highlighting its competitive advantage [9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - TELUS announced a CAD 2 billion investment to expand broadband services in Ontario and Quebec, reflecting its commitment to enhancing connectivity [5][6] - The company is focusing on bundling wireless and wireline broadband services to differentiate itself from competitors [6][10] - TELUS is pursuing a strategy of monetizing its tower infrastructure through the establishment of Terion, which will build new towers and enhance financial flexibility [13][26] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the Canadian market, emphasizing the importance of private investment and innovation [6][7] - The company anticipates continued improvements in its leverage ratio, aiming for a net debt to EBITDA ratio of three times by 2027 [24][26] - Management highlighted the importance of AI and digital solutions in driving operational efficiencies and enhancing customer experiences [82][83] Other Important Information - TELUS Friendly Future Foundation raised over CAD 2.6 million to support student bursaries, demonstrating the company's commitment to community engagement [16] - The company is actively pursuing partnerships to enhance its service offerings and expand its market reach [14][76] Q&A Session Summary Question: Strategic shift regarding the proposed privatization of TIAXT - Management clarified that the move is related to supporting deleveraging goals and does not indicate a change in monetization strategies for other tech ventures [31][32] Question: Financial details on the towers and EBITDA - Management did not disclose specific EBITDA figures but confirmed that all towers will operate at fair market value rent, ensuring transparency [34] Question: Long-term impact of tower deals and colocation opportunities - Management indicated that demand for data continues to rise, and the partnership with Terion will support cash flow positivity through tower construction and colocation [40] Question: Market pricing discipline and sustainability - Management expressed cautious optimism about the current pricing trends, noting that irrational pricing cannot be sustained in the long term [41][42] Question: Sustainability of fixed data growth - Management highlighted the diversity of contributions to fixed data growth and expressed confidence in the sustainability of this growth moving forward [68] Question: Update on deleveraging drivers, particularly real estate - Management discussed ongoing efforts to rationalize real estate and the potential for significant monetization opportunities in the future [72][73] Question: Role of traditional telcos in the AI ecosystem - Management identified three key areas for growth in the AI ecosystem, including leveraging existing infrastructure and enhancing internal operations through AI [81][82]