LBRDK Liberty Broadband Corporation

Liberty Broadband Corporation (“Liberty Broadband”) (Nasdaq: LBRDA, LBRDK, LBRDP) today reported first quarter 2024 results.

Headlines include(1):

• Fair value of Charter investment was $13.4 billion as of March 31st
• Liberty Broadband did not sell Charter shares to Charter from February 1, 2024 through April 30, 2024 as its fully diluted equity interest in Charter remained below 26%(2)
• From February 1, 2024 through April 30, 2024, Liberty Broadband repurchased 103 thousand LBRDK shares at an average price per share of $79.88 for total cash consideration of $8.2 million
• In the first quarter, GCI(3) revenue was flat at $245 million, generated $37 million in operating income and Adjusted OIBDA(4) was flat at $90 million

Share Repurchases

From February 1, 2024 through April 30, 2024, Liberty Broadband repurchased 103 thousand shares of Series C Liberty Broadband common stock (Nasdaq: LBRDK) at an average cost per share of $79.88 for total cash consideration of $8.2 million. The total remaining repurchase authorization for Liberty Broadband as of April 30, 2024 is approximately $1.7 billion.

Charter Ownership

Under the terms of Liberty Broadband and Charter’s stockholder agreement, Liberty Broadband has sold and will continue to sell to Charter a number of shares of Charter Class A common stock as is necessary to maintain Liberty Broadband’s percentage equity interest at 26%(2) on a fully diluted basis. Such sales are executed by Liberty Broadband monthly based on Charter’s repurchase activity in the month prior.

From February 1, 2024 through April 30, 2024, Liberty Broadband did not sell Charter shares to Charter as its fully diluted equity interest in Charter remained below 26%(2).

Balance Sheet

The following presentation is provided to separately identify cash and liquid investments, debt and public holdings of Liberty Broadband as of December 31, 2023 and March 31, 2024.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(amounts in millions)

 

12/31/2023

 

3/31/2024

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GCI Holdings

 

$

79

 

 

$

70

 

 

Corporate and Other

 

 

79

 

 

 

38

 

 

Total Liberty Broadband Consolidated Cash

 

$

158

 

 

$

108

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair Value of Public Holdings in Charter(a)

 

$

17,984

 

 

$

13,385

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Debt:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senior Notes(b)

 

$

600

 

 

$

600

 

 

Senior Credit Facility

 

 

394

 

 

 

334

 

 

Tower Obligations and Other(c)

 

 

91

 

 

 

90

 

 

Total GCI Holdings Debt

 

$

1,085

 

 

$

1,024

 

 

GCI Leverage(d)

 

 

2.9x

 

 

2.8x

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charter Margin Loan

 

$

1,460

 

 

$

1,480

 

 

3.125% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2053(e)

 

 

1,265

 

 

 

1,265

 

 

Total Corporate Level Debt

 

$

2,725

 

 

$

2,745

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Liberty Broadband Debt

 

$

3,810

 

 

$

3,769

 

 

Fair market value adjustment and deferred loan costs

 

 

12

 

 

 

(45

)

 

Tower obligations and finance leases (excluded from GAAP Debt)

 

 

(86

)

 

 

(85

)

 

Total Liberty Broadband Debt (GAAP)

 

$

3,736

 

 

$

3,639

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Financial Obligations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred Stock(f)

 

 

180

 

 

 

180

 

 

_________________________

a)

Represents fair value of the investment in Charter as of December 31, 2023 and March 31, 2024.

b)

Principal amount of Senior Notes.

c)

Includes the Wells Fargo Note Payable and current and long-term obligations under tower obligations and finance leases.

d)

As defined in GCI's credit agreement.

e)

Principal amount of Exchangeable Senior Debentures exclusive of fair market value adjustments.

f)

Liquidation value of preferred stock. Preferred stock has a 7% coupon, $25 per share liquidation preference plus accrued and unpaid dividends and 1/3 vote per share. The redemption date is the first business day following March 8, 2039. The preferred stock is considered a liability for GAAP purposes.

Liberty Broadband cash decreased $50 million in the first quarter primarily due to proceeds from Charter share sales and borrowing under the Charter margin loan being more than offset by share repurchases and other investing activities. GCI cash decreased $9 million in the first quarter as cash from operations was more than offset by debt repayment and capital expenditures (net of grant proceeds) during the period.

Liberty Broadband debt decreased $41 million in the first quarter as GCI repaid $60 million under its senior credit facility, partially offset by additional borrowing under the Charter margin loan. There is $820 million of available capacity under the Charter margin loan. GCI’s credit facility has undrawn capacity of $457 million (net of letters of credit), and GCI’s leverage as defined in its credit agreement is 2.8x.

GCI Operating and Financial Results

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1Q23

 

 

1Q24

 

 

% Change

 

(amounts in millions, except operating metrics)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GCI Consolidated Financial Metrics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consumer

 

$

118

 

$

117

 

 

(1)

%

Business

 

 

128

 

 

128

 

 

—

%

Total revenue

 

$

246

 

$

245

 

 

—

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income

 

$

29

 

$

37

 

 

28

%

Operating income margin (%)

 

 

11.8%

 

 

15.1%

 

 

330

bps

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted OIBDA(a)

 

$

90

 

$

90

 

 

—

%

Adjusted OIBDA margin(a) (%)

 

 

36.6%

 

 

36.7%

 

 

10

bps

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GCI Consumer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financial Metrics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Data

 

$

59

 

$

60

 

 

2

%

Wireless

 

 

47

 

 

47

 

 

—

%

Other

 

 

12

 

 

10

 

 

(17)

%

Total revenue

 

$

118

 

$

117

 

 

(1)

%

Operating Metrics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Data:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cable modem subscribers(b)

 

 

159,100

 

 

159,800

 

 

—

%

Wireless:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lines in service(c)

 

 

193,700

 

 

199,000

 

 

3

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GCI Business

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financial Metrics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Data

 

$

106

 

$

108

 

 

2

%

Wireless

 

 

13

 

 

12

 

 

(8)

%

Other

 

 

9

 

 

8

 

 

(11)

%

Total revenue

 

$

128

 

$

128

 

 

—

%

__________________________

a)

See reconciling schedule 1.

b)

A cable modem subscriber is defined by the purchase of cable modem service regardless of the level of service purchased. If one entity purchases multiple cable modem service access points, each access point is counted as a subscriber. Data cable modem subscribers as of March 31, 2024, include 900 subscribers that were reclassified from GCI Business to GCI Consumer subscribers in the first quarter of 2024 and are not new additions.

c)

A wireless line in service is defined as a wireless device with a monthly fee for services. Wireless lines in service as of March 31, 2024, include 1,800 lines that were reclassified from GCI Business to GCI Consumer lines in the first quarter of 2024 and are not new additions.

Unless otherwise noted, the following discussion compares financial information for the three months ended March 31, 2024 to the same period in 2023.

GCI revenue was flat in the first quarter. Consumer revenue was down 1% driven by declines in video revenue, partially offset by demand for consumer data. Business revenue was flat as growth in data was offset by declines in wireless and other revenues.

Operating income increased by $8 million in the first quarter driven by lower depreciation expense as certain assets became fully depreciated during 2023. Adjusted OIBDA was flat in line with revenue.

In the first quarter, GCI spent $46 million, net, on capital expenditures. Capital expenditure spending was related primarily to improvements to the wireless and data networks in rural Alaska. GCI's net capital expenditures for the full year 2024 are expected to be approximately $200 million related to additional high-returning investments in middle and last mile connectivity, with continued network expansion in GCI’s most important markets in rural Alaska including the Bethel and AU-Aleutians fiber projects.

FOOTNOTES

1)

Liberty Broadband will discuss these highlights and other matters on Liberty Broadband's earnings conference call that will begin at 11:15 a.m. (E.T.) on May 8, 2024. For information regarding how to access the call, please see “Important Notice” later in this document.

2)

Calculated pursuant to the stockholder agreement between Liberty Broadband and Charter Communications, Inc. ("Charter").

3)

Liberty Broadband’s principal operating asset is GCI Holdings, LLC (“GCI” or “GCI Holdings”), Alaska's largest communications provider. Liberty Broadband also holds an interest in Charter.

4)

For a definition of Adjusted OIBDA and Adjusted OIBDA margin and applicable reconciliations, see the accompanying schedules.

NOTES

LIBERTY BROADBAND FINANCIAL METRICS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(amounts in millions)

 

1Q23

 

 

1Q24

 

 

Revenue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GCI Holdings

 

$

246

 

 

$

245

 

 

Corporate and other

 

 

—

 

 

 

—

 

 

Total Liberty Broadband Revenue

 

$

246

 

 

$

245

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GCI Holdings

 

$

29

 

 

$

37

 

 

Corporate and other

 

 

(13

)

 

 

(9

)

 

Total Liberty Broadband Operating Income

 

$

16

 

 

$

28

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted OIBDA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GCI Holdings

 

$

90

 

 

$

90

 

 

Corporate and other

 

 

(8

)

 

 

(5

)

 

Total Liberty Broadband Adjusted OIBDA

 

$

82

 

 

$

85

 

 

Important Notice: Liberty Broadband (Nasdaq: LBRDA, LBRDK, LBRDP) will discuss Liberty Broadband’s earnings release on a conference call which will begin at 11:15 a.m. (E.T.) on May 8, 2024. The call can be accessed by dialing (877) 407-3944 or (412) 902-0038, passcode 13742820, at least 10 minutes prior to the start time. The call will also be broadcast live across the Internet and archived on our website. To access the webcast go to https://www.libertybroadband.com/investors/news-events/ir-calendar. Links to this press release and replays of the call will also be available on Liberty Broadband’s website.

This press release includes certain forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements about business strategies, market potential, future financial prospects, capital expenditures, matters relating to Liberty Broadband’s equity interest in Charter and Charter’s buyback of common stock, Liberty Broadband’s participation in Charter’s buyback of common stock, the continuation of our stock repurchase program and other matters that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements involve many risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements, including, without limitation, possible changes in market acceptance of new products or services, competitive issues, regulatory matters affecting our businesses, continued access to capital on terms acceptable to Liberty Broadband, changes in law and government regulations, the availability of investment opportunities, general market conditions (including as a result of inflationary pressures) and market conditions conducive to stock repurchases. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and Liberty Broadband expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in Liberty Broadband's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. Please refer to the publicly filed documents of Liberty Broadband, including the most recent Forms 10-K and 10-Q, for additional information about Liberty Broadband and about the risks and uncertainties related to Liberty Broadband which may affect the statements made in this press release.

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

To provide investors with additional information regarding our financial results, this press release includes a presentation of Adjusted OIBDA, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, for Liberty Broadband (and certain of its subsidiaries) and GCI Holdings together with a reconciliation to that entity or such businesses’ operating income, as determined under GAAP. Liberty Broadband defines Adjusted OIBDA as operating income (loss) plus depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, transaction costs, separately reported litigation settlements, restructuring and impairment charges. Further, this press release includes Adjusted OIBDA margin which is also a non-GAAP financial measure. Liberty Broadband defines Adjusted OIBDA margin as Adjusted OIBDA divided by revenue.

Liberty Broadband believes Adjusted OIBDA is an important indicator of the operational strength and performance of its businesses by identifying those items that are not directly a reflection of each business' performance or indicative of ongoing business trends. In addition, this measure allows management to view operating results and perform analytical comparisons and benchmarking between businesses and identify strategies to improve performance. Because Adjusted OIBDA is used as a measure of operating performance, Liberty Broadband views operating income as the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Adjusted OIBDA is not meant to replace or supersede operating income or any other GAAP measure, but rather to supplement such GAAP measures in order to present investors with the same information that Liberty Broadband’s management considers in assessing the results of operations and performance of its assets. Please see the tables below for applicable reconciliations.

SCHEDULE 1

The following table provides a reconciliation of GCI’s operating income to its Adjusted OIBDA for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and March 31, 2024.

GCI HOLDINGS ADJUSTED OIBDA RECONCILIATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(amounts in millions)

 

1Q23

 

1Q24

 

GCI Holdings Operating Income

 

$

29

 

$

37

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

58

 

 

50

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

3

 

 

3

 

GCI Holdings Adjusted OIBDA

 

$

90

 

$

90

 

SCHEDULE 2

The following table provides a reconciliation of operating income (loss) calculated in accordance with GAAP to Adjusted OIBDA for Liberty Broadband for the three months ended March 31, 2023 and March 31, 2024.

LIBERTY BROADBAND ADJUSTED OIBDA RECONCILIATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(amounts in millions)

 

1Q23

 

 

1Q24

 

Liberty Broadband Operating Income

 

$

16

 

 

$

28

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

58

 

 

 

50

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

8

 

 

 

7

 

Liberty Broadband Adjusted OIBDA

 

$

82

 

 

$

85

 

GCI Holdings

 

$

90

 

 

$

90

 

Corporate and other

 

 

(8

)

 

 

(5

)

LIBERTY BROADBAND CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION

(unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2024

 

2023

 

 

 

amounts in millions,

 

 

 

except share amounts

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

108

 

158

 

Trade and other receivables, net of allowance for credit losses of $5 and $5, respectively

 

 

186

 

178

 

Prepaid and other current assets

 

 

56

 

94

 

Total current assets

 

 

350

 

430

 

Investment in Charter, accounted for using the equity method

 

 

12,281

 

12,116

 

Property and equipment, net

 

 

1,078

 

1,053

 

Intangible assets not subject to amortization

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goodwill

 

 

755

 

755

 

Cable certificates

 

 

550

 

550

 

Other

 

 

40

 

40

 

Intangible assets subject to amortization, net

 

 

449

 

461

 

Other assets, net

 

 

237

 

236

 

Total assets

 

$

15,740

 

15,641

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

$

94

 

86

 

Deferred revenue

 

 

29

 

30

 

Current portion of debt

 

 

3

 

3

 

Other current liabilities

 

 

67

 

59

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

193

 

178

 

Long-term debt, net, including $1,200 and $1,255 measured at fair value, respectively

 

 

3,636

 

3,733

 

Obligations under tower obligations and finance leases, excluding current portion

 

 

81

 

83

 

Long-term deferred revenue

 

 

77

 

65

 

Deferred income tax liabilities

 

 

2,255

 

2,216

 

Preferred stock

 

 

201

 

202

 

Other liabilities

 

 

139

 

141

 

Total liabilities

 

 

6,582

 

6,618

 

Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

Series A common stock, $.01 par value. Authorized 500,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 18,235,286 and 18,233,573 at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively

 

 

—

 

—

 

Series B common stock, $.01 par value. Authorized 18,750,000 shares; issued and outstanding 2,023,432 and 2,025,232 at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively

 

 

—

 

—

 

Series C common stock, $.01 par value. Authorized 500,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 122,589,251 and 123,704,814 at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively

 

 

1

 

1

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

3,018

 

3,107

 

Accumulated other comprehensive earnings (loss), net of taxes

 

 

35

 

52

 

Retained earnings

 

 

6,084

 

5,843

 

Total stockholders' equity

 

 

9,138

 

9,003

 

Non-controlling interests

 

 

20

 

20

 

Total equity

 

 

9,158

 

9,023

 

Commitments and contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities and equity

 

$

15,740

 

15,641

 

LIBERTY BROADBAND CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS INFORMATION

(unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2024

 

2023

 

 

 

amounts in millions,

 

 

 

except per share amounts

 

Revenue

 

$

245

 

 

246

 

 

Operating costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expense (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below)

 

 

62

 

 

62

 

 

Selling, general and administrative, including stock-based compensation

 

 

105

 

 

110

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

50

 

 

58

 

 

 

 

 

217

 

 

230

 

 

Operating income (loss)

 

 

28

 

 

16

 

 

Other income (expense):

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense (including amortization of deferred loan fees)

 

 

(51

)

 

(45

)

 

Share of earnings (losses) of affiliate

 

 

280

 

 

248

 

 

Gain (loss) on dilution of investment in affiliate

 

 

(28

)

 

(27

)

 

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on financial instruments, net

 

 

76

 

 

(114

)

 

Other, net

 

 

4

 

 

14

 

 

Earnings (loss) before income taxes

 

 

309

 

 

92

 

 

Income tax benefit (expense)

 

 

(68

)

 

(23

)

 

Net earnings (loss)

 

 

241

 

 

69

 

 

Less net earnings (loss) attributable to the non-controlling interests

 

 

—

 

 

—

 

 

Net earnings (loss) attributable to Liberty Broadband shareholders

 

$

241

 

 

69

 

 

Basic net earnings (loss) attributable to Series A, Series B and Series C Liberty Broadband shareholders per common share

 

$

1.69

 

 

0.47

 

 

Diluted net earnings (loss) attributable to Series A, Series B and Series C Liberty Broadband shareholders per common share

 

$

1.69

 

 

0.47

 

 

LIBERTY BROADBAND CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS INFORMATION

(unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2024

 

2023

 

 

 

amounts in millions

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings (loss)

 

$

241

 

 

69

 

 

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) to net cash from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

50

 

 

58

 

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

7

 

 

8

 

 

Share of (earnings) losses of affiliate, net

 

 

(280

)

 

(248

)

 

(Gain) loss on dilution of investment in affiliate

 

 

28

 

 

27

 

 

Realized and unrealized (gains) losses on financial instruments, net

 

 

(76

)

 

114

 

 

Deferred income tax expense (benefit)

 

 

44

 

 

22

 

 

Other, net

 

 

(1

)

 

(1

)

 

Change in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current and other assets

 

 

39

 

 

(6

)

 

Payables and other liabilities

 

 

—

 

 

(2

)

 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

 

 

52

 

 

41

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

 

(61

)

 

(54

)

 

Grant proceeds received for capital expenditures

 

 

15

 

 

—

 

 

Cash received for Charter shares repurchased by Charter

 

 

81

 

 

42

 

 

Other investing activities, net

 

 

(17

)

 

—

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

 

 

18

 

 

(12

)

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Borrowings of debt

 

 

20

 

 

1,248

 

 

Repayments of debt, tower obligations and finance leases

 

 

(62

)

 

(1,416

)

 

Repurchases of Liberty Broadband common stock

 

 

(89

)

 

(40

)

 

Indemnification payment to Qurate Retail

 

 

—

 

 

(24

)

 

Other financing activities, net

 

 

(1

)

 

(3

)

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

 

(132

)

 

(235

)

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

 

 

(62

)

 

(206

)

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period

 

 

176

 

 

400

 

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period

 

$

114

 

 

194

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240507783975/en/

Liberty Broadband Corporation Shane Kleinstein, 720-875-5432