• Total Revenue: $393.6 million in Q3 2024, down from $420.3 million in Q3 2023.
• Residential Data Revenue: Decreased by $17.1 million or 6.9% year over year.
• Business Data Revenue: Increased by $1.6 million or 2.9% year over year.
• Operating Expenses: $104.6 million, with a decrease driven by a $7.6 million reduction in programming and franchise costs.
• Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses: $88.4 million or 22.5% of revenues.
• Net Income: $44.2 million for Q3 2024, compared to $30.3 million in Q3 2023.
• Adjusted EBITDA: $213.6 million or 54.3% of revenues in Q3 2024.
• Capital Expenditures: $77 million in Q3 2024.
• Cash and Cash Equivalents: Approximately $227 million at the end of Q3 2024.
• Debt Balance: Approximately $3.5 billion.
• Net Leverage Ratio: 3.85 times on a last quarter annualized basis.

• Warning! GuruFocus has detected 3 Warning Signs with CABO.

Release Date: November 07, 2024

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

• Cable One Inc (NYSE:CABO) reported stabilization in residential ARPU, indicating a potential end to previous declines.
• Business broadband growth accelerated, driven by rising demand across enterprise segments, with revenues up 2.9% year over year.
• The company has made significant advancements in digital transformation and expanded use of AI, enhancing customer interactions and operational efficiency.
• Cable One Inc (NYSE:CABO) successfully transitioned its billing system, consolidating multiple brands onto a single platform, which is expected to yield several million dollars in annual savings.
• The company introduced a new 'pay as you go' internet offering, providing flexibility for value-conscious customers and potentially expanding its customer base.

Negative Points

• Cable One Inc (NYSE:CABO) experienced a year-over-year revenue decrease, primarily due to lower residential data ARPU and continued attrition within its video product line.
• The discontinuation of the Affordable Connectivity Program led to a loss of 5,300 customers, impacting overall subscriber numbers.
• The company faced challenges in adjusting pricing due to the transition to a new billing system, limiting marketing adjustments for a significant portion of its customer base.
• Despite efforts to stabilize ARPU, the company reported a 7.1% year-over-year decrease in residential data ARPU.
• Cable One Inc (NYSE:CABO) continues to face competitive pressures from both fiber and fixed wireless providers, impacting its market dynamics and growth strategies.

Q & A Highlights

Q: Can you clarify the impact of the billing system transition on pricing and subscriber numbers? Also, how does the pay-as-you-go pilot affect ARPU? A: The billing system transition did not affect customers or the company financially, except that it froze our ability to change rates for a period. Regarding the pay-as-you-go pilot, it's designed for value-conscious customers and allows flexibility in internet usage. So far, it has not been dilutive to ARPU, as the average ARPU from this group is higher than our entry-level price. We are still gathering insights as the program evolves. - Julia Laulis, CEO

Q: How do you view Cable One's strategic positioning in the industry, especially with the trend of fiber consolidation and wireless convergence? A: We believe Cable One is well-positioned as a consolidator in rural cable markets due to our deep understanding of operating in smaller communities. While the industry is rapidly changing, we remain focused on serving our markets effectively. - Julia Laulis, CEO

Q: How does Cable One view the competition from wireless providers, and is there a plan to offer a converged bundle? A: We regularly evaluate the potential of offering mobile services, considering customer needs and financial impacts. While we are open to bundling various services, we need to ensure any new offering provides clear benefits to customers and shareholders before proceeding. - Julia Laulis, CEO

Q: Can you provide an update on ARPU stabilization and subscriber growth prospects? A: ARPU has stabilized, and we expect it to remain stable through Q4. We have grown broadband subscribers year-to-date, excluding ACP losses, and are focused on broadband revenue growth. We are optimistic about achieving both subscriber growth and stable ARPU. - Julia Laulis, CEO

Q: Is the competitive environment stabilizing, particularly regarding fiber and fixed wireless competition? A: We are seeing some stabilization in competition, with rational pricing from competitors. Our markets with high competition are showing positive growth, and we are observing a decrease in competitive disconnects. We continue to focus on improving our offerings to maintain our competitive edge. - Julia Laulis, CEO

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.