HOUSTON, Oct. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Crown Castle Inc. (NYSE: CCI) ("Crown Castle") today reported results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024 and maintained its full year 2024 Outlook with the exception of a reduction to net income.
| (dollars in millions, except per share amounts) | Current Full Year 2024 Outlook(a) | Full Year 2023 Actual | % Change | Previous Full Year 2024 Outlook(b) | Current Compared to Previous Outlook | ||||||
| Site rental revenues | $6,340 | $6,532 | (3)% | $6,340 | -% | ||||||
| Net income (loss) | $1,020 | $1,502 | (32)% | $1,158 | (12)% | ||||||
| Net income (loss) per share-diluted | $2.35 | $3.46 | (32)% | $2.67 | (12)% | ||||||
| Adjusted EBITDA(c) | $4,168 | $4,415 | (6)% | $4,168 | -% | ||||||
| AFFO(c) | $3,030 | $3,277 | (8)% | $3,030 | -% | ||||||
| AFFO per share(c) | $6.97 | $7.55 | (8)% | $6.97 | -% | ||||||
(b) Reflects midpoint of full year 2024 Outlook as issued on July 17, 2024.
(c) See "Non-GAAP Measures and Other Information" for further information and reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to net income (loss), including on a per share basis.
"In the third quarter, we achieved solid operating and financial performance across our businesses and reaffirmed our full year 2024 Outlook for Adjusted EBITDA and AFFO,” stated Steven Moskowitz, Chief Executive Officer of Crown Castle. "Looking ahead, we continue to be optimistic about the long-term value creation opportunities in our tower, small cell, and fiber solutions offerings. Across all forms of digital connectivity, the U.S. is generating record annual increases in data consumption, which we expect to drive continued demand for communications infrastructure. We believe we are well positioned to benefit from these positive trends and are also actively developing initiatives that prioritize customer service, revenue generation, capital discipline, and operational excellence. As part of our previously announced plans to enhance returns by improving profitability and capital efficiency in our Fiber segment, we completed discussions with our customers in the fourth quarter and jointly identified approximately 7,000 greenfield small cell nodes in our contracted backlog that we mutually agreed to cancel. These agreed upon cancellations increase the overall return of our remaining contracted backlog of approximately 40,000 nodes and improve our capital efficiency going forward. These changes to our operating plan and capital expenditure profile are consistent with our previously provided expectations and position us to increase the value of our fiber and small cell assets, while we remain focused on the ongoing Fiber segment strategic review.”
RESULTS FOR THE QUARTER
The table below sets forth select financial results for the quarters ended September 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023.
| (dollars in millions, except per share amounts) | Q3 2024 | Q3 2023 | Change | % Change | |||||
| Site rental revenues | $1,593 | $1,577 | $16 | 1% | |||||
| Net income (loss) | $303 | $265 | $38 | 14% | |||||
| Net income (loss) per share-diluted | $0.70 | $0.61 | $0.09 | 15% | |||||
| Adjusted EBITDA(a) | $1,075 | $1,047 | $28 | 3% | |||||
| AFFO(a) | $801 | $767 | $34 | 4% | |||||
| AFFO per share(a) | $1.84 | $1.77 | $0.07 | 4% | |||||
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE QUARTER
- Site rental revenues. Site rental revenues grew 1%, or $16 million, from third quarter 2023 to third quarter 2024, inclusive of $65 million in Organic Contribution to Site Rental Billings, a $19 million decrease in amortization of prepaid rent, and a $30 million decrease in straight-lined revenues. The $65 million in Organic Contribution to Site Rental Billings benefited from $15 million of previously disclosed small cell non-recurring revenues primarily related to early termination payments, partially offset by a $4 million unfavorable impact on fiber solutions due to adjustments related to prior period revenues and a $6 million unfavorable impact on fiber solutions from the absence of Sprint Cancellation payments that occurred in the third quarter of 2023.
- Net income. Net income for the third quarter 2024 was $303 million compared to $265 million for the third quarter 2023, and included $48 million of charges incurred in the quarter related to the restructuring plan announced in June 2024.
- Adjusted EBITDA. Third quarter 2024 Adjusted EBITDA was $1.1 billion compared to $1.0 billion for the third quarter 2023. The increase in the quarter was primarily a result of the higher contribution from site rental revenues and lower costs related to the reduction in staffing levels and office closures announced in June 2024, partially offset by $6 million of advisory fees primarily related to the recent proxy contest.
- AFFO and AFFO per share. Third quarter 2024 AFFO was $801 million, or $1.84 per share, representing an increase from the third quarter 2023 of 4%.
- Capital expenditures. Capital expenditures during the quarter were $297 million, comprised of $274 million of discretionary capital expenditures and $23 million of sustaining capital expenditures. Discretionary capital expenditures included approximately $239 million attributable to Fiber and $30 million attributable to Towers.
- Common stock dividend. During the quarter, Crown Castle paid common stock dividends of approximately $681 million in the aggregate, or $1.565 per common share, unchanged on a per share basis compared to the same period a year ago.
- Financing activity. In August 2024, Crown Castle issued $1.25 billion in aggregate principal amount of senior unsecured notes in a combination of 5-year and 10-year maturities with a weighted average maturity and coupon of approximately 8 years and 5.1%, respectively. Net proceeds from the senior notes offering were used to repay outstanding indebtedness under Crown Castle's commercial paper program and pay related fees and expenses.
OUTLOOK
This Outlook section contains forward-looking statements, and actual results may differ materially. Information regarding potential risks which could cause actual results to differ from the forward-looking statements herein is set forth below and in Crown Castle's filings with the SEC.
The following table sets forth Crown Castle's current full year 2024 Outlook, which has been updated to reflect the impact of the mutual cancellation of approximately 7,000 small cell nodes as discussed above. These cancellations are expected to result in a $125 to $150 million asset write-down charge in the fourth quarter, reducing full year 2024 Outlook for net income by $138 million at the midpoint.
| (in millions, except per share amounts) | Full Year 2024(a) | Changes to Midpoint from Previous Outlook(b) | |||||||
| Site rental billings(c) | $5,740 | to | $5,780 | $0 | |||||
| Amortization of prepaid rent | $392 | to | $417 | $0 | |||||
| Straight-lined revenues | $162 | to | $187 | $0 | |||||
| Site rental revenues | $6,317 | to | $6,362 | $0 | |||||
| Site rental costs of operations(d) | $1,686 | to | $1,731 | $0 | |||||
| Services and other gross margin | $65 | to | $95 | $0 | |||||
| Net income (loss) | $975 | to | $1,065 | ($138) | |||||
| Net income (loss) per share-diluted | $2.24 | to | $2.45 | ($0.32) | |||||
| Adjusted EBITDA(e) | $4,143 | to | $4,193 | $0 | |||||
| Depreciation, amortization and accretion | $1,680 | to | $1,775 | $0 | |||||
| Interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs, net(f) | $926 | to | $971 | $0 | |||||
| FFO(e) | $2,863 | to | $2,893 | $0 | |||||
| AFFO(e) | $3,005 | to | $3,055 | $0 | |||||
| AFFO per share(e) | $6.91 | to | $7.02 | $0.00 | |||||
| Towers Segment discretionary capital expenditures(e) | $180 | to | $180 | $0 | |||||
| Fiber Segment discretionary capital expenditures(e) | $1,050 | to | $1,150 | $0 | |||||
(b) As issued on July 17, 2024.
(c) See "Non-GAAP Measures and Other Information" for our definition of site rental billings.
(d) Exclusive of depreciation, amortization and accretion.
(e) See "Non-GAAP Measures and Other Information" for further information and reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to net income (loss), including on a per share basis, and for definition of discretionary capital expenditures.
(f) See "Non-GAAP Measures and Other Information" for the reconciliation of "Outlook for Components of Interest Expense."
- The chart below reconciles the components contributing to expected 2024 growth in site rental revenues. Full year consolidated site rental billings growth, excluding the impact of Sprint Cancellations, is expected to be 5%, inclusive of 4.5% from towers, 15% from small cells, and 2% from fiber solutions.
- Core leasing activity for full year 2024 is expected to contribute $305 million to $335 million, consisting of $105 million to $115 million from towers (compared to $126 million in full year 2023), $65 million to $75 million from small cells (compared to $28 million in full year 2023), and $135 million to $145 million from fiber solutions (compared to $120 million in full year 2023).
- The expected 2024 small cell core leasing activity of $70 million at the midpoint includes $22 million of higher-than-expected non-recurring revenues primarily related to early termination payments which occurred in the third quarter. Excluding the impact of Sprint Cancellations and the increase in non-recurring revenues, small cell organic growth is expected to be 10% in 2024.
- The chart below reconciles the components contributing to the year over year change to 2024 AFFO.
- The expected increase in full year 2024 expenses includes approximately $30 million of advisory fees primarily related to the recent proxy contest, which is expected to be more than offset by an approximately $65 million decrease in costs related to the reduction in staffing levels and office closures announced in June 2024.
- The full year 2024 Outlook for discretionary capital expenditures is $1.2 billion to $1.3 billion, including approximately $1.1 billion in the Fiber segment and $180 million in the Towers segment, and prepaid rent additions are expected to be approximately $355 million in 2024, including $275 million from Fiber and $80 million from Towers.
CONFERENCE CALL DETAILS
Crown Castle has scheduled a conference call for Wednesday, October 16, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time to discuss its third quarter 2024 results. A listen only live audio webcast of the conference call, along with supplemental materials for the call, can be accessed on the Crown Castle website at https://investor.crowncastle.com. Participants may join the conference call by dialing 833-816-1115 (Toll Free) or 412-317-0694 (International) at least 30 minutes prior to the start time. All dial-in participants should ask to join the Crown Castle call.
A replay of the webcast will be available on the Investor page of Crown Castle's website until end of day, Thursday, October 16, 2025.
ABOUT CROWN CASTLE
Crown Castle owns, operates and leases more than 40,000 cell towers and approximately 90,000 route miles of fiber supporting small cells and fiber solutions across every major U.S. market. This nationwide portfolio of communications infrastructure connects cities and communities to essential data, technology and wireless service - bringing information, ideas and innovations to the people and businesses that need them. For more information on Crown Castle, please visit www.crowncastle.com.
Non-GAAP Measures and Other Information
This press release includes presentations of Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Funds from Operations ("AFFO"), including per share amounts, Funds from Operations ("FFO"), including per share amounts, Organic Contribution to Site Rental Billings, including as Adjusted for Impact of Sprint Cancellations, and Net Debt, which are non-GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP financial measures are not intended as alternative measures of operating results or cash flow from operations (as determined in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP")).
Our non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies, including other companies in the communications infrastructure sector or other real estate investment trusts ("REITs").
In addition to the non-GAAP financial measures used herein, we also provide segment site rental gross margin, segment services and other gross margin and segment operating profit, which are key measures used by management to evaluate our operating segments. These segment measures are provided pursuant to GAAP requirements related to segment reporting. In addition, we provide the components of certain GAAP measures, such as site rental revenues and capital expenditures.
Our non-GAAP financial measures are presented as additional information because management believes these measures are useful indicators of the financial performance of our business. Among other things, management believes that:
- 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 removing 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 the communications infrastructure sector and other REITs to measure financial performance without regard to items such as depreciation, amortization and accretion, which can vary depending upon accounting methods and the book value of assets. 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 (loss) computed in accordance with GAAP as a measure of our performance.
- AFFO, including per share amounts, is useful to investors or other interested parties in evaluating our financial performance. Management believes that AFFO helps investors or other interested parties meaningfully evaluate our financial performance as it includes (1) the impact of our capital structure (primarily interest expense on our outstanding debt and dividends on our preferred stock (in periods where applicable)) and (2) sustaining capital expenditures, and excludes the impact of our (1) asset base (primarily depreciation, amortization and accretion) and (2) certain non-cash items, including straight-lined revenues and expenses related to fixed escalations and rent free periods. 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 revenues or expenses are recognized on a straight-lined basis over the fixed, non-cancelable term of the contract. Management notes that Crown Castle uses AFFO only as a performance measure. AFFO should be considered only as a supplement to net income (loss) computed in accordance with GAAP as a measure of our performance and should not be considered as an alternative to cash flow from operations or as residual cash flow available for discretionary investment.
- FFO, including per share amounts, is useful to investors or other interested parties in evaluating our financial performance. Management believes that FFO may be used by investors or other interested parties as a basis to compare our financial performance with that of other REITs. FFO helps investors or other interested parties meaningfully evaluate financial performance by excluding the impact of our asset base (primarily real estate depreciation, amortization and accretion). FFO is not a key performance indicator used by Crown Castle. FFO should be considered only as a supplement to net income (loss) computed in accordance with GAAP as a measure of our performance and should not be considered as an alternative to cash flow from operations.
- Organic Contribution to Site Rental Billings (also referred to as organic growth) is useful to investors or other interested parties in understanding the components of the year-over-year changes in our site rental revenues computed in accordance with GAAP. Management uses Organic Contribution to Site Rental Billings to assess year-over-year growth rates for our rental activities, to evaluate current performance, to capture trends in rental rates, core leasing activities and tenant non-renewals in our core business, as well as to forecast future results. Separately, we are also disclosing Organic Contribution to Site Rental Billings as Adjusted for Impact of Sprint Cancellations (including by line of business), which is outside of ordinary course, to provide further insight into our results of operations and underlying trends. Management believes that identifying the impact for Sprint Cancellations provides increased transparency and comparability across periods. Organic Contribution to Site Rental Billings (including as Adjusted for Impact of Sprint Cancellations) is not meant as an alternative measure of revenue and should be considered only as a supplement in understanding and assessing the performance of our site rental revenues computed in accordance with GAAP.
- Net Debt is useful to investors or other interested parties in evaluating our overall debt position and future debt capacity. Management uses Net Debt in assessing our leverage. Net Debt is not meant as an alternative measure of debt and should be considered only as a supplement in understanding and assessing our leverage.
Adjusted EBITDA. We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) plus restructuring charges (credits), asset write-down charges, acquisition and integration costs, depreciation, amortization and accretion, amortization of prepaid lease purchase price adjustments, interest expense and amortization of deferred financing costs, net, (gains) losses on retirement of long-term obligations, net (gain) loss on interest rate swaps, (gains) losses on foreign currency swaps, impairment of available-for-sale securities, interest income, other (income) expense, (benefit) provision for income taxes, net (income) loss from discontinued operations, (gain) loss on sale of discontinued operations, cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle and stock-based compensation expense, net.
AFFO. We define AFFO as FFO before straight-lined revenues, straight-lined expenses, stock-based compensation expense, net, non-cash portion of tax provision, non-real estate related depreciation, amortization and accretion, amortization of non-cash interest expense, other (income) expense, (gains) losses on retirement of long-term obligations, net (gain) loss on interest rate swaps, (gains) losses on foreign currency swaps, impairment of available-for-sale securities, acquisition and integration costs, restructuring charges (credits), net (income) loss from discontinued operations, (gain) loss on sale of discontinued operations, cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle and adjustments for noncontrolling interests, less sustaining capital expenditures.
AFFO per share. We define AFFO per share as AFFO divided by diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding.
FFO. We define FFO as net income (loss) plus real estate related depreciation, amortization and accretion and asset write-down charges, less noncontrolling interest and cash paid for preferred stock dividends (in periods where applicable), and is a measure of funds from operations attributable to common stockholders.
FFO per share. We define FFO per share as FFO divided by diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding.
Organic Contribution to Site Rental Billings. We define Organic Contribution to Site Rental Billings (also referred to as organic growth) as the sum of the change in site rental revenues related to core leasing activity, escalators and payments for Sprint Cancellations, less non-renewals of tenant contracts and non-renewals associated with Sprint Cancellations. Additionally, Organic Contribution to Site Rental Billings as Adjusted for Impact of Sprint Cancellations reflects Organic Contribution to Site Rental Billings less payments for Sprint Cancellations, plus non-renewals associated with Sprint Cancellations (including by line of business).
Net Debt. We define Net Debt as (1) debt and other long-term obligations and (2) current maturities of debt and other obligations, excluding unamortized adjustments, net; less cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents.
Segment Measures
Segment site rental gross margin. We define segment site rental gross margin as segment site rental revenues less segment site rental costs of operations, excluding stock-based compensation expense, net and amortization of prepaid lease purchase price adjustments recorded in consolidated site rental costs of operations.
Segment services and other gross margin. We define segment services and other gross margin as segment services and other revenues less segment services and other costs of operations, excluding stock-based compensation expense, net recorded in consolidated services and other costs of operations.
Segment operating profit. We define segment operating profit as segment site rental gross margin plus segment services and other gross margin, less segment selling, general and administrative expenses.
All of these measurements of profit or loss are exclusive of depreciation, amortization and accretion, which are shown separately. Additionally, certain costs are shared across segments and are reflected in our segment measures through allocations that management believes to be reasonable.
Other Definitions
Site rental billings. We define site rental billings as site rental revenues exclusive of the impacts from (1) straight-lined revenues, (2) amortization of prepaid rent in accordance with GAAP and (3) contribution from recent acquisitions until the one-year anniversary of such acquisitions.
Core leasing activity. We define core leasing activity as site rental revenues growth from tenant additions across our entire portfolio and renewals or extensions of tenant contracts, exclusive of (1) the impacts from both straight-lined revenues and amortization of prepaid rent in accordance with GAAP and (2) payments for Sprint Cancellations, where applicable.
Non-renewals. We define non-renewals of tenant contracts as the reduction in site rental revenues as a result of tenant churn, terminations and, in limited circumstances, reductions of existing lease rates, exclusive of non-renewals associated with Sprint Cancellations, where applicable.
Discretionary capital expenditures. We define discretionary capital expenditures as those capital expenditures made with respect to activities which we believe exhibit sufficient potential to enhance long-term stockholder value. They primarily consist of expansion or development of communications infrastructure (including capital expenditures related to (1) enhancing communications infrastructure in order to add new tenants for the first time or support subsequent tenant equipment augmentations or (2) modifying the structure of a communications infrastructure asset to accommodate additional tenants) and construction of new communications infrastructure. Discretionary capital expenditures also include purchases of land interests (which primarily relates to land assets under towers as we seek to manage our interests in the land beneath our towers), certain technology-related investments necessary to support and scale future customer demand for our communications infrastructure, and other capital projects.
Sustaining capital expenditures. We define sustaining capital expenditures as those capital expenditures not otherwise categorized as discretionary capital expenditures, such as (1) maintenance capital expenditures on our communications infrastructure assets that enable our tenants' ongoing quiet enjoyment of the communications infrastructure and (2) ordinary corporate capital expenditures.
Sprint Cancellations. We define Sprint Cancellations as lease cancellations related to the previously disclosed T-Mobile US, Inc. and Sprint network consolidation as described in our press release dated April 19, 2023.
Reconciliation of Historical Adjusted EBITDA:
| For the Three Months Ended | For the Nine Months Ended | For the Twelve Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||
| (in millions; totals may not sum due to rounding) | September 30, 2024 | September 30, 2023 | September 30, 2024 | September 30, 2023 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||||||
| Net income (loss) | $ | 303 | $ | 265 | $ | 865 | $ | 1,139 | $ | 1,502 | |||||||||
| Adjustments to increase (decrease) net income (loss): | |||||||||||||||||||
| Asset write-down charges | 15 | 8 | 24 | 30 | 33 | ||||||||||||||
| Acquisition and integration costs | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||
| Depreciation, amortization and accretion | 432 | 439 | 1,301 | 1,315 | 1,754 | ||||||||||||||
| Restructuring charges(a) |
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