Industry-Best Total Mobile and Fixed
customer growth of 347,000 driven by strong demand for our leading
portfolio of services across Mobility and Fixed
Strong Mobile Phone and Connected Device
net additions of 130,000 and 159,000, respectively;
industry-leading postpaid mobile phone churn of 0.90 per
cent
Robust third quarter Fixed customer net
additions of 58,000, including 34,000 internet customer additions,
driven by our leading TELUS PureFibre network and premier portfolio
of bundled services across Mobile and Home
TTech Operating Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA
growth of 1.9 per cent and 5.6 per cent, respectively, alongside
strong margin expansion of 110 basis points to 39 per cent
reflecting a lower cost-to-serve and focus on driving higher margin
per user, gains from copper and real estate monetization and
continued double digit momentum in health services EBITDA
contribution growth
Net income and earnings per share higher by
88 per cent and 111 per cent, respectively and on an adjusted basis
increased by 11 and 12 per cent; Consolidated free cash flow up 58
per cent
Quarterly dividend increased to
$0.4023, up 7.0 per cent over the
same period last year, representing a dividend yield of
approximately 7.7 per cent
2024 target for TTech operating revenue
growth updated to slightly below the lower end of the original
range; targets for TTech Adjusted EBITDA, along with our
Consolidated targets for Capital Expenditures and Free cash flow,
remain unchanged as provided with the release of our second quarter
2024 results in August
VANCOUVER, BC, Nov. 8, 2024
/CNW/ - TELUS Corporation today released its unaudited results
for the third quarter of 2024. Consolidated operating revenues and
other income increased by 1.8 per cent over the same period a
year ago to $5.1 billion. This growth
was driven by higher service revenue and other income from copper
and real estate monetization in our TELUS technology solutions
(TTech) segment, alongside higher other offset by lower service
revenue in our TELUS digital experience segment (TELUS
Digital).
Within TTech, higher revenue from the expansion of mobile
network, residential internet, TV and security subscribers, health
services, agriculture and consumer goods services, along with
increases in managed, unmanaged and other fixed data services;
partially offset by rate reductions in mobile network, residential
internet, and security services, as well as declines in TV and
fixed legacy voice services revenues. The decline in TELUS Digital
operating revenues were from lower external revenues reflecting:
(i) lower revenues from leading social media client and other
technology clients; (ii) a reduction in revenue in other industry
verticals, notably among communications (excluding the TTech
segment) and eCommerce clients; and (iii) a persistently
challenging macroeconomic environment and competitive conditions in
the industry. See Third Quarter 2024 Operating Highlights
within this news release for a discussion on TTech and TELUS
Digital results.
"In the third quarter, our team's dedication to operational
excellence led to industry-leading customer growth and robust
financial results, harnessing our premier asset portfolio and
focused commitment to cost efficiency and effectiveness," said
Darren Entwistle, President and CEO.
"Our results demonstrate our ability to deliver sustainable
profitable growth, anchored by our strategic emphasis on
margin-accretive customer expansion, globally leading broadband
networks, and a customer-centric culture. This enabled
industry-best total customer net additions of 347,000, including
robust mobile phone customer additions of 130,000, strong gains in
connected devices with 159,000 net additions, and total fixed net
additions of 58,000. Our team's passion for delivering customer
service excellence contributed once again to leading loyalty across
our key product lines. Notably, postpaid mobile phone churn was
0.90 per cent, while churn for TELUS-branded mobility and home
households nationally was below one per cent, underscoring the
consistent strength of our unmatched bundled product offerings
across Mobile and Home, over our industry-leading PureFibre and
wireless broadband networks."
"Within TELUS Health, our team achieved revenue growth of four
per cent as strategic investments in our products, sales, and
distribution channels generate strong momentum across our health
portfolio. Our team also achieved 50 per cent Adjusted EBITDA
contribution growth, supported by higher revenue and the
realization of $331 million in
combined annualized synergies since acquiring LifeWorks in 2022.
This includes $277 million in cost
synergies and $54 million in
cross-selling, as we work towards our overall objective of
$427 million by the end of 2025.
Additionally, we drove a 9.2 per cent year-over-year increase in
global lives covered to 76 million. Similarly, within TELUS
Agriculture & Consumer Goods, we continue to see positive
outcomes, strengthening our market position and delivering a more
than 20 per cent increase in revenue alongside strong profitability
growth and margin contribution. Our commitment to maximizing the
full potential of these distinctive global businesses is
underscored by leveraging the expertise, experience, and
high-performance culture of our team. This also includes
capitalizing on significant cross-selling opportunities across all
our businesses, demonstrating the collective talent and
effectiveness of our team in driving our success."
"Importantly, our significant broadband network investments, and
the profitable growth they drive, enable the continued advancement
of our financial and operational performance and the long-term
sustainability of our industry-leading dividend growth program,"
continued Darren. "The 7.0 per cent year-over-year dividend
increase announced today represents the twenty-seventh increase
since we initiated our multi-year dividend growth program in 2011,
now in its fourteenth year. Since 2004, TELUS has returned more
than $26 billion to shareholders,
including over $21 billion in
dividends, representing approximately $18 per share."
"Demonstrating our organization's long-standing belief in the
symbiotic relationship between doing well in business and doing
good in the global communities where our team members live, work
and serve, last month we celebrated the one-year anniversary of the
TELUS Student Bursary," added Darren. "Through the TELUS Student
Bursary, we are creating the circumstances necessary to empower
young people in Canada to realize
their full potential. In addition to being the largest bursary fund
in the country, the TELUS Student Bursary is also unique because of
its focus on social purpose and its holistic approach to supporting
and developing our future leaders. This academic year alone, the
TELUS Friendly Future Foundation awarded $2.2 million to more than 500 students in
financial need. Since the inception of the bursary program, the
Foundation has provided over $4
million to nearly 1,000 students."
"Earlier today, TELUS Digital Experience (TELUS Digital) also
reported its third quarter results, delivering stable financial
performance as compared to the prior quarter, signifying a positive
step on the recovery trajectory, and we are eager to drive further
improvements as we advance our growth objectives. Indeed, TELUS
Digital's comprehensive and growing suite of leading AI solutions
continues to demonstrate strong momentum, capturing new client
engagements and broader recognition in the market, exemplifying our
progress in next generation technology applications. Moreover, the
strength of TELUS Digital's transformational generative AI-powered
solutions and tools created for all lines of business at TELUS,
continues to enhance their go-to-market efforts with new and
prospective clients. Our confidence in TELUS Digital's fundamental
drivers of value creation remains unwavering, particularly given
the company's leadership in key areas such as trust and safety, the
digitization of its own and its clients' customer experience
operations, and the broader evolution of its business towards a
technology-centric model. Importantly, we see TELUS Digital
creating positive momentum for its medium and long-term
growth."
Doug French, Executive
Vice-president and CFO said, "Our solid performance during the
third quarter continues to highlight our consistent track record of
operational execution excellence as we navigate a dynamic operating
environment. This quarter, TTech operating revenue growth of
approximately two per cent continued to improve relative to the
first half of the year, driven by stable mobile network growth,
alongside a steady improvement within fixed data, as well as strong
contribution from our global health and agriculture and consumer
goods businesses. Furthermore, we delivered strong TTech Adjusted
EBITDA growth of 5.6 per cent accompanied by margin expansion of
110 basis points to 39 per cent. This growth was driven by our
longstanding emphasis on profitable customer growth, combined with
driving a lower cost-to-serve through our ongoing focus on cost
efficiency and effectiveness, as well as continued financial gains
related to our copper and real estate monetization program. For
2024, we now anticipate restructuring expenses to be approximately
$450 million as we continue to
optimize our cost structure to drive EBITDA expansion, margin
accretion, and accelerated free cash flow growth."
"As we continue through the final quarter of the year, our
financial position remains strong. At the end of the third quarter,
we had approximately $3.2 billion of
available liquidity, our average cost of long-term debt was 4.40
per cent, the average term to maturity of long-term debt is
approximately 11 years, and our net debt to EBITDA ratio was 3.83
times. As we look toward future years, we anticipate an improvement
in our leverage ratio as we work towards our target ratio through
continued EBITDA growth, declining capital intensity toward the 10
per cent level, and ongoing free cash flow expansion."
"For the full year, our 2024 target for TTech operating revenue
growth is now anticipated to be slightly below the lower end of our
original target range. This updated outlook reflects the
competitive market conditions and our team's continued focus on
operational execution excellence. Importantly, targets for
TTech Adjusted EBITDA, along with our consolidated targets for
capital expenditures and free cash flow, remain unchanged as
previously communicated in our second quarter earnings release in
August. Despite the dynamic and competitive environment in the
near-term, we are confident in our ability to drive strong,
sustainable, and margin-accretive growth. This confidence is rooted
in our persistent focus on operational efficiency and
effectiveness. The strength and resilience of our business
continues to demonstrate our superior asset mix, and we are
enthusiastic about the promising future prospects for our
organization in Canada and
internationally through our global growth assets. This includes our
expectations for continued free cash flow expansion in the coming
years, driven by sustained strong EBITDA growth and moderating
capital expenditure intensity. This is supplemented by our copper
and real estate monetization programs that will continue for years
to come. All of these support the long-term sustainability and
quality of our long-standing and industry-leading dividend growth
program," concluded Doug.
As compared to the same period a year ago, net income in the
quarter of $257 million was up 88 per
cent and Basic earnings per share (EPS) of $0.19 increased by 111 per cent. These increases
were driven by higher Adjusted EBITDA as detailed below, partially
offset by higher financing costs, driven by the impact of
unrealized changes in virtual power purchase agreements forward
element, increased long-term debt, associated with our investments
in spectrum and PureFibre technology, and higher interest rates on
both floating-rate and recent fixed-rate issuances. In addition to
the Adjusted EBITDA growth drivers discussed below, EBITDA also
reflects lower restructuring and other costs, primarily related to
significant investments in cost efficiency and effectiveness
programs, including real estate rationalization, which
predominantly took place during the third quarter of 2023.
As it relates to EPS, the trends also reflect the effect of a
higher number of Common shares outstanding. When excluding certain
costs and other adjustments (see 'Reconciliation of adjusted Net
income' in this news release), adjusted net income of
$413 million increased by 11 per cent
over the same period last year, while adjusted basic EPS of
$0.28 was up 12 per cent over the
same period last year. Adjusted net income is a non-GAAP financial
measure and adjusted basic EPS is a non-GAAP ratio. For further
explanation of these measures, see 'Non-GAAP and other specified
financial measures' in this news release.
Compared to the same period last year, consolidated EBITDA
increased by 16 per cent to approximately $1.8 billion and Adjusted EBITDA increased by 1.3
per cent to more than $1.8 billion.
The growth in Adjusted EBITDA reflects: (i) mobile network,
residential internet, TV and security subscriber growth; (ii)
broad-based cost reduction efforts, synergies achieved between
LifeWorks® and our legacy health business, and an
increase in TTech leveraging TELUS Digital, as well as savings in
marketing costs; (iii) higher gains on real estate projects and
reversals of business combination-related provisions; (iv) growth
in health services margin; (v) higher agriculture and consumer
goods margins; and (vi) growth in fixed data services to new and
existing business customers. These factors were partly offset by:
(i) lower mobile phone ARPU; (ii) lower operational growth in TELUS
Digital (excluding other income); (iii) declining TV and fixed
legacy voice margins; (iv) lower mobile equipment margins; (v)
higher network operations costs; (vi) higher bad debt expense; and
(vii) higher costs related to the scaling of our digital
capabilities.
In the third quarter of 2024, we added 347,000 net customer
additions, down 59,000 over the same period last year, and
inclusive of 130,000 mobile phones and 159,000 connected devices,
in addition to 34,000 internet, 21,000 TV and 12,000 security
customer connections. This was partly offset by residential voice
losses of 9,000. Our total TTech subscriber base of 19.8 million is
up 6.4 per cent over the last twelve months, reflecting a 4.2 per
cent increase in our mobile phones subscriber base to over 10.0
million and a 21 per cent increase in our connected devices
subscriber base to over 3.5 million. Additionally, our internet
connections grew by 5.1 per cent over the last twelve months to
over 2.7 million customer connections, our TV customer base stands
at more than 1.3 million customer connections, and our security
subscriber base increased by 7.5 per cent to more than 1.1 million
customer connections. Lastly, our residential voice subscriber base
declined slightly by 3.0 per cent to more than 1.0 million.
In health services, as of the end of the third quarter of 2024,
virtual care members were 6.5 million and healthcare lives covered
were 76.0 million, up 18 per cent and 9.2 per cent over the past
twelve months, respectively. Digital health transactions in the
third quarter of 2024 were 161.5 million, up 7.2 per cent over the
third quarter of 2023.
Cash provided by operating activities of $1.4 billion increased by 10 per cent in the
third quarter of 2024, primarily driven by EBITDA growth, partially
offset by increased restructuring and other costs disbursements,
net of expense, and increased interest paid.
Free cash flow of $561 million
increased by 58 per cent compared to the same period a year ago,
reflecting higher EBITDA and lower capital expenditures. These
factors were partly offset by increased interest paid and greater
lease payments. Our definition of free cash flow, for which
there is no industry alignment, excludes impacts of accounting
standards that do not impact cash, such as IFRS 15 and IFRS 16.
Consolidated capital expenditures of $668
million, including $28 million
for real estate development, decreased by $101 million or 13 per cent in the third quarter
of 2024. TTech operations drove $90
million of the decrease in the third quarter of 2024,
primarily driven by the planned slowdown of our fibre and wireless
network builds and systems development. As at September 30, 2024, our 5G network covered
approximately 32.1 million Canadians, representing approximately 87
per cent of the population. TTech real estate development capital
expenditures increased by $6 million
in the third quarter of 2024, reflecting an increase in capital
investment to support construction of multi-year development
projects, including TELUS OceanTM, TELUS Living
residential buildings and other commercial buildings in
British Columbia. TELUS Digital
capital expenditures decreased by $5
million in the third quarter of 2024, primarily due to
slower demand for client growth.
Consolidated Financial Highlights
C$ millions, except
footnotes and unless noted otherwise
|
Three months ended
September 30
|
Per cent
|
(unaudited)
|
2024
|
2023
|
change
|
Operating revenues
(arising from contracts with customers)
|
5,042
|
4,990
|
1.0
|
Operating revenues and
other income
|
5,099
|
5,008
|
1.8
|
Total operating
expenses
|
4,311
|
4,491
|
(4.0)
|
Net income
|
257
|
137
|
87.6
|
Net income attributable
to common shares
|
280
|
136
|
105.9
|
Adjusted Net
income(1)
|
413
|
373
|
10.7
|
Basic
EPS ($)
|
0.19
|
0.09
|
111.1
|
Adjusted basic
EPS(1) ($)
|
0.28
|
0.25
|
12.0
|
EBITDA(1)
|
1,756
|
1,517
|
15.8
|
Adjusted
EBITDA(1)
|
1,842
|
1,820
|
1.3
|
Capital
expenditures(2)
|
668
|
769
|
(13.1)
|
Cash provided by
operating activities
|
1,432
|
1,307
|
9.6
|
Free cash
flow(1)
|
561
|
355
|
58.0
|
Total telecom
subscriber connections(3) (thousands)
|
19,847
|
18,652
|
6.4
|
Healthcare lives
covered (millions)
|
76.0
|
69.6
|
9.2
|
|
Notations used in the
table above: n/m – not meaningful.
|
|
|
(1)
|
These are non-GAAP and
other specified financial measures, which do not have standardized
meanings under IFRS-IASB and might not be comparable to those used
by other issuers. For further definitions and explanations of these
measures, see 'Non-GAAP and other specified financial
measures' in this news release.
|
(2)
|
Capital expenditures
include assets purchased, excluding right-of-use lease assets, but
not yet paid for, and consequently differ from Cash payments for
capital assets, excluding spectrum licences, as reported in the
interim consolidated financial statements. Refer to Note 31
of the interim consolidated financial statements for further
information.
|
(3)
|
The sum of active
mobile phone subscribers, connected device subscribers, internet
subscribers, residential voice subscribers, TV subscribers and
security subscribers, measured at the end of the respective periods
based on information in billing and other source systems. Effective
for the first quarter of 2024, with retrospective application to
January 1, 2023, we reduced our mobile phone subscriber base by
283,000 subscribers to remove a subset of our public services
customers that are now subject to dynamic pricing auction models.
We believe adjusting our base for these low margin customers
provides a more meaningful reflection of the underlying performance
of our mobile phone business and our focus on profitable growth. As
a result of this change, associated operating statistics (ARPU and
churn) have also been adjusted. Effective January 1, 2024, on a
prospective basis, we adjusted our TV subscriber base to remove
97,000 subscribers as we have ceased marketing our Pik
TV® product.
|
Third Quarter 2024 Operating Highlights
TELUS technology solutions (TTech)
- TTech operating revenues (arising from contracts with
customers) increased by $83 million
or 1.9 per cent in the third quarter of 2024, primarily reflecting
increases in mobile network revenue, mobile equipment and other
service revenues, fixed data services revenues, health services and
agriculture and consumer goods services, as described below.
Decreases in fixed voice services revenues and fixed equipment and
other service revenues were partial offsets.
- TTech EBITDA increased by $313
million or 23 per cent in the third quarter of 2024, while
TTech Adjusted EBITDA increased by $90
million or 5.6 per cent, reflecting: (i) mobile network,
residential internet, TV and security subscriber growth; (ii)
broad-based cost reduction efforts, including workforce reductions,
synergies achieved between LifeWorks and our legacy health
business, and an increase in TTech leveraging TELUS Digital
resulting in competitive benefits given the lower cost structure in
TELUS Digital, as well as savings in marketing costs; (iii) higher
gains on real estate projects; (iv) growth in health services
margin; (v) higher agriculture and consumer goods margins; and (vi)
growth in fixed data services to new and existing business
customers. These factors were partially offset by: (i) lower mobile
phone ARPU; (ii) declining TV and fixed legacy voice margins; (iii)
lower mobile equipment margins; (iv) higher network operations
costs; (v) higher bad debt expense; and (vi) higher costs related
to the scaling of our digital capabilities, inclusive of increased
subscription-based licenses and cloud usage costs.
Mobile products and services
- Mobile network revenue increased by $13
million or 0.7 per cent in the third quarter of 2024,
largely due to growth in our mobile phone and an increase in IoT
connections, partly offset by lower mobile phone ARPU.
- Mobile equipment and other service revenues increased by
$34 million or 6.1 per cent in the
third quarter of 2024, due to the impact of higher-value
smartphones in the sales mix, partly offset by a reduction in
contracted volumes attributable to our efforts to match only on
profitable offers from more aggressive promotional activity in the
current year compared to the prior year, in addition to the growing
number of customers taking advantage of BYOD offerings.
- TTech Mobile products and services direct contribution
decreased by $23 million or 1.4 per
cent in the third quarter of 2024, largely reflecting the impact of
lower mobile phone ARPU, lower mobile equipment margin from lower
contracted volume and increased competitor-driven discounting, and
higher amortization of deferred commissions attributable to rising
retail traffic in the current and prior periods. These were partly
offset by mobile phone subscriber growth.
- Mobile phone ARPU was $58.85 in
the third quarter of 2024, a decrease of $2.09 or 3.4 per cent; the rate of decline was
stable relative to the second quarter of 2024. This decrease was
attributable to the adoption of base rate plans with lower prices
in response to more aggressive marketing and promotional pricing
targeting both new and existing customers, and a decline in overage
and roaming revenues, partly offset by higher IoT revenue. We
continue to see increasing adoption of unlimited data and
Canada-U.S. plans which provide higher and more stable ARPU on a
monthly basis while also giving customers cost certainty in lower
roaming fees to the U.S. and lower data overage fees,
respectively.
- Mobile phone gross additions were 455,000 in the third quarter
of 2024, consistent with the prior year.
- Mobile phone net additions were 130,000 in the third quarter of
2024, reflecting a decrease of 30,000, driven by a higher mobile
phone churn rate.
- Our mobile phone churn rate was 1.09 per cent in the third
quarter of 2024, compared to 1.03 per cent in the third quarter of
2023, reflecting customer switching decisions in response to more
aggressive marketing and promotional pricing, in addition to
increased adoption of BYOD plans. These factors have been partly
mitigated by our continued focus on customer retention through our
industry-leading service and network quality, along with successful
promotions and bundled offerings.
- Connected device net additions were 159,000 in the third
quarter of 2024, reflecting a decrease of 20,000, largely due to
one customer decommissioning a subset of their legacy, low-usage
IoT connections during the quarter, partly offset by growth in
gross additions of IoT connections.
Fixed products and services
- Fixed data services revenues increased by $22 million or 1.9 per cent in the third quarter
of 2024, driven by an increase in our internet, security and TV
subscribers, and growth in our managed, unmanaged and other
services to new and existing business customers. These were partly
offset by lower TV revenue per customer, reflecting an increased
mix of customers selecting smaller TV combination packages and
technological substitution, slightly lower internet revenue per
customer reflecting competitive pressures, as well as lower
security revenue per customer reflecting increased demand for
inherently lower-ARPU home automation services.
- Fixed voice services revenues decreased by $12 million or 6.3 per cent in the third quarter
of 2024, reflecting the ongoing decline in legacy voice revenues as
a result of technological substitution and price plan changes.
Declines were partly mitigated by the success of our bundled
product offerings and our retention efforts.
- Fixed equipment and other service revenues decreased by
$8 million or 6.4 per cent in the
third quarter of 2024, largely due to a reduction in business
premises equipment sales, as equipment sales tend to be more
one-time in nature.
- TTech fixed products and services direct contribution increased
by $51 million or 3.9 per cent in the
third quarter of 2024, primarily driven by increased health and
agriculture and consumer goods revenues and continued subscriber
growth. These were partly offset by declines in TV and legacy voice
margins attributable to technological substitution.
- Internet net additions were 34,000 in the third quarter of
2024, a decrease of 3,000 for the quarter, largely attributable to
a higher churn rate due to macroeconomic and competitive pressures
that have continued to impact consumer purchasing decisions. These
factors were partly offset by our success in driving strong gross
additions through robust sales strategies and the strength of our
fibre optic offering.
- TV net additions were 21,000 in the third quarter of 2024, an
increase of 1,000 for the quarter, attributable to our diverse
offerings catered towards the changing needs of our consumers,
partly offset by a higher churn rate due to the same factors as
internet net additions.
- Security net additions were 12,000 in the third quarter of
2024, a decrease of 6,000 for the quarter, primarily due to a
higher churn rate related to the same factors as internet net
additions.
- Residential voice net losses were 9,000 in the third quarter of
2024, an increase of 1,000 losses for the quarter.
Health services
- Through TELUS Health, we are leveraging technology to deliver
connected solutions and services, improving access to care and
revolutionizing the flow of information while facilitating
collaboration, efficiency, and productivity across the healthcare
ecosystem, progressing our vision of transforming healthcare and
empowering people to live healthier lives.
- Health services revenues increased by $17 million or 4.0 per cent in the third quarter
of 2024, primarily driven by pharmacy upgrades, virtual pharmacy
sales, employee assistance programs and increased demand for health
benefits management services and retirement benefits
solutions.
- At the end of the third quarter of 2024, 6.5 million members
were enrolled in our virtual care services, an increase of one
million over the past 12 months, attributable to the continued
adoption of virtual solutions that keep Canadians and others safely
connected to health and wellness care.
- At the end of the third quarter of 2024, our healthcare
programs covered 76 million lives, an increase of 6.4 million over
the past 12 months, mainly reflecting robust growth in our employee
and family assistance programs from both new and existing clients
across all of our regions, in addition to continued demand for
virtual solutions.
- Digital health transactions were 161.5 million in the third
quarter of 2024, an increase of 10.9 million, largely driven by
increased paid exchange of healthcare data between our health
benefits management system and care providers resulting from higher
patient demand for elective health services.
Agriculture and consumer goods services
- Through TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods, we provide
innovative digital solutions and actionable data-insights that
better connect the global supply chain, driving more efficient
production processes and improving the safety, quality and
sustainability of food and consumer goods. Importantly, these
efforts are also enabling better traceability to the end consumer,
further supporting improved food outcomes.
- Agriculture and consumer goods services revenues increased by
$17 million or 21 per cent, primarily
attributed to business acquisitions and improving organic growth
across certain lines of business, including increased subscription
and license revenues. These factors were partially offset by an
increase of agriculture customer churn and macroeconomic headwinds
slowing down subscription growth and sales funnel
opportunities.
TELUS Digital
- TELUS Digital operating revenues (arising from contracts with
customers) decreased by $31 million
or 4.4 per cent in the third quarter of 2024. The decrease was
primarily attributable to: (i) lower revenues from a leading social
media client and other technology clients; (ii) a reduction in
revenue in other industry verticals, notably among communications
(excluding the TTech segment) and eCommerce clients; and (iii) a
persistently challenging macroeconomic environment and competitive
conditions in the industry. These decreases were partially offset
by: (i) growth in services provided to existing clients, including
Google during the first nine months of 2024; (ii) new clients added
since the same period in the prior year; and (iii) the
strengthening of both the U.S. dollar and the European euro against
the Canadian dollar, which resulted in a favourable foreign
currency impact on our TELUS Digital operating results. Revenues
from contracts denominated in U.S. dollars, European euros and
other currencies will be affected by changes in foreign exchange
rates.
- Revenue from our tech and games industry vertical decreased by
$28 million or 6.9 per cent in the
third quarter of 2024, primarily due to lower revenue from a
leading social media client and certain other technology and gaming
clients, partially offset by growth in revenue from other clients
within this industry vertical.
- Revenue from our communications and media industry vertical
increased by $15 million or 7.2 per
cent in the third quarter of 2024, driven primarily by more
services provided to the TTech segment, partially offset by lower
service revenue from certain other telecommunication clients.
- Revenue from our eCommerce and fintech industry vertical
decreased by $14 million or 15 per
cent in the third quarter of 2024, due to lower service volume
demand from a large eCommerce client as well as certain fintech
clients.
- Revenue from our healthcare industry vertical increased by
$15 million or 29 per cent in the
third quarter of 2024, primarily due to additional services
provided to the healthcare business unit of the TTech segment.
- Revenue from our banking, financial services and insurance
industry vertical increased by $10
million or 22 per cent in the third quarter of 2024, due to
growth from certain Canadian banks and smaller regional financial
services firms in North America,
partially offset by lower service volume demand from a global
financial institution client.
- All other verticals increased by $7
million or 8.2 per cent in the third quarter of 2024 due to
seasonality and higher service volume demand from certain clients
in the travel and hospitality, and retail and consumer packaged
goods industry verticals.
- TELUS Digital EBITDA decreased by $62
million or 37 per cent in the third quarter of 2024 while
Adjusted EBITDA decreased by $56
million or 30 per cent in the same period. The decreases
were driven by higher investments in corporate initiatives, such as
commercial talent acquisition and operational effectiveness
programs, as reflected in the increase in salaries and benefits and
Goods and services purchased, as well as higher share-based
compensation compared to a slight reduction in revenue, which was
partially offset by other income arising from the revaluation of
our provisions for written put options.
TELUS 2024 financial targets
TELUS' financial targets for 2024 are guided by a number of
long-term financial objectives, policies and guidelines, which are
detailed in Section 4.3 of the 2023 annual MD&A.
For the full year, our 2024 target for TTech operating revenue
growth is now anticipated to be slightly below the lower end of our
original target range, reflecting the competitive market
conditions. Our annual targets for TTech Adjusted EBITDA, along
with our consolidated targets for capital expenditures and free
cash flow, remain unchanged as previously communicated in our
second quarter earnings release in August.
|
2024
targets
|
Original 2024
targets
|
TTech Operating
revenues(1)
|
Growth of 2 to
4%
(Slightly below the
lower end of the range)
|
Growth of 2 to
4%
|
TTech Adjusted
EBITDA
|
Growth of 5.5 to
7.5%
(Lower end of the
range)
|
Growth of 5.5 to
7.5%
|
Consolidated Free cash
flow
|
Approximately $2.1
billion
|
Approximately $2.3
billion
|
Consolidated Capital
expenditures(2)
|
Approximately $2.6
billion
(Unchanged)
|
Approximately $2.6
billion
|
(1)
|
For 2024, we are
guiding on TTech Operating revenues, which excludes other income.
TTech Operating revenues for 2023 were $17,106 million.
|
(2)
|
Excludes approximately
$100 million targeted towards real estate development
initiatives.
|
Consolidated operating revenues and Adjusted EBITDA can be
approximated when combining our TTech targets referenced above with
the 2024 financial targets set by TELUS Digital, as announced
August 2, 2024.
The preceding disclosure respecting TELUS' 2024 financial
targets is forward-looking information and is fully qualified by
the 'Caution regarding forward-looking statements' below and
based on management's expectations and assumptions as set out below
and in Section 9.3 TELUS assumptions for 2024 in the 2023
annual MD&A and updated in Sections 9 and 10 of
our third quarter 2024 interim MD&A. This disclosure is
presented for the purpose of assisting our investors and others in
understanding certain key elements of our expected 2024 financial
results as well as our objectives, strategic priorities and
business outlook. Such information may not be appropriate for other
purposes.
Dividend Declaration
The TELUS Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of
$0.4023 per share on the issued and
outstanding Common Shares of the Company payable on January 2, 2025 to holders of record at the close
of business on December 11, 2024.
This quarterly dividend reflects an increase of 7.0 per cent from
the $0.3761 per share dividend
declared one year earlier and consistent with our multi-year
dividend growth program. When a dividend payment date falls on a
weekend or holiday, the payment shall be made on the next
succeeding day that is a business day.
Corporate Highlights
TELUS makes significant contributions and investments in the
communities where team members live, work and serve and to the
Canadian economy on behalf of customers, shareholders and team
members. These include:
- Paying, collecting and remitting approximately $1.8 billion in the first nine months of 2024 to
federal, provincial and municipal governments in Canada consisting of corporate income taxes,
sales taxes, property taxes, employer portion of payroll taxes and
various regulatory fees. Since 2000, we have remitted approximately
$37 billion in these taxes.
- Investing approximately $2.1
billion in capital expenditures primarily in communities
across Canada in the first nine
months of 2024 and nearly $56 billion
since 2000.
- Disbursing spectrum renewal fees of approximately $56 million to Innovation, Science and Economic
Development Canada in the first nine months of 2024. Since 2000,
our total tax and spectrum remittances to federal, provincial and
municipal governments in Canada
have totalled approximately $46
billion.
- Spending $7.2 billion in total
operating expenses in the first nine months of 2024, including
goods and services purchased of approximately $4.8 billion. Since 2000, we have spent
$166 billion and $113 billion, respectively, in these areas.
- Generating a total team member payroll of approximately
$2.8 billion in the first nine months
of 2024, including wages and other employee benefits, and payroll
taxes of $153 million. Since 2000,
total team member payroll totals $64
billion.
- Returning approximately $1.7
billion in dividends through October
2024 to individual shareholders, mutual fund owners,
pensioners and institutional investors. Since 2004, we have
returned more than $26 billion to
shareholders through our dividend and share purchase programs,
including over $21 billion in
dividends and $5.2 billion in share
repurchases, representing approximately $18 per share.
Community Highlights
Giving Back to Our Communities
- In August 2024, to support those
impacted by the wildfires in Jasper,
Alberta, TELUS, our team members, customers and the
Foundation have enabled more than $200,000 in cash donations and in-kind
contributions. Our assistance included:
- Distributing adult and youth disaster kits at evacuation
centers containing essential items such as emergency blankets,
reusable water bottles, charging cables and activities for
kids.
- Rapidly deploying three cell towers on wheels (COWs) to provide
wireless connectivity and support emergency communications along a
no-coverage section of Highway 16, to an RCMP checkpoint and one
within the town of Jasper.
- Implementing our first ever deployment of a low earth orbit
satellite temporary connectivity solution for a cell tower where
its fibre connection was destroyed by the fire, thereby allowing
access to 9-1-1.
- Continually refuelling back-up generators to keep
communication lines safely up and running after a loss of
commercial power.
- Working closely with the incident command centre and its
members to protect critical network infrastructure.
- Offering data top-ups and waiving long-distance mobile, home
phone, texting and roaming fees for evacuees and those
affected.
- Offering a free Community Crisis Support line for emotional
support, accessible 24/7 to all Canadians, provided by TELUS
Health.
- Supplying free counselling sessions through TELUS Health
MyCareTM.
- Providing no-cost veterinary technician appointments
through TELUS Health MyPet.
- Partnering with the Red Cross to establish a recovery centre,
providing tents, site-wide Wi-Fi connectivity and essential
care items for returning evacuees. Additionally, our technicians
conducted re-entry checks and prioritized service restoration in a
strategic manner.
- In October 2024, we received our
third consecutive Disaster Recovery Institute Canada (DRI) Response
and Recovery Award for crisis management during the 2024 Jasper
wildfires, demonstrating outstanding business continuity, disaster
recovery, and community and customer support despite concurrent
challenges.
- Currently, we have 19 TELUS Community Boards, 13 operating in
Canada and six international
boards. Our Community Boards entrust local leaders to make
recommendations on the allocation of grants in their communities.
These grants support registered charities that offer health,
education or technology programs to help youth thrive. Since 2005,
our 19 TELUS Community Boards and TELUS Friendly Future
Foundation® (the Foundation) have supported 33.6 million
youth in-need in Canada, and
around the world, by granting $131
million in cash donations to 10,500 initiatives.
- During the third quarter of 2024, we announced a major
milestone in charitable giving in Canada with TELUS' Community Board
program reaching $100 million in
donations to local charities across the country since inception in
2005.
- Working in close partnership with our 13 Canadian TELUS
Community Boards, the Foundation provides grants to charities that
promote education, health and well-being for youth across the
country. Additionally, through the TELUS Student Bursary program,
the Foundation provides bursaries for post-secondary students who
are facing financial barriers and are committed to making a
difference in their communities. During the first nine months of
2024, the Foundation supported over 535,500 youth by granting over
$7 million to 500 Canadian registered
charities. Since its inception in 2018, the Foundation has provided
$54 million in cash donations to our
communities, helping 15.7 million youth reach their full potential.
For more information about the TELUS Student Bursary program,
please visit friendlyfuture.com/bursary.
- Throughout the third quarter, we continued to engage our global
team to volunteer in their communities, with more than 665,000
hours of service recorded so far, and on track to achieve our
annual goal of 1.5 million hours for the second consecutive
year.
Empowering Canadians with Connectivity
- Throughout the first nine months of 2024, we continued to
leverage our Connecting for Good® programs to support
marginalized individuals by enhancing their access to both
technology and healthcare, as well as our TELUS Wise®
program to improve digital literacy and online safety knowledge.
Since the launch of these programs, they have provided support for
1.3 million individuals.
- During the first nine months of 2024, we welcomed over 6,500
new households to our Internet for Good® program. Since
we launched the program in 2016, we have connected close to 62,000
households, resulting in more than 194,000 low-income family
members and seniors, persons in need who are living with
disabilities, government-assisted refugees and youth leaving foster
care with low-cost, high-speed internet service.
- Our Mobility for Good® program offers free or
low-cost smartphones and mobility plans to youth aging out of
foster care, low-income seniors and low-income families across
Canada. During the first nine
months of 2024, we added 6,500 youth, low-income seniors and
families, as well as Indigenous women at risk of or surviving
violence, government-assisted refugees and other marginalized
individuals to the program. Since we launched Mobility for Good in
2017, the program has provided support for 59,000 people.
- Our Health for Good® mobile health clinics
facilitated 46,500 patient visits during the first nine months of
2024. Since the program's inception, we have enabled 246,500
cumulative patient visits in 27 communities across Canada, bringing primary and mental healthcare
to individuals experiencing homelessness.
- In September 2024, we increased
our overall commitment to the TELUS Health for Good program to
over $16 million through 2027 and
launched a new mobile health clinic, bringing primary care and harm
reduction services directly to people experiencing homelessness
across the B.C. Interior.
- During the first nine months of 2024, our Tech for
Good® program provided access to personalized
assessments, recommendations and training on mobile devices,
computers, laptops and related assistive technology and/or access
to discounted mobile plans for 2,600 Canadians living with
disabilities, helping them improve their independence and quality
of life. Since the program's inception in 2017, we have supported
11,400 individuals in Canada who
are living with disabilities through the program and/or the TELUS
Wireless Accessibility Discount.
- During the first nine months of 2024, more than 95,700
individuals in Canada and around
the world participated in virtual TELUS Wise workshops and
events to improve digital literacy and online safety, bringing
total cumulative participation to over 775,500 since the program
launched in 2013.
Access to Quarterly results information
Interested investors, the media and others may review this
quarterly earnings news release, management's discussion and
analysis, quarterly results slides, audio and transcript of the
investor webcast call, supplementary financial information at
telus.com/investors.
TELUS' third quarter 2024 conference call is scheduled for
Friday, November 8, 2024 at
12:00 pm ET (9:00 am PT) and will feature a presentation
followed by a question and answer period with investment analysts.
Interested parties can access the webcast at telus.com/investors.
An audio recording will be available approximately 60 minutes after
the call until December 8, 2024 at
1-855-201-2300. Please quote conference access code 54931# and
playback access code 54931#. An archive of the webcast will also be
available at telus.com/investors and a transcript will be posted on
the website within a few business days.
Caution regarding forward-looking statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements about
expected events and the financial and operating performance of
TELUS Corporation. The terms TELUS, the
Company, we, us and our refer to TELUS
Corporation and, where the context of the narrative permits or
requires, its subsidiaries.
Forward-looking statements include any statements that do not
refer to historical facts. They include, but are not limited to,
statements relating to our objectives and our strategies to achieve
those objectives, our expectations regarding trends in the
telecommunications industry (including demand for data and ongoing
subscriber base growth), and our financing plans (including our
multi-year dividend growth program). Forward-looking statements are
typically identified by the words assumption, goal, guidance,
objective, outlook, strategy, target and other similar expressions,
or future or conditional verbs such as aim,
anticipate, believe, could, expect,
intend, may, plan, predict,
seek, should, strive and will. These
statements are made pursuant to the "safe harbour" provisions of
applicable securities laws in Canada and the
United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995.
By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to
inherent risks and uncertainties and are based on assumptions,
including assumptions about future economic conditions and courses
of action. These assumptions may ultimately prove to have been
inaccurate and, as a result, our actual results or events may
differ materially from expectations expressed in or implied by the
forward-looking statements.
The assumptions for our 2024 outlook, as described in Section
9 in our 2023 annual MD&A, remain the same, except for the
following:
- Our revised estimates for 2024 economic growth in Canada, B.C., Alberta, Ontario and Quebec are 1.1%, 0.9%, 1.8%, 1.0% and 0.9%,
respectively (compared to 0.6%, 0.4%, 1.1%, 0.4% and 0.4%,
respectively, as reported in our 2023 annual MD&A).
- Our revised estimates for 2024 annual inflation rates in
Canada, B.C., Alberta, Ontario and Quebec are 2.6%, 2.6%, 3.0%, 2.5%, and 2.7%,
respectively (compared to 2.5%, 2.4%, 2.4%, 2.4%, and 2.5%,
respectively, as reported in our 2023 annual MD&A).
- Our revised estimates for 2024 annual unemployment rates in
B.C., Alberta, Ontario and Quebec are 5.7%, 6.8%, 6.9% and 5.4%,
respectively (compared to 6.1%, 6.3%, 6.7% and 5.5%, respectively,
as reported in our 2023 annual MD&A).
- Our revised estimates for 2024 annual rates of housing starts
on an unadjusted basis in Canada,
B.C., Alberta, Ontario and Quebec are 248,000 units, 48,000 units, 44,000
units, 81,000 units and 47,000 units, respectively (compared to
234,000 units, 42,000 units, 36,000 units, 79,000 units and 46,000
units, respectively, as reported in our 2023 annual MD&A).
The extent to which the economic growth estimates affect us and
the timing of their impact will depend upon the actual experience
of specific sectors of the Canadian economy.
- The Effects of contract asset, acquisition and fulfilment and
TELUS Easy Payment device financing assumption has been revised to
a net cash outflow of approximately $100
million to $200 million from a
net cash outflow of approximately $150
million to $250 million.
- Our restructuring and other costs assumption has been revised
to approximately $450 million from
approximately $300 million. This was
largely driven by new cost efficiency programs implemented to drive
EBITDA expansion, margin accretion and accelerated cash flow
growth. Approximately $200 million of
cash restructuring and other disbursements from our 2023 efficiency
program flowed into our 2024 free cash flow guidance, and we expect
total cash restructure and other disbursements of approximately
$500 million in 2024 from
approximately $400 million.
- Our income taxes computed at an applicable statutory rate
assumption has been revised downward to 24.0 to 24.6% from 24.5 to
25.1%, and our cash income tax payments assumption has been revised
downward to a range of approximately $310
million to $390 million from a
range of approximately $370 million
to $450 million. The decrease in
applicable statutory rate assumption is primarily due to lower
income earned in jurisdictions with higher statutory income tax
rates. The decrease in our cash income tax payments range is due to
excess instalment amounts from the prior period applied to the
current period.
- While Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada
(ISED) had initially announced its intention to hold its millimetre
wave spectrum auction in 2024, it is possible that the auction may
be deferred until after 2024. We do not expect to be materially
impacted should the timing of the auction be after 2024.
- We anticipate a 2024 Canadian
dollar to U.S. dollar average exchange rate of C$1.35: US$1.00,
compared to our original assumption of C$1.32: US$1.00.
Risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or
events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements
made herein and in other TELUS filings include, but are not limited
to, the following:
- Regulatory matters. We operate in a number of highly
regulated industries and are therefore subject to a wide variety of
laws and regulations domestically and internationally. Policies and
practices of elected officials and regulatory decisions, reviews
and government activity may have strategic, operational and/or
financial implications (including on revenue and free cash
flow).
Risks and uncertainties include:
- potential changes to our regulatory regime or the outcomes of
proceedings, cases or inquiries relating to its application,
including but not limited to those set out in Section 9.1
Communications industry regulatory developments and proceedings
in our third quarter 2024 MD&A.
- our ability to comply with complex and changing regulation of
the healthcare, virtual care and medical devices industries in the
jurisdictions in which we operate, including as an operator of
health clinics; and
- our ability to comply with, or facilitate our clients'
compliance with, numerous, complex and sometimes conflicting legal
regimes, both domestically and internationally.
- Competitive environment. Competitor expansion,
activity and intensity (pricing, including discounting, bundling),
as well as non-traditional competition, disruptive technology and
disintermediation, may alter the nature of the markets in which we
compete and impact our market share and financial results
(including revenue and free cash flow). TELUS Digital
Experience, TELUS Health and TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods
face intense competition in different markets.
- Technology. Consumer adoption of alternative
technologies and changing customer expectations have the potential
to impact our revenue streams and customer churn rates.
Risks and uncertainties include:
- a declining overall market for TV services;
- disruptive technologies, including software-defined networks in
the business market, that may displace or cause us to reprice
our existing data services, and self-installed technology
solutions;
- any failure to innovate, maintain technological advantages or
respond effectively and in a timely manner to changes in
technology;
- the roll-out, anticipated benefits and efficiencies, and
ongoing evolution of wireless broadband technologies and
systems;
- our reliance on wireless network access agreements, which have
facilitated our deployment of mobile technologies;
- supplier limitations and concentration and market power for
products such as network equipment, TELUS TV and mobile
handsets;
- our expected long-term need to acquire additional spectrum
capacity through future spectrum auctions and from third parties to
address increasing demand for data, and our ability to utilize
spectrum we acquire;
- deployment and operation of new fixed broadband network
technologies at a reasonable cost and the availability and success
of new products and services to be rolled out using such network
technologies; and
- our deployment of self-learning tools and automation, which may
change the way we interact with customers.
- Security and data protection. Our ability to detect
and identify potential threats and vulnerabilities depends on the
effectiveness of our security controls in protecting our
infrastructure and operating environment, and our timeliness in
responding to attacks and recovering business operations. A
successful attack may impede the operations of our network or lead
to the unauthorized interception, destruction, use or dissemination
of customer, team member or business information.
- Generative AI (GenAI). GenAI exposes us to numerous
risks including risks related to the responsible use of AI, data
privacy and cybersecurity, and the possibility that our use of AI
may produce inaccurate or inappropriate content or create negative
perceptions among companies and regulators that could affect demand
for our services.
- Climate and the environment. Natural disasters,
pandemics, disruptive events and climate change may impact our
operations, customer satisfaction and team member
experience.
Our goals to achieve carbon neutrality and reduce our greenhouse
gas (GHG) emissions in our operations are subject to our ability to
identify, procure and implement solutions to reduce energy
consumption and adopt cleaner sources of energy, our ability to
identify and make suitable investments in renewable energy,
including in the form of virtual power purchase agreements, and our
ability to continue to realize significant absolute reductions in
energy use and the resulting GHG emissions in our operations.
- Operational performance and business combination.
Investments and acquisitions present opportunities to expand our
operational scope, but may expose us to new risks. We may be
unsuccessful in gaining market traction/share and realizing
benefits, and integration efforts may divert resources from other
priorities. Risks include:
- our reliance on third-party cloud-based computing services to
deliver our IT services; and
- economic, political and other risks associated with doing
business globally (including war and other geopolitical
developments).
- Our systems and processes. Systems and technology
innovation, maintenance and management may impact our IT systems
and network reliability, as well as our operating costs.
Risks and uncertainties include:
- our ability to maintain customer service and operate our
network in the event of human error or human-caused threats, such
as cyberattacks and equipment failures that could cause
various degrees of network outages;
- technical disruptions and infrastructure breakdowns;
- delays and rising costs, including as a result of government
restrictions or trade actions; and
- the completeness and effectiveness of business continuity and
disaster recovery plans and responses.
- Our team. The rapidly evolving and highly competitive
nature of our markets and operating environment, along with the
globalization and evolving demographic profile of our workforce,
and the effectiveness of our internal training, development,
succession and health and well-being programs, may impact our
ability to attract, develop and retain team members with the skills
required to meet the changing needs of our customers and our
business. There may be greater physical and mental health
challenges faced by team members (and their families) as a result
of the pandemic and its aftermath, and the effect of other
significant change initiatives at the organization may result in
the loss of key team members through short-term and long-term
disability.
- Suppliers. We may be impacted by supply chain
disruptions and lack of resiliency in relation to global or local
events. Dependence on a single supplier for products, components,
service delivery or support may impact our ability to efficiently
meet constantly changing and rising customer expectations while
maintaining quality of service. Our suppliers' ability to
maintain and service their product lines could affect the success
of upgrades to, and evolution of, technology that we
offer.
- Real estate matters. Real estate investments are
exposed to possible financing risks and uncertainty related to
future demand, occupancy and rental rates, especially following the
pandemic. Future real estate developments may not be completed on
budget or on time and may not obtain lease commitments as
planned.
- Financing, debt and dividends. Our ability to access
funding at optimal pricing may be impacted by general market
conditions and changing assessments in the fixed-income and equity
capital markets regarding our ability to generate sufficient future
cash flow to service our debt. Our current intention to pay
dividends to shareholders could constrain our ability to invest in
our operations to support future growth.
Risks and uncertainties include:
- our ability to use equity as consideration in business
acquisitions is impacted by stock market valuations of TELUS
Common Shares and TELUS International (Cda) Inc. subordinate voting
shares;
- our capital expenditure levels and potential outlays for
spectrum licences in auctions or purchases from third parties
affect and are affected by: our broadband initiatives; our ongoing
deployment of newer mobile technologies; investments in network
technology required to comply with laws and regulations relating to
the security of cyber systems, including bans on the products and
services of certain vendors; investments in network resiliency and
reliability; the allocation of resources to acquisitions and future
spectrum auctions held by Innovation, Science and Economic
Development Canada (ISED). Our capital expenditure levels could be
impacted if we do not achieve our targeted operational and
financial results or if there are changes to our regulatory
environment; and
- lower than planned free cash flow could constrain our ability
to invest in operations, reduce leverage or return capital to
shareholders. Quarterly dividend decisions are made by our Board of
Directors based on our financial position and outlook. There can be
no assurance that our dividend growth program will be maintained
through 2025 or renewed.
- Factors that may affect TELUS Digital's financial performance
are described in TELUS International (Cda) Inc. public filings
available on SEDAR+ and EDGAR. TELUS Digital may choose to
publicize targets or provide other guidance regarding its business
and it may not achieve such targets. Failure to meet these targets
could affect TELUS' ability to achieve targets for the organization
as a whole and could result in a decline in the trading price of
the TELUS International (Cda) Inc. subordinate voting shares or the
TELUS Common Shares or both.
- Tax matters. Complexity of domestic and foreign tax
laws, regulations and reporting requirements applying to TELUS and
our international operating subsidiaries may impact financial
results. International acquisitions and expansion of operations
heighten our exposure to multiple forms of taxation.
- The economy. Changing global economic conditions,
including a potential recession and alternating expectations about
inflation, as well as our effectiveness in monitoring and revising
growth assumptions and contingency plans, may impact the
achievement of our corporate objectives, our financial results
(including free cash flow), and our defined benefit pension
plans.
- Litigation and legal matters. Complexity of, and
compliance with, laws, regulations, commitments and expectations
may have a financial and reputational impact. Risks include:
- our ability to defend against existing and potential claims or
our ability to negotiate and exercise indemnity rights or other
protections in respect of such claims; and
- the complexity of legal compliance in domestic and foreign
jurisdictions, including compliance with competition, anti-bribery
and foreign corrupt practices laws.
The assumptions underlying our forward-looking statements are
described in additional detail in Section 9 General trends,
outlook and assumptions, and regulatory developments and
proceedings and Section 10 Risks and risk management in
our 2023 annual MD&A. Those descriptions are incorporated by
reference in this cautionary statement. Updates to the assumptions
on which our 2024 outlook is based are presented in Section 9
Update to general trends, outlook and assumptions, and regulatory
developments and proceedings of our third quarter 2024
MD&A.
Additional risks and uncertainties that are not currently known
to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial may also have a
material adverse effect on our financial position, financial
performance, cash flows, business or reputation. Except as
otherwise indicated in this document, the forward-looking
statements made herein do not reflect the potential impact of any
non-recurring or special items or any mergers, acquisitions,
dispositions or other business combinations or transactions that
may be announced or that may occur after the date of this
document.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this
document describe our expectations, and are based on our
assumptions, as at the date of this document and are subject to
change after this date. Except as required by law, we disclaim any
intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking
statements.
This cautionary statement qualifies all of the forward-looking
statements in this document.
Non-GAAP and other specified financial measures
We have issued guidance on and report certain non-GAAP measures
that are used to evaluate the performance of TELUS, as well as to
determine compliance with debt covenants and to manage our capital
structure. As non-GAAP measures generally do not have a
standardized meaning, they may not be comparable to similar
measures presented by other issuers. For certain financial metrics,
there are definitional differences between TELUS and TELUS Digital
reporting. These differences largely arise from TELUS Digital
adopting definitions consistent with practice in its industry.
Securities regulations require such measures to be clearly defined,
qualified and reconciled with their nearest GAAP measure. Certain
of the metrics do not have generally accepted industry
definitions.
Adjusted Net income and adjusted basic earnings per share
(EPS): These are non-GAAP measures that do not have any
standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS-IASB and are therefore
unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other
issuers. Adjusted Net income excludes the effects of restructuring
and other costs, income tax-related adjustments, other equity
losses related to real estate joint ventures, long-term debt
prepayment premium and other adjustments (identified in the
following tables). Adjusted basic earnings per share is calculated
as adjusted net income divided by basic weighted-average common
shares outstanding. These measures are used to evaluate performance
at a consolidated level and exclude items that, in management's
view, may obscure underlying trends in business performance or
items of an unusual nature that do not reflect our ongoing
operations. They should not be considered alternatives to Net
income and basic earnings per share in measuring TELUS'
performance.
Reconciliation of adjusted Net income
|
Three months ended
September 30
|
C$ and
in millions
|
2024
|
2023
|
Net income
attributable to Common Shares
|
280
|
136
|
Add (deduct) amounts of
net of amount attributable to non-controlling interests:
|
|
|
Restructuring and
other costs
|
79
|
297
|
Tax effects of
restructuring and other costs
|
(22)
|
(71)
|
Real estate
rationalization-related restructuring impairments
|
3
|
13
|
Tax effect of real
estate rationalization-related restructuring impairments
|
(1)
|
(3)
|
Income tax-related
adjustments
|
(20)
|
(23)
|
Unrealized changes in
virtual power purchase agreements forward element
|
125
|
33
|
Tax effect of
unrealized changes in virtual power purchase agreements forward
element
|
(31)
|
(9)
|
Adjusted Net
income
|
413
|
373
|
Reconciliation of adjusted basic EPS
|
Three months ended
September 30
|
C$
|
2024
|
2023
|
Basic
EPS
|
0.19
|
0.09
|
Add (deduct) amounts of
net of amount attributable to non-controlling interests:
|
|
|
Restructuring and
other costs, per share
|
0.05
|
0.20
|
Tax effect of
restructuring and other costs, per share
|
(0.01)
|
(0.05)
|
Income tax-related
adjustments, per share
|
(0.01)
|
(0.01)
|
Unrealized changes in
virtual power purchase agreements forward element, per
share
|
0.08
|
0.03
|
Tax effect of
unrealized changes in virtual power purchase agreements forward
element
|
(0.02)
|
(0.01)
|
Adjusted basic
EPS
|
0.28
|
0.25
|
EBITDA (earnings before interest, income taxes,
depreciation and amortization): We have issued guidance on and
report EBITDA because it is a key measure used to evaluate
performance at a consolidated level. EBITDA is commonly reported
and widely used by investors and lending institutions as an
indicator of a company's operating performance and ability to incur
and service debt, and as a valuation metric. EBITDA should not be
considered an alternative to Net income in measuring TELUS'
performance, nor should it be used as a measure of cash flow.
EBITDA as calculated by TELUS is equivalent to Operating revenues
and other income less the total of Goods and services purchased
expense and Employee benefits expense.
We also calculate Adjusted EBITDA to exclude items of an
unusual nature that do not reflect our ongoing operations and
should not, in our opinion, be considered in a long-term valuation
metric or should not be included in an assessment of our ability to
service or incur debt.
EBITDA and Adjusted
EBITDA reconciliations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TTech
|
TELUS
Digital
|
Eliminations
|
Total
|
Three-month periods
ended September 30 (C$ millions)
|
2024
|
2023
|
2024
|
2023
|
2024
|
2023
|
2024
|
2023
|
Net
income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
257
|
137
|
Financing
costs
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
479
|
352
|
Income taxes
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
52
|
28
|
EBIT
|
800
|
454
|
—
|
63
|
(12)
|
—
|
788
|
517
|
Depreciation
|
551
|
563
|
46
|
48
|
—
|
—
|
597
|
611
|
Amortization of
intangible assets
|
308
|
329
|
63
|
60
|
—
|
—
|
371
|
389
|
EBITDA
|
1,659
|
1,346
|
109
|
171
|
(12)
|
—
|
1,756
|
1,517
|
Add restructuring and
other costs included in EBITDA
|
64
|
287
|
22
|
16
|
—
|
—
|
86
|
303
|
Adjusted EBITDA
|
1,723
|
1,633
|
131
|
187
|
(12)
|
—
|
1,842
|
1,820
|
Adjusted EBITDA less capital expenditures is calculated
for our reportable segments, as it represents a performance measure
that may be more comparable to other issuers.
Adjusted EBITDA less
capital expenditures reconciliation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
TTech
|
TELUS
Digital
|
Eliminations
|
Total
|
Three-months
ended September 30 (C$ millions)
|
2024
|
2023
|
2024
|
2023
|
2024
|
2023
|
2024
|
2023
|
Adjusted
EBITDA
|
1,723
|
1,633
|
131
|
187
|
(12)
|
—
|
1,842
|
1,820
|
Capital
expenditures
|
(650)
|
(734)
|
(30)
|
(35)
|
12
|
—
|
(668)
|
(769)
|
Adjusted EBITDA
less capital expenditures
|
1,073
|
899
|
101
|
152
|
—
|
—
|
1,174
|
1,051
|
Free cash flow: We report this measure as a supplementary
indicator of our operating performance, and there is no generally
accepted industry definition of free cash flow. It should not be
considered an alternative to the measures in the condensed interim
consolidated statements of cash flows. Free cash flow excludes
certain working capital changes (such as trade receivables and
trade payables), proceeds from divested assets and other sources
and uses of cash, as found in the condensed interim consolidated
statements of cash flows. It provides an indication of how much
cash generated by operations is available after capital
expenditures (excluding purchases of spectrum licences) that may be
used to, among other things, pay dividends, repay debt, purchase
shares or make other investments. We exclude impacts of accounting
standards that do not impact cash, such as IFRS 15 and IFRS 16.
Free cash flow may be supplemented from time to time by proceeds
from divested assets or financing activities.
Free cash flow
calculation
|
|
|
|
Three months
ended
September 30
|
C$ and
in millions
|
2024
|
2023
|
EBITDA
|
1,756
|
1,517
|
Restructuring and other
costs, net of disbursements
|
21
|
90
|
Effects of contract
asset, acquisition and fulfilment (IFRS 15 impact) and TELUS Easy
Payment mobile device financing
|
(22)
|
(17)
|
Effects of lease
principal (IFRS 16 impact)
|
(171)
|
(135)
|
Items from the
condensed interim consolidated statements of cash flows:
|
|
|
Share-based
compensation, net
|
44
|
27
|
Net employee defined
benefit plans expense
|
16
|
15
|
Employer contributions
to employee defined benefit plans
|
(2)
|
(7)
|
Loss from equity
accounted investments and other
|
3
|
—
|
Interest
paid
|
(362)
|
(307)
|
Interest
received
|
9
|
4
|
Capital
expenditures1
|
(668)
|
(769)
|
Free cash flow before
income taxes
|
624
|
418
|
Income taxes paid, net
of refunds
|
(63)
|
(63)
|
Free cash
flow
|
561
|
355
|
Free cash flow
reconciliation with Cash provided by operating
activities
|
|
|
|
Three months
ended
September 30
|
C$ and
in millions
|
2024
|
2023
|
Free cash
flow
|
561
|
355
|
Add
(deduct):
|
|
|
Capital
expenditures1
|
668
|
769
|
Effects of lease
principal
|
171
|
135
|
Net change in non-cash
operating working capital not included in preceding line
items and other individually immaterial items included in Net
income neither providing nor using cash
|
32
|
48
|
Cash provided by
operating activities
|
1,432
|
1,307
|
(1) Refer
to Note 31 of the interim consolidated financial statements
for further information.
|
Mobile phone average revenue per subscriber per month
(ARPU) is calculated as network revenue derived from
monthly service plan, roaming and usage charges; divided by the
average number of mobile phone subscribers on the network during
the period, and is expressed as a rate per month.
Appendix
Operating revenues and other income – TTech segment
C$ millions, except
footnotes and unless noted otherwise
|
Three months ended
September 30
|
Per cent
|
(unaudited)
|
2024
|
2023
|
change
|
Mobile network
revenue
|
1,766
|
1,753
|
0.7
|
Mobile equipment and
other service revenues
|
591
|
557
|
6.1
|
Fixed data
services(1)
|
1,175
|
1,153
|
1.9
|
Fixed voice
services
|
179
|
191
|
(6.3)
|
Fixed equipment and
other service revenues
|
117
|
125
|
(6.4)
|
Health
services
|
439
|
422
|
4.0
|
Agriculture and
consumer goods services
|
100
|
83
|
20.5
|
Operating revenues
(arising from contracts with customers)
|
4,367
|
4,284
|
1.9
|
Other income
|
54
|
18
|
n/m
|
External Operating
revenues and other income
|
4,421
|
4,302
|
2.8
|
Intersegment
revenues
|
3
|
4
|
(25.0)
|
TTech Operating
revenues and other income
|
4,424
|
4,306
|
2.7
|
(1)
Excludes health services and agriculture and consumer goods
services.
|
Operating revenues and other income – TELUS digital
experience segment
C$ millions, except
footnotes and unless noted otherwise
|
Three months ended
September 30
|
Per cent
|
(unaudited)
|
2024
|
2023
|
change
|
Operating revenues
(arising from contracts with customers)
|
675
|
706
|
(4.4)
|
Other income
|
3
|
—
|
n/m
|
External Operating
revenues and other income
|
678
|
706
|
(4.0)
|
Intersegment
revenues
|
219
|
183
|
19.7
|
TELUS Digital
Operating revenues and other income
|
897
|
889
|
0.9
|
Notations used
in the tables above: n/m – not meaningful.
|
About TELUS
TELUS (TSX: T, NYSE: TU) is a world-leading communications
technology company, generating over $20
billion in annual revenue and connecting more than 19
million customers through our advanced suite of broadband services
for consumers, businesses and the public sector. We are committed
to leveraging our technology to enable remarkable human outcomes.
TELUS is passionate about putting our customers and communities
first, leading the way globally in client service excellence and
social capitalism. Our TELUS Health business is enhancing the lives
of 76 million people worldwide through innovative preventive
medicine and wellbeing technologies. Our TELUS Agriculture &
Consumer Goods business utilizes digital technologies and data
insights to optimize the connection between producers and
consumers. Guided by our enduring 'give where we live' philosophy,
TELUS and our 140,000 team members have contributed $1.7 billion and volunteered 2.2 million days of
service since 2000, earning us the distinction of the world's most
giving company. For more information, visit telus.com or follow
@TELUSNews on X and @Darren_Entwistle on Instagram.
Investor Relations
Robert
Mitchell
(647) 837-1606
ir@telus.com
Media Relations
Steve
Beisswanger
(514) 865-2787
Steve.Beisswanger@telus.com
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SOURCE TELUS Corporation