EX-99.12d895243dex991.htmEX-99.1 EX-99.1
Exhibit 99.1
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SBA Communications Corporation Reports Third Quarter 2024 Results;
Updates Full Year 2024 Outlook; and Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend
Boca Raton, Florida, October 28, 2024 (BUSINESS NEWSWIRE) — SBA Communications Corporation (Nasdaq: SBAC) (“SBA” or the
“Company”) today reported results for the quarter ended September 30, 2024.
Highlights of the third quarter include:
•
Net income of $255.9 million or $2.40 per share
•
Industry-leading AFFO per share of $3.32
•
Increased full year 2024 outlook across all key metrics
•
Issued $2.07 billion of Tower Securities at a blended effective rate of 4.778%, more than 1% below the
previously estimated rate
•
Entered into an agreement to purchase over 7,000 sites in Central America from Millicom
Subsequent to the third quarter of 2024, SBA entered into an agreement to purchase over 7,000 communication sites in Central
America from Millicom International Cellular S.A. (“Millicom”) for approximately $975.0 million in cash. These sites are located in Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, El Salvador, and Nicaragua, with significantly all cash flows denominated
in USD. The sites to be acquired in this transaction are anticipated to produce approximately $129.0 million of revenues and $89.0 million of tower cash flow during their first full year of operations after closing. Upon closing, Millicom
will enter into country-specific Master Lease Agreements (“MLAs”) to lease back space on all acquired sites for an initial term of 15 years. The MLAs will also incorporate an extension to SBA’s approximately 1,500 existing
site leases with Millicom for a new 15-year term. Additionally, as part of the purchase agreement, SBA and Millicom have agreed to a seven-year exclusivity right for SBA to build up to 2,500 build-to-suit sites in Central America for Millicom with new leases on any sites built having an initial lease term of 15 years. This transaction is expected to close
some time in 2025.
In addition, the Company announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.98 per share of the
Company’s Class A Common Stock. The distribution is payable December 12, 2024 to the shareholders of record at the close of business on November 14, 2024.
“We continued to execute well during the third quarter, producing operational and financial results in line with our expectations,” commented
Brendan Cavanagh, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Carrier activity in the US increased from levels during the first half of the year, indicating a positive upward trajectory that we anticipate will carry through the balance of 2024 and
into 2025. Leasing results across our international markets also remained very solid during the quarter, and our services business had its strongest quarter of the year in terms of both revenue and gross profit. Our positive results and momentum
have allowed us to increase our full year outlook for all key financial metrics. During the quarter, we also made significant progress with regard to our balance sheet, refinancing $1.8 billion in upcoming debt maturities at rates well below
our estimates from just a few months ago, repricing our $2.3 billion Term Loan B to reduce our interest rate by 25 basis points, and locking in a new forward starting interest rate hedge in order to minimize exposure under our floating rate
debt. These accomplishments demonstrate our access to attractively priced capital and our position as a preferred issuer across the various debt
1
markets in which we participate. In addition, in support of our stated desire to secure our position as a leader in each market where we operate and to align ourselves with the leading carriers
in each market, subsequent to quarter-end we entered into a purchase agreement with Millicom for over 7,000 sites throughout Central America. As a result of this transaction and the strength of our
existing portfolio in the region, we will be the leading tower company across all of Central America. We are excited to support Millicom in advancing their network goals, as well as broadly growing access to wireless services throughout these
markets. We are well situated to continue opportunistically taking advantage of value enhancing investments in new assets and stock repurchases, as well as to capture growth from our customers’ accelerating network investments.”
Operating Results
The table below details select
financial results for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and comparisons to the prior year period.
Consolidated
Q3 2024
Q3 2023
$ Change
% Change
% Change
excluding
FX (1)
($ in millions, except per share amounts)
Site leasing revenue
$
625.7
$
637.4
$
(11.7
)
(1.8
%)
0.3
%
Site development revenue
41.9
45.1
(3.2
)
(7.1
%)
(7.1
%)
Tower cash flow (1)
507.6
511.7
(4.1
)
(0.8
%)
1.1
%
Net income
255.9
85.4
170.5
199.6
%
106.9
%
Earnings per share – diluted
2.40
0.80
1.59
198.4
%
109.3
%
Adjusted EBITDA (1)
472.6
482.1
(9.5
)
(2.0
%)
(0.2
%)
AFFO (1)
358.3
364.1
(5.8
)
(1.6
%)
0.7
%
AFFO per share (1)
3.32
3.34
(0.02
)
(0.6
%)
1.8
%
(1)
See the reconciliations and other disclosures under “Non-GAAPFinancial Measures” later in this press release.
Total revenues in the third quarter of 2024 were $667.6 million compared to
$682.5 million in the prior year period, a decrease of 2.2%. Site leasing revenue in the third quarter of 2024 of $625.7 million was comprised of domestic site leasing revenue of $464.9 million and international site leasing revenue
of $160.8 million. Domestic cash site leasing revenue in the third quarter of 2024 was $463.9 million compared to $461.0 million in the prior year period, an increase of 0.6%. International cash site leasing revenue in the third
quarter of 2024 was $160.8 million compared to $169.4 million in the prior year period, a decrease of 5.1%, or an increase of 2.8% on a constant currency basis. Site development revenues in the third quarter of 2024 were $41.9 million
compared to $45.1 million in the prior year period, a decrease of 7.1%.
Site leasing operating profit in the third quarter of 2024 was
$507.8 million, a decrease of 2.2% from the prior year period. Site leasing contributed 98.2% of the Company’s total operating profit in the third quarter of 2024. Domestic site leasing segment operating profit in the third quarter of 2024
was $396.0 million, a decrease of 1.4% from the prior year period. International site leasing segment operating profit in the third quarter of 2024 was $111.8 million, a decrease of 4.9% from the prior year period.
Tower Cash Flow in the third quarter of 2024 of $507.6 million was comprised of Domestic Tower Cash Flow of $394.1 million and International Tower
Cash Flow of $113.5 million. Domestic Tower Cash Flow in the third quarter of 2024 increased 0.2% over the prior year period and International Tower Cash Flow decreased 4.2% from the prior year period, or increased 3.8% on a constant currency
basis. Tower Cash Flow Margin was 81.3% in the third quarter of 2024, as compared to 81.2% for the prior year period.
Net income in the third quarter of
2024 was $255.9 million, or $2.40 per share, and included a $16.2 million gain, net of taxes, on the currency-related remeasurement of intercompany loans with foreign subsidiaries which are denominated in a currency other than the
subsidiaries’ functional currencies. Net income in the third quarter of 2023 was $85.4 million, or $0.80 per share, and included a $31.2 million loss, net of taxes, on the currency-related remeasurement of intercompany loans with
foreign subsidiaries which are denominated in a currency other than the subsidiaries’ functional currencies.
2
Adjusted EBITDA in the third quarter of 2024 was $472.6 million, a 2.0% decrease from the prior year
period. Adjusted EBITDA Margin in the third quarter of 2024 was 70.9% compared to 71.4% in the prior year period.
Net Cash Interest Expense in the third
quarter of 2024 was $88.7 million compared to $94.1 million in the prior year period, a decrease of 5.7%.
AFFO in the third quarter of 2024 was
$358.3 million, a 1.6% decrease from the prior year period. AFFO per share in the third quarter of 2024 was $3.32, a 0.6% decrease from the prior year period, or a 1.8% increase on a constant currency basis.
Investing Activities
During the third quarter of 2024,
SBA acquired 51 communication sites for total cash consideration of $194.1 million. SBA also built 147 towers during the third quarter of 2024. As of September 30, 2024, SBA owned or operated 39,762 communication sites, 17,477 of which are
located in the United States and its territories and 22,285 of which are located internationally. In addition, the Company spent $12.9 million to purchase land and easements and to extend lease terms. Total cash capital expenditures for the
third quarter of 2024 were $272.1 million, consisting of $14.3 million of non-discretionary cash capital expenditures (tower maintenance and general corporate) and $257.8 million of
discretionary cash capital expenditures (new tower builds, tower augmentations, acquisitions, and purchasing land and easements).
Subsequent to the third
quarter of 2024, in addition to the sites under contract with Millicom, the Company purchased or is under contract to purchase 45 communication sites for an aggregate consideration of $16.3 million in cash that it expects to close by the end of
the first quarter of 2025.
Financing Activities and Liquidity
SBA ended the third quarter of 2024 with $12.4 billion of total debt, $9.4 billion of total secured debt, $263.6 million of cash and cash
equivalents, short-term restricted cash, and short-term investments, and $12.1 billion of Net Debt. SBA’s Net Debt and Net Secured Debt to Annualized Adjusted EBITDA Leverage Ratios were 6.4x and 4.8x, respectively.
During the third quarter of 2024, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, SBA Senior Finance II, executed and priced an amendment to its Senior
Credit Agreement to (1) reduce the stated rate of interest of the Initial Term Loans from, at SBA Senior Finance II’s election, the Base Rate plus 100 basis points or Term SOFR plus 200 basis points to, at SBA Senior Finance II’s
election, the Base Rate plus 75 basis points or Term SOFR plus 175 basis points, and (2) amend certain other terms and conditions under the Senior Credit Agreement. This transaction was closed on October 2, 2024.
During the third quarter of 2024, the Company, through an existing trust, executed and priced $1.45 billion of 4.831% Secured Tower Revenue Securities
Series 2024-1C which have an anticipated repayment date of October 9, 2029 and a final maturity date of October 8, 2054 (the “2024-1C Tower
Securities”) and $620.0 million of 4.654% Secured Tower Revenue Securities Series 2024-2C which have an anticipated repayment date of October 8, 2027 and a final maturity date of October 8,
2054 (the “2024-2C Tower Securities”). The Tower Securities were issued on October 11, 2024. The aggregate $2.07 billion of 2024-1C Tower Securities
and 2024-2C Tower Securities have a blended effective interest rate of 4.778% and a weighted average life through the anticipated repayment date of 4.4 years. Net proceeds from this offering were used to repay
the aggregate principal amount of the 2014-2C Tower Securities ($620.0 million) and the remaining proceeds will be used to repay the aggregate principal amount of the2019-1C Tower Securities ($1.165 billion), the 2019-1R Tower Securities ($61.4 million), and for general corporate purposes.
3
During the third quarter of 2024, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary, SBA Senior Finance II,
entered into a forward-starting interest rate swap agreement for a portion of its 2024 Term Loan to swap $1.0 billion of notional value accruing interest at one month Term SOFR for a fixed rate of 3.000%. The swap has an effective start date of
March 31, 2025 (coinciding with the expiration date of the current 0.050%, $1.95 billion notional value swap) and a maturity date of April 11, 2028. This swap is in addition to the forward-starting interest rate swap previously
executed in November 2023. The combined notional value of both forward-starting swaps of $2.0 billion will effectively fix one month Term SOFR at a blended fixed rate of 3.415% from March 31, 2025 to April 11, 2028.
As of the date of this press release, the Company had no amount outstanding under its $2.0 billion Revolving Credit Facility.
The Company did not repurchase any shares of its Class A common stock during the third quarter of 2024. As of the date of this filing, the Company has
$204.7 million of authorization remaining under its approved repurchase plan.
In the third quarter of 2024, the Company declared and paid a cash
dividend of $105.3 million.
Outlook
The
Company is updating its full year 2024 Outlook for anticipated results. The Outlook provided is based on a number of assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable at the time of this press release. Information regarding potential risks that
could cause the actual results to differ from these forward-looking statements is set forth below and in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The Company’s full year 2024 Outlook assumes the acquisitions of only those communication sites under contract which are expected to close prior to year-end at the time of this press release. The Company may spend additional capital in 2024 on acquiring revenue producing assets not yet identified or under contract, the impact of which is not reflected in the
2024 guidance. The Outlook also does not contemplate any additional repurchases of the Company’s stock or new debt financings during 2024, although the Company may ultimately spend capital to repurchase stock or issue new debt during the
remainder of the year.
The Company’s Outlook assumes an average foreign currency exchange rate of 5.65 Brazilian Reais to 1.0 U.S. Dollar, 1.36
Canadian Dollars to 1.0 U.S. Dollar, 2,730 Tanzanian shillings to 1.0 U.S. Dollar, and 17.60 South African Rand to 1.0 U.S. Dollar throughout the fourth quarter of 2024.
4
(in millions, except per share amounts)
Full Year 2024
Change from
July 29, 2024
Outlook (7)
Change from
July 29, 2024
Outlook
Excluding FX
G1Site leasing revenue (1)
$
2,520.0
to
$
2,530.0
$
8.0
$
5.5
G2Site development revenue
$
140.0
to
$
150.0
$
5.0
$
5.0
G3Total revenues
$
2,660.0
to
$
2,680.0
$
13.0
$
10.5
G4Tower Cash Flow (2)
$
2,040.0
to
$
2,050.0
$
6.0
$
4.0
G5Adjusted EBITDA (2)
$
1,890.0
to
$
1,900.0
$
9.0
$
7.5
G6Net cash interest expense (3)
$
355.0
to
$
361.0
$
(2.0
)
$
(2.0
)
G7Non-discretionary cash capital expenditures (4)
$
51.0
to
$
57.0
$
(2.0
)
$
(2.0
)
G8AFFO (2)
$
1,427.0
to
$
1,454.0
$
10.5
$
8.5
G9AFFO per share (2) (5)
$
13.20
to
$
13.45
$
0.09
$
0.07
G10Discretionary cash capital expenditures(6)
$
490.0
to
$
500.0
$
150.0
$
149.0
(1)
The Company’s Outlook for site leasing revenue includes revenue associated with pass through reimbursable
expenses.
(2)
See the reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure presented
below under “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”
(3)
Net cash interest expense is defined as interest expense less interest income. Net cash interest expense does
not include amortization of deferred financing fees or non-cash interest expense.
(4)
Consists of tower maintenance and general corporate capital expenditures.
(5)
Outlook for AFFO per share is calculated by dividing the Company’s outlook for AFFO by an assumed weighted
average number of diluted common shares of 108.1 million. Outlook does not include the impact of any potential future repurchases of the Company’s stock during 2024.
(6)
Consists of new tower builds, tower augmentations, communication site acquisitions and ground lease purchases.
Does not include easements or payments to extend lease terms and expenditures for acquisitions of revenue producing assets not under contract at the date of this press release.
(7)
Changes from prior outlook are measured based on the midpoint of outlook ranges provided.
Conference Call Information
SBA
Communications Corporation will host a conference call on Monday, October 28, 2024 at 5:00 PM (EDT) to discuss the quarterly results. The call may be accessed as follows:
When:
Monday, October 28, 2024 at 5:00 PM (ET)
Dial-in Number:
(877) 692-8955
Access Code:
3722027
Conference Name:
SBA Third quarter 2024 results
Replay Available:
October 28, 2024 at 11:00 PM to November 11, 2024 at 12:00 AM (TZ: Eastern)
Replay Number:
(866) 207-1041 – Access Code: 8723461
Internet Access:
www.sbasite.com
Information Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
This press release and the Company’s earnings call include forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the Company’s expectations or
beliefs regarding (i) execution of the Company’s growth strategies and the impacts to its financial performance, (ii) organic leasing growth in the U.S. and the drivers of that growth, including continued investments by, and market
demands on, the Company’s customers, (iii) the Company’s capital allocation strategy, (iv) the Company’s anticipations regarding interest rates, (v) the Company’s outlook for financial and operational performance
in 2024, the assumptions it made and the drivers contributing to its updated full year guidance, (vi) the timing of closing for currently pending acquisitions, (vii) the Company’s tower portfolio
5
growth and positioning for future growth, (viii) asset purchases, share repurchases, and debt financings, (ix) carrier activity in the U.S., (x) network consumption growth and network
strain, (xi) the Company’s ability to capture growth from customers’ accelerating network investments, (xii) the purchase agreement with Millicom, including the anticipated revenues, tower cash flows and other anticipated
benefits of the sites under contract with Millicom, (xiii) our international business, (xiv) the Company’s operations and markets, and (xv) foreign exchange rates and their impact on the Company’s financial and operational
guidance and the Company’s 2024 Outlook.
The Company wishes to caution readers that these forward-looking statements may be affected by the risks
and uncertainties in the Company’s business as well as other important factors may have affected and could in the future affect the Company’s actual results and could cause the Company’s actual results for subsequent periods to differ
materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statement made by or on behalf of the Company. With respect to the Company’s expectations regarding all of these statements, including its financial and operational guidance, such risk
factors include, but are not limited to: (1) the impact of recent macro-economic conditions, including increasing interest rates, inflation and financial market volatility on (a) the ability and willingness of wireless service providers to
maintain or increase their capital expenditures, (b) the Company’s business and results of operations, and on foreign currency exchange rates and (c) consumer demand for wireless services, (2) the economic climate for the
wireless communications industry in general and the wireless communications infrastructure providers in particular in the United States, Brazil, South Africa, Tanzania, and in other international markets; (3) the Company’s ability to
accurately identify and manage any risks associated with its acquired sites, to effectively integrate such sites into its business and to achieve the anticipated financial results; (4) the Company’s ability to secure and retain as many
site leasing tenants as planned at anticipated lease rates; (5) the Company’s ability to manage expenses and cash capital expenditures at anticipated levels; (6) the impact of continued consolidation among wireless service providers
in the U.S. and internationally, on the Company’s leasing revenue and the ability of Dish to compete as a nationwide carrier; (7) the Company’s ability to successfully manage the risks associated with international operations,
including risks associated with foreign currency exchange rates; (8) the Company’s ability to secure and deliver anticipated services business at contemplated margins; (9) the Company’s ability to acquire land underneath towers
on terms that are accretive; (10) the Company’s ability to obtain future financing at commercially reasonable rates or at all; (11) the Company’s ability to achieve the new builds targets included in its anticipated annual
portfolio growth goals, which will depend, among other things, on obtaining zoning and regulatory approvals, availability of labor and supplies, and other factors beyond the Company’s control that could affect the Company’s ability to
build additional towers in 2024; and (12) the Company’s ability to meet its total portfolio growth, which will depend, in addition to the new build risks, on the Company’s ability to identify and acquire sites at prices and upon terms
that will provide accretive portfolio growth, competition from third parties for such acquisitions and our ability to negotiate the terms of, and acquire, these potential tower portfolios on terms that meet our internal return criteria.
With respect to its expectations regarding the ability to close pending acquisitions, these factors also include satisfactorily completing due diligence, the
amount and quality of due diligence that the Company is able to complete prior to closing of any acquisition, the ability to receive required regulatory approval, the ability and willingness of each party to fulfill their respective closing
conditions and their contractual obligations and the availability of cash on hand or borrowing capacity under the Revolving Credit Facility to fund the consideration, its ability to accurately anticipate the future performance of the acquired towers
and any challenges or costs associated with the integration of such towers. With respect to the repurchases under the Company’s stock repurchase program, the amount of shares repurchased, if any, and the timing of such repurchases will depend
on, among other things, the trading price of the Company’s common stock, which may be positively or negatively impacted by the repurchase program, market and business conditions, the availability of stock, the Company’s financial
performance or determinations following the date of this announcement in order to use the Company’s funds for other purposes. Furthermore, the Company’s forward-looking statements and its 2024 outlook assumes that the Company continues to
qualify for treatment as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes and that the Company’s business is currently operated in a manner that complies with the REIT rules and that it will be able to continue to comply with and conduct its
business in accordance with such rules. In addition, these forward-looking statements and the information in this press release is qualified in its entirety by cautionary statements and risk factor disclosures contained in the Company’s
Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including the Company’s most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K.
6
This press release contains non-GAAP financial measures.
Reconciliation of each of these non-GAAP financial measures and the other Regulation G information is presented below under “Non-GAAP Financial Measures.”
This press release will be available on our website at www.sbasite.com.
About SBA Communications Corporation
SBA Communications
Corporation is a leading independent owner and operator of wireless communications infrastructure including towers, buildings, rooftops, distributed antenna systems (DAS) and small cells. With a portfolio of more than 39,000 communications sites in
15 markets throughout the Americas, Africa, and the Philippines, SBA is listed on NASDAQ under the symbol SBAC. Our organization is part of the S&P 500 and is one of the top Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) by market capitalization. For
more information, please visit: www.sbasite.com.
Contacts
Mark DeRussy, CFA
Capital Markets
561-226-9531
Lynne Hopkins
Media Relations
561-226-9431
7
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited) (in thousands, except per share amounts)
For the three months
ended September 30,
For the nine months ended
September 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
Revenues:
Site leasing
$
625,697
$
637,440
$
1,880,430
$
1,880,851
Site development
41,898
45,104
105,504
155,709
Total revenues
667,595
682,544
1,985,934
2,036,560
Operating expenses:
Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation, accretion, and amortization shown below):
Cost of site leasing
117,948
118,277
346,893
353,411
Cost of site development
32,391
31,493
82,705
114,914
Selling, general, and administrative expenses(1)
60,087
64,821
191,161
200,412
Acquisition and new business initiatives related adjustments and expenses
5,388
5,612
19,379
16,622
Asset impairment and decommission costs
12,670
33,063
87,928
92,320
Depreciation, accretion, and amortization
63,515
180,674
204,444
544,909
Total operating expenses
291,999
433,940
932,510
1,322,588
Operating income
375,596
248,604
1,053,424
713,972
Other income (expense):
Interest income
6,999
5,266
21,359
12,765
Interest expense
(95,711
)
(99,322
)
(289,632
)
(301,835
)
Non-cash interest expense
(7,192
)
(7,898
)
(22,715
)
(29,655
)
Amortization of deferred financing fees
(5,185
)
(5,097
)
(15,405
)
(15,129
)
Loss from extinguishment of debt, net
—
—
(4,428
)
—
Other income (expense), net
23,700
(48,330
)
(125,811
)
29,961
Total other expense, net
(77,389
)
(155,381
)
(436,632
)
(303,893
)
Income before income taxes
298,207
93,223
616,792
410,079
Provision for income taxes
(42,316
)
(7,861
)
(46,906
)
(22,192
)
Net income
255,891
85,362
569,886
387,887
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
2,643
2,057
6,020
4,397
Net income attributable to SBA Communications
Corporation
$
258,534
$
87,419
$
575,906
$
392,284
Net income per common share attributable to SBA
Communications Corporation:
Basic
$
2.41
$
0.81
$
5.35
$
3.62
Diluted
$
2.40
$
0.80
$
5.33
$
3.60
Weighted-average number of common shares
Basic
107,486
108,373
107,683
108,288
Diluted
107,922
108,891
108,072
109,017
(1)
Includes non-cash compensation of $15,732 and $20,615 for the three
months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $54,376 and $63,709 for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
8
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except par values)
ASSETS
September 30,
2024
December 31,
2023
(unaudited)
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$
186,339
$
208,547
Restricted cash
61,019
38,129
Accounts receivable, net
111,018
182,746
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted contracts
24,742
16,252
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
67,149
38,593
Total current assets
450,267
484,267
Property and equipment, net
2,783,921
2,711,719
Intangible assets, net
2,492,360
2,455,597
Operating leaseright-of-use assets, net
2,322,890
2,240,781
Acquired and otherright-of-use assets, net
1,379,281
1,473,601
Other assets
772,944
812,476
Total assets
$
10,201,663
$
10,178,441
LIABILITIES, REDEEMABLE NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS, AND SHAREHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable
$
54,438
$
42,202
Accrued expenses
89,312
92,622
Current maturities of long-term debt
23,000
643,145
Deferred revenue
183,978
235,668
Accrued interest
32,088
57,496
Current lease liabilities
270,922
273,464
Other current liabilities
14,105
18,662
Total current liabilities
667,843
1,363,259
Long-term liabilities:
Long-term debt, net
12,296,479
11,681,170
Long-term lease liabilities
1,930,943
1,865,686
Other long-term liabilities
432,158
404,161
Total long-term liabilities
14,659,580
13,951,017
Redeemable noncontrolling interests
49,092
35,047
Shareholders’ deficit:
Preferred stock – par value $0.01, 30,000 shares authorized, no shares issued or
outstanding
—
—
Common stock – Class A, par value $0.01, 400,000 shares authorized, 107,506 shares
and 108,050 shares issued and outstanding at September 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively
1,075
1,080
Additional paid-in capital
2,941,520
2,894,060
Accumulated deficit
(7,393,799
)
(7,450,824
)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net
(723,648
)
(615,198
)
Total shareholders’ deficit
(5,174,852
)
(5,170,882
)
Total liabilities, redeemable noncontrolling interests, and shareholders’ deficit
$
10,201,663
$
10,178,441
9
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited) (in thousands)
For the three months
ended September 30,
2024
2023
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income
$
255,891
$
85,362
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, accretion, and amortization
63,515
180,674
Loss (gain) on remeasurement of U.S. denominated intercompany loans
(24,948
)
46,516
Non-cash compensation expense
16,373
21,374
Non-cash asset impairment and decommission costs
9,063
29,284
Deferred and non-cash income tax provision
(benefit)
30,179
(1,204
)
Other non-cash items reflected in the Statements of
Operations
16,878
17,242
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable and costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings on uncompleted
contracts, net
(27,079
)
9,107
Prepaid expenses and other assets
(11,327
)
(5,513
)
Operating leaseright-of-use assets, net
31,025
36,084
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
16,799
6,247
Accrued interest
(25,481
)
(24,833
)
Long-term lease liabilities
(36,051
)
(34,848
)
Other liabilities
(10,186
)
(51,811
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
304,651
313,681
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Acquisitions
(207,387
)
(53,114
)
Capital expenditures
(64,756
)
(61,393
)
Proceeds from sale of investments, net
4,180
20,369
Other investing activities
(5,939
)
(9,392
)
Net cash used in investing activities
(273,902
)
(103,530
)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net borrowings (repayments) under Revolving Credit Facility
40,000
(80,000
)
Repurchase and retirement of common stock
—
(53,652
)
Payment of dividends on common stock
(105,344
)
(92,131
)
Other financing activities
(569
)
(4,993
)
Net cash used in financing activities
(65,913
)
(230,776
)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash
3,512
(2,800
)
NET CHANGE IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH
(31,652
)
(23,425
)
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, AND RESTRICTED CASH:
Beginning of period
283,144
255,509
End of period
$
251,492
$
232,084
10
Selected Capital Expenditure Detail
For the three
months ended
September 30, 2024
For the nine
months ended
September 30, 2024
(in thousands)
Construction and related costs
$
38,799
$
96,683
Augmentation and tower upgrades
11,644
38,485
Non-discretionary capital expenditures:
Tower maintenance
12,992
33,792
General corporate
1,321
3,640
Total non-discretionary capital expenditures
14,313
37,432
Total capital expenditures
$
64,756
$
172,600
Communication Site Portfolio Summary
Domestic
International
Total
Sites owned at June 30, 2024
17,461
22,283
39,744
Sites acquired during the third quarter
38
13
51
Sites built during the third quarter
9
138
147
Sites decommissioned/reclassified/sold during the third quarter
(31
)
(149
)
(180
)
Sites owned at September 30, 2024
17,477
22,285
39,762
Segment Operating Profit and Segment Operating Profit Margin
Domestic site leasing and International site leasing are the two segments within our site leasing business. Segment operating profit is a key business metric
and one of our two measures of segment profitability. The calculation of Segment operating profit for each of our segments is set forth below.
Domestic Site Leasing
Int’l Site Leasing
Site Development
For the three months
ended September 30,
For the three months
ended September 30,
For the three months
ended September 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
2024
2023
(in thousands)
Segment revenue
$
464,860
$
468,371
$
160,837
$
169,069
$
41,898
$
45,104
Segment cost of revenues (excluding depreciation, accretion, and amort.)
(68,908
)
(66,768
)
(49,040
)
(51,509
)
(32,391
)
(31,493
)
Segment operating profit
$
395,952
$
401,603
$
111,797
$
117,560
$
9,507
$
13,611
Segment operating profit margin
85.2%
85.7%
69.5%
69.5%
22.7%
30.2%
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The press release contains non-GAAP financial measures including (i) Cash Site Leasing Revenue, Tower Cash Flow,
and Tower Cash Flow Margin; (ii) Adjusted EBITDA, Annualized Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA Margin; (iii) Funds from Operations (“FFO”), Adjusted Funds from Operations (“AFFO”), and AFFO per share; (iv) Net
Debt, Net Secured Debt, Leverage Ratio, and Secured Leverage Ratio (collectively, our “Non-GAAP Debt Measures”); and (v) certain financial metrics after eliminating the impact of changes in
foreign currency exchange rates (collectively, our “Constant Currency Measures”).
We have included thesenon-GAAP financial measures because we believe that they provide investors additional tools in understanding our financial performance and condition.
11
Specifically, we believe that:
(1)
Cash Site Leasing Revenue and Tower Cash Flow are useful indicators of the performance of our site leasing
operations;
(2)
Adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors or other interested parties in evaluating our financial performance.
Adjusted EBITDA is the primary measure used by management (1) to evaluate the economic productivity of our operations and (2) for purposes of making decisions about allocating resources to, and assessing the performance of, our operations.
Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA helps investors or other interested parties meaningfully evaluate and compare the results of our operations (1) from period to period and (2) to our competitors, by excluding the impact of our
capital structure (primarily interest charges from our outstanding debt) and asset base (primarily depreciation, amortization and accretion) from our financial results. Management also believes Adjusted EBITDA is frequently used by investors or
other interested parties in the evaluation of REITs. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA is similar to the measure of current financial performance generally used in our debt covenant calculations. Adjusted EBITDA should be considered only as a supplement
to net income computed in accordance with GAAP as a measure of our performance;
(3)
FFO, AFFO and AFFO per share, which are metrics used by our public company peers in the communication site
industry, provide investors useful indicators of the financial performance of our business and permit investors an additional tool to evaluate the performance of our business against those of our two principal competitors. FFO, AFFO, and AFFO per
share are also used to address questions we receive from analysts and investors who routinely assess our operating performance on the basis of these performance measures, which are considered industry standards. We believe that FFO helps investors
or other interested parties meaningfully evaluate financial performance by excluding the impact of our asset base (primarily depreciation, amortization and accretion and asset impairment and decommission costs). We believe that AFFO and AFFO per
share help investors or other interested parties meaningfully evaluate our financial performance as they include (1) the impact of our capital structure (primarily interest expense on our outstanding debt) and (2) sustaining capital
expenditures and exclude the impact of (1) our asset base (primarily depreciation, amortization and accretion and asset impairment and decommission costs) and (2) certain non-cash items, including
straight-lined revenues and expenses related to fixed escalations and rent free periods and the non-cash portion of our reported tax provision. GAAP requires rental revenues and expenses related to leases that
contain specified rental increases over the life of the lease to be recognized evenly over the life of the lease. In accordance with GAAP, if payment terms call for fixed escalations, or rent free periods, the revenue or expense is recognized on a
straight-lined basis over the fixed, non-cancelable term of the contract. We only use AFFO as a performance measure. AFFO should be considered only as a supplement to net income computed in accordance with
GAAP as a measure of our performance and should not be considered as an alternative to cash flows from operations or as residual cash flow available for discretionary investment. We believe our definition of FFO is consistent with how that term is
defined by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”) and that our definition and use of AFFO and AFFO per share is consistent with those reported by the other communication site companies;
(4)
Our Non-GAAP Debt Measures provide investors a more complete
understanding of our net debt and leverage position as they include the full principal amount of our debt which will be due at maturity and, to the extent that such measures are calculated on Net Debt are net of our cash and cash equivalents,
short-term restricted cash, and short-term investments; and
(5)
Our Constant Currency Measures provide management and investors the ability to evaluate the performance of the
business without the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations.
In addition, Tower Cash Flow, Adjusted EBITDA, and our Non-GAAP Debt Measures are components of the calculations used by our lenders to determine compliance with certain covenants under our Senior Credit Agreement and indentures relating to our 2020 Senior Notes and
2021 Senior Notes. These non-GAAP financial measures are not intended to be an alternative to any of the financial measures provided in our results of operations or our balance sheet as determined in
accordance with GAAP.
12
Financial Metrics after Eliminating the Impact of Changes In Foreign Currency Exchange Rates
We eliminate the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates for each of the financial metrics listed in the table below by dividing the current
period’s financial results by the average monthly exchange rates of the prior year period, and by eliminating the impact of the remeasurement of our intercompany loans. The table below provides the reconciliation of the reported growth rate
year-over-year of each of such measures to the growth rate after eliminating the impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates to such measure.
Third quarter
2024 year
over year
growth rate
Foreign
currency
impact
Growth excluding
foreign currency
impact
Total site leasing revenue
(1.8%)
(2.1%)
0.3%
Total cash site leasing revenue
(0.9%)
(2.1%)
1.2%
Int’l cash site leasing revenue
(5.1%)
(7.9%)
2.8%
Total site leasing segment operating profit
(2.2%)
(1.8%)
(0.4%)
Int’l site leasing segment operating profit
(4.9%)
(7.9%)
3.0%
Total site leasing tower cash flow
(0.8%)
(1.9%)
1.1%
Int’l site leasing tower cash flow
(4.2%)
(8.0%)
3.8%
Net income
199.6%
92.7%
106.9%
Earnings per share — diluted
198.4%
89.1%
109.3%
Adjusted EBITDA
(2.0%)
(1.8%)
(0.2%)
AFFO
(1.6%)
(2.3%)
0.7%
AFFO per share
(0.6%)
(2.4%)
1.8%
Cash Site Leasing Revenue, Tower Cash Flow, and Tower Cash Flow Margin
The table below sets forth the reconciliation of Cash Site Leasing Revenue and Tower Cash Flow to their most comparable GAAP measurement and Tower Cash Flow
Margin, which is calculated by dividing Tower Cash Flow by Cash Site Leasing Revenue.
Domestic Site Leasing
Int’l Site Leasing
Total Site Leasing
For the three months
ended September 30,
For the three months
ended September 30,
For the three months
ended September 30,
2024
2023
2024
2023
2024
2023
(in thousands)
Site leasing revenue
$
464,860
$
468,371
$
160,837
$
169,069
$
625,697
$
637,440
Non-cash straight-line leasing revenue
(1,004
)
(7,371
)
(61
)
323
(1,065
)
(7,048
)
Cash site leasing revenue
463,856
461,000
160,776
169,392
624,632
630,392
Site leasing cost of revenues (excluding depreciation, accretion, and amortization)
(68,908
)
(66,768
)
(49,040
)
(51,509
)
(117,948
)
(118,277
)
Non-cash straight-line ground lease expense
(873
)
(1,062
)
1,818
634
945
(428
)
Tower Cash Flow
$
394,075
$
393,170
$
113,554
$
118,517
$
507,629
$
511,687
Tower Cash Flow Margin
85.0%
85.3%
70.6%
70.0%
81.3%
81.2%
13
Forecasted Tower Cash Flow for Full Year 2024
The table below sets forth the reconciliation of forecasted Tower Cash Flow set forth in the Outlook section to its most comparable GAAP measurement for the
full year 2024:
Full Year 2024
(in millions)
Site leasing revenue
$
2,520.0
to
$
2,530.0
Non-cash straight-line leasing revenue
(11.5
)
to
(6.5
)
Cash site leasing revenue
2,508.5
to
2,523.5
Site leasing cost of revenues (excluding depreciation, accretion, and amortization)
(457.0
)
to
(467.0
)
Non-cash straight-line ground lease expense
(11.5
)
to
(6.5
)
Tower Cash Flow
$
2,040.0
to
$
2,050.0
Adjusted EBITDA, Annualized Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA Margin
The table below sets forth the reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to its most comparable GAAP measurement.
For the three months
ended September 30,
2024
2023
(in thousands)
Net income
$
255,891
$
85,362
Non-cash straight-line leasing revenue
(1,065
)
(7,048
)
Non-cash straight-line ground lease expense
945
(428
)
Non-cash compensation
16,373
21,374
Other (income) expense, net
(23,700
)
48,330
Acquisition and new business initiatives related adjustments and expenses
5,388
5,612
Asset impairment and decommission costs
12,670
33,063
Interest income
(6,999
)
(5,266
)
Total interest expense (1)
108,088
112,317
Depreciation, accretion, and amortization
63,515
180,674
Provision for taxes (2)
41,514
8,141
Adjusted EBITDA
$
472,620
$
482,131
Annualized Adjusted EBITDA (3)
$
1,890,480
$
1,928,524
(1)
Total interest expense includes interest expense, non-cash interest
expense, and amortization of deferred financing fees.
(2)
For the three months ended September 30, 2024 this amount includes $0.8 million of benefit from
franchise and gross receipts taxes reflected in the Statements of Operations in selling, general and administrative expenses. For the three months ended September 30, 2023, this amount includes $0.3 million of franchise and gross receipts
taxes reflected in the Statements of Operations in selling, general and administrative expenses.
(3)
Annualized Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as Adjusted EBITDA for the most recent quarter multiplied by four.
14
The calculation of Adjusted EBITDA Margin is as follows:
For the three months
ended September 30,
2024
2023
(in thousands)
Total revenues
$
667,595
$
682,544
Non-cash straight-line leasing revenue
(1,065
)
(7,048
)
Total revenues minus non-cash straight-line leasing
revenue
$
666,530
$
675,496
Adjusted EBITDA
$
472,620
$
482,131
Adjusted EBITDA Margin
70.9%
71.4%
Forecasted Adjusted EBITDA for Full Year 2024
The table below sets forth the reconciliation of the forecasted Adjusted EBITDA set forth in the Outlook section to its most comparable GAAP measurement for
the full year 2024:
Full Year 2024
(in millions)
Net income
$
765.5
to
$
800.5
Non-cash straight-line leasing revenue
(11.5
)
to
(6.5
)
Non-cash straight-line ground lease expense
(11.5
)
to
(6.5
)
Non-cash compensation
76.0
to
71.0
Loss from extinguishment of debt, net
4.5
to
4.5
Other expense, net
166.0
to
166.0
Acquisition and new business initiatives related adjustments and expenses
27.5
to
22.5
Asset impairment and decommission costs
120.5
to
115.5
Interest income
(43.5
)
to
(38.5
)
Total interest expense (1)
457.5
to
447.5
Depreciation, accretion, and amortization
277.0
to
267.0
Provision for taxes (2)
62.0
to
57.0
Adjusted EBITDA
$
1,890.0
to
$
1,900.0
(1)
Total interest expense includes interest expense, non-cash interest
expense, and amortization of deferred financing fees.
(2)
Includes projections for franchise taxes and gross receipts taxes, which will be reflected in the Statement of
Operations in Selling, general, and administrative expenses.
15
Funds from Operations (“FFO”), Adjusted Funds from Operations (“AFFO”), and AFFO per
share
The tables below set forth the reconciliations of FFO, AFFO, and AFFO per share to their most comparable GAAP measurement.
For the three months
ended September 30,
2024
2023
(in thousands)
($ per share)
(in thousands)
($ per share)
Net income
$
255,891
$
2.37
$
85,362
$
0.78
Real estate related depreciation, amortization, and accretion
61,993
0.57
179,076
1.64
Asset impairment and decommission costs
12,670
0.12
33,063
0.30
FFO
$
330,554
$
3.06
$
297,501
$
2.72
Adjustments to FFO:
Non-cash straight-line leasing revenue
(1,065
)
(0.01
)
(7,048
)
(0.06
)
Non-cash straight-line ground lease expense
945
0.01
(428
)
—
Non-cash compensation
16,373
0.15
21,374
0.20
Adjustment for non-cash portion of tax provision
(benefit)
30,179
0.28
(1,205
)
(0.01
)
Non-real estate related depreciation, amortization, and
accretion
1,522
0.01
1,598
0.01
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discounts andnon-cash interest expense
12,377
0.11
12,995
0.12
Other (income) expense, net
(23,700
)
(0.21
)
48,330
0.44
Acquisition and new business initiatives related adjustments and expenses
5,388
0.05
5,612
0.05
Non-discretionary cash capital expenditures
(14,313
)
(0.13
)
(14,678
)
(0.13
)
AFFO
$
358,260
$
3.32
$
364,051
$
3.34
Adjustments for joint venture partner interest
(1,553
)
(0.01
)
(1,217
)
(0.01
)
AFFO attributable to SBA Communications Corporation
$
356,707
$
3.31
$
362,834
$
3.33
Diluted weighted average number of common shares
107,922
108,891
16
Forecasted AFFO for the Full Year 2024
The tables below set forth the reconciliations of the forecasted AFFO and AFFO per share set forth in the Outlook section to their most comparable GAAP
measurements for the full year 2024:
(in millions, except per share amounts)
Full Year 2024
(in millions)
($ per share)
Net income
$
765.5
to
$
800.5
$
7.08
to
$
7.41
Real estate related depreciation, amortization, and accretion
263.0
to
258.0
2.43
to
2.39
Asset impairment and decommission costs
120.5
to
115.5
1.11
to
1.07
FFO
$
1,149.0
to
$
1,174.0
$
10.62
to
$
10.87
Adjustments to FFO:
Non-cash straight-line leasing revenue
(11.5
)
to
(6.5
)
(0.11
)
to
(0.06
)
Non-cash straight-line ground lease expense
(11.5
)
to
(6.5
)
(0.11
)
to
(0.06
)
Non-cash compensation
76.0
to
71.0
0.70
to
0.66
Adjustment for non-cash portion of tax provision
17.0
to
17.0
0.16
to
0.16
Non-real estate related depreciation, amortization, and
accretion
14.0
to
9.0
0.13
to
0.08
Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discounts andnon-cash interest expense
53.0
to
54.0
0.49
to
0.50
Loss from extinguishment of debt, net
4.5
to
4.5
0.04
to
0.04
Other expense, net
166.0
to
166.0
1.54
to
1.54
Acquisition and new business initiatives related adjustments and expenses
27.5
to
22.5
0.25
to
0.21
Non-discretionary cash capital expenditures
(57.0
)
to
(51.0
)
(0.51
)
to
(0.49
)
AFFO
$
1,427.0
to
$
1,454.0
$
13.20
to
$
13.45
Adjustments for joint venture partner interest
(6.0
)
to
(6.0
)
(0.06
)
to
(0.06
)
AFFO attributable to SBA Communications
Corporation
$
1,421.0
to
$
1,448.0
$
13.14
to
$
13.39
Diluted weighted average number of common shares(1)
108.1
to
108.1
(1)
Our assumption for weighted average number of common shares does not contemplate any additional repurchases of
the Company’s stock during 2024.
17
Net Debt, Net Secured Debt, Leverage Ratio, and Secured Leverage Ratio
Net Debt is calculated using the notional principal amount of outstanding debt. Under GAAP policies, the notional principal amount of the Company’s
outstanding debt is not necessarily reflected on the face of the Company’s financial statements.
The Net Debt and Leverage calculations are as
follows:
September 30,
2024
(in thousands)
2014-2C Tower Securities
$
620,000
2019-1C Tower Securities
1,165,000
2020-1C Tower Securities
750,000
2020-2C Tower Securities
600,000
2021-1C Tower Securities
1,165,000
2021-2C Tower Securities
895,000
2021-3C Tower Securities
895,000
2022-1C Tower Securities
850,000
Revolving Credit Facility
160,000
2024 Term Loan
2,288,500
Total secured debt
9,388,500
2020 Senior Notes
1,500,000
2021 Senior Notes
1,500,000
Total unsecured debt
3,000,000
Total debt
$
12,388,500
Leverage Ratio
Total debt
$
12,388,500
Less: Cash and cash equivalents, short-term restricted cash and short-term investments
(263,603
)
Net debt
$
12,124,897
Divided by: Annualized Adjusted EBITDA
$
1,890,480
Leverage Ratio
6.4x
Secured Leverage Ratio
Total secured debt
$
9,388,500
Less: Cash and cash equivalents, short-term restricted cash and short-term investments
(263,603
)
Net Secured Debt
$
9,124,897
Divided by: Annualized Adjusted EBITDA
$
1,890,480
Secured Leverage Ratio
4.8x
18
Mentions · how they’re counted
| Category | Underlined | Word counter | Model’s count |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI AI, artificial intelligence, generative AI, machine learning, large language model, LLM | 0 | — | — |
| Layoffs layoffs, RIF, headcount reduction, workforce optimization, restructuring | 0 | — | — |
| Recession recession, downturn, contraction, slowdown | 0 | — | — |
| Tariffs tariff, trade war, trade barriers, trade restrictions, trade policy | 0 | — | — |
| Buybacks share repurchase, buyback program | 1 | — | — |
Underlines use the same word lists the scores use. AI, recession and tariffs follow Palanor’s word counter, so those counts match it exactly on the same text. Layoffs and buybacks use the terms the model was given. The model’s count is an estimate by meaning, not by string, so it can differ from the underlines.
Source: SEC EDGAR · public domain · Highlights by Palanor