The firm confirms its dividend of 0.30 euros in cash and confirms its guidance
Telefónica has registered a net profit of 1,486 million euros until September after accelerating in the third quarter and shooting its income by 11.2% to 10,343 million euros between July and September.
In the first nine months of the year, the company has billed 29,793 million euros, which represents an increase of 0.6% over the previous year, according to the financial results presented this Friday before the National Securities Market Commission (CNMV).
In addition, it has recorded an operating result before depreciation and amortization (Oibda) of 9,593 million euros, which had a negative influence on the comparison by discounting the impact of last year’s merger in the United Kingdom and the sale of the Telxius towers, extraordinary items that also make it impossible to net profit comparison.
By including the 50% that corresponds to Telefónica in Virgin Media O2, revenues increased to 34,228 million euros up to September, 4.1% more than the previous year, and Oibda to 11,264 million euros, which represents a growth of 2.9%, in comparable terms.
Free cash generation in the first nine months of the year amounted to 2,474 million euros, 68% more in year-on-year terms with a third quarter with 1,125 million euros generated, double that of the previous year.
Likewise, the firm has invested 4,700 million euros, including Virgin Media O2, in its growth, which represents an increase of 5.6% compared to the first nine months of 2021.
On the other hand, the debt has closed the quarter at 28,918 million euros and 74% of it is maintained at a fixed rate and has registered a positive impact of 293 million euros from exchange rates.
The operator has also confirmed its financial objectives for the end of the year, as well as the distribution of 0.30 euros of interim cash dividend for the year, 0.15 euros in December and another 0.15 euros in June of next month.
“Telefónica once again shows the robustness of its business, confirming the financial objectives set for the year as a whole. In this period, the company has doubled its cash generation compared to the previous year, despite the complex environment of global uncertainty and the deep crisis of energy and inflation”, highlighted the executive president of Telefónica, José María Álvarez Pallete.
MARKETS AND CUSTOMERS
By markets, Brazil has led the growth in income of the business units with 27.4% more turnover in reported terms, followed by Hispam (15.9%) and Germany (5.7%). Spain for its part has grown by 0.8% to 9,283 million euros.
On the other hand, both Spain and Hispam registered a negative behavior in Oibda with falls of 3.7% and 2.8% to 3,403 million euros and 1,595 million euros, while Brazil registered a growth of 16.2 % of this magnitude with 2,702 million euros and Germany, 5.5% with 1,893 million euros.
At the level of accesses, Telefónica adds 383.5 million worldwide, 4.9% more compared to September 2021. In the last 12 months, the firm has shot up its retail fiber optic accesses by 17.2% to 13.2 million, while its network is close to 60 million past real estate units, 15.4% more.
For its part, Telefónica Tech, the group’s digital business unit, has exceeded 1,000 million euros in revenue so far this year, which represents a growth of 70% year-on-year and around 30% in organic terms . More than 85% of the billing has also been closed in countries with strong currency.